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[lezz59]

Hi all, am returning to model boating after a 8 year break due to personal changes.
I have Spektrum DX 6i which i understand is no longer made am wanting to go up to 8 channels as i do a little electric flying. Should i stick with Spektrum or change makes so much choice at moment.
Thank you all 

[Captain Flack]

Why do you need 8 channel for electric flying???
I personally use Spektrum and have since it was first released.

[Andyn]

Why wouldn't you need 8 channels for electric flying?


A few people still use spektrum, but a lot have moved away down to reliability issues and cost of receivers.


You cannot go wrong with a Taranis X9D, it will do everything you'll ever need and a lot more besides. Put a lipo pack in it and it'll be months between charges, 8 channel receivers are £22 a pop and you can customise bit exactly how you want it

[Subculture]

Used both Spektum and Frsky. They both work well.  I had to replace the encoder in the Spektrum DX6i- a known issue for going bad, only a pound for a new bit off fleabay. I use the Spektrum with the Orange and lemon cloned receivers, and they've never missed a beat, clearly others mileage may vary.

I would definitely say that Frsky is the way to go if you're looking for an upgrade. The Open TX operating system is totally flexible, and easy to understand once you've learnt a few basics, and the hardware is as good as any of the more expensive brands. I have one of the little Taranis X-lite's, a cute little handset like a bigger Playstation controller- nice set if you're a thumber rather than a pincher on the sticks. The X9D Andy mentions is a proper grown up size set, and offers a few more controls if you feel you need them, I'm personally happy with six proportional controls the x-lite gives you and like the small form factor.

As the Frsky sets use tuner modules, you also have the option of fitting a Spektrum or multiprotocol module if you want to retain backwards compatibility with your old Spektrum kit.

[Captain Flack]

Spektrum receivers are admittedly a bit pricey but I have for years, been using either Orange or Lemon Rxs.  Just bought 3 for £36.00.  That's not a bad price.

[Netleyned]

I got a good deal from Anglia Models
back in 2010 for a DX6i Dsm/DSMX
bare bone with no RX or servos.
Bought 6 orange rx's for £25 and they
are all still spot on.
Coming up for ten years of hard use
In yachts tugs and semi quick stuff
Great value and solid performance.

[Antipodean]

I have been using a FlySky i6 for the last couple of years for my drones and 1 of my boats. All up it cost me $40 plus $10 for each additional receiver. Can program up to 10 models and has adjustments galore. Uses 4 rechargeable batteries and has yet to let me down. The drones flight controllers are the weak links, direct servo feeds from the receiver have never failed me.

[RMH]

Everyone will tell you something different. Personally I have always used Futaba and find it very reliable if a bit more expensive. I do have a Hitec system but that came with a fully built model.

[morley bill 1]

Hi using a spectrum DXe with banggood receivers at £6-50 each had no problems to date. Bill...

[Peter Judd]

I am a newbie  and am looking at getting a radio system for the scale 1/72 Destroyer that I am attempting to build, so much choice of radio systems in 2.4ghz, seen some good advice so far but yet still to make a decision, looking for about 10-12 channels if I can get them as have lots of things to control


4 servos
3 pumps
7 small motors
4 sets of lights


any recommendations please

[Plastic - RIP]

looking for about 10-12 channels if I can get them as have lots of things to control
4 servos
3 pumps
7 small motors
4 sets of lights

I'm fascinated - what are all these functions?

[Peter Judd]

it is a 2.2m long ship Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon scale 1/72

2 servos for motors
2 servos for stabiliser

1 motor water cooling pump
2 bilge pumps
6 rotating radars
1 rotating 45 gun
1 set nav lights
1 set steaming lights
1 set floodlight
1 set merlin helicopter lights

[Plastic - RIP]

it is a 2.2m long ship Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon scale 1/72

2 servos for motors
2 servos for stabiliser

1 motor water cooling pump
2 bilge pumps
6 rotating radars
1 rotating 45 gun
1 set nav lights
1 set steaming lights
1 set floodlight
1 set merlin helicopter lights

Surely most of those will be running all the time anyway?   Why waste radio channels for that?    A simple on-off at the waterside is all that's needed.    When you say servos for motors, do you mean electronic speed controllers or are you using mechanical speed control?   Not criticising - just not understanding.

