Radio Advice
 

I've often heard people say buy a good radio to start off.....that way as I advance from a trainer to other planes I won't have to upgrade my radio. What do most people use? I'm sure everyone has their fav.....but what should I start to look at & how much should I expect to spend?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

RE: Radio Advice
 

I think the question is how much are you willing to spend.

A futaba 9c is something you wont have to mess with upgrading for a long time, next down is the Futaba 7c series but they lack the nice screen and some of the features of the 9c series.

There's some good JR radios as well but I'm only familiar with the helicopter offerings.

RE: Radio Advice
 

I guess I should of noted that I will be flying a plane.....not a heli (although maybe in the future).

RE: Radio Advice
 

It's a good idea to get a good radio to start with. It doesn't have to be the top of the line, whatever brand you select, but it should be at least 6 channels and have some mixing features.

If your not familiar with the different radios available, then you should go to a few local hobby shops and look at the ones available. See how they feel in your hands. Ask questions about them. Futaba, JR, Airtronics, Hitec and the new Spektrum radios are all good systems. The Spektrum is great if you are flying park flyers.

You should also find out what other people in your area are flying. If have the sane type equipment they have, then they can help you with programming.

Here are a few links to check out:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/

http://www.hitecrcd.com/

http://www.futaba.com/products/hrc/overview/index.asp

Rod;)

RE: Radio Advice
 

It's all a matter of how much you want to spend when you're just beginning. For your first plane, you really don't need any more than a basic 4 channel radio. These typically const $100-120 US. The next level is a 6 channel computer radio. These give you some nice features that are good for starting out, but none are actually required. They will cost $150-200. The next level would be 7 or 9 channel radios, which IMO, are complete overkill for a beginner.

Going back to the beginning, if you choose a 4 channel radio for your first plane, you will spend a little more than the cost of the typical 4 channel flight pack. When you've finished learning and have decided you are ready to move to another plane, you can either:
a) move the flight pack to a second plane or
b) buy a more advanced radio.

Option b gives you the advantage of continuing to be able to fly the trainer while you're progressing on more advanced flying. There's much to be said for keeping the trainer and practicing the basics on it.

So, let's look at costs. Let's say you are going in the direction of a computer radio that supports multiple planes. If you start with a 6 channel and buy a flight pack for a second plane, you will spend around $180 for the radio and $100 for the second flight pack, total $280. If you reverse the order and begin with a 4 channel and then buy the 6 channel, you would have spend $120 for the 4 channel and $180 for the 6 channel for a total of $300. So, it's only cost $20 more by starting out with a 4 channel. As an added bonus, you have an extra charger, 4 channel transmitter (which makes a great buddy box), and if you choose right, the battery for the 4 channel tx will also work in your 6 channel radio.

The reason I so often suggest the 4 channel first path is that it minimizes your initial investment, simplifies the first radio, and gives you some extra stuff that might come in handy later.

Oh, one more thing. While 7 and 9 channel radios certainly have lots of neat bells and whistles, and can generate lots of attention at the field ("look at my fancy new radio"), a significant percentage of sport fliers never use more than is offered by the typical 6 channel computer radio, and many never even use more than 4 channels. So, before you decide which price point to buy, think about what you'll REALLY use within the next few years. ;)

RE: Radio Advice
 

I would recommend at least a 6 channel computer radio as a start. They can be had for just over $200 with a receiver and servos and will do everything you need them to for your first few planes. I have a JR 6102 that I love.

RE: Radio Advice
 

Just my 2 cents worth - I use the Tower 6 EXM. $159 with flight pack (4 servos only).It all seems to be a Futaba clone.

