Hello, I am an asipiring new pilot. I am fortunate enough to have gotten a training plane lent to me by an experienced pilot. I plan to invest the savings into a better radio. I have already invested in Real Flight and with some luck, and training from instructors, I will have some success in the upcoming season. I have found a club, and their training staff. They are giving me advice but encourage me to do my homework, so here I am.

I am looking for opinions as to a good radio perhaps 7 or 6 channel computer that will allow me to train and also have the ability to grow with me as my skills grow. I would welcome everyones thoughts on the radio situation. The way I see my interest in the hobby at this point is glow powered planes. In the future I can see myself getting into some acrobatics, and I have a great interest in warbirds. I would like suggestions on radios with these long term goals in mind. Is it possible to buy a radio that would be a good starter but allow for growth into my future interests? Thanks in advance!

If you want that newest out look at the DX-7, But if you need a buddy cord system you must start lower. If you are a new AMA member they will send a free buddy box by JR and then buy JR's 4 ch. move up to the DX-7 at a later time. Dennis

Actually the DX-7 remains the best choice even on the buddy box. It can be buddied with the free JR box or almost any other JR radio.

Hello Tarm,

The answer is yes. Check out the Futaba 6EXAS it's , relativly inexpensive, has full features, Futaba quality. This radio will last you for years. You will get lot's of advice on MFG's, the bottom line for me is that you really can't go wrong with Futaba or JR. If it were me I would stay away from the 7 channel and up radios for now. It's most likely you won't be using more than 6 for a very long time. Be sure to get a computer radio with modern features (like the Futaba 6EXAS). These features include, multi model memory, digital trims, mixing capabilities, exponental, dual rates, throttle cut off, LCD screen. These things might not mean alot to you right now, but they will and you will wish you had them. Do not buy a new anolog radio with 20 year old technology in the box, a modern radio with the aformentioned features will only cost you an extra 20- 50 bucks.

Darren

PS- I just had agood look at the Spektrum DX7, I have to admit that's one nice system. It looks like it'll cost you about $350.

Hi I'm a student pilot myself
You can usally get a good 2nd hand radio at a hobby store for a good price
or you can check on e bay or the other online dealers for good prince on one

Thanks for the input so far. The Spectrum DX7 does look pretty nice.... anyone have any experience with the JR XP7202? I have read in a couple of places that it is very similar to the Spectrum DX7

You'd be surprised how quickly you might want those extra channels. I was flying less than a year and 1/2, and had already went through three radios (one four channel and two six channels) and was wishing for the seventh for mixing purposes. I've since bought the JR 7202 which is a very nice radio for the money. The extra channel comes in very nice when you start mixing stuff together. I would opt for the DX7, but at 100 bucks per receiver, I dont have a grand to replace all of my receivers. JR should have made an option for an RF modulator to plug into it to ease the transition--JMO.
If I were just starting, however, I would go for it. Sure, I'll eventually end up with one--as will most pilots eventually end up with a spread spectrum radio of some brand or another. It would pretty much eliminate stress between us and the FCC.

tarm1094,
Welcome to the greatest hobby in the world!! One quick note on choosing a radio. One factor that is huge as to what type of radio you use finding a radio that your instructor can deal with. This is important for 2 reasons, 1) You will need to have a buddy box setup for your training, so it's important that your instructor has the correct equipment to buddy box. 2) Knowledge of the radio. It helps that the instructor knows your radio and how it is programmed (if you get a computer radio) so that he can help you get your plane set, or work out any problems you may have. It would probably help in your decision if you contact your instructor and see what his opinions are before buying a radio. While it's true that some instructors are setup for just about any radio (I have a buddy box for all the major brands of radio), not all are. So it helps to check.

One other thing to think about is that you can get a free buddy box from the AMA when you join. The buddy boxs are either Airtronics or JR, but if you are getting those brands of radio this can be a huge advantage. You can find info on the AMA buddy box program here: [link]http://www.modelaircraft.org/promos/1/default.aspx[/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

Thanks Ken,

I have read that somewhere else, I beleive it may have been you that posted it elsewhere. Throughout this whole process I have been discussing the equipment selections with the local AMA club members, the instructors at the club and forums such as these.

(for any other newbies that may read this I would highly reccomend that you suppress the urge to go out and buy your plane, radio, and equip real fast, without first talking to your local club members, get as many opinions as possible, do your due diligence, and make an intelligent decision based on the info and opinions that you get. I have already learned alot about the hobby just by discussing and absorbing. Plus you'll get alot of respect from your fellow club members when you do so.)

Believe it or not I have been in the planning stages for about 2 months and have yet to make a purchase. I am planning on getting a buddy box through the AMA.... I figure when I am done I will either keep it or donate to the clubs collection. As I understand it, the club has several instructors, and cover pretty much all of the radios out there as far as familiarity. That is why I seem to have the luxury making a choice for not only now, but for my future needs in the hobby.

So with all that in mind I would still like to hear your opinions on some radios

The JR XP7202 and the Spektrum DX7 are very similar radio systems. The DX7 works on the new 2.4Ghz spread spectrum technology. The XP7202 works on the traditional 72Mhz channels, but is fully synthesized meaning that transmitter and receiver can be changed to whatever channel the pilot wishes to use. Both of these are advanced radio systems with all of the features you could possibly need for the forseeable future.

With both radio systems available in the $300 to $350 range, if this price range is acceptable for you then either would be a terrific pick.

JR also makes a really nice budget 6-channel radio system under their JR Sport brand called the SX600. It's a 6-channel computer radio with 10-model memory and a nice set of commonly used airplane features for $159.99, including a full flight pack. It's a standard FM radio system, so it won't be quite as bulletproof with regard to radio interference as the PCM-based XP7202 or the 2.4Ghz DX7. It's simply a nice traditional 6-channel computer radio at a great price.

All three of these radios would work with the "free" JR buddy box available through the AMA.

Another great radio package that is often overlooked is the Airtronics RD8000. The RD8000 is a feature-rich FM radio system for airplanes, gliders, and helicopters. It has all of the advanced programming features available in the more expensive JR XP7202 and Spektrum DX7, and it even has 1 extra channel available. It doesn't have the state-of-the-art channel selection and interference protection of the JR systems, it's just a really good advanced FM radio system for around $250.

Obviously, if you choose the Airtronics RD8000 radio system, you would want to request the Airtronics buddy box rather than the JR.