Hello, I am new to the world of RC. I am thinking about getting a Sig Lt-40. What kind of radio would i want a 4 Channel, or a 6 Channel? What kind would i want.. Also i am 13 so cant afford alot. I have heard that i should go for a 6 Channe, but want alot of opinions aobut pros and cons of each kind. And if you have a good radio that i should look into could you give me a link, or the name. Thanks you guys!

Also should i get an electric start or should i try a stick one? I just need GOOD but cheap stuff that works.... Thanks

You have all been a big help!!!

i am 13 as well, so i hope i have a good idea on the budget restraints.
My first radio was a futaba 6x. it is a computer radio designed to fit really tight budgets. it was given to me as a gift for christmas when i was 10 (back when the financial situation was a bit better). it was fine for my trainer and my second plane, but then i got into aerobatic planes and ran out of programable mixers and was short on switches and much constrained due to the lack of switch assignability. i sold it and bought a used futaba 8u. it is like the 6x but has switch assignability (meaning you can program what switches activate what and in what position, up down or in some cases, neautral,) I was very happy i bought it. iut cost me about $200 a new 6x with reciever system and all that junk and stuff is about $200, about the same price i bought the used 8u for. there are no mechanical parts, so the new ones are jsut as good as the used ones. if you already have a reciever system, you can just buy the radio. there are very few pros and cons. you won't find computer radios with less channels than 6 usually. maybe 5, but i have not seen any. computer radios are a bit more expensive, but save you money in the long run incase you get a plane that would have required you purchasing a new radio to opperate. if i were you i would just do what i did and get the 6x first and when i decided i liked the hobby and would persue it, i sold it and bought a used 8u for about the same amount of omney as i sold my radio for. HOWEVER. there are compatibility issues between manufacturers. futaba and hitec are what is called negative shift. that means that the signal goes tward the negative side when imput is given. so that means that hitec or futaba radios can only be used with hitec or futaba recievers. jr and airtronics are positive shift, meaning that the signal goes tward the positive side, and can only work between themselves. so, if you don't have any radio equipment yet, i might be able to help you there. you probably want at least a 6 channel tx so that you can have a spare channel or two for use with your next plane. you also probably want a computer radio because they perform wonders. they are not difficult to program either. there is no computer code. just menues and options. they are strikingly easy to program. it is almost like filling out a form where you check either yes or no and go on to the subquestions. futaba is a more expensive company than most, but they have great range and great sesolution. i stick with them because sometimes going cheaper ends up getting more expensive and in odd ways. hitec is the cheapest of all of them i think.
about the starter, while stick starters are much cheaper (in some cases free if you happen to have a spare piece of wood) electric starters are much better. when breaking in a new engine, they are much easier. think of the electric starter in your car. you just turn the key and it starts. with a stick it is like trying to start it by hand. it xoesn't move fast enough to draw fuel efficiently, and you have to keep flicking it until conditions are perfect, and you also have to play around with a throttle. with an electric start, just keep holding the switch and the engine will start on it's own, at any throttle, usually in just seconds once it is broken in. some engines are tight when they are new, and some engines are jsut obstenant and stubborn because of things like cold weather. the electric starter kind of forces it to without damaging anything.

wow thanks so so so so much Spaceclam that helped so much! So for starters i would prob want a futaba 6X computer 6 channel radio? Which one though 6XAS, 6XAS, 75MHz ground use 6XHS Thanks so so much agian i cant thank you enought that was the best answer i have gotten!

Tannerlb's answer was pretty concise. I'm not sure if your budget will allow for a six channel comuter radio but if it does, go for it. I personally use a JR XP662 (my second radio) and I love it.

The question arises, however, if you're just in the thinking stage, why would you spend the long dollar for a computer radio? If you're worried about buying an electric starter ($20) How would you justify $200+ for a computer radio? I had the same feelings when I got into it and I bought a basic JR F400 for around $140, still flying the same trainer with it. And, if your like most flyers, you're going to be spending a lot of time with your trainer. My advice is to worry about a six channel radio further down the road. Maybe with your second plane. Consider one of the package deals offered by the catalogs. (Ultimate combos, they call them.) they offer the most bang for the short buck.

Remember, advice is free and mine is just another opinion! Best of luck to you!

