Hey all, I've been around for years lurking mostly.

I purchased an EXI 450 with Futaba 9C + Spektrum DM8 a couple years ago, and it's been ok but not great. I really stayed nervous with it and never felt confident with it though I was gaining confidence with the likes of Exceed G2's and Eagle 50's. Ipurchased a Blade MCPX V2 RTFrecently as my 450 stuff was in storage. I've been having a blast with it! Easily the most fun I've had with an RC Heli yet! And the DX4e it comes with seemsto work well. Iam thinking of getting back into RCheli's a little more, fixing up the 450, maybe going flybarless seeing as how well Ilove the MCPX at this point but my next move is a better TX. I've done a lotta research and while Idon't do 3D Iknow the 9C is not a very desireable transmitter for modern day electric rc heli's.

I can get a new DX6i for $159 at the local HSand seems online prices are right in line. Ican get a DX8 for 310 shipped from big sky hobbies as well. Idon't really have the money to spend now so I have the time to research. But Ido know I want a decent computerized TX as these basic radio's are OK, but Iknow there's more to be had with my current collection. I'm not sure which direction to go. Inever plan to go bigger than the 450, odds are I may fix up my Eagle 50 with a gyro, tx, brushless and esc's or get a 100-200 size heli in the future as well. I plan to stick with Spektrum compatible stuff as well. Inever expect my fleet to go beyond 3-5 in all honesty. But Ido want a nice TX that will treat me well and something I can pick up and go enjoy.

I have 2 jobs, a girlfriend and kids, so time is of the essence at this point, so picking up and going is all I have done which the MCPX RTF has been great for. Iam really leaning towards the DX6i, but the more Iread the more people say the DX8 is worth it. For a guy like me, is a DX8 worth it at $310 or should Icut that price in half and get a DX6i? I've read also that many people say to get one or the other and bypass the DX7 and 7s, unless Ican find it closer to the 6i's price point. Looking for some newer info, and some personal experiences. I'm not advanced flying, I can handle hover and FFfine with CPheli's, Ido a lot of simulator time with Clearview RC as well. I just want a good bang for the buck and I'm on a budget, but Ialso want to get stuff that takes good care of me and will be around for a while. That and something that Ican pick up and enjoy.

Thanks for your time! I hope I put this in the right section!

You will be able to fly pretty much any heli in your "wish list" with a DX6i.  They can be found used for 100 bucks or even less if you look.  Swap meets are a great place to get good deals like that.  A friend picked up a nice used DX7 for 75 bucks at one of the last ones we went to.  Wish I had seen it first as I already own a DX7 and would be nice to have a backup just like the one Im currently using.  However, expect that to be the exception and not the rule as most used DX7's I see are around 150 bucks and up.

Really though, if you like helis as much as you seem to point out in your post...AND it wont cause you or a familiy member to go without a meal...Id go with a DX8.  If nothing more for the nicer features it has.  I dont need one as my DX7 flys everything I own (mSR, mCPX, clone 250, 450, 500 and a Raptor 50).  Its just the DX8 has telemetry so you can tell the state of your battery charge while flying.  Also holds more models and can use a SIM card to store models.  Great to be able to dump your models to your PC and store them in case something happens...you dont have to reprogram all of your models and such.

So...the way to go would be the 8.  But dont miss a meal to get it...because the 6i is inexpensive and like I said will fly all of the helis you ever plan on owning.  It just wont have all of the fancy bells and whistles the 7 and even better 8 will have.

One more thing...the 6i uses AA batteries.  That might be ok for some, but I prefer to at least use nicad TX packs.  There may be a nicad pack available for the 6i and I just dont know this fact.  If so...doesnt matter much then.</p>

You can fly pretty much any heli you want with the 9C. It's a little slow processing CCPM commands but you've got to be really on top of it to notice.

Good info to know. Well that would save me a ton of money if I can keep the 9C, bind it to my MCXP V2 (which I have yet to try) and compare it to my DX4e that came with it. I'm pretty new to computerized transmitters and the 9C (well 9CHP if that makes any difference) I bought with the EXI 450 combo I really haven't played with. I just read about so many people ditching them for the newer Spektrums and not even bothering with the M8 module that I may be wasting my time. Some great info thus far! Thank you guys! I'm still undecided, but I do like the free option where I do nothing the best, but I also want something that will work, work right and work great for me.

Well got off of work and before packing for my vacation tomorrow I had to try and bind my 9C to the MCXP. It was my first time binding or anything with it beyond using it with the EXI 450. Took me a few minutes but I got it sorted and I must say the MCXP flies much nicer. It seems faster, moves sharper, feels way more refined. Exactly what I wanted! The DX4e is probably the nicest non computerized TX I've ever had seeing as most of my stuff was from Syma, Walkera and Exceed and on the cheaper side. But this old 9C with the spektrum module feels soooo much nicer! I dig it! I think I will save my money for now...save up. This is an old and used TX, so I'm sure it's days are numbered...moreso now than ever since I will now be using it a lot more than I have in the last couple years.<div>
</div><div>Thanks all!</div>