Why are Radios prices from $29 to $2000

[slim]

I am looking for a Radio tx rx for a but am miffed by the radical price differences in 9ch 2.4 ghz. ( Like HobbyKing Turnighy 9x9ch $54. vs Futaba FUTK9256 at $850. )
Yes I am aware that you get what you pay for, but I don't drive a BMW either.

I love quality but where does the quality start and then reach execess in a Radio?

Anyone?

Thanks.

[dahawk]

Slim,

I'm a Futaba guy with the 6ex and will probably upgrade to the 8fg later this year. Hint to wife: Christmas? So much invested in rx's it's hard for me to change.

You'll find that guys are passionite about their 2.4 TX's. Which is the best? JR, Airtroncs, Hitec, Spektrum, Futaba? Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 different answers.

In reality, the best one is the one you pick. All basically use some sort of freuency hopping or spread spectrum technology. Depends on how sophisticated you want to get with mixes, etc. How much model memory?

For some, you pay a premium for all of the heli programs and mixes they have in their software. If you never intend to fly heli's, why pay for this ?

Have heard some good things about the Frsky's and Turnigy 9x. You could buy one of these and throw it away and still be ahead, I suppose.

Read the reviews, talk to other users.

Good luck !

-Hawk

[flydiver]

You should read this to start:
Don't buy a standard radio!

After the base level it's quality of components, FEATURES, SUPPORT, and good old 'what the market will bear'.
Remember - The RX is a CRITICAL component in the new 2.4 systems and cannot be seen as separate. That trips a lot of folks up.

The non-computer TX just are VERY limited. Once you get to 6-ch most fliers get most of the features they need. As you grow in the sport or specialize you may require more. Most of the time you don't have a clue about even the basics (Dual Rates, EXPO, sub-trim) when you start and certainly don't about the more advanced options (telemetry, glider programming, etc).

Want Bind and Fly? > gotta buy a Spektrum.
Want support or easily confused by lousy manuals? Don't get the Chinese cheapies (OK, actually all the manuals seem to be kinda lousy to start).
You'll find +/- for all of them, so it's a matter of choice in a VERY confusing field.

[rcers]

Originally Posted by slim

I am looking for a Radio tx rx for a but am miffed by the radical price differences in 9ch 2.4 ghz. ( Like HobbyKing Turnighy 9x9ch $54. vs Futaba FUTK9256 at $850. )
Yes I am aware that you get what you pay for, but I don't drive a BMW either.

I love quality but where does the quality start and then reach execess in a Radio?

Anyone?

Thanks.

But do you drive a moped?

In life, and in radios, as a general rule you get what you pay for.

If you buy no-name brand TX (your most IMPORTANT investment IMHO) you get the following:

• Limited or ZERO support
• No service department
• Nobody to talk to on the phone if you have trouble
• Low quality components
• Marginal R & D (if any)
• Copy what others do
• Suspect quality IMHO
• Something that looks cheap
• Throw away price (low price)

For name brand (especially Hitec/Spektrum) you get:

• Excellent support structure
• Someone to talk to or email
• Higher quality components
• A company that has developed and worked on radios for decades
• A company that invested in the technology (this cost large $$$)
• Advertising/Marketing (more $$ spent)
• Replace stuff that breaks (likely for free if Hitec/Spek)
• Better quality control
• Support from other modelers who have your TX and can help you!
• Professional looking product
• More upfront cost

Futaba support IMHO is not the best and they will charge you to fix stuff.


I just feel a TX is worth more investment than $54 bucks. Some report great success but my experience has been different as whole with some products from China.



Mike

[pmullen503]

Probably the most important thing is get enough radio to start with. Which for airplanes means 6ch with a reasonable level of programability. I would also suggest you don't buy a cheap radio that requires a computer to program for convenience sake (That means the very cheap 6 ch Flysky/Turnigy).

If you have a club nearby, hang out there and see what they are using. If a particular brand is problematic in your area, they will know it.

I have a Spektrum DX6i and have been happy with it. Spektrum is heavily represented at the local clubs. I've had none of the problems you read about in less benign RF environments.

I also have a modified Turnigy 9x. It has Spektrum, Flysky and Frsky (w/ telemetry) modules and they all work fine. With open source firmware it can do almost anything you can think of. I can even get 16 channels on two 8 channel receivers. But it's too complex for beginners. I've spent untold hours learning to program it. And have had it apart many times to solder in new components. The stock 9x radio is decent and a good value for the money. But I would recommend a used DX6i (or other name brand) over the stock 9x for beginners.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Why are Radios prices from $29 to $2000

For the same reason that any other consumer product has a massive price range from the bottom to the top of the market; cars, houses, shoes, wrist watches, TV's......you name it... Why should R/c gear be any different?

Some have more money to spend than others and some are willing to pay a lot because they want/need the best.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by rcers

I just feel a TX is worth more investment than $54 bucks. Some report great success but my experience has been different as whole with some products from China.



Mike

But if you did need a radio and could forgo the computer functions, the Spektrum DX5e can be bought for $54.00 and is a quality radio. If you do need the computer functions the DX6i is a great choice at a great price.

