Ok Crowd. Here's another newbie Q.
Given a choice (other than cash availability) of features, What radio system would you purchase today?
6 channel
And where would you buy it?

I'd get a JR or Airtronics and I'd buy at the store with the lowest price

Find out what your instructor has/uses and what is compatable with the buddy box, assuming you will be using one to learn with. My personal preferences are HiTec & Futaba, but all are good radios no days.

JR & Hitec are both pretty good. Airtronics isn't good for anything but a paperweight. But my personal favorite is Futaba by far. But you will find that most people have different opinions on the subject.

I SECOND John C. I got a JR, but all instructors at my field us futaba or hitec.

Luckily, MyLHS let me exchange it for a futaba.

I've been very happy with my Airtronics RD6000.... wouldn't hesitate to get another.

Been using Futaba and Hitec for so long I wouldn't know what to do with anything else. I got into Hitec because they have a lot of stuff that is perfectly compatible with the Futabas I already had. I have at least 5 Hitecs and a half dozen Futabas, some even AM that work very well in my sailplanes. My surface radios, for sailboats, are all Hitec. That being said I don't believe there are any bad RC units available in this day and age. A lot depends on what you are used to. Do you like Fords or Chevy's? Same type of question.

Hitec Eclipse 7, love it, awesome radio.

www.servocity.com or www.hobbyhorse.com

I agree with John C. When I started back in the early 90's I purchased an Airtronics radio with my first plane. At the time, there was an equal split at the field where I flew between Airtronics and Futaba users. Ten years later I was the last one using Airtronics. By then I had acquired several Airtronics radios. Last year I broke down and replaced all of my Airtronics equipment with Futaba.

Without getting into which radio is better, I will agree that if one brand of radio is more common at your club, there is much to be said for using that brand radio. As John C mentioned, it will be easier to find someone to loan you a radio to use as a buddy box. Also from time to time I have borrowed or loaned batteries, servos, servo extensions, servo horns, switches and chargers. This has allowed me or one of my buddies to fly instead of making a 160 mile round trip to the hobby shop or having to wait on something to be delivered.

Eric

Well, I'm a Futaba man, well boie. Well, that is just what I learned with. Futaba. But, I was at my Hobby Stop/Store (HS) a few days ago and I was comparing the new Futaba 6EXA and JR XP662 computer radios. They are 6 channels. Well, I looked, and the JR just had more. But, really I think that is just what you learn on. Like, I had a O.S. engine on my trainer that I still have now, and that kind of engine is what I will probably stick with. But, I would perfer JR, but Futaba has ver nice radios too. But, I belive that either one of the many radio systems that you choose will fit your need. But, I hope that you have good luck. HAVE FUN. THAT'S WHAT IT'S AALLLLLL ABOUT...........Oh yeah, even though the JR has more "mixes" and programs, and all that kind of stuff (I AM NOT BASHING ON JR) I have heard that is isn't easy to program as the Futaba 6EXA. I'm sure that other will have something to say about the different kinds of good, programmable, radios out there. So, again have fun with whatever you choose. Best Regards, and GOOD LUCK.

How much was the 662?
I know that teh 6EXA is only 179, same price as a 6DA, so it would be fairly cheap.

If you want a more realistic comparison, compare the 6XAS or 6XAPS with the 662.

have owned "many "controlers....

for beginner i'd try hitec.....

and i would'nt be afraid for park flyer to go am.....

hobby shops cry buy this fm you need it to fly.....

local flyers......including some great flyers......use am and fm.....

eef

Thanks for all the replies. I sorta figured that (with the market forces today) that most radio quality would be comparable and Personal opinion would be the most common denominator in the decision process. That being said, as a newbie, initially I would go with a 6 channel as that would last a while in my piloting carreer and probably handle most aircraft I would be flying. What features would be required and which would be helpful yet not a necessity? Most radios in my club seem to be Hitech and JR.

wsudrick,

Talk about a "loaded" thread. This is like going to a truck convention and asking if you should buy a ford, chevy, or dodge!!!
And as to wanting something that is going to last in your piloting career, a 6ch is going to be outgrown pretty quick. Eat a few less lunches and candy bars and save up the money for a good 8 or 9 channel. You don't have to get TOP of the line, but you will eventually want something like a Futaba 9C, JR 8103, or an airtronics RD8000. These may seem a bit pricey, but if you plan on being in this hobby for a while, you will collect many aircraft, which will pare the price of the radio down. And, having the extra features will almost be a necessity with more advanced planes & helis.

Thats what you need to do.

Recently, we have had a rash of new students comming to the field with a new birds. The two I am thinking of, got all the gear online and surf here on RCU for advice. In fact this is how I met one of them, though the instructor link.

One of the guys had a Hitec set up and the other a Airtronics. With 4 different instructors present and an additional 10+ pilots at the field, not a one of us had a buddy box set up for either one of their radios. We had plenty of Junior and Futaba set ups.

We flew one of the guys on the pass the transmitter program and the other we sent to the hobby shop to buy a buddy box set up. 4 hobby shops later, none had buddy box cord or transmitter for the guy to buy. Noone carried Hitec or Airtronics. In his frustration of wanting to use a buddy box, he went back to a hobby shop and bought a Futaba 6 channel radio for $160.00 or so, we swaped the receivers and he flew.

After you visit your local flying field, go to the local hobby shop and buy what they sell.

Do the right thing, FUTABA.

I feel strongly both ways...

Actually, I have 2 JR XF-631's and a Fubtaba 6DA. I like the computer controls on the JR's. The trim doesn't change when you toss it on the car seat. (Don't ask me why I know this... What a ride, but all my fault!) On the Futaba, I bought it because it has a proportional flap channel, which is good if you want to add silliness that needs to be more versatile than ON/OFF.

Both makes are very responsive and great to fly with, but I am a little disappointed that the JR XF-631 does not allow flap-flaperon/elevator mixing, unless I am reading the manual wrong.

On the whole, I have to cast my lot in with JR, but it's purely a personal choice with no hard data to back it up!

Just my $.02

Ed

Here: http://www.tti-us.com/sim/shop.html#6EXA you can get the Futaba 6EXA or JR 631 computer radios with FMS, 700 planes for FMS, and USB computer interface for FMS $129.. You can toss in a buddy box for $10 and it ends up being about $146 including shipping. I ordered the JR and it's nice. Too bad it's not 8 channel so it will do everything my UltraStick 40 will do. Oh well. - Joe