Choosing a Radio

Various remote control transmitters arranged on a white background.

As seen in the November 2024 issue of Model Aviation.

WHETHER YOU’RE REENTERING the hobby after a long break or just beginning your RC journey, choosing a radio is one of the first things that you have to do. Budget plays a large part in that, but spending wisely is also important.

Buyer’s remorse is something that I’m going to help you avoid. Sometimes a few dollars more can ensure success and satisfaction, but you don’t need to break the bank either.

What Do You Need?

What are your goals? Will you always fly small aircraft or will you expand to larger and more complicated machines? Do you want to fly helicopters or multirotors? Do you have experienced club members who are nearby to help? Are you a techie who loves the challenge of open-source programming, or do you want it to be as simple as possible?

Various remote control devices, different designs and sizes, with antennas and screens.

The author has owned all of these radios, but you don’t have to—he might have a problem! He loves to review radios and enjoys comparing features and programming methodology, but any of these will fly almost everything he owns, from Giant Scale to park flyers to helicopters and quadcopters.

The following is my "must-have" list:

Six (or more) channels to allow for flaps, multiple aileron servos, retracts, etc.
Multiple model memories.
Model templates (airplane, helicopter, multirotor, and sailplane).
Predefined mixes with at least one "free mix" that allows me to program a special mix.
Timer.
Alarms (set for timer, battery voltage, etc.).
Adjustable gimbals (tension, length, and smooth or ratchet action).
Trainer switch.
Easy programming (this is big, big, big for me).
Available technical support (online videos, phone support, etc.).
Easy firmware updates.

Starting Smart

Buy the brand of radio that others around you are using so that help will be readily available. If you show up with a radio that nobody is familiar with, you’ll be on your own and frustrated. All of the major brands are very good in terms of reliability and quality.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the abbreviations for the protocols that are used. There is DSMX, DMSS, ACCST, FASST, FHSS, S-FHSS, A-FHSS, and probably some more that I’m missing. They are not compatible with each other, but each is reliable. The brand will usually decide which protocol you’ll be using. Again, choose something compatible with what those around you are using.

Avoid Feature Creep and Bargain Basement

It’s easy to become awed by additional features that you might never need. I’m guilty of that.

My best radio will play music, which I’ve never done. It will talk to me and has more channels than any of my airplanes use. It has touchscreen programming (which I do love). Some have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a host of other features that don’t help your airplane fly any better—they’re simply bonus items. Be smart and avoid paying for things that you don’t need and won’t use.

At the same time, don’t go for the cheapest radio you can find. There are some that claim to do it all for a fraction of the price of the supported brand-name radios. Quality control and support are usually lacking with these offerings. Some claim compatibility with major brands, but most have reverse-engineered the protocols and do so without proper licensing. Buyer beware.

My Recommendation

This is dangerous ground that I’m about to step out on, but I will recommend an entry-level radio that I’m confident you’ll be satisfied with. I’m not saying it’s the absolute best radio, but it’s rock-solid and supported by a company that has been doing this for a long time.

The Spektrum NX7e is a new offering from Spektrum RC that targets the entrylevel market. The NX line replaces the older DX series and has built upon its years of experience and refinement. This radio retails for approximately $300 and does everything on my must-have list—and then some. For $100 more, you can step up to the NX8 and add more features, such as voice and Wi-Fi, but that’s for you to decide on your budget and "needs" list.

My primary radio is a Spektrum iX14, and I just bought the NX7e to test myself. I’m extremely happy with everything about it. I took 23 of the aircraft I fly with the iX14 and put them on my new NX7e, and every single one of them flies exactly as it did with my much more expensive radio. It has the ability to download BNF setups for most of the Horizon Hobby line of airplanes; mine came with many of them preinstalled in a library from which to choose.

Remote control display showing system setup menu options.

Menus that are easy to navigate are important for finding the settings that you need.

Remote control screen displaying a list of model options to select.

With a 250-model memory, you won’t run out of space. Options for choosing BNF files that are already loaded or programming your own make things easy.

Device screen with orange caution warning and yes/no options.

One of the biggest reasons I recommend that a beginner go with Spektrum is that the majority of fliers in the clubs I visit use that brand. Programming is almost identical across the line of Spektrum radios, so help is easy to find. You can email a portal at Horizon Hobby for tech support, should you need it.

The Spektrum NX7e (now known as the NX7e+) is a great $300 choice for a first radio that will last into the future.

Bottom Line

I’ve owned almost every radio on the market and enjoy learning and comparing how things are done, etc., but you don’t have to! It’s part of the hobby for me. Beginners should start with something easy to use and have help available. The NX7e will fit the bill for most pilots for years to come as they grow in the hobby. If you outgrow it, there is always a market for a good used, brand-name radio, so you can sell and upgrade later. We’ll look at other radios down the road, but this is a great start.

Last-Minute Major Update!

As I was about to upload this column, a major update for all NX and iX radios was released. For the NX7e, it expands it to 14 channels and includes updates to the forward programming capabilities that are beyond significant.

The radio is now sold as the NX7e+; if you do the update to the NX7e, it will be exactly the same but without the little plus symbol on the label. There isn’t a price increase—just a massive update in features that I’m still working my way through.

Wow … kudos on this update.