[rcers]

Yea but you should NEVER forgo the computer functions - they are just too valuable.

[pmullen503]

Originally Posted by rcers

Yea but you should NEVER forgo the computer functions - they are just too valuable.

+1 on that. Even for ARFs or BNF DR, expo, and mixes are too useful to not get a computer radio.

[dahawk]

Oh btw, the new Futaba 18 is $3,000 !

[NJSwede]

If you want specific advice, I'd say put yourself somewhere around $300-400 and go with the big brands and you can't go wrong, unless you have extreme requirements.. At least not judging from my experiences and friends in my club. And ask yourself if you really needs 9+ channels or if you're OK with 7 or 8. IMHO, very few people need 9 or more channels.

In the Spektrum world, this means a DX7s or DX8. Everyone I've been flying with in real life has had excellent experience with these radios. If you want to go cheap, you may do what I did and buy a used DX7. Although my battery is starting to be a little tired, I've had nothing but great experiences with it.

I'm sure the Futaba and Hitec guys will disagree with me and they are welcome to. The point is if you put yourself in the midrange price range and pick a reputable brand, you're most likely going to be very satisfied.

[dahawk]

Swede,
I'm a Futaba guy but I don't disagree with you. The Dx 8 is especially
a nice TX. Highly recommended. I also agree that the mid range in the top brands satisfy the majority of needs. In the end, I want model memory, mixes
, expo settings, etc. Not too complicated.Rare that I might need more than 6 channels.

Hawk

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by NJSwede

If you want specific advice, I'd say put yourself somewhere around $300-400 and go with the big brands and you can't go wrong, unless you have extreme requirements.. At least not judging from my experiences and friends in my club. And ask yourself if you really needs 9+ channels or if you're OK with 7 or 8. IMHO, very few people need 9 or more channels.

In the Spektrum world, this means a DX7s or DX8. Everyone I've been flying with in real life has had excellent experience with these radios. If you want to go cheap, you may do what I did and buy a used DX7. Although my battery is starting to be a little tired, I've had nothing but great experiences with it.

I'm sure the Futaba and Hitec guys will disagree with me and they are welcome to. The point is if you put yourself in the midrange price range and pick a reputable brand, you're most likely going to be very satisfied.

A club member had to return a three year old Spektrum DX7 transmitter for repair of an intermittent aileron function, just a tiny glitch while moving the aileron stick back and forth. Not often, just once and awhile.

Horizon Hobby got it, replaced the joy stick, sent it back. No charge. (This seems to be their operating procedure, more often than not.)
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65573

[nidly]

Maybe OP should tell us what planes he plans to fly. Many I have heard do not trust their larger/expensive plane to a cheap clone radio.

I have no problem trusting my small/cheap planes to the 9x radios. I did it because the RX were pretty cheap so now I have over 12 planes on 3 of the same TXs. None of my planes are worth over $200

I did start with the very cheap radios included in RTF planes and still have kept those for training and loaning. I'm glad I started with them , but out grew them within the first season.

[SuchIsLife]

I've used a Turnigy 9x for three years now - still working great. I ran it with the stock module for a while, and it was fairly good, no issues.
I added a FrSky module when I bought some more expensive models for it's failsafe and telemetry, and having used this setup I would be confident flying ANY model with it. The FrSky uplink is rock solid, never a glitch, and when I do something silly like point my Tx antenna right at the plane when it's almost out of sight, the telemetry bleeps and reminds me. If the receiver voltage drops to low it bleeps to let me know. I can say for the $120 odd I paid for it, I am absolutely satisfied. I just bought the telemetry hub with an Amp, Volt, Alt and rpm sensors too, they are tiny and it only cost me $50!

Perfect setup for a beginner or expert, or just someone like myself who needs more functions for a reasonable price. Works fine as is or can be modified to your hearts content if you need more features. Not really any worries about support as the community for it online is so large ( 9xforums.com for example).

Highly recommended, best radio under $400.


edit - the Turnigy 9xR is supposed to be released soon and looks really promising. Comes with the modified custom firmware already installed!

[slim]

Thanks everyone for your responses, Excellent perspectives!

[ron_van_sommeren]

Manufacturing the Jeti DC-16 housing
More DC-16 videos, check out the lovely aluminium stick-units.

YouTube Video

[solentlife]

Yes I'm a 9x user and supporter ... I created the biggest online FlySky forum to collect together users and get away from misinformation that is so often spread over other forums etc.

BUT - regardless of that ... my advice to anyone entering this hobby is do not budget down your radio system. This is not price I'm talking - this is facilities. Get the most possible from the beginning and then the radio will carry person through for years.
A 8 - 9ch radio will provide far more flexibility even on a 4ch model than any 6ch can. This is where a number of new entries to our hobby make error. They think OK .. sport plane 4ch ...... why get more channels. It's not the number of ch's - its what the radio can do.

I am one who considers the 6i a base model ... it is IMHO the minimum a person should have. In fact I would advise to ignore the 6i and go for more ch's and facilities. That way you will not be looking to buy another radio for significant time. Note I don't push the 9x in this .. ANY radio with more ch's is my advice.