RE: Radio Advice
 

I would not recommend a 6 channel radio. I outgrew mine at about the 4th airplane when I started to get into 3d flying. The 6 channel did not have enough of the features I needed for flying. Features I am refering too are dual rates for elevator rudder and aielerons. 6 channel futaba's only have it for 2 channels. Also If you use split elevators with separate servos then the 9c can mix the two channels together and link the trims whereas the 6 and 7 channels can not. I would suggest buying the 4 channel beginner radio until you determine if you are going to like the hobby but the most basic computer radio I would recommend if you intend to fly anything more advanced then a 4 channel aircraft that is strictly pattern would be a 9c because it seems to be able to handle just about everything thrown at it and at 400 dollars it is reasonable compared to a 1000 9z. Jr has some comparable radios but I am unfamiliar with there models and capabilities but the are comparable

RE: Radio Advice
 

I have to second (third?) what Piper Chuck and rlipsett both said. A basic 4-ch radio will be fine for the first couple of seasons. At that point you'll have progressed from the basic trainer to the advanced trainer and will have a more definate idea of what direction you want to go - the select your radio from there.

Hogflyer

RE: Radio Advice
 

Well, I'll be the voice that is different. I have been flying for 10 years now and I have NEVER needed more than 6 channels. And trust me, I've had plenty of different planes. Different types of flying don't need the higher number of channels. For this very reason I don't recommend a beginning pilot buying a high dollar radio that they may never use down the road. For learning to fly I recommend that the pilots use simple 4 or 6 channel radios that come with many of the RTF's these days. I also recommend moving that radio to their second plane too. By that time they will start to have a good idea of what kind of flying they want to do down the road, this is when a higher end radio could be purchased.

That's my 2¢ worth

Ken

RE: Radio Advice
 

I started out with an s400 remote (comes with teh alpha 40 rtf) and im looking at maybe buying a new tx/rx im looking at the xp9303 from jr complete over kill for now but i dont want to have to re upgrade later so iil do it once.

RE: Radio Advice
 

Exactly why I recommend the JR 6 channel radio. The 6102 has 4 programable mixes, and you can mix both elevator servos and aileron servos on the same model if you want. It's pleanty of radio for all but gian scale models requiring multiple servos for every control surface.

RE: Radio Advice
 

JR X6102!!
It is everything you will need for a very VERY long time!
Many mixing options, dual rates on three channels, exponentials, 10 models memory and other cool features like digital sub trim, travel percentages, choice of stick modes, choice of wing setup, throttle cut button, training mode, and many others to count:D

You can use it for helicopters as well as many fancy plane wing setups from Elevon, to Flaperons and V-Tail, plus landing gear and seperate real flaps if so equipped.
It transmits in FM or SPCM as well, has a fail safe setting, and a timer so keep track of your flying time!

I bought that radio with my trainer, I am keeping everything installed on the trainer for now and I am buying the same servos, receiver and battery to install on my second plane.
I will still be able to fly both :P

RE: Radio Advice
 

I'll also say that a good 6 channel is more than most people will ever need. Sure there are some people who will say "I out-grew mine" but that is very rare.

RE: Radio Advice
 

Why would anyone need more than 6 channels on an airplane?
throttle, ailerons, elevator, rudder, landing gear, flaps... and then what? smoke? night lights? twin engine seperate throttle control?

It is rare that one would have all these features together on the same plane, and if you do then you have a special need and yes you will need to buy a 9 or 10 channels model.
But the sad thing is that manufacturers strip some features from the 6 channel models to force you into buying the higher models. I specifically feel the need for twin elevator, twin rudder, twin throttle, and twin aileron synchronization on my X6102.
If I were to have these facilities, I would never buy a higher number of channels in the future.

Why can't they include this sync feature on my model? It works with twin ailerons and 7 channels receiver, I am sure it could be made possible to add twin elevator feature on the 6102.

RE: Radio Advice
 

Thanks everyone.....this is exactly the sort of advice I was looking for.

Is the JR 6102 compatible with RealFlight G3 simulator?

RE: Radio Advice
 

Yes, and I play on G3 with mine :D
You should hook it to the Tx that comes with the G3. The cables are already included in the simulator.