[tsenecal]

most of the more advanced computer radios will allow you to gang up on things...  the FrSky x9d mentioned earlier has 2 rotary knobs, 2 side sliders, 6 3 position switches, and 2 two position switches, as well as the normal sticks.  it also allows for up to 32 channels being used simultaneously.

if you want even more switches and knobs they (FrSky) make a model known as the x9e, which has two more sliders, and the ability to expand to 20 switches or knobs on its faceplate...

x9d:
https://www.frsky-rc.com/product/taranis-x9d-plus-2019/

x9e:
https://www.frsky-rc.com/product/x9e/


the x9e is more expensive than the x9d, but still not as expensive as an 8 channel spektrum.

[tsenecal]

it is a 2.2m long ship Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon scale 1/72

2 servos for motors
2 servos for stabiliser

1 motor water cooling pump
2 bilge pumps
6 rotating radars
1 rotating 45 gun
1 set nav lights
1 set steaming lights
1 set floodlight
1 set merlin helicopter lights

i would add a smoker unit....

[Peter Judd]

Thanks for the advice, appreciated, the X9D does look good, the X9E looks far too advanced for the likes of me


to answer Plastic, stand corrected two channels for the motors on 2 ESC controllers, would like the option to be able to select different items to power up at separate times that's all.

[Netleyned]

Nav lights, masthead steaming lights and stern light would all be on together, saving one switch channel.
Ned

[RST]

You can daisy chain the likes of the model radio workshop multi-switch modules, up to 10 outputs I think, so saves on channels for things like lights. Just need a 2 way switched centre off channel. Might help save costs of 10+ channel radios with all the computer complexity (unless you want it of course).


Do you need 2 separate channels for stabiliser also? Surely one up, one down same ammount unless I'm mistaken?


Personally, whatever you go for I'd say make sure it has the spring conversion for the left stick.  Apart from fast electric guys (no reverse) I don't know folk can manage without it.

[Netleyned]

Us Rag and Stick merchants use ratchet left stick
Ned

[RST]

Us Rag and Stick merchants use ratchet left stick
Ned

OK, fair comment Ned. Forgot about that sorry. Used to be I remember having the option to take the spring out before. Now you seem a bit limited if you want one in the first place for powered models.

[tsenecal]

i know for certain the FrSky gimbals are able to be customized, both the spring tension and the ratchet can be altered from 100% to 0% with the turning of two screws on each axis, for all 4 axis of the gimbals.  this allows you to have rachet and no spring on both vertical axis of the gimbals, for something like a tank.

[tsenecal]

Thanks for the advice, appreciated, the X9D does look good, the X9E looks far too advanced for the likes of me

....

the actual "brains" of the x9d and x9e are identical, the box with all the knobs is different, but functionally, the capabilities are the same...  on the x9e, you are paying extra for the empty sockets, and the ability to fill them.

[Peter Judd]

After all the research and advice I have gone for a Flysky FS-I6X 10Ch 2.4 AFHDS transmitter with the FS-iA10 receiver board total of £45 including delivery, looks good value for money as I am known to be a bit frugal

[tizdaz]

After all the research and advice I have gone for a Flysky FS-I6X 10Ch 2.4 AFHDS transmitter with the FS-iA10 receiver board total of £45 including delivery, looks good value for money as I am known to be a bit frugal

good choice, Flysky is a decent brand for the money. Ive been using RC models for many years & alot of clubs/people I ran RC models with used FlySky with zero issues, infact the one brand that seemed to crop up more than any others in terms of issues was Spektrum, common error with them was unbinding themselves which wasn't good when it was the radio being used for Aircraft or 30cc+ buggys!
Personally ive always had Futaba & Sanwa with no issues & very simple to setup/use, but recently I thought I would try something different as i wanted a few more channels so i went with the Flysky-i6S which is a 10 channel system ....for the money its an excellent piece of kit, what i also like it is comes supplied with a mobile phone/andriod cradle so you can attach your device to it & record videos, also i like the way it looks with no "rubber duck" for the antenna on the TX etc, overall for the money im very impressed with it :)
Flysky i6-s

[Captain Flack]

I have used Spektrum since it first came out but when the RF Board went for a second time, I looked around for a replacement.  I settled on an Orange TX from Hobbyking.  About 1/3rd. the price of Spektrum and seems to do a good job.  I did buy the full range version and it was the DSM X too.