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Best (appropriate) R/C Radio to buy

Recently returned to aircraft (electric) modelling after many years and now building a park flyer
The Tiger Moth and confused as to which radio would be best to buy with the idea of making more balsa models in the future and using the same radio.
The Tiger Moth is 36" wing span and is very light.
Any info would be very much appreciated.

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Answer these questions first
by: rcdude07

Before buying TX and RX gear ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I fly with anyone else?

2. If the answer to 1 is "YES", ask them what brand they fly with. I'd recommend flying the same brand as someone local so you can have local support with programming the radio.

3. What's your budget? You can try to gamble with cheap Chinese brands like FrSky, Devo, etc... or spend the extra money and get reliable customer service from a US company like Futaba or Spektrum.

4. Are you a tinkerer/cutting edge technology guy? If so, look at the Taranis and Open TX software


I recommend getting at least a 6ch TX to allow for growth up to models with flaps and retracts as you progress. The technology these days allows people to progress so much faster. A good 6ch computer radio will also allow mixing if needed.

In general Spektrum has a large part of the market due to the BNF offerings and micro sized aircraft. Futaba generally is second for no other reason than cost. JR used to be popular, but they are falling away, Sawana stopped the Airtronics production so stay away from that brand as replacement parts and extra RXes will be tough to get. FrSky is getting a lot of new pilots due to price points. Taranis and the Horace with Open TX software is starting to get a lot of people as it's the latest thing.

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Best (appropriate) R/C Radio to buy
by: Dixie Dog

I like Airplanes, and Heli's sorta,I am a beginner pilot with about 100 perfect landings.
I have the wants for a new Transmitter, all my toys are Eflite, so far....
I like civilian and crop duster style planes.
As I read I need at least 6 channels to fly a plane with Flaps and wheels that pull up.

Is 6 enough? Will I one day be wishing I had 8?
extra channels get real expensive.

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6channels will last you a while
by: rcdude07

Let me respond under your questions/statemnts:


I like Airplanes, and Heli's sorta,I am a beginner pilot with about 100 perfect landings.
I have the wants for a new Transmitter, all my toys are Eflite, so far....


The brand of aircraft does not matter if you are not buying RTF or BNF. If you are buying PNP, RX-R, or kits where you supply your own RX the brand aircraft does not matter. But if you are buying Eflite or any other Horizon Hobby brand aircraft with RXes installed, you'll need a Spektrum TX or Taranis with Spektrum module installed.


I like civilian and crop duster style planes.
As I read I need at least 6 channels to fly a plane with Flaps and wheels that pull up.


Is 6 enough? Will I one day be wishing I had 8?
extra channels get real expensive.

6 should be enough to get you along for a while in the hobby. If you think you may go higher, you can always install an RX with more channels in a plane than the TX can send signals to and leave those extra channels disconnected on the RX. If you don't plug ailerons and throttles into separate RX channels for mixing, you should be okay with 6. But if you want a full house setup (flaps, retracts) and then a door that opens or a drop box that opens then you'll need more. So it really just depends on your setup and what you want to do with a plane.

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