Then from the top menu, you choose controller and then you choose the JR. You should properly assign the channels so that your Tx works properly.

Enjoy

RE: Radio Advice
 

It's not play...[8D]..it's practice.....LOL, but then again all those creative crashes I've been doing just for fun...Maybe it is play too!

Rod:D

RE: Radio Advice
 

Looks like I'll be going with a Futaba since almost all of the members at the local flying club are using them. Also they told me that most of their trainer boxes only support Futuba as well. A few of the members recommended going with the 7ch......when I asked why the 7 over the 6 I kinda got lost with there answers......information overload [:@]

A couple of the members went so far as to say that there's a good chance that I'll even outgrow the 7ch radio down the road......but I'm not sure how.

RE: Radio Advice
 

I got 2 Hitec Eclipse 7 's , from HorizonHobby. $250.00 each, comes with servos and receiver.
Excellent radio ,does most everything the the high price radios do.
Both my radios are set up the same for my planes,if one goes down I have a backup.
Which did happen, I left one out in the rain that night and I had to send it in for repairs.
So two radios For $500.00 or one radio for $500.00 +.
Just another thing to consider.

RE: Radio Advice
 

What about JR's XP7202 7 channel computerized radio with synthesized/scanning Receiver available at horizonhobby for $329.99

link is http://www.jrradios.com


Thanks

RE: Radio Advice
 

sir squishy the reason you will outgrow the 7c is the mixing and linking functions on the radio. Futaba strips some of these functions from the lower end radios. Why I do not know becaus eit is just a matter of software. See my earlier posts as too why these functions are beneficial and on some aircraft mandatory even though in essence all you are running is the engine rudder aielerons and elevator. on the 7 you can slave one servo to the other for running a split elevator but the trim will only adjust the master side leaving the slave side out of trim unless you can link it with a 9c transmitter

RE: Radio Advice
 

Good lord! What do you want to do, Fly, or program your radio?

Get a simple radio and have a ball.

On the other hand, if you'd rather learn to program a radio and learning to fly is secondary, get one of those fancy things with more switches, knobs and buttons than sticks.

RE: Radio Advice
 

I tend to agree with Minnflyer here. I've been flying for 10 years now and I have never needed more than 6 channels in any plane I have flown, and most planes only need 4 channels.

Now with that said, let's take a step back and look at the context of our discussion. This is the beginner's forum, and we are talking about people getting started in the hobby. I usually recommend that people getting started use a plain jane no frills 4-6 channel radio as they are training. Why? Because there are no bells and whistles to play with. Let's face it, we're all humans and we love playing with gadgets. And a new computer radio is no different, we all just want to use all of those neat features on our radios. But this can be a very bad thing for a beginner. Somebody that is learning to fly needs learn how to fly themselves, not rely on fancy computer mixes and such. Doing so only cheats the person learning because they never learn how to do something. The same thing goes with setting up a plane. When setting up a new plane it needs to be mechanically correct. A student should learn how to make adjustments to the plane mechanically so that they can properly setup a plane, with a computer radio many just start playing with End Point Adjustments, sub-trims, etc.... to try and setup the plane. This is not the way to setup a plane. All of these features are great and have legitimate uses, but trying to overcome a poor setup isn't one of them.

Ok, don't get me wrong. There isn't anything wrong with buying a computer radio, if (and I mean a huge IF) they can leave all of the "gee gaws" alone on the radio. If you just use the base functions for your trainer then that would be ok. But like I said above, we are all human beings and we love playing with new toys. I know how hard it is to resist trying all those buttons and switches out, I know I like playing with them too. But they should be left alone when training. This is why I recommend that a new pilot fly with a basic radio setup while they are training, it simply removes the temptation to play with the radio.

Ken

RE: Radio Advice
 

rlipsett - Now I understand where the few local flying club guys were coming from......thanks for the explanation.

MinnFlyer & RCKen - Thanks guys....this is what I really needed/wanted to hear.