People make a big deal about having same as another in clubs etc. This is a weak argument in fact - having flown for over 40years ... with flight lines using many varied sets .. I can only think of few occasions when this has been of value. Usually a beginner can be sorted whatever radio he has even when it's a dirt cheap RTF set.

What I would say - is if you are one who is not so handy with electronics and need a guiding / supportive hand - then LHS is the place to look at what is serviced / supported. If like me - you have no LHS and all is online anyway - the world of radios opens up ... makling the choice actually difficult.

I am a JR man at heart. I flew JR for many years in competition, displays, day in day out. I also flew Futaba. Trouble is today after divorce, rebuild of houses, running yachts etc. - I am not able to pay JR or Futaba prices anymore. Today I fly FS 9X ... Radiolink 6EH .... my old 1980's JR Propo .. and a RTF cheapo that is used for bench testing.

I am sure that I am not only one out there that has to stretch the $ across a wide field. The 9x answers my need for a sophisticated, multi channel, mixing radio capable of flying literally anything I throw at it.

I understand others reluctance to grab a 9x bargain .. honest. And like cars, houses, boats etc. - not everyone likes the same design / model etc. In fact I have a couple of niggles with the 9x - I cannot get stick length as long as like, the spring tension I cannot get enough .. but talking to others - I am a one-off for this ... People try my JR and say it's too stiff, too long on sticks !! But it suited me for mode 2 flying where I needed to get rid of stick 'wander' ... where you give elevator and a little bit of aileron creeps in etc.

Long post .. but hope it helps ...

Nigel

[Rockin Robbins]

Nigel, I think I see a 9x in my future. I happen to like stirring the guts of a system around and customizing. It might even distract me from actually flying...

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Nigel, I think I see a 9x in my future. I happen to like stirring the guts of a system around and customizing. It might even distract me from actually flying...

It may surprise some on this .. but I advise not to use the factory FlySky module and Rx .. they work yes they do. But for me and greater comfort factor - I advise to remove the FlySky module and install the FrSky system. It's a simple plug in and go.
Some prefer to fit the internal FrSky board ..

With the combination of FlySky base radio, FrSky module and FrSky Rx's - you have a secure freq hopp system that is one of the best.

We have a guy in our group who flies FPV. Just before I travelled out for this assignment - I'm in Mozambique at this time waiting to start work .. he recorded a distance of 4 km's with his FPV set-up from base ! Yes - I'll say that again ... 4 km's FrSky .... with not one glitch at all.

Nigel

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by slim

I am looking for a Radio tx rx for a but am miffed by the radical price differences in 9ch 2.4 ghz. ( Like HobbyKing Turnighy 9x9ch $54. vs Futaba FUTK9256 at $850. )
Yes I am aware that you get what you pay for, but I don't drive a BMW either.

I love quality but where does the quality start and then reach execess in a Radio?

Anyone?

Thanks.

If this bothers you, cars must make you insane and let's not even talk about houses.

[stuart]

Ed,you asked about the 9 channels tx's from hobbyking for use with gliders and beginner pilots. what was the overall impression you got from all the feed back? do you recommend them to glider pilots what with the range and altitude some gliders can travel.

i have 20 flyable planes and one hitec optic 6 with the 2.4 module in the back. only a 8 model memory. i also wonder about purchasing the turnigy 9tx to load up the smaller birds and leave the better kit builds on the hitec.

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by stuart

Ed,you asked about the 9 channels tx's from hobbyking for use with gliders and beginner pilots. what was the overall impression you got from all the feed back? do you recommend them to glider pilots what with the range and altitude some gliders can travel.

i have 20 flyable planes and one hitec optic 6 with the 2.4 module in the back. only a 8 model memory. i also wonder about purchasing the turnigy 9tx to load up the smaller birds and leave the better kit builds on the hitec.

The research project resulted in two articles. Overall they seem to be a good choice for the right person. I think the articles should clarify what I learned.

Part one can be found here, RC Soaring Digest July 2012
http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com/pdfs/RCSD-2012/RCSD-2012-07.pdf

Reducing the Cost of Flying Sailplanes Research Project - Part 1
Looking at the economics of upgrading 72 MHz sailplane radios to 2.4 GHz. By Ed Anderson.


RC Soaring digest - August 2012, the current edition -
http://rcsoaringdigest.com/pdfs/RCSD...SD-2012-08.pdf

Reducing the Cost of Flying Sailplanes: Research Project - Part 2 -
Ed Anderson follows up with descriptions of some alternative and inexpensive 2.4GHz systems.
This is about the FlySky TH9X which is the same as the Turnigy 9X.



More discussion about the 9X
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...Eurgle+DUMMIES

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

If this bothers you, cars must make you insane and let's not even talk about houses.

I just picked up a Spektrum DX8 with receivers for just under $400. My existing Spektrum DX7's still work just fine, but am selling one to a club member. The DX8 is not top of the line, but it's pretty close.

[DaxFX]

I would go with the 9x over Spektrum. More reliable , less headeck, and less chance your plane will fly away on lost of signal


You need to play tetris with my english