The Airtronics budget 6-channel and 7-channel 2.4Ghz receivers are expected to start shipping around April of this year at street prices significantly lower than the $79.99 price tage of the 92824 8-channel receiver. Spektrum gets $99.99 for their 7-channel receiver and the JR 9-channel receiver is $169.99. The JR/Spektrum receiver pricing advantage is about to go away with the introduction of additional Airtronics 2.4Ghz radio equipment.

As nice as the JR 9303 2.4Ghz radio system is, the new Airtronics SD-10G 10-channel 2.4Ghz radio system will be coming in below $500 street price and could end up embarrassingly close to the Spektrum DX7's $349.99 street price. Maybe I'm dreaming on this particular point, but is it just a coincidence that Hobby People is selling single receiver RDS8000 packages for $149.99 right before the SD-10G comes to market?

The Spektrum/JR lineup of transmitters and receivers is a good line-up from top to bottom, and anyone who buys and flies DSM2 radio equipment will likely be happy with it. That having been said, Horizon Hobby has never been the price leader in any product category. I expect you're going to see Global Hobby/Airtronics continue to hammer JR/Spektrum with regard to overall value in order to make up ground after coming late to the party.

If you're really focusing on saving money as you continue to add 2.4Ghz receivers to your collection of airplanes, Airtronics will likely turn out to be the smart buy. Nobody else can touch 2.4Ghz 8-channel receivers for $79.99, and Airtronics is getting ready to ship several more receiver options within the next 60 to 90 days.