I'd have to agree with Bakes on the radio issue. If you're considering saving money by not buying a starter, then skip the computer radio for now. SpaceClam is right about the 6 channel computer if you can afford it, but there's nothing wrong with starting out with a basic 4 channel.

I would seriously recommend that you find a local club and join, then talk with an instructor. You'll be better off buying radio equipment that's compatible with his. They'll also likely recommend an airplane that they're used to training on.

Quite often, someone at the local club will have a used trainer and radio equipment that will save you a lot of money in the long run.

You will also need to join the AMA for the liability insurance. But it's very inexpensive for anyone under 16. I believe it's only a $1.00, but you won't get the magazine. Virtually every club requires AMA membership.

But go visit the club's flying field and get to know some people. I'm guessing they'll put you on a Buddy Box for a flight or two that day. Go on a Saturday or Sunday around mid-day.

Good luck, and welcome!!
Dennis-

thanks you guys you all hav been a great help!!

If you want a basic 6ch computer and don't plan on doing anything fancy for a while, check out Futaba's new 6EXA. If you are looking at the 6X, take a look at the HiTec Eclipse 7, it's just a little bit more money and about 10 times as good.

i would not go with the exa. it is not that much less expensive than the 6x, and is extremely limited.

I guess you could go on forever, I got the 6 exa because was not much more than a basic six channel radio. And I guess you could get the 6x because its not much more than the 6 exa, and I guess you could probably get something better than the 6x for not much more, and so on untill you end up talking yourself into spending way more money than you need to.

I am a beginner and I got the 6 exa and am very happy with it. My favorite part is that the trims are saved. You don't have to worry about bumping them and messing them up. It has features that I am sure will suffice on my first several planes. By the time I am ready for a plane that needs more features there will proably be something much better on the market. In my opinion my 6 exa is more than plenty for a beginner probably for long while.

Wings,

I started with an electric glider (Aspire EP) then got a couple flying wings (Zagi, Unicorn) and was very happy with a Hitec Flash 5X. It's a 5 channel computer radio with almost any mix that you could want (for 5 channels anyway). I've since moved on to wet planes and the Hitec is at its limits of usability. I can have two seperate/mixed ailerons but now I don't have anymore channels. That's pretty good for a 4 channel 5 servo (or 5/5 I guess) plane but any steeper radio requirements and I wont be able to use this radio.. The good things are: it's relatively in-expensive less than $185 for a TX/RX combo (depending if you go with standard gear or micro), it's got mixes for Gliders, Acrobatic and Glid-Acro, 5 model memory, and it's reliable as far as I can tell. It's mainly plastic in construction but has 4 switches, one of which is for the buddy box function. This radio is compatible with Futaba gear so a Hitec can talk to a Futaba radio via training cord and also use Futaba receivers and servos. My next TX will probably be a 9CAP of 8U but my Flash 5 still has it's uses. For the money it's a very comprehensive package.

Hope that helped,
Danno

ok, thanks you very muchguys been a great help!

get a 6exa. its really easy to use and it has a good price- i think 200 for the tx with an rx and some servos. i paid 75 for just a tx

Its 179.99 from Tower Hobbies. I talked my LHS into giving it to me for the same.

it is good for your first plane, and if you aren't agressive about the sport, probably your second and maybe even third plane. the main difference between the 6ex and the 6x is that the 6x has about 4 programable mixers and about 6 switches.

Hello Tanner:

I agree that a computer radio is the only way to go. I got into the hobby just as computer units came on to the scene. I have a buch of old 4 channel AM & FM units just sitting doing nothing. I will use the flight packs off the old radios in new ones for my computers. I have 2 Futaba 7UAF's and one new 9C.

Having said this I reccomend looking at the Airtronics new 6 channel set ups. They have a lot of good features for the money. If the club you go to has Airtronics stuff there it is a good option. Most clubs however use Futaba. As I said and others recomend. Go to your local club and ask around about what radio systems are in use. Buy the best radio you can afford and go out and enjoy yourself.

Welcome to the Sport.

