Buying your first radio and receiver

Summary:

Turnigy 9X and 9XR radio transmitters and FrSky module/receiver:

• Fantastic value for money in comparison to many other radios
• 8 usable channels (usually only on more expensive radios), you won't grow out of it quickly
• Upgradable by flashing the firmware to OpenTX or ER9X (very advanced feature sets)
• Programmable via computer (easier to configure)
• FrSky modules/recievers get excellent reviews, great signal strength/reliability

In starting out in the RC hobby, you're probably primarily looking for value for money, I know I am! What can you get that gives you the most features for the lowest cost.

Well I've done a lot, and I mean a LOT of research into this new hobby (girlfriend says 'fad'), and it was how I found Flitetest.com. Awesome show, and great guys; I’ve learnt a lot in a very short time. 

So I’m new to this hobby, only flown on a buddy box once. I don’t know how long I’ll be in the hobby or how much I’ll enjoy it, so don’t want to pay out a lot initially, but what I didn’t want was the lowest end $23 combo that I would grow out of in a weekend, but also didn’t want to pay several hundred dollars either.

Looking around I saw the Spectrum DX6i mentioned a lot (also in videos on Flitetest), so almost bought it second hand as a radio that I could grow into, that had programming capability etc. 

Then I read about the Turnigy 9X. 9 channels for WAY cheaper than the DX6i’s 6 channels? eh? Then I read some more and it was like day and night… I immediately forgot about the DX6i and knew this was what I wanted: Open Source software, massive community and massive features and programming capabilities. I watched some youtube videos (including the Flitetest one where Josh gives Josh his first radio) on programming them, uploading new firmware etc. and it was good.

But then I read about the newer Turnigy 9XR and realised that the 9XR came with the inbuilt port for updating firmware, a backlight, was way cooler looking, had more knobs… but then I realised that it didn’t come with the module and receiver, and that the 9X did have those included! Argghhh! 

I made a spreadsheet and worked out the costs of what I wanted to do with it eventually (FrSky telemetry), adding a programmable board, and finally opted for the 9XR with FrSky XJT combo pack with module and X8R. I could have gone with a cheaper option on the FrSky, but it wasn’t that much more expensive and it doesn't need an additional hub for the sensors (apparently), so I thought ‘what the heck’. 

I have only read good things about the FrSky stuff, and like the fail-safe settings, and great signal strength. There are a lot of houses around the fields where I’ll be flying, so losing signal would suck! I like that I can set it to do a spiral of death over the field and not fly off into the housing estate across the way should I ever lose signal!

I haven’t had the USB programmer cable (bought separately) arrive yet so am using the stock firmware which is fine for what I need. I have managed to configure it for 5 channels, (throttle, rudder, elevator, aileron x2) for my foam board trainer and it works!, read about elevon mixing for my other plane (FT Versa Wing) and also with a USB adapter from Hobbyking used the JR trainer port to connect to the computer to practice on simulators (RC Desk Pilot with the FT Versa Wing model!).

My advice to beginners choosing their first radio transmitter: 

• The 9XR with a FrSky module and receiver is a great value combo that you can grow with. 
• If I was buying slightly cheaper I would buy the Turnigy 9X with its included module and receiver.
• If I had a bit more money I would buy the FrSky Taranis which gets rave reviews. 
• Get a simulator and fly on it loads; I've become really comfortable now flying towards me, landing, taking off, flying in high winds, they're ace.

Just waiting for some good weather to go fly (and crash) my new scratch-build Swappable Trainer, and FT Versa Wing.

Cheers, 
Tim.