What criteria do you use to pick a transmitter when you're ready to move past "whatever comes with my micro"? I was all set to just go with the Spektrum DX5e that comes with the Phoenix flight sim, but then noticed that 3D Robotics is packing a 9-channel FlySky FS-TH9X in with their new Iris ready-to-fly. And that seems like a lot of control channels for very little money. So obviously I have no idea what I'm talking about. What criteria should I actually use? Long term, I do plan to use the transmitter with the APM (Arducopter) board, which I guess has some oddities switching between the six "modes" (loiter, stabilize, auto, etc). So wanting lots of control channels isn't a completely left-field criteria.
My guess is that many people have more than one - and, that they use the particular main model(s) they are going to buy as a basic guide. In my case, I bought a stripped 9X for about $60 just to become familiar and it also bound to my old mini's like the 959 and the X1. I also used it for a dualsky hornet and now a Micro-Qbot. I installed a rechargeable battery and have (sitting on my desk) a backlight and a smartypants board to upgrade it even further. So maybe it depends...on a lot of things. Pilots who are going to buy a RTF model like the Phantom or the Iris will probably be fine with the included stock TX. Those who want to modify probably will like a 9X. Those who want the better grade of radio will choose some of the other well known top-of-the-line rigs. I think we are somewhat in a transition period. It's hard to imagine that the quads of the future - even in 5 years - will use the same old style hard-to-program TXs. More likely they will interface with a tablet, smartphone, etc. for much of their programming and control, with sticks being more "fly by wire" as a fake for those of us already familiar with them. Somewhat like the Airbus jets - at first they put all the controls in them with tactile feedback because pilots were so accustomed to them, even though they could be flown with a trackpad.
Man, I can't even play a first person shooter on a touch screen, and I've got a zillion hours of practice in that. But it's not hard to imagine that if the computer is managing the second-to-second nonsense of fighting the wind and smoothing out flight curves, I can totally imagine us humans being left to just handle mission planning. Thanks for the thoughtful writeup. Do you happen to know if your 9X works with any of the RC simulators?
I think it may be possible - but needs too much work for me. If I was going use a SIM, I'd spend the $15 to $20 and get something like this: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20951__hobbyking_6ch_rc_flight_simulator_system_mode_2_.html
Wow! That's like a whole other price class from Phoenix or RealFlight. But HK says that one doesn't have any multirotor models... would what I learn about single-rotors translate?
I think that and other similar TX work with some of the better SIM programs..... http://www.heli-x.net/ mentions that and other similar models. So you would be buying that for the hardware mostly
I have a FlySky FS TH9X bound to my Syma X1 and HK Micro Q-Bot via the HT8 Tx module. The 9X really expands the Syma's performance. I also simulator train with ClearviewSE with a USB Dynam box. The ClearviewSE program has no quadcopters, but the CP helicopter, the MCP-X "flies" similar to 3 axis quads and directional oriented 6 axis quads. Simulators really help. One gets what one pays for in the RC world.
Thanks, Jay! You brought up an excellent point I hadn't considered, that transmitters and receivers apparently aren't all compatible, just because they're all 2.4Ghz? I was really looking at getting a new Tx as something I'd use with my X1 now, and keep using as I buy or build something "more serious." Where did you get the HT8, and how did you know it would do the trick? Seems like most of the advice I can find on matching Tx and Rx is to buy and install one that's compatible, but that doesn't help much for a consumer toy like the Syma where it's all on board.
Unfortunately there is little compatibility between/among the different Tx and helicopter and quadcopter manufacturers. The internet is full of both good and bad information about what is compatible to what as it relates to RC products. rcgroups.com is a great site for accurate RC information. I have pages and pages of notes documented what product will work with what product. I got my HT8 Tx module included with my WL Toys V922 CP helicopter, and a HT8 Tx module is included with the HK Micro Q-Bot. The HT8 module is inexpensive and readily available via on-line purchases. I like the FlySky version of this group of transmitters as it has a removable Tx module located in a back recessed compartment. This would allow me (in theory) to use other currently available Tx modules using different transmitting protocols for other RC aircraft products. The Syma X1 uses the standard FS module (FS Model TM-002) as does the WL Toys V911 FP helicopter. The HT8 module will not work with the Syma X1.
Wanted to close the loop on this thread. Thanks for the help guys, I got the FlySky 9X from Amazon, then used the programmer board from SmartieParts to flash on the er9x firmware. After a probably an hour of flight time, I got used to the bigger controller, and I can effectively use the longer throw on the sticks to fly a little more gracefully. I also noticed a huge range boost from the controller packed in with the X1. I used to lose control about 50-100 feet away at a big grassy park near my house. Now I can fly from one corner to the other, certainly far enough I can't make out the X1's orientation any more and need to bring it back in anyway. I didn't hear about HobbyKing's 9xr until I'd already bought and modded the FlySky. That might have saved me some money and hassle, but it also seems like it requires a 3S battery that would have pushed me into buying a legit balancing charger in the same purchase. (The FlySky has a AA caddy that can eventually be replaced with a LiPo, so my kit is still off the shelf alkalines in the Tx and a 1S lipo in the Syma.)
Jeremy- Just let me help you spend a little more money. I use a HK LiFePO4 1500mAh Tx pack 3S1P9.9V1C battery for my TH9X. It is 102mmX23mmX29mm. It fits in the battery compartment. Its Balance plug is JST-XH. It's Discharge Plug is JR/Spectrum/Futaba. One can charge it at up to 2C. I have charged mine up to 1.5A without problems. My smart charger charges at 1.0A. The battery works great; it holds a charge for a long time and it never gets that hot. The only caveat is that one has to be real careful about the polarity of the battery plug as it is reversed, and if I remember correctly the connectors do not match directly either. One needs to use your existing AA pack connector, or make your own from spare parts, or PM me. Jay
Funny you should mention it, J, it's been on my wishlist since I put in the SmartieParts board, since the USB port for the programmer makes the AA caddy an even tighter fit than stock. Here's the link on HobbyKing for that battery in the US Warehouse, for anyone following along. http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__45278__HobbyKing_1500mAH_LiFe_3S_9_9v_Transmitter_pack_US_Warehouse_.html
Even though this battery fits; there still is not that much wiggle room. Now I have to start thinking about that SmartieParts board
