Well after everyones help I decided to go glow. I bought a trainer kit to build. I started when I was 10 this way and I'm going to do it again, I haven't built a plane innages wish me luck I bought a pt40 can anyone suggest radio kit the best bang for my buck for everything ?

From talking to the local guys, the Spektrum DX6i is probably among the cheapest entry level 6ch radio's out there. If you want a better radio to start with they make a DX7 and 8, but then the price doubles and there are other radio's in that price range.

I suggest you try Tower Hobby for their latest arrival, the Tactic 650, 6 channel and 2.4. I have two already and use one for buddy boxing others that have them. I have many radios some old and some not so old. There are 4.2 and 72. This Tactic 650 comes with two receivers and $150.00 tag. Lots of easy programing. I did not like it at first but changed mind very quickly.

I really think it's hard to beat the Spektrum DX6i for the money. Mine came with two 4 channel receivers. So far I have 7 different aircraft programmed into it and it does fine. There's even room for three more planes! Decisions, decisions.

Storm

Thanks, I will check it out today

One thing to consider is that the two radios that have been suggested are meant to be used with AA batteries. If you fly much that will become an ongoing expense. You can add a NiCd pack to them just fine, but then that's another $30-$40 added to the cost of the radio. The DX7 comes with a NiCd, as does the RDS8000 by Airtronics and (I think) the Hitec Optic 6. So the lower cost radios aren't as big a bargain as they seem to be on the surface of it.

I was liking the hi tech and the futaba is there something wrong with those? And I want 2.4ghz right?

Both of those are definitely good brands for radios. In fact, all of the major name brands (Futaba, Specktrum, Airtronics, Tactic, JR, and Hitech) will give you a good reliable radio to use.

As far as 2.4 Ghz goes, you would be hard pressed to buy anything that's not 2.4 Ghz. Unless of course you buy used equipment.

Hope this helps

Ken

My DX6i came with nickle metal hydride batteries and a charging cable to recharge in the Tx. Nice thing about NiMH is that they don't require a full discharge cycle like nicads.

Storm

Welcome back.

RC Transmitters are a hobby within the hobby for me and I own several different brands.

All the advice you have received here so far is good. I will just add my 2 cents worth.

Spektrum, JR and Futaba have all performed equally well for me, I spent over 2 years flying on average 350-400 flights a month and have over 10,000 flights with 2.4 GHz radios and they have been flawless.

The DX6i is a very good entry level radio, it is easy to program and has a very intuitive menu system.

It depends on your budget, I don't have experience with Hitec or Tactic but have always heard good things about them.

But I can give you a comparison of the radios I have experience with.

At the lower end, you have the Spektrum DX6i and the Futaba 6EX - I have 2 x DX6is and also had 3 x 6EXs (which have now been given away to other modellers)

The Futaba 6EX's were perfectly reliable but due to a very small screen are not as easy to program as the Spektrum DX6i

The other advantage (for me at least) is that Spektrum is compatible with a huge range of Bind and Fly aircraft and helicopters.

Moving up the budget scale..

The Spektrum DX7S and the Futaba 7C:

Again, my 7C has been flawless but the DX7S is the hands down winner between these two for ergonomics, features, display and ease of programmability (it also has ball bearing gimbals which are smoother to fly with)

The next level is a Spektrum DX8 and a Futaba 8FG - both of these radios are superb. Basically on par for ergonomics, both have Bearing Gimbals and backlit screens and the 8FG screen is far superior to the Futaba 7C and 6EX as is the programmability

Moving up from there, you have radios like the JR9503, JR 11X and Futaba 14 SG, more channels, more flexibility in programming.

It really boils down to two things.

1. Your budget
2. How far you expect to go in this hobby.

I have dozens of Helicopters, over 30 fixed wing aircraft and lots of different BNF ultra micro aircraft and helis. (about 25 of them)

In truth, the DX6i is capable of operating everything I own, (though it only has 10 model memories)

The more expensive radios have more - up to 50 in the 9503.

I don't need the features of the more expensive radios but I like how they look and feel. I also set up my Heli radios to feel different to the fixed wing radios which is why I have two of each (I use much lighter spring tension in the Heli radios)

The DX6I is great bang for buck, however if you can stretch another $100, get the Spektrum DX7S, also great value and a super radio.

Anyway, I hope that helps, perhaps others can share their experience with Hitec and Tactic..

Here are a few videos of my radios taken over the years for comparison.. so you get an idea what I was talking about..

Vid 1 - the Futaba 6EX, 7C and 8FG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNNljwYrmLo Vid 2 the Spektrum DX8 and Futaba 8FG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBGEDBL5JXQ Vid 3 Spektrum DX8. Futaba 8FG and JR 11X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IEIpitzMdk Vid 4 - a Spektrum DX6i - if you go with Spektrum, this shows you how to bind a receiver and set fail safe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH-EiOGBb9c And the picture is of the radios I use regularly, (minus a recently purchased JR 9503), and my old Kraft radio from 1980 which still works after 33 years.

Jester, FYI, the Tatic and several others do not require a battery package. Just pull out the old cells, and insert the fresh cells. Go down to Walmart, Home Depot, local drug store or such and pick up an Energizer Charger with 4 NIMH cells in it. Maybe pick up another package of 4 cells. Charge and place fresh NIMH in the radio. Total cost is around less than $20.00.
Then place the other 4 cells in the charger to be ready. Now you have plenty transmitter Go-Go for a day's flying.