Mark Shuman

while this is kinda irrelevant, when you watch discovery wings and they show those 4 engined pusher planes that look like a paper airplane and they show the controller, it is ALWAYS a futaba 8u. i watch that channel all the time. i was watching history channel about an hour ago and it showed a commercial for that new show tactical to practical. it said "hunder ellis is getting a try at remote controlled airplanes" or something of the like. then it showed the controller. it was, you guessed it a futaba 8u. that is because it is not incredibly expensive, and has all kinds of wacky features on it. i have currently a 4 rotored prodject going (it looks a bit like the draganfly but it looks like crap because i made it myself ) that has some fancy requirements. when the throttle stick is moved, all four motors come on and spool up at the same time. when the aileron stick is applied, it has to add on one side and subtract from the other the throttle setting to make it pitch. same with elevator. that took 7 pmixers. also, because you have switch assignability, you can make it null on the switch, so you don't have to flip anything. guess what radio i have. the futaba 8u. it is really a versitile thing. you can buy one used for the price of a new 6x with a flight pack. if i were you and wanted to get into gas, save up that much longer and spend the extra money because if you ever get anything more complicated than a trainer and you have a standard 4 channel radio(not harder to fly mind you, COMPLICATED) you will either have to spend all kinds of money on on-board stuff that you have to land and take off the wing to adjust by guessing and trying again, or spend more money on a new tx. it is easier to get what will last you longer for more than to keep buying what you need in the meantime for less.

Not to be off the subject, but are the usually shows on discover wings for rc planes? I have been watching that channel quite a bit myself lately, but I didn't know they had programs on rc planes. What is it called? It is frequent thing, or just a one time thing?


Wings,

Hey!

Help me!!!
I am in the same predicament as Tanner! Im twelve and have about $400 to start off!

How should I spend that $$$??? I definitely want a futaba computer radio. I plan to buy a midwest aerobat for 155.

I got an LT 40, .56 NT evo engine, 6 exa radio, glue, starter, glow ignitor, gallon of fuel, fuel pump, two extra glow plugs , 2 props, 2 spinners and rubber bands (basically everything I needed as far as the basics) for $550 bucks. So for $400 you can do pretty good. I got some discounts for buying everying in one place.

I would recommend buying about the cheapest decent brand FM radio you can find. Futaba Hitec JR Airtronics. They will all be good quality starter radios. But if you got the jack get a Royal Evo

IMHO there is no reason when you are starting to get the best radio with all the bells and whistles. I think it is better to start with a very simple setup and not try to get too fancy too fast. There will be plenty of time for that once you know what directions the hobby takes you.

Learn how to set up your planes(s) without the help of computer radios. You will learn a lot that way and you will make good linkage setups. Computer radios are great but you need to learn how to walk before you crawl and so on. All I use now are computer Radios



So for know go kinda cheap and learn.

yub, i might be able fo help you out a bit. you can get a used 6x online for not a lot of money. with electrical parts like radios and recievers, used is jsut as good as new becausethere aren't any moving parts to wear down besides switches. for the radio, a new 6x will cost you about $200 with the radio equipment. you can probably get one used online for $150. if you would like, email me and i will give ya a hand. as for the programs on rc planes, sometimes they hafve programs on uavs. that is when they sometimes show the maiden flight of a uav using commercially available products. ie small gas motors designed for rc, servos, radios etc. they also have comercials that show them briefly. they show the controller to impress the public because the 8u looks really hi-tech and expensive but not gimmicky

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a uav?


Wings,

I'd go for a basic four ch radio. I have been flying for fifteen or twenty years and have never used more than four ch's. The most important thing is to make sure it has trainer capabilliteis, and is compatable with the equipment where you will be flying so you can fly with an instructor. I am an instructor and have had three students show up at the field this summer looking for help but their radios didn't have trainer ports or were the wrong brand. One had Jr and I use futaba and the others had futabas with no trainer ports. rctrax

Wings: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle...Right? There may be others too....

yes, it is unmaned airial vehicles or something like that. some people will fly forever on four channels, but some people can't live without computer radios. it is all about your style of flying. you will never really know until you get into the sport more. when i first got into the sport i had no clue where i wanted to go. by the time i was nearing the completion of my training, i set my eyes on 3d. i have been aiming in that direction ever sence. i hada 6 channel comp radio. it was the 6x. nice little radio. when i got into my cap though and had duel ailerons, flaps, spoilers, airbrakes, gyros etc, the 6x couldn't keep up. i sold it and bought the 8u.