I agree....

Small hands aren't compatible with large radios! And, vice versa.

I always use a neck strap with the Spektrum DX6i because of it's bulkiness.
I also owned a cheap GWS "Dream Starter" radio that was the lightest, most comfortable four-channel radio, I've ever flown with.

However, most radios can be adjusted and modified to your liking. Stick tensions, gimbal lengths, radio trays, throttle ratcheting, etc.

Happy flying....

warjet, I was not welcomed at weed whackers. They said i flew to fast and to low. I was flying a Jr Tiger with an O.S. FP .35. They had trouble keeping track Petenpaul air camper.

I really like Chollas, Alpine was fun too. Get to practice your carrier landings.

Yeah, Buzz, I remember the folks at Weedwackers were nervous, thus kinda strict, because the field was in the middle of the county park, and they were deathly afraid of issues with the neighbors complaining to the county. The area around the strip was big, but pilots were restricted to a narrow flight path. Miramar is great (if you're active or retired) but you lose a plane there, if it doesn't have a finder (beep beep), then forget it, unless of course you can charm rattlers!

I have personally had nothing but good experiences with Hobbyking but that is another argument completely.. I would also steer clear of the cheaper "non brand names" but Hobbyking also sell some good radios, EG, Futaba, JR, etc...

One thing I can say from experience, the Hobbyking Orange Brand Receivers for Spektrum and Futaba radios are excellent and have proven just as reliable for me as the genuine product at a fraction of the cost..

For a budget of $150, if you can stretch that to around $200 you can get a Futaba 6EX or a Spektrum DX6i.. I have owned both.. In terms of quality and reliability they are on par.. I think the DX6i has the edge in terms of ease of programability because the dispay is more intuitive, but that is just personal opinion.

One benefit of Spektrum is that it also has model match, so if you end up with several aircraft it will be impossible to take off with the wrong model selected.. This is a great safety feature..

I have only ever had 3 crashes with RC helicopters, in 3 years and about 6000 flights, One was outright pilot error but two were from taking off with the wrong model selected (both on a Futaba 6EX) The controls were reversed and the crashed occurred seconds after take off..

My point is the spektrum will protect you from this..

Another feature I like about Spektrum is that they are compatible with the Eflite and Parkzone range of Bind and Fly aircraft and these work really well, I have a whole stable of Helis and Aircraft that are BNF to Spektrum

If you buy a DX6i you will be very happy with it.. Make sure it is a newer model with an X on the front.. Don't think you are getting a bargain if you find a cheap DX6i that does NOT have the X...

The X means it uses the DSMX protocol which is much better than the original DSM2 versions.. See my vid below and you see the X...

Now, I respect you have a budget.. but if there is any way you can stretch it a little further, I can very strongly recommend a Spektrum DX7s..

This is a beautiful radio for about 30% more cost than a DX6i.. The biggest benefit in my opinion is the Quad Ball Bearing Gimbals..

You have to fly with them for a while before you fully appreciate the difference.. I had a DX6i for a year and flew with it regularly and was blissfully (and ignorantly) happy with it..

After upgrading to the DX7s it immediately felt silky smoother and much more refined.. the response of all aircraft is exponentially better also in my opinion, perhaps because of better resolution and quality in the Gimbals..

After flying Helis and aircraft on the DX7s going back to a DX6i feels completely agricultural, It actually feels like there is sand in the gimbals, they feel scratchy compared to ball bearing gimbals on higher end radios..

Again, the DX6i is a good radio and if you never upgrade you will never miss the difference.. but that extra 30% buys a lot of extra radio..

If you only plan to be a sport flyer and perhaps try Helicopters, the DX7s will be all the radio you will ever need. It will take a long time to grow out of.

All radios come with a receiver these days so that is not an issue..

So try for the DX7s..

If budget is really strict, then the DX6i would be a winner.

Hope that helps.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Tbes9f1_c[/youtube]

LOL..agreed.. but I'll raise that to 6000 flights in 3 years with DSM2 and not a single problem..

DSMXis definately superior to DSM2, There was never anything wrong with the DSM2 technology it works great and I still have about 10 planes with DSM2 receivers that fly regulary..

DSMX and Futaba FASST are unarguably better than DSM2 though..

Futaba 8FG is an awesome radio, I have two and a 14SGnow also.. Can't go wrong with these radios, might be a little out of the Budget here though..

I have Futaba, Spektrum and JR so I am not biased, they all work great.. but you don't need a "Bunch" of satellites with Spektrum.. One Satellite is enough and in my own personal testing the Spektrum RX with a single Satellite actually does give slightly better range than Futaba.. Both are good to many miles so the difference is really trivial.. but my point is the Satellites do make a positive difference and you only need one.. Not a Bunch of them...

My range tests below..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gl6e25m9WU[/youtube]

This one was surprising.. even a small ultra micro Spektrum Heli has the same range as a Full range Futaba RX...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIR0a9s8TE[/youtube]

Usually it is the incompetent pilots that crash, regardless of Radio Brand.. Sometimes that incompetance manifests itself in bad radio installations and poor quality batteries that result in the Radio being blamed for the crash.. Any of the current Brand name Radios, if set up and powered correctly will be equally reliable in my opinion and personal experience..

I agree with this %100. No matter the radio brand, model type, or power system good pre-flight
habits area must. Checking connections and linkages before the flying session is a great thing to
do. When flying my volt meter is always nearby as I check my Rx pack between flights. These have
saved my butt a few times. Switches are another culprit many pilots ignor. Last year I nearly lost a
new model to a bad switch, a new one! I don't use generic switches and never re-use old ones. A new
name brand switch is cheap insurance.

Thanks for all the replies..... after reading, I think I'll go with the Spektrum DX6i, as I'm looking towards the BNF models down the road. I can stretch my budget to $200 for a radio and the DX will fill my needs.

I have enjoyed reading this thread. So much so, that I checked out the reviews on the TTX650 and purchased one as my entry into 2.4. I am a very value-conscious shopper and the ability to pick up a nice 6ch computer radio for $129 with flight packs at about $100 each is very attractive to a sport flyer like me. Thank you!

I only have one question. I also purchased some NiMH receiver battery packs for a little more power. Are there any caveats regarding using my standard Futaba overnight charger to charge these?

i dont care what anyone says>> if you think you want to fly>>> get a good brand radio engine>>> plane >> get in a club>> if you go cheap it might cost you a lot more later on just my thoughts>>> when i started>> everything was american made>>> radios planes engines>>

To answer your question, look at the capacity of the NIMH packs and then the output of the charger..

IE Battery is 2000 Mah (Typical) and the Futaba charger will be around 150 mah

15 hours charge should work nicely..

Slow charge like this and there will be very little chance of damaging cells, I am sure it will work fine.

I am a fan of the Spektrum Dx7 and a huge fan of my new Dx8. I think a person should buy the best radio they can afford to begin with. I was fortunate and several years ago won at a raffle my Dx7. I just recently begin phasing this out in lieu of a newer more powerful Dx8. The Dx8 has many features the old version Dx7 I had been using. I think the throttle cut on the Dx8 is an excellent safety feature especially for those persons new and old alike whom are flying electrics. The added safety cant be a bad thing and surely something worth considering when purchasing a radio. I am not sure if the Dx6 has the throttle cut feature or not, but that is also a really great radio for the money as well.

Paul