Well first let me say hello to all as a new member to this forum as well as a new beginner to RC airplanes as well! I am usually one to read up on everything I can before making a purchase and or passing judgement on anything, especially when I have no clue as to what I am getting into such as this new venture into the RC airplane world. This hasbeen a long time dream and at the ripe old age of 46 I have decided to do so. I am planning on starting with electrics at this time, looking at a nice trainer, and some Parkzone BNF warbirds once I am capable keeping a plane in the air and then later moving onto larger and gas planes, but that is a way down the road.

With that said, I have already jumped the gun and purchased a transmitter/radio that I hope is one that will meet my needs initially for a while, and will gladly move onto something better in the future if needed.I purchased a brand new in the boxSPEKTRUM DX5e 5 Channel Full Range Transmitter SPMR5500 for $60.00 (actually $59.99) shipping included in this price. What are your views of this radio, good bad or indifferent, and based upon the price paid. I had read about Spektrumproducts and seems to be a reliable product. Felt thatI had gotten a great dealfor the price I paid. SO, fire away about this radio so I know what I have gotten myself into thus far, ha ha! Also, will this radio be compatible with the simulators offered on the market at present? I think a simulator program could have good possibilites in helping a newbie become acquainted with the transmitter and in hand/eye coordination, which in turn can be applied to actual flying time.

Again thanks for your opinions and Ilookforward to obtaining a lot of informationfrom theknowledgable folks on thisforum!!!

Dave

Dave,

This will be a good one plane beginner radio but it only has the very basics. It has only one model setting, so it will be difficult to use when you get more than one plane. A radio with model memory will store the set up and trims for each plane and may be something to look into as your squadron grows. Trim settings are the little adjustments you make on the radio to make the plane fly level and straight. The other big thing this radio is missing is expo capabilites. This lets you soften the stick movements on the radio in relationship to the controll surfaces on the plane. You are right to get an electric trainer. Something slow will give you the best chance to succeed until you get the feel for the radio and flying. I am not 100% sure about the sim, it should. It sounds like you have not flown before, so get a sim and practice and practice. Try to get with a club and an instructor! It will make learning so much less expensive and you having so much more fun!

Good luck!

Brad

oldguard; welcome, I don't own this piticular radio, but a couple of guys in the club do. they really only have two complaints, nothining major and it will be a personel choice, one compmaint is that it is only a "one model" radio, meaning you "can" use it for different planes, just have to check your controls are moving the right direction on each plane before you fly, something you should do anyay, and the other is the battery, either make sure you have extra batteries or get the rechargeable, their both looking at the rechargeables

An entry level radio is good for entry level! Once your out flying with others you will experiance, and see what others are using. Their likes, and dislikes. Which you can base your choice on when you upgrade. This radio will get used over the years, as a float plane, glider, cub, knock around plane, foamy etc. It gets you flying, most important. There will be lots of $60 days ahead,if you can imagine what I'm talking about, Ha-Ha.
Enjoy the hobby, build, fly, advance -repete-
Snuts

Once again, thanks to all for your help and advice. OldGuard, welcome to the wonderful world of flight - it's an amazing thing.

I have now expanded both my search criteria and investment.
If anyone knows of any good deals going for a 2.4 Ghz 7 Chanel and up, let me know.

Getting more and more exciting to get up in the air!!!

Hay Brad what club/field do you fly at I see that I am not to far from you??

Bryan

brad; I'm looking a this airtronics real hard
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/751700.asp

Hey Bryan,

Thanks for replying. I have not selected or joined any clubs yet.
I am only starting on this venture again and figured I would join
when the time is right. You are not too far from me - maybe 30min
drive.

Please contact me through my profile by sending me an e-mail and perhaps we can setup
to meet at your field one day. I have a lot of questions, so if you do not mind me nagging
you, I would enjoy to chat.

Have a great day,
Brad

OK Brad got the PM sent to you with my Phone # Just give me a ring when you get a chance.
Glad to help. Bryan

Oh yea these are some of the radios that I am using now.

What a beginner Really needs starting out is a good "engine" that is easy to start and easy to tune so they don't get frustrated and throw in the towel. That's where O.S. engines come into play. IMO

Good luck with your little Great Planes PT 40.

big dan

Dave, I think a basic radio system is the best place to start. A simple four channel, or the Spektrum DX5e, is perfect for learning to fly.

The DX5e is compatible with RealFlight G5 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXYCX1&P=0
and Hangar 9 FS One http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=HANS3000
Others are probably also compatible.

Contrary to many, I do not buy in to the "Once you get a second plane, the money spent for the simple radio was wasted" line.
Even if a person decides they need a $2500 monster radio for plane number 2, they can keep number 1 intact and enjoy it for a long time.

