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Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:43 pm
by RCModelReviews
Yes, I'd like to get my hands on one ASAP.

If they are as good as HK claims then they will be a winner. If that "QC" they talk about consists of simply throwing a sticker on everything that falls off the end of the assembly line then there could be problems.

Until I actually see/test one, all I (like everyone else) can do is speculate however.

I do wonder though, whether Spektrum will be unconcerned by this -- relying instead on its new telemetry-enabled system (due for launch shortly) to be their new breadwinner. Maybe they think that *everyone* will want telemetry rather than low-cost receivers.

Then again, maybe the change to telemetry will also see a change in protocol (DSM3?) which would make these older designs incompatible.

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:26 pm
by RCModelReviews
I've been thinking a bit more about the situation created by these "compatible" receivers.

My conclusion is that they are a good thing for Spektrum and Horizon.

Why?

Well you don't have to look far to see that there are now some much better value alternatives to Spektrum on the market.

You can already get some pretty good low-cost RC products from FrSky, FlyDream, Corona, Assan, FlySky and a raft of other Chinese manufacturers. Spektrum has (whether they care to admit it or not) been hit by these "cheaper" products.

As a result of this (plus things like the AR500 issues), Spektrum may have already found their sales starting to drop-off.

By introducing a $15 receiver to the market, the Chinese manufacturers have actually done something that may revitalize Spektrum's fortunes.

Someone looking at the market yesterday may have discounted buying a new Spektrum system because of the comparatively high price of the receivers, when compared to the other Chinese-brand (but incompatible) options.

Today however, they may be more inclined to buy a Spektrum transmitter and some of their up-market receivers because they feel confident that they can equip their fleet of parkfliers for a song.

Note also that Spektrum's new radio will be an up-market offering, with 8 channels and telemetry. This is really starting to overlap JR's market -- which is perhaps another reason why JR is pushing DSMJ in countries outside the USA.

I can see that split growing wider (outside the USA) as JR starts to lose sales of its 9503/DSX9 to a telemetry-enabled Spektrum DX8.

As a famous Chinese philosopher once said "may you live in interesting times" :twisted:

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:30 pm
by Roger
I don't use spectrum myself, but the issue created by this is interesting. Personally I think they have had it too good for too long. For YEARS you could buy ANY brand receiver, install the right crystal, turn your transmitter on and away you went (provided you weren't PCM anyway). It is not hard to analyse a 2.4G signal with a spectral analyser and it surprizes me that it has taken so long for "copy" products to arrive on scene. What is concerning is the fact that these do appear to be complete knock-off's of Spectrum's gear and with the Chinese propensity to do "Cheap" knock offs (in all senses of the word) one would have to say let the buyer beware. IF Spectrums gear was reasonably priced, then I believe that this probably would be no where near as much of an issue, however to pay $150 for a receiver that is little better (if at all) than the likes of Corona's DSSS system which is a quarter of the price is a bit on the nose. Time will tell if these products do the job as well as the original gear, but it will be interesting to see what Horizon has to say about the issue. Certainly if their prices are anything to go by, then their Margins on their gear must be way up there! That being said, you also have to consider that Horizon could also be paying their workers a decent and fair wage too, looking at a receiver for $15, how do you pay someone a decent pay rate to make one and sell it with profit at that price... We modellers can be fairly selfish in some ways :oops:

I am not so sure it will necessarily be better for Spectrum in the long run, since there are already a lot of older second hand transmitters on Trademe and the likes, sales funds of which do not go back to Horizon. Most people looking for cheaper transmitters will be looking on the second hand market in the first place...

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:31 am
by Lead Wings
Just went to the Spektrum section of the HK site - and they have a photo of the actual Rx

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/stor ... REORDER%29

Note only one antenna, and a hard orange case - will be suprised if it is actually 3.7g as advertised. Has 7 rows of pins, and what looks like a port for an external antenna.
Hell of a deal!

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:35 am
by wldingrod
Hey bruce,
Are you going to ask HK for a sample to test?

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 10:37 am
by RCModelReviews
I've asked them in their forums if I can get a pre-release sample to test. No response yet.

Maybe if enough people suggest it, they'll send me an advance unit to review.

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:10 pm
by vane
I reckon this is probably just all the microcontrollers from all the ar6000 receivers that did not sell :) because it is DSM and DSM2 compatible, it is therefore DSM

Although I think this is quite a nice idea, bringing back the universal usage we had back in 35mhz days, being able to use any company's 35mhz tranny with any company's receiver

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:26 pm
by Lead Wings
I was pondering this some more, and maybe the title of this thred should be "compatible" rather than "fake".

I can buy plenty of FM Rx's to go with my old JR 36 MHz system that are "JR Compatible". So is there a differnce between these and a Spektrum compatible Rx???

As long as they are not trying to pass themselves off as Spektrum Rx's, then to me they are not "fake". Having said that, i know there are some fakes out there - but the ones HK are now peddling to me are definitely not fakes, but compatible.

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 3:20 am
by sturdybird46
Well, since you've put the "compatible" spin on it, I think I am Ok with ordering a handful once I know they perform as well as the factory originals. If the park flier spektrum compatible receivers work out, I shall be looking forward to full range spektrum compatible receivers. But why would HK advertise them without having any in stock. Looks like another hitec heartbreak.

Re: A wave of fake Spektrum products about to appear?

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 3:32 am
by RCModelReviews
Looks as if HK are going to send me a sample to test so as soon as it arrives, I'll be checking it out, on the bench and in the air (just need to find a DSM2 transmitter).

I suspect HK stuck it up on the site because they saw that the other "counterfeit" receivers were starting to gain a fair chunk of the market and they wanted to secure a chunk of that market for themselves.

They were also clever by pushing a "compatible" receiver, lots of folks will be happier buying something that's not a fake but simply a functional-equivalent.