FDS
Elite member
DSMX is the protocol used by Horizon Hobby in their Spektrum radios and Horizon Hobby Bind N Fly planes. If you have or are going to buy Horizon Hobby planes, especially ones with their Safe and AS3x systems then it’s a good idea to buy a transmitter that is fully compatible with and has known good binding with DSMX. This does not mean it has to be a Spektrum radio. DSMX is only one of many transmitter to receiver protocols.
Multi protocol radio summary-
I needed DSMX because I had a Sport Cub S as my first plane, I bought a second hand Orange RX6i because it is fully DSMX compatible and it was really easy to set up and bind to my Cub. If I was buying again I would have bought a Jumper T12.
If you are only planning on building foam planes and kits, then you can do very well with the entry level FRSky stuff, the RX’s are not expensive and the handset has mixing, expo and rates etc which are all useful. You will have to learn how to set it up but there’s lots of videos on YT.
If you think you might be doing a variety of RC flying, so kits, pre built, toy quads and bigger quads then buy the T12, I just got one for my son, even the basic one is superb value for money. The Hall effect gimbal version is still under £100. You get a branch of Open TX (transmitter set up software) which has huge tutorial support and it comes with a multi protocol module as standard.
You can get your first FT model nearly finished with a servo set up tool (£5) running off 4AA batteries and a servo plug (£5 all in tops) then add the TX at the end to set all the rates and calibrate the ESC, get the motor turning the right way etc.
Spektrum gained its traction through aggressive marketing and the excellent range of foam BNF or PNP planes Horizon have made over the last decade,back in the day Futaba was the perceived premium product everyone wanted!
Multi protocol radio summary-
- One TX to rule them all, in some cases including toy quads etc, no need to buy more than one TX for all the popular receiver types.
- Greater degree of complexity- you will have to set more up simply because the TX does more
- Higher cost than budget fixed protocol options.
- Can be re flashed with new firmware to stay up to date with new technologies or regulation
- Will grow with you or stay at a basic level, since most will work without a PC to set up models and fly or you can get deeper in if you want.
- Designed for you to change things- either by plug in modules or through software.
- Less steep initial learning curve
- Some features of BNF models restricted to a single protocol, eg SAFE.
- You are locked in to one protocol, if another manufacturer has features you want or cheaper receivers, you can’t access them.
- Can be modified with external modules to run other protocols, some have module bays
- Usually easy to bind to own manufacturers products
- Perceived as easier or less complex than Open TX, not always the case.
- Cheap basic offerings from most manufacturers
I needed DSMX because I had a Sport Cub S as my first plane, I bought a second hand Orange RX6i because it is fully DSMX compatible and it was really easy to set up and bind to my Cub. If I was buying again I would have bought a Jumper T12.
If you are only planning on building foam planes and kits, then you can do very well with the entry level FRSky stuff, the RX’s are not expensive and the handset has mixing, expo and rates etc which are all useful. You will have to learn how to set it up but there’s lots of videos on YT.
If you think you might be doing a variety of RC flying, so kits, pre built, toy quads and bigger quads then buy the T12, I just got one for my son, even the basic one is superb value for money. The Hall effect gimbal version is still under £100. You get a branch of Open TX (transmitter set up software) which has huge tutorial support and it comes with a multi protocol module as standard.
You can get your first FT model nearly finished with a servo set up tool (£5) running off 4AA batteries and a servo plug (£5 all in tops) then add the TX at the end to set all the rates and calibrate the ESC, get the motor turning the right way etc.
Spektrum gained its traction through aggressive marketing and the excellent range of foam BNF or PNP planes Horizon have made over the last decade,back in the day Futaba was the perceived premium product everyone wanted!
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