Perenial question - which radio/rx should I buy?

[Quadcopter102]

I have searched but nothing comes up relevant.
As some may know - I ended up with a Walkera Devo 10 - using a store credit from EverBuying.
The seals were broken on arrival and it would not connect on Win7 PC or iMac Yosemite OS.
I opened it and checked all was secure and "wiggled" the mini USB to see if it was loose on the board.
Checked all wiring looms and connectors were OK and tight fitting... put it back together.
Repeat this a few times and eventually I got it to connect to WinPC.
Now, it seems OK - apart from not liking Macs and its now using Deviation 4.0.1 firmware.
BUT I don't trust it! I have this EverBuying "we sell defective stuff" in my head.
So I am looking for a radio and then I can offload this on Gumtree.
I don't think the USA as this - its owned by eBay and is not an auction house- similar to Craigslist from what I hear.
Buy and selling is by arrangement between the two parties and I opt for locals and cash in hand deals.
I keep looking at various models and prices - then come up with a supply issue.
Specktrum. No agents in Aussie! At least none listed on the Spekky website. Two stores and one distributor in New Zealand - none replied to emails.
Used Contact us on the Specktrum website - three weeks to get a reply and then the store in Oz...no stock.

So with a budget of say au$350 or us$250 - what is a good radio for quadcopters?

I would prefer programmable by touch screen and easy enough for those of us "technology challenged".
I do not understand why Turnigy stuff has different modules or how to use them.
Apart from 450 type frame kits.. I will be building a 250/260 type "racer" and add FPV stuff when or if a can learn to fly it fast than walking speed.

All suggestions appreciated.....

 

[GJH105775]

I have searched but nothing comes up relevant.
As some may know - I ended up with a Walkera Devo 10 - using a store credit from EverBuying.
The seals were broken on arrival and it would not connect on Win7 PC or iMac Yosemite OS.
I opened it and checked all was secure and "wiggled" the mini USB to see if it was loose on the board.
Checked all wiring looms and connectors were OK and tight fitting... put it back together.
Repeat this a few times and eventually I got it to connect to WinPC.
Now, it seems OK - apart from not liking Macs and its now using Deviation 4.0.1 firmware.
BUT I don't trust it! I have this EverBuying "we sell defective stuff" in my head.
So I am looking for a radio and then I can offload this on Gumtree.
I don't think the USA as this - its owned by eBay and is not an auction house- similar to Craigslist from what I hear.
Buy and selling is by arrangement between the two parties and I opt for locals and cash in hand deals.
I keep looking at various models and prices - then come up with a supply issue.
Specktrum. No agents in Aussie! At least none listed on the Spekky website. Two stores and one distributor in New Zealand - none replied to emails.
Used Contact us on the Specktrum website - three weeks to get a reply and then the store in Oz...no stock.

So with a budget of say au$350 or us$250 - what is a good radio for quadcopters?

I would prefer programmable by touch screen and easy enough for those of us "technology challenged".
I do not understand why Turnigy stuff has different modules or how to use them.
Apart from 450 type frame kits.. I will be building a 250/260 type "racer" and add FPV stuff when or if a can learn to fly it fast than walking speed.

All suggestions appreciated.....

I'd suggest a Spektruim DX7 or Turnigy 9xr

 

[Quadcopter102]

I'd suggest a Spektruim DX7 or Turnigy 9xr

I have been looking at this http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...Radio_Transmitter_Mode_2_without_module_.html but..as I wrote.. What is significant about "modules". Does it mean the "standard" no module kit - does not come out of teh box able to fly a quad?

 

[cookie1985]

Have you tried a Frsky Taranis? I am new to the scene and its been easy to pick up and configure...

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate the module is easy to understand if you want the transmitter to bind to spektrum receivers then get the orange module there is also a futaba one etc so its just the protocol that changes between modules

 

[ringolong]

Have you tried a Frsky Taranis? I am new to the scene and its been easy to pick up and configure...

+1 with your budget. There is a lot information online to help with needed or wanted functionality.

 

[Quadcopter102]

Its in my nature to avoid things needing "add on's" where possible - ditto in app purchases!
From day 1 the main candidate was the Taranis - but the shutters in my brain come down where there are so many menu options and programming steps.
I accept limited brain power is the problem and as many report its not really a beginners best choice - as those who say GET IT!

