If you’re into videoing your RC automobiles, you’ll wish to take a look at the HOTRC DS-4A One-Handed Radio System. This setup permits you to drive your automobile, boat or bike with one hand, releasing up the opposite to carry your favourite video machine (or perhaps a good, chilly drink!).
On one other word, we predict that is an incredible radio setup for these with a incapacity stopping them from driving an RC automobile – perhaps the lack of some fingers, a hand or arm. This system permits you to merely set up the receiver, fireplace up your rig and get out and play – all with one hand!
So let’s dive into the field, get all the pieces out, tour the unit, set up the receiver and take the DS-4A out for a journey. We’ll then share our ideas on this attention-grabbing one-handed setup.
Product: HOTRC DS-4A One-Handed Radio System
Website: https://bit.ly/3WyrHAt
Purchase: https://bit.ly/3WyrHAt
Part #: DS-4A
Scale: n/a
Price: $16.00
Build Type: n/a
Recommended For: Drivers wanting a free hand for filming
Unboxing/Action Video
What’s Included
While fairly primary, the DS-4A does include all the pieces you could rise up and operating. There’s the DS-4A radio, a small, 4-channel receiver, wrist strap and instruction manuals for each the radio and receiver.
What’s Needed
• 4 AA Batteries
• Double-Sided Tape
Main Features
First off, the DS-4A checks all of the containers for regular floor RC use – 2.4GHz, 4-channel, FHSS Spectrum mode, 20MS response pace and a weight that rings in at about 115g. This makes it a terrific system for nearly any software in addition to extremely mild to cut back fatigue.
The subsequent factor that stands out, in fact, is the dearth of an precise steering wheel. The DS-4A is formed like a flight management follow a set off on the entrance (like a standard transmitter) and a thumbstick on the face to regulate left-and-right actions. Upon nearer inspection, you’ll discover the thumbstick is offset barely to the left, making it extra ergonomic for right-handed use. However, because the majority of RC drivers use their LEFT hand for throttle, this places the stick offset the fallacious route for left-handed use. After driving with it for a short while, we discovered it wasn’t all that uncomfortable, nonetheless a ‘left-handed’ model would definitely be welcome.
You’ll additionally discover the dearth of any kind of display. Instead, there are a number of adjustment knobs on the face – a D-Pad for steering and throttle trims, a Reverse-lockout button, Power button, Steering and Throttle Dual Rates and particular person buttons for Channels 3 and 4. There’s additionally a really massive purple button as properly – that is the tremendous cool button in any other case generally known as Cruise Control! Yup, you learn that proper – merely throttle as much as the specified pace and faucet the CC button – your journey will proceed alongside at that set pace! You can improve or lower the pace utilizing the throttle – faucet the button once more to show it off. Pretty slick!
Other options included with the radio: twin motor mixing, failsafe and an auto-shutoff characteristic that can energy down the radio after quarter-hour of no use.
Performance
Test Drive
Before heading out and doing our check, we would have liked to put in the radio system into our check automobile. For this, we selected our Tamiya CC-02 for two causes: 1) it’s extra path truck than rock crawler so we might check issues like Cruise Control and a pair of) it’s utilizing all 4 channels within the current receiver.
After putting in, we did a number of bench exams to examine all of it out (see the video). Our radio unit was not certain to the receiver, however the course of was extremely simple and took only a few seconds to do. Our steering and throttle finish factors appeared about spot on as properly, however we might counsel re-setting yours for the perfect efficiency.
We’re not going to lie – for the primary 2-3 minutes of driving we saved reaching for the steering wheel to maneuver the CC-02, however quickly discovered that utilizing the thumbstick was very simple. You’ll additionally notice that, with just one hand, you don’t want to carry it like a typical transmitter – once more, after a couple of minutes, we had our fingers swinging to our aspect like we have been taking an informal Sunday stroll.
The one characteristic we couldn’t wait to attempt was the Cruise Control! Get your rig as much as the specified pace, press the large purple button and wah-lah – all we would have liked to handle was steering. This goes to be a stellar characteristic for lengthy hikes or crossing massive expanses throughout a crawl day. Super cool characteristic.
Additional Notes
• We tried out the Reverse-lockout which labored nice, however then had a tough time getting reverse again INTO the radio. With no instruction guide with us (we left it at residence), we needed to go the remainder of the hike with out reverse. That sucked. Once residence, although, we received the sequence all the way down to re-activate Reverse – the world was as soon as once more a cheerful place.
• All the trims labored as described, with audible beeps when utilizing the D-Pad. Channels 3 and 4 didn’t actually do something (since we solely had lights in ours), however you may set up a winch or one thing comparable that may very well be managed with these buttons.
• There’s no Model Memory contained in the DS-4A, so when you’ve received greater than 1 automobile you wish to use with it, you’ll have to be continuously transferring the receiver round (or simply purchase extra).
Final Thoughts
If you like taking video of your rides, the HOTRC DS-4A is a superb resolution for making that occur. No have to convey anybody alongside or organising your digital camera for that ‘excellent’ shot – you’ll at all times have the digital camera in your spare hand.
As far as options, it’s definitely not excessive however does embrace all the pieces you want for a primary setup – AND Cruise Control. It’s light-weight as properly and, aside from the slight awkwardness of the offset thumbstick (which we’re certain we’ll get used to), the DS-4A was very simple to put in and use.