I always start my hunt with budget. It doesn't do me any good to know which transmitter is best if I can't afford it. That's the case with some of the newer high end transmitters like the Hitech Aurora. I started with the Turnigy 9x, which has a fairly strong following here. The Turnigy 9x or 9xr start around $50 to $80 depending on the options.
If you can afford a bit more, The FrSky Taranis is the current RC sweetheart. Partly because it is a quality radio under $200. And partly because it uses OpenTX an open source firmware, which is always being updated and improved. The downside is that right now they are backordered everywhere. If you want one, you either have to get on a waiting list, or pay a premium to have it shipped from China.
The Turnigy 9x and 9xr can both also run OpenTx like the Taranis. The 9x has a more classic look whereas the 9xr has that glitzy cheap Chinese look to it. See picture.
Either is a good radio, but if I had to do it over, I may have gone with the 9xr instead of the 9x in spite of it's cheap look, and I would have bought it without a module. Here's why.
- The 9xr has a built in LCD back-light. The 9x doesn't, but you can buy a back-lit kit for under$.
- The 9xr has a built-in USBASP programming port. The 9x doesn't, but if you are proficient with soldering, you can add on yourself.
- The 9xr requires a LiPo battery pack. The 9x comes AA battery ready, but you can also use a LiPo pack. Unfortunately getting the right connector has been an issue, resulting in several of us (including myself) reversing the polarity and frying a couple of components on the radio.
- The 9xr comes with both JR and Futaba training ports. The 9x has only a JR training port.
With either transmitter, I would choose to purchase the model without the FlySky module. Instead, I would choose An FrSky DJT module and receiver which is reported to have a much better range and reliability than either the FlySky or the Orange DSM2 radio systems. And now, the FrSky DXT module is available which would make it compatible with the newest generation of FrSky products.
Those are my budget recommendations for under $250.