Popular Post totlxtc Posted March 12, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted March 12, 2023 FIRST IMPRESSIONS REVIEW - (Scroll to the first image if you want to avoid my waffle.) So I have been looking for a new transmitter for a while. I wanted something 'Nice' that I could use for all my models, RX's were cheap and easy to get and, I will freely admit, I am a massive tech nerd and a bit of a geek when it comes to anything 'techy' (Yes, I have a man cave with lots of consoles, gaming figures and Star Wars stuff - but NO. I'm not a 45 year old man living in my mothers basement). My main usage is racing. I'm an ok racer. Not about to set the world on fire or be part of "Team Xray" anytime soon and nor do I expect a fancy TX will make me better - Only I can make me better. Secondary is bashing. And lastly - I want a boat as I am 20 yards away from a beautiful still lake. The hobby is growing for me and at some point I would like to have a crack at on-road racing and I quite fancy a crawler at some time. So it needs to be something that will support me along the way. After looking around at various options and seeing the vast price ranges the Noble Nb4 (Not the Pro) just shone out over all the others - even the £700+ high end radios. There appeared just so much going for it for such a low (I say low, what I mean is "what you get for the money") price point. I could pick apart the other TX's in the price range which made me feel like I would have to compromise one over the other, whereas the Noble just had everything. This review will just touch on the package contents and not the features and use of the TX till a later date. Then why the Pro? The Noble NB4 was the radio I wanted. I'll be honest with you, I got it because I am a Magpie and attracted to shiny things. Plus it has the case (which cases can cost a bit) and a few other nice to have things...but mainly because its shiny and I am weak. The box The box is REALLY nice. Well made too and aluminium with a carbon fibre effect printed over it. Very sturdy but lightweight and does not wobble around or anything. Inside the box Nice dense foam holds all the bits and pieces together (quite tightly too). The top is nice spongey protective foam. I have removed the phone holder as I have no need for it but that would slot into the top left) What's in the box?? WHAT'S IN THE BOX!!! Noble NB4 Pro Base battery Box of bits Larger control wheel Control wheel foam Wireless charger. Have noticed they have changed the design of the charger as the old one looked like a vinyl record, which I actually didn't like the look of as it bore no relation to RC but some people thought it was cool though. This one now has a simple rubberised top. What's in the box of bits? FGr4B 4 channel receiver FGr8B 8 channel receiver Lanyard 2 x power leads 2x screen protectors Larger grip Quick start manual Tension springs Customisation box containing various trigger sizes (S, M, L), a go pro mount, back frame (which I have used to replace the phone mount), different knobs for replacing the switches, a control wheel brake adjustment and allen keys Look and feel Now this is going to sound odd. I don't think the TX looks that nice if I'm honest. What I will say is it seems more function over form. There is a reason for the loop on the bottom - if you drop it the screen wont hit the deck. There is a frame of aluminium that goes around the screen - again for extra protection. Obviously you have the wheel out on the directional arm - which is great to swap over for a leftie or someone who wants a non-90 degree position. The battery base is there to charge the main battery in the TX. It has all been thought about. Everything about the TX feels quality. All the controls feel smooth and have a nice tension (which can all be adjusted). I know this is going to sound silly but it reminds me of the quality of materials you get in something like a VW Passat. Nice, solid, functional with chunky controls that feel smooth. Whereas some TX's feel like those really cheap car interiors with clicky switches and loose knobs. So much of it is aluminium including the control wheel. The rest that is not silver is a really nice feeling plastic. There is a rubber strip at the front of the hand control too. Ton's and ton's of buttons - I can see the NB4 being AMAZING for crawlers and anything that needs multiple functions over different channels. The TX has a back LED and you can change it from a choice of 8 colours and you can make it as dim or bright as you like or you can have it as a battery indicator. The battery base also has an LED light but this cannot be changed from green. Interface This area I can say I am a bit of an expert in and anything funky I can spot a mile off. I have been a designer for 25+ years and 18 of those as user experience and user interface design on software, mobile apps (if any of you have electric charge point apps - its likely I did some design work there!), web apps and web sites. I cannot fault the Noble. It's simple stupid. Nice and easy to get around, simple to change settings and there is always help if you need it. The TX will beep and vibrate when you make a selection or change - this may or may not drive you nuts but you can turn it off at anytime. Things I don't like I don't like the phone mount - but I'm glad you can take it off. When you rotate the wheel around from the default position it can move up and scratch the underside of the screen - I can see this being marked over time. Overall thoughts for now This is initial thoughts and I have not taken it for a spin yet. I will update later. But so far I am blown away by the Noble. It is a really stunning bit of kit and I honestly think it is a game changer in the pistol grip TX world. I cannot see how the other major players cannot look at the Noble and feel threatened. Its like when everyone had Nokia's and then over night everyone had an Iphone. Unless the big players in the TX industry do something, they are going to be left behind. