On most buddy boxes the expo and other of the computer functions will not be available for the buddy box. The only feature that most buddy boxes will have is dual rates. The exception to this will be some of the JR radios, and some of the higher end computer radios such as the new Airtronics SD-10g radio. But at $500 I doubt that few students will have one.

This brings up a point that I feel needs to be mentioned in the realm of beginners in the hobby. I feel that students learning to fly need to stay away from things such as expo settings, mixes, or other higher functions of today's computer radios. I feel that they distract from the student learning to properly fly. For instance, let's talk about expo settings. EVERY new flyer will over-control as they learn to fly. However, with instruction and practice students learn the proper controls and the "feel" for flying the plane and get over this problem. However, if they try to take a shortcut and apply exponential in their radio they are actually cheating themselves. They will never learn the proper feel of how a plane should be flown. I'm not saying that expo shouldn't be used later on as the student advances to more advanced planes. But when learning to fly a student needs to learn the basics of flying. This is one reason why I have recommended for years that students get a bare-bones non-computer 4 or 6 channel radio such as the Futaba Skysport radios. With these radios there is no temptation to take shortcuts because the radios don't have these functions. However, I have pretty much stopped saying this because these basic radios are quickly becoming a thing of the past and lower end computer radios are now becoming the norm. However, with these low end computer radios I recommend that students leave the bells and whistles alone until after they have soloed and are moving up to more advanced planes.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now!!!!

Ken