Having again - spent a long time on youtube vids and bearing in mind that the Taranis is about to drop down the list when a new Turnigy radio is announced in the not too distant future...according to two aussie stores - and preferring the more visual touch screen approach - today I pick up - because aussier post and carriers - are a law unto themselves and prefer not to drive around delivering when they can return packages to post offices or agents collection points - a
Turnigy TGY-i10 10ch 2.4GHz Digital Proportional RC System with Telemetry (Mode 2).

Thanks to all for suggestion and info....

PS: The way my life and luck goes - I am now waiting to read that the Taranis has been reduced in price and the TGY - i10 has been discontinued.
Unlike the well know king of legend - everything I touch does not turn to gold.... lead or clay is more likely!

 

[cookie1985]

Well its not so much the beginner stage i considered, I bought the Taranis because i was looking foward to the future and its something ill grow into.

The transmitter is a big investment for me, so i wanted to get something that lasts, has very little additional expenses, and had heaps of support.

Dont let the menus be too off putting, like i said, its not hard to pick up, in fact at the moment i only need two menus, and once you know where to look, its really easy.

I am really impatient, so if i can get it without throwing it through a window, then thats a good thing

I read tonnes of reviews and people seem to be either strongly for or strongly against, so its hard to really tell.

Go into youtube amd type taranis review, watch the two part video from Rc Model Reviews. He seems to give quite an objective assessmement.

 

[ringolong]

This one coming soon is also touch screen

 

[cookie1985]

This one coming soon is also touch screen

Looks like a beast

 

[Quadcopter102]

Well sure as eggs is chickens - guess what its turned - typically - HobbyKing sour!
Got the radio... unboxed it sorted the bits - battery..a small Li-On camera type battery - no charger integral with tx..and no charger.
Checked the item sales page...1700 Li-On. I saw that and never thought it would not have any connector suitable to the multi chargers we use... WTF - its a radio and they use AAs or Lipo!
Nowhere did I see...oh s**t you will need specific cheapo charger costing just us$6 charger - which likely cost HK $1.50 and could go out in every radio.
No "Others items you may need" and I am sure in the RC Groups thread - no mention of this %$£%$£%$ battery charger being needed.

Checked the AU store - showing its a cheapo au$9 charger. BUT again even more typically none in AU store. Ofcourse there are about 20,000 in the "Global Store"
Well if I use it and the battery goes down - assuming its got some amount of charge already, I am stuffed till I get a charger. Shipping ranges from HK is $5.90 - sloooow boat ( registered airmail - long time in waiting room!) or pay $52 for 7 days!
Then I sit back totally pi**ed off and think - a store in Sydney would have sold me a Taranis for the same money - with a battery and shipped and in my sweaty paws in 3 days!
On top of all this.... just had a real anti HK rant in earshot of my dearly beloved ... when I heard - " You paid HOW MUCH"..... dog house again!

 

[Quadcopter102]

Well its not so much the beginner stage i considered, I bought the Taranis because i was looking foward to the future and its something ill grow into.
The transmitter is a big investment for me, so i wanted to get something that lasts, has very little additional expenses, and had heaps of support.
Dont let the menus be too off putting, like i said, its not hard to pick up, in fact at the moment i only need two menus, and once you know where to look, its really easy.I am really impatient, so if i can get it without throwing it through a window, then thats a good thing I read tonnes of reviews and people seem to be either strongly for or strongly against, so its hard to really tell.Go into youtube amd type taranis review, watch the two part video from Rc Model Reviews. He seems to give quite an objective assessment.

I follow RCMODELREVIEWS he is indeed a first class educator and raconteur. I use him as my visual handbook!
A few dealers I emailed about the Taranis said much as you.. buy this and you wont need any other! BUt it may take some study and a bit more experience to programmer it. I am like waterflow .. I look for the asiest way to move towards a result - if I have to think too much it hurts my feet. No cat so I need to kick the wall!
A while back I asked about a radio and did not want to start a collection....I now have three!

EDIT: Hours later after plodding through the nightmare of a Chinese translated to English manual....I found the bit that says it can charge through the USB port.
All I read previously about this mini USB... is that its so badly fixed on the board that just pushing and pulling the cable out... can rip the USB connector off the board!
That info seemed more related to those using it to connect to computers rather than updates and charging... but it means I can use it...