You do not need multiple model memory, exponential, or other features at this time. Concentrate on learning to fly first; then agonize over which radio to get for the next plane.

along the lines of carrellh's post is something else that i have run into, using just one radio for several planes is nice, however, if your at the field for a long period of time, flying your different models, you will proably have to recharge your radio a time or two, so I'd say get a nice basic 4ch to learn with, I almost gaurantee you'll still use it several years down the road

I was in a similar situation as you about a year ago. Flew planes in Middle School and High School, but then went to college and got out of it. I had since graduated and was in grad school now and had a little more time and money and wanted to get back into it.

I ended up getting a Spektrum DX6i and have been very pleased with my choice. Worked great with my .40 trainer I started out with, now am using it with my Ultra Sport .40. I have dual aileron set up, and it does that well, as well as dual rates, programming, etc. Also have a GWS Slow STick for park flying I modified with a V-tail and does that, too.

And it will continue to do everything I want for the foreseeable future and has thus far been a great investment. I'd either try to pick up something like that, or a Futuaba equivalent, as it should last you a while. Or maybe try to get a basic 4-ch set up used that will get you in the air - probably someone at your club who as one they'd sell cheap or even for free.. Then you can worry about getting a more fancy radio later.

Thanks so much for all the input. I do know that I am going to be sticking with this hobby. I was pursuing my LSA license before moving to central New York. After moving here, I have found that I cannot continue my flying, so this is my best alternative.

If I could jump right into a plane with retracts and flaps, I would. But I know that I need to start slowly especially by building a forgiving plane. I am already researching my next plane before finishing my first :-)

My wife did guy my an OS engine for my PT 40 and I am excited to get it started and run in. I will hopefully have my maiden flight in the spring.

I disagree about going extra basic for the first radio. The non-computer 4ch radios have one real advantage- price. I started with a 6ch computer radio and found it to be quite helpful even with a trainer. The trim memory was a great safety feature, adjustable travel volume and dual rates let me try a different throw setup while letting me keep the one I knew worked, and when I moved to another 4 channel plane later I just had to set up another model in the memory.

I totally agree, other than the end point adjustment, I can't see anything else that abeginner can use on a computarized radio, but if you still want to get a fancy radio and you can affort it, then just get what you like, in that case Iwould get a 7C rather than a 6 ch.

I built the PT 60 and used a Tower 72 FM 4 chanell. It cost about 109 bucks(with servos). I am now building a Tiger 60 and I will be buying the 2.4 Airtronics RDS8000. The thing about buying a radio you can grow with is you still have to buy a reciever when you buy a new plane. And recievers cost anywhere from 60 bucks on up. So my Tower4ch FM will always stay with my PT 60. AsI progress I will buy higher capability radios.

GET A DX6i!!! I prefer the DX6i over the DX7 as you get a lot more features in the radio. Great radio! I got mine brand new the day it came out for $175. It's now worth $250 here! lol

I was just in the same situation...and ended up purchasing a DX7.  The extra channel was too much to pass up.  I'm not sure how good of a deal it was (or wasn't), but I got the DX7 and a AR6200 for $274 (no tax or shipping).  I would hate to need that 7th channel anytime soon and not have it (I'd like to do flaps and lights)...and it felt a bit better (heavier, really).

A guy in our club was flying his u-can-do .46 size plane with a futaba 7 channel radio and ended up crashing into a corn field. He was so upset he threw his transmitter on the ground and broke it all to H???. Now if he would have been using a futaba 4 channel basic transmitter he would have only been out $20.

big dan

Good thread people!

I am also new to powered flight and have a 72 MHz 5 ch radio without buddy box (I like the radio even though it is a cheapy included with a foamy!!!). After flying with him, my instructor insists that I get a new radio with buddy capability (you can only guess why). I have 4 planes (2 gliders) with 72 MHz receivers, so I would like a transmitter that can painlessly switch between 72 MHz and 2.4G SS (so I can put my 1/5 scale now under construction on 2.4 GHZ later). I figured the Futaba 6EX would do this but I see no mention of this in any of their literature. I could buy an older 72 MHz and add a 2.4 GHz module later but prefer a new radio with the other usabliity improvements.

Anyone know of a brand that can switch between 72 MHz and 2.4 GHz so I can use my legacy 72 MHz receivers? How about the Airtronics?

Thanks,

Art

you can convert JR, futaba and airtronics to 2.4, but not every radio. i think futaba is only the 3, 7 and 8 channel radios and airtronics shows one for the "stylus"

Eganwp what features are missing in the DX7? I'd been planning to get one come spring (what I have will do fine until I've got the money), so I'd like to know if I'm making a mistake...

Thanks again to everyone for their advice.
I finally made the jump and bought the Spektrum DX7. I am happy with my decision and I look forward to installing it into my trainer.

Another question: what servos are compatible with this radio? Do I have to buy Spektrum servos?

Thanks again