Hello again

Given you have a Spektrum/JR set already AND that you want to use a buddy cord to do some teaching then simply buying another Spektrum or JR would seem to be sensible.

I have no idea what the DX8 is like to use. I do have a DX7 and it is quite easy to use but I started running out of channels for example -

I have one model which uses a servo for each side of the elevator (total of 2 so far) and one for each side of the ailerons (total of four channels now) plus one for the rudder (total of 5) and one for the throttle (now we are up to 6). If the plane had retracts (it does not) that would bring to total up to 7 and if it were a warbird and had a bomb bay then we would need 8. Does this give you the picture?

Why use two channels for the two sides of an elevator? You don't need a Y cable but also if you do use a Y cable with two servos, you need a Y cable that has reversing in one side or one half of the elevator goes up when the other side goes down. That is no good at all. Using two channels on you radio makes this easy to set up.

Why use two channels for the two ailerons? Well, it makes differential ailerons possible so that when one side goes up, the other side goes down but by a smaller amount. This is used to counter "adverse yaw" (look it up - it happens with planes with long wings like a Cub).

If you have a plane with multi engines, you may wish to use several channels just to control the engines so it is easier to adjust each one independently.

As I said before - all the radios you have mentioned are good radios and whichever you buy you will end up liking. I bought a DX7 and liked it but the cost of receivers put me off it. So I bought the Aurora and I like it a lot.

The telemetry which tells you the receiver battery voltage has a warning buzzer which screams at you if either the receiver battery or the transmitter battery are getting to the end of their charge. You are not likely to miss it.

Another small thing I like about the Hitec radios. The 2.4 gig system can work in two modes. Normal and Agile. They recommend Normal for most users and only recommend Agile if you are in an area with a lot of 2.4 gig transmitters and by a lot, they mean more than 50. In Normal mode, the system resets extremely quickly if it looses signal. In Agile it takes several seconds. My Spektrum is nowhere as fast as the Hitec at re-establishing contact as the DSM2 Spektrum. DSMX may have fixed this problem but I don't know.

Have fun

Mike in Oz