Other points: If you only have a JR charger, with the center point being negative, cut the cord and place a connector in it. then you can make the charge cord satisfy any Charge recepticle that has the same size male in the transmitter. Just flip the cord connector. Use charger for any real transmitter.

I was disappointed with the Tactic at first until I found that the entire battery recepticle comes right out. The charge recepticle is center point positive. One has a number of options if one so wishes. You could power it up with a normal receiver 4 cell pack.

If you think you will need more simply plug in the Eng. charger into the local outlet and charge while flying. If you really are a field-is-all-mine fellow and flight after flight, Harbor Freight sells a beautiful little gas generator for under $100.00. I donated one for the Jetero RC Club's Raffle for the excellent Wounded Warrior Fly-In on Aug 19, '13. There is much more to this sport than simply keeping a toy airplane in the sky. No, I do not work for Har. Frt.

Sure it's an option to use the Nimh cells they sell at Radio Shack. I won't, but I know some do. My only point is that it is an extra expense no matter what route you go. The transmitters that come with a battery pack are adding that much value to the package, and so that should be taken into account.

That is a good point. My first DX6i came with batteries and charger - but I swapped them for eneloops (more capacity) and charge them out of the radio - the DX6i never seems to charge them fully (I get about 5.3 volts charging in the radio ) but charging externally the eneloops will show 5.7 volts in the radio

The DX7S and DX8 have much better internal charge technology (dual chemistry) and switch off when the battery is full. The stock NIMH pack is good for abut 20 hours per charge, but you can fit a Lipo which gives almost 40 hours of TX run time. That's plenty enough for me.

I went with the tactic 650 two weeks ago following advice of my local hobby shop and my wallet. In the early 70s I flew Cirrus radios with AA batteries in them so that did not bother me. If you have a local field you might see what is most popular there.

jester, your "....only point..." fails to complete the platter of choices. Who used Radio Shack as the only choice? These newer folks probably need more than a single or even several choices rather than just a singular presented as if said presentatio is the only option. You are pretty well informed, so why not pass it on.

What do you want me to say that I haven't already said about it Horace? A new guy looking for a radio should check to see if it comes with a rechargeable battery and charger. If it doesn't, he needs to add in the cost of either buying AA's every few weeks forever or buying a battery pack and charger for his radio. That was my only point. There are numerous options for rechargeable battery packs that have already been discussed. So what did I leave out?

As always thanks for the great help I will definately look into the spektrum radios. Anyone selling a four channel system? Or a engine? This is going to be my first build in about 18 years hopefully it all comes back to me I bought a trainer so my wife could learn. I need to find my local houston texas club the other small town one turned a flop.

Might check the local classifieds, the one here has tons of DX4i and DX5i's for cheap.

Pardon me for coming late, I agree with Horace (Hossfly) on this one; the Tactic 6 channel radio is probably the best bang for the buck going right now. One drawback is that they will only buddy box with another Tactic. They use an electronic link instead of a cable as used by spectrum and Futaba. One of your questions not answered is the draw back to Futaba is that additional receivers run around $80 each and will most likely stay there due to the technology they use.

On the other hand I've used the Futaba 2.4 since they came out and have had ZERO problems with them at any contests I've been to. The Tactics have performed flawlessly at a collegiate level pylon race with 4 planes in the air at one time.

What vendor has the best prices on these radios and my next question is do you still need a receiver battery? And what servos are good for them?

Tom salinski? Of the torks society in lake Hefner?

I got mine from Tower. I don't really shop for price but I do buy a lot of stuff because of low price. HA HA The Tactic 6 is a neat little radio, especially when Tower places 2 receivers in place. Yep batteries are required. Check Hobby People. I have recently got some good buys there for all kinds of batteries. You can get 2300 NIMH at your local Home store. Pick up a four-batt box at Radio Shack or such, solder on the connector wires of a switch-harness, and go for it. Using the inexpensive chargers you can keep batts charged for lots of flying. I have so many radios that I have a very difficult time keeping up with them.
I am instructing a Gent using his Tatic and one of mine. We are getting the hang of the wireless buddy-box. He is sharper with the electrics than I am (dosen't take much! HA!) Made some real nice flights today.
He has a GP Avistar Elite which is a Tad touchy on the lateral stability. I finally talked him into letting me reset his ailerons to about 3/32" high on T. Edge. He could not believe how stable the machine became. Really nice now. Landings are very stable. We had 7 or 8 flights of 10-14 minutes duration. Plenty battery still there using Energizer 2300 NMIH.

Nice, thanks for all the help guys. I have started my build got a lot done. Finished fuselage on first day took about five hours. I'm excited will probably get dx6i and some basic servos and receiver. My local hobby shop has it for same pricing as tower.

I'll respectfully disagree about putting loose Nimh's into a 4 cell battery holder. 99% of the time that works just fine, but you're relying on the spring tension of a part made in China by 8 year olds who work for $1 an hour for the safety of your airplane. If a cell vibrates out of place or one of the springs isn't as tight as it should be, you take your plane home in a garbage bag. A welded (not soldered!) 4 or 5 cell battery pack made with Sanyo cells is the most reliable one that you can possibly have, and the cost isn't much different. Have a look at www.hangtimes.com for what I consider the best value in batteries on the market today. They aren't the cheapest, but they are top quality and the cheapest manufacturer that I know that sells the top quality items.