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4inbrain Posted March 12, 2023 Share Posted March 12, 2023 Good review, it's a great radio. It just, to me, has one glaring issue: the normal Noble NB4. At less than half the price, with most of the features (albeit no carry case etc), for the vast majority that's already more than enough radio. That's why i also don't think that it's a game changer - the normal NB4 has been out for years now (bought mine on release), sadly didn't change the game. Anyone who i got to buy one agrees that it's a stunning radio (of course the same would go for the Pro), punching way above its paygrade - but sadly, never really took off (massively, anyway). Indeed the two negative points you added aren't present on the normal NB4. But: as a fellow member of the mens club, i can relate to the "wanting shiny stuff" bit. If the Pro was out when i ordered my normal NB4 years ago, i'd have bought it too. Not out of necessity, of course, i barely utilise a quarter of the normal NB4 in terms of features - but because. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 I think deep down were all Magpies if its shiny we want it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totlxtc Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share Posted March 13, 2023 29 minutes ago, m4inbrain said: Good review, it's a great radio. It just, to me, has one glaring issue: the normal Noble NB4. At less than half the price, with most of the features (albeit no carry case etc), for the vast majority that's already more than enough radio. That's why i also don't think that it's a game changer - the normal NB4 has been out for years now (bought mine on release), sadly didn't change the game. Anyone who i got to buy one agrees that it's a stunning radio (of course the same would go for the Pro), punching way above its paygrade - but sadly, never really took off (massively, anyway). Indeed the two negative points you added aren't present on the normal NB4. But: as a fellow member of the mens club, i can relate to the "wanting shiny stuff" bit. If the Pro was out when i ordered my normal NB4 years ago, i'd have bought it too. Not out of necessity, of course, i barely utilise a quarter of the normal NB4 in terms of features - but because. Spot on. The Noble NB4 is the way to go unless you want everything and be attracted to the shiny stuff. Its crazy you can get a NB4 for £180. Nothing around it is even close on paper! NB4 amazing. This will be the better choice. NB4 Pro - amazing + some bonus bits if a little pricier. Twice the price for a few extra functions, some TX jewellery, carry case and extra setup bits? I’m on the fence still. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4inbrain Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 36 minutes ago, totlxtc said: Spot on. The Noble NB4 is the way to go unless you want everything and be attracted to the shiny stuff. Its crazy you can get a NB4 for £180. Nothing around it is even close on paper! NB4 amazing. This will be the better choice. NB4 Pro - amazing + some bonus bits if a little pricier. Twice the price for a few extra functions, some TX jewellery, carry case and extra setup bits? I’m on the fence still. I mean, it does have some extra bits. Shiny bits. I think that one is easy to settle though. The NB4 Pro as a package is better, but the normal NB4 is better value than any other radio on the market currently. For example, truckers or people with proper "functional" models like tractors with implements etc, i could see the Pro working better there with what, 18 channels? Generally though, the NB4 is enough. The main issue with Pro vs normal is the price, obviously - at £180, a radio that rivals (and to a degree beats) big boi Futaba radios at £550+, at £399 the Pro is already priced like a (lower end) big boi radio. I'm very certain you're going to love that radio as much as i love mine, or KPowell loves his. For certain. 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totlxtc Posted March 24, 2023 Author Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) Put in the FGr4S at lunch. Working a treat. Just a crude little test of response. Very happy. IMG_2407.mp4 Edited March 24, 2023 by totlxtc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totlxtc Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 Flysky have released V3.0 firmware update. Greatly improved the UI and added a load of sensor options plus a ton of new stuff that I will now have to go over. Before and after below: Main Screen Menu 1 Menu 2 Menu 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grogg Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 (edited) Just to point out for people who don't know, there are 3 versions of the Noble Pro, the EN version, EU version, and the Asian version. The EN version is for the American market, it will still work in the UK, though has different firmware that is not compatible with the EU version - if you update the EU version with the firmware for the EN version it will brick it, and the FCC firmware file, which is naughty to use in the UK. The EU version, which is for the European market, this does not have the same range as the EN - US version, it's quite a bit less, due to British and E.U. laws The Asian version, which is intended for the Asian market and is capable of displaying characters - Chinese characters for example which the EN/American and EU/European versions can't do. Not to mention that there are slight differences to what's included in the package with each version. I imported the US/EN version because of the longer range, as well as what is included in the pack compared to the European/EU version, you can update the FCC firmware file in the EU version to run the EN FCC firmware file, but it's naughty. See here for more details about the differences between the EN version and EU version - he doesn't really mention much about the Asian version, and explains the legalities of using the EN FCC firmware file in the UK Edited May 8, 2023 by Grogg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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