[philipa_240sx]

I owned both a DX6i and now a DX8. The DX8 is one very nice radio. It also feels smoother (gimbals) and faster than the DX6i.

And you can buy replacement antennas for it!

[mark_]

Santa,

I've been a pretty good boy, taken good care of my planes....do the elves know how to make a DX8?

[Gary Maker]

I also had my DX6i antenna break at the hinge joint. I called Horizon and they also told me that I could not just purchase an antenna to replace it myself but rather I should send it in for repair/replacement, which I did.

I can't figure how it would cost $60 for postage to sent it in. It only cost me $16 to send it to Horizon. They did the replacement no charge and paid the postage to send it back. I did NOT make a warrenty claim, just sent it in telling them I wanted a new antenna installed.

I have heard story after story about the DX6i antennas failing. IT must be some sort of flaw or it's just too weak for this application. You'd think with all the returns Horizon must be getting, that they would have the manufacturer upgrade to a newer stronger antenna for the DX6i.

[RBinnie]

Hi Gary,

Just to clarify, it cost me around $30 to mail CP with a tracking number (I used a fairly large box with lots of crunched up newspaper to pack it well so maybe larger and heavier than you packed). Horizon sent it back by UPS and UPS charged me another $27.15 in "brokerage fees" at my door. The radio was essentially held ransom by UPS....pay up or you don't get the package. Obviously I wasn't happy about this but once UPS gets your money you essentially have no recourse.

The most inconvenient issue is that the radio was gone for about three weekends of flying. It took about 10 days to get to Horizon due to holidays and weekends. Horizon turned it over in a few days but again with the timing of summer holidays etc that's how it worked out.
My backup radio is a DX5 that came with my Alpha trainer. I set it up for my Super Stick 60 and flying with that combination sure made me appreciate the expo function on the DX6i. Pretty hairy!!!

I fly indoors once a week so I'll see how it works there with the tape job. One way or the other I now think, after reading others experience, I'll send it back again to Horizon for replacement and not take a chance on a home repair. Still thinking of the DX8 though.... I don't need 8 channels yet but I like the telemetry feature and the idea of the field replaceable antenna as that swivel joint sure seems to be a weak design.

Cheers
Rod

[Max]

Originally Posted by mark_

Santa,

I've been a pretty good boy, taken good care of my planes....do the elves know how to make a DX8?

I also have it on my xmas list. I hope the wifey doesnt get sticker shock.....

mind you, that ups the ante for what I have to get her....

[Real Gambler]

Maybe an old DX6 (without the i) antenna would fit? Could probably catch one on Ebay for cheap (though, as usual, shipping will cost ya.. I guess you buy the whole Tx, and ask the seller to send you the antenna only)... I have one but it's not for sale for now, but I'm about 40km away from you, RBinnie, so you're welcome to come over to do a fitting test if you want... If it's the same, than, it's Ebay fishing time : )

[RBinnie]

Originally Posted by Real Gambler

Maybe an old DX6 (without the i) antenna would fit? Could probably catch one on Ebay for cheap (though, as usual, shipping will cost ya.. I guess you buy the whole Tx, and ask the seller to send you the antenna only)... I have one but it's not for sale for now, but I'm about 40km away from you, RBinnie, so you're welcome to come over to do a fitting test if you want... If it's the same, than, it's Ebay fishing time : )

Hi Real Gambler,

Thanks for the offer but after reading some of the issues the other guys have had by doing home repairs I don't want to take a chance of losing a plane. It sounds like there's more to these antenas than just their physical looks and size. (Impedence for one I suspect). I'll send it back to Horizon after I've had a few weekends of indoor flying!!

BTW what’s the difference between a DX6 and a DX6i?

Thanks again,
Rod

[marco2236]

Originally Posted by Max

I also have it on my xmas list. I hope the wifey doesnt get sticker shock.....

mind you, that ups the ante for what I have to get her....

Im trying the same thing...Its gonna be an expensive X-mas with only 2 gifts under the tree.

[Real Gambler]

Originally Posted by RBinnie

Hi Real Gambler,

Thanks for the offer but after reading some of the issues the other guys have had by doing home repairs I don't want to take a chance of losing a plane. It sounds like there's more to these antenas than just their physical looks and size. (Impedence for one I suspect). I'll send it back to Horizon after I've had a few weekends of indoor flying!!

BTW what’s the difference between a DX6 and a DX6i?

Thanks again,
Rod

No problem... DX6 is DSM only while DX6i is DSM2. Otherwise, they pretty much look the same. A DX6 would only work with a DSM receiver like the AR6000.... On the other side, the DX6i will work with any DSM2 receivers (AR500, AR7000, AR6200, etc) but also work with DSM receivers.

They do look the same though, so I highly suspect that the DX6 antenna is the same as the DX6i. They probably didn't bother to make a different one for those two models. Sure enough, the DX7 antenna is totally different.

You should have no problems with Horizon Hobby. The only drawback is the fact that they will automatically use Fedex to ship it back to you, so expect an extra $27 fee for bringing it back across the boarder quickly.... Sometime they mail the bill a month or two after you receive the item! I wish they would use USPS instead.... Slower, but would go across the boarder for free.

[Gary Maker]

Originally Posted by RBinnie

Hi Gary,

Just to clarify, it cost me around $30 to mail CP with a tracking number (I used a fairly large box with lots of crunched up newspaper to pack it well so maybe larger and heavier than you packed). Horizon sent it back by UPS and UPS charged me another $27.15 in "brokerage fees" at my door. The radio was essentially held ransom by UPS....pay up or you don't get the package. Obviously I wasn't happy about this but once UPS gets your money you essentially have no recourse.

The most inconvenient issue is that the radio was gone for about three weekends of flying. It took about 10 days to get to Horizon due to holidays and weekends. Horizon turned it over in a few days but again with the timing of summer holidays etc that's how it worked out.
My backup radio is a DX5 that came with my Alpha trainer. I set it up for my Super Stick 60 and flying with that combination sure made me appreciate the expo function on the DX6i. Pretty hairy!!!

I fly indoors once a week so I'll see how it works there with the tape job. One way or the other I now think, after reading others experience, I'll send it back again to Horizon for replacement and not take a chance on a home repair. Still thinking of the DX8 though.... I don't need 8 channels yet but I like the telemetry feature and the idea of the field replaceable antenna as that swivel joint sure seems to be a weak design.

Cheers
Rod

Rod, yes, I can see now why it cost you so much to get your antenna fixed. I'm not sure though why they sent it back via FedX. Did you send in a "Request for Service" Form with your radio? I sent them my radio via Canada Post and they sent it back via USPS NOT FedX. I absolutely refuse to buy from or use the service of any company that will only ship via FedX. I got ripped off once by them and swore that it would never happen again.

As I said in my post, the strange thing is that I sent them my radio and made no warrenty claim, I just wanted the antenna replaced. Even then, there was NO charge for the antenna/labor and the return shipping!

Perhaps if you do send anything back to Horizon ever again for checkup or repairs you specify that you want it returned via USPS NOT FedX.

Well I am sorry to hear of your experience with Horizon. But if you need repairs to your Spektrum radios, you're pretty much at their mercy!