Can anyone tell me which radio would be the best to start out with and to be able to upgrade aircraft without upgrading the radio. Presently I am flying electric only trainers. I will want to fly warplanes in the future

Check out Polk Hobby's Tracker III. Synthesized channel selection (no crystal, will set to any available channel), has 99 model memory, digital trims, seven preset mixes. Comes with a synthesized receiver (will set to any channel), battery pack and one servo, for $199.

It also automatically sets to the proper "shift" so you can use any brand receiver and servo with it. The Tx has a frequency scanner built in, allows you to scan for "in use" freqs at the field, and will not set to any frequency in use, so it's impossible to shoot somebody down.

Let the pi$$ing match begin.....

There are several good radios on the market. The good news is you almost can't go wrong. The bad news is....everyone will tell you that you can go wrong.

There are basically 2 sides to the radio market. JR/Airtronics and Futaba/Hitec. The two sides, until recently, have not been compatible with one-another. Now they are all pretty much interchangeable as long as you buy shift-selectable receivers.

Get at least 7 channels. Not that you will need 7 channels, but the more advanced mixing features you will need later are often reserved for radios with at least 7 channels.

JR and Futaba are both excellent choices. I have an Airtronics RD6000 (a starter radio with all the mixing I will need for some time). I also have a JR XP9303 (More than enough radio for me for perhaps the rest of my life). I have 4 more that are old Futaba units (I have never flown them), and one Hitec that has a synthesized module so I can fly a lot of different frequencies if needed (it never is).


There is also the Polk Hobbies radio which gets mixed reviews at my field, but seems to be very popular here on RCU.

I really recommend that you get a middle of the road TX to learn on. Then upgrade later to whatever you want. Personally, I'm glad I used my Airtronics RD6000 to learn on because I didn't know where to put it all the time so I spilled fuel on it, knocked it over and generally put it though the 'student' phase. Now I can keep a nice radio, um .... nice.

BTW TX is short for transmitter and RX is short for receiver.

Welcome to the end of 'free time' and 'disposable income' as you now know them.

All of the radios out there are of good quality, so the brand is up to you.

If you are going to be flying at a regular flying field, I suggest finding out which BRAND is being used by the majority of the people there and then get that brand. I would also suggest finding out which are the LEAST USED channels and get the radio on one of those channels (minimizes/eliminates waiting time to fly )

I suggest a 6 channel radio. You will not be using the extra channels and/or functions INITIALLY, but by your 3rd plane you will be wanting many of the functions and most likely the extra channels (flaps, retracts ). A 6 (or more) channel computer radio should last you for years.

I also suggest a computer type radio. This will allow you to store multiple models in memory and have features such as trim save, expo, etc. The major thing will be your flight packs. You will need lighter weight receivers and servos for electrics than for glow powered planes.

Depending on your individual situation, you may want to investigate the Polk's Tracker III radios. They can transmit on ANY channel using ANY brand/shift receiver. The Seeker receiver can be used on ANY channel, ANY shift, by ANY brand of transmitter. The only negative (depends on how you look at it ) is that the radios only come with one servo. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.polkshobby.com/

FWIW - I have a Tracker II and really like the radio. I have not used my Futaba 6XAS since I got the Tracker (that reminds me, I need to go charge the batteries in everything

Hope this helps.

for futaba the inexpensive 6exa is a nice computer radio it has some advanced features and will take you through intermediate planes with basic mixes and will have 6 memory locations for storing different model settings. I prefer the 9c which is twice the price but it has greater flexibility with its computer mixing modes such as slaving dual elevator servos and allowing them to be trimmed together and greater flexibility for multiple rates and switch function selectability. Its better and more versatile then the 6 or 7c but its twice the money. You have asked a very difficult question where you will get 10,000 answers and every answer is right and every answer is wrong it depends on your true and intended needs. Try to buy a radio that is compatible with the radios of your instructors so they can buddy box you and that should be one of your first decision points. Go to your local club and see what the people there are using to fly the type of aircraft you intend to fly and ask them why they choose that radio. You should buy a cheap pos 4 channel radio originally to learn then research your future radio like luggage that you intend to keep forever. The cheap radios are just a few dollars more then a flight pack you would buy to add to a computer radio setup for multiple planes anyways. futaba 4 chanels are about 120 with servos and flight packs are worth 100 +11 for a channel crystal.

I'll try to make it simple for you...

Look for a 6-channel computer radio in the $200 range

or a 9 channel radio for 289.00...

The short answer is: no. Nobody can tell you which will be best for you. Soon to follow will be several pages of " this is the best, not this one is te best, and this one is even better, but so and so won't tell you...etc" The Futaba 6EXA is a good deal for a first TX, but most any will do the job. Go to your LHS and play with them in person and get a feel for what you like, and pick out the one that feels best.
-Steve

Warbirds? That tells me you want a good 8-channel. I fly warbirds with Polk's Tracker III, or my HiTec Prism 7 (the newer version would be the Eclipse). You'll want the four basic channels, plus flaps & retracts, probably a 7th channel for mixing dual aileron servos, and maybe a bomb drop or canopy channel. You'll also like the dual rates on rudder (check before you buy, some don't have this) and exponential helps sometimes, too.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

One thing to keep in mind before you pick a brand is to find out what they use the most of where you plan to learn to fly. You may be tempted to buy the same brands because first they will have the buddy boxes to match your radio brand, and second they will have the knowledge to help you learn any programing or set up questions/problems. That's why I fly Airtronics now. When I learned that's what most of the people at the field flew, so that's what I bought. That's what I fly now.

Hope this helps

Ken