Total newbie needs TX for Tricopter and Foam Trainer plane - in UK

[_g_]

New to stuff in the air, bar playing with Lama's indoor some years ago '1:1' planes a bit some years ago (never completed licence, but did fly solo).

I've got a RC explorer based tricopter on the way and may be picking up a collection of foam planes in various states tomorrow.

I've got car controllers, but while I do still have a Lama controller somewhere, it's 250 miles and probably not ideal anyway.

Ideally I don't want to spend a massive amount, but don't mind paying a bit more if it's going to give me more options for not crashing, as well as last a bit longer.

Was looking at the Turnigy 9XR, which is in stock at the UK hobbyking, but need to add a module to that (which don't seem to be in stock).

I've been pointed towards a taranis, but it's a fair bit more cash it seems.

I will also need RX or two if the system I'm getting doesn't come with one.

How easy is it to swap rx between setups, or should I really go for mulitple?

Ideally, I'd like a stabalization system too - but again, not a massive amount to spend.
Was looking at the 'orangerx' with receiver included. Again, can I used one for two types, or should I try and get multiple?

Eventual aim is playing with FPV stuff, but starting with the basics.

And yes, I've done quite a lot of searching, listening to youtube reviews and so on - and half the time just ended up more confused with all the options available .

 

[engineer]

Welcome to the Flite Test Forums!
I love my 9xr, but depending on module, you could be at taranis pricing. 9xr is super flexible, you can program any channel to do anything. While it can only transmit 9 channels, it can mix up to 16, which can be remixed into the any other channel.
For a basic 6 channel, Ive seen good success with a flysky fs-t6, runs about 55 USD. It binds to cheap hobbyking Rx also.
For stabilizing, I think there are standalone things for that, or even a Kk2 if you like.

 

[_g_]

Cheers.

I was looking at the fs-t6 too, as pricing is pretty reasonable - well, £45, but stuff is always more expensive here.
However, I was told 'no failsafe' - presumably for the rx that comes with it.

The tricopter actually has a KK2 with 1.6 firmware setup already - wasn't sure exactly what functions it did and didn't do.

 

[RoyBro]

engineer makes some good points. If you could swing the cost of the Taranis, I'm sure you would be glad you did. The 9xr is a good second choice, but by the time you add a transmitter module, you will be well on your way to the cost of the Taranis.

I wouldn't tie myself to OrangRx just because they have a receiver that has built-in stabilization. As engineer said, there are plenty of standalone stabilization modules, some specifically for planes.

If you're not ready to invest in a Taranis, your best bet may be to get a lower cost transmitter like the fs-t6. That way you won't have so much tied up in your system when you realize you should have gotten a Taranis in the first place.

 

[RoyBro]

The tricopter actually has a KK2 with 1.6 firmware setup already - wasn't sure exactly what functions it did and didn't do.

The KK2 has all the stabilization and everything built in. But you will still need at least a 5 channel receiver to connect to the KK2 board. So the fs-t6 with receiver would certainly work.

The KK2 also has facility for a servo driven camera gimbal, but you would need a couple more channels on the receiver to control that.

 

[_g_]

Cheers.

Think I'm going to have to see if I can find a good deal on the Taranis.
Best so far seems to be £175, which is pushing it a bit for the moment.

It's about £125 on hobbyking from their international warehouse, which risks me 33% on top of that, so actually the £175 delivered probably isn't too bad.

 

[OrangutangSurfer]

I bought the FS-t6 and it is certainly functional but less than a year flying and I'm already in situations where i need 7 channels or more mixes, etc.. the Taranis is my next investment - but for 55 bucks the FS-t6 is a more than functional starter for the price. The taranis and 9x/9xr both use modules so there is more flexibility, in my case there is a FlySky module so I can continue to use all my receivers, the 9x natively binds to the flysky receivers. I've been heavily looking in to both the 9x and taranis, the taranis is ready to go and only needs to be programmed, the 9x can have telemetry and back light added but most of those features are DYI stuff, I prefer to have it ready to go, in addition many reviews rate the taranis as a radio you won't outgrow, which most likely means you're not buying any more radios.

I have a KK2 i flashed with openaero2 for flight stabilization and auto level for an FPV plane (the blunt nose versa). It's been a bit of a learning curve but it does work with some trial and error, and for a $30 flight controller it's quite capable. I bought a second to put in a Storch and setup as a trainer for friends that want to learn to fly.

-Jes

 

[RoyBro]

The basic Taranis package doesn't come with a receiver so you'll need to add one to your order. There are several receivers from which to choose. I recently picked up a micro 5 channel for $12 (non-telemetry). There are 4, 6, and 8 channel with or without telemetry. There's even a long range receiver available.

 

[HawkMan]

You should find a Taranis for somewhat less than that on ebay .

this isn't the cheapest but it's with the X8R receive and the aluminum caseusually either or) and a battery for the Tx, so it's a better deal than most of them when you see that most are usually either just case(sometimes with battery) or just receiver.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231255584621?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I just ordered this one myself less than a month ago and had quick delivery and excellent service, they added a euro plug charger for me to (you'll probably have to request a UK one I assume). And my automatic currency converter says this comes in at slightly below the price you have for the 175£ one, of course there's shipping so...

 

[_g_]

Cheers, unfortunately £175 is the best on UK ebay.

I've also got the strong possibility of 33% import and tax if I order from abroad.

However, 't9hobbysport' has just come in to stock - still showing as preorder but I called to check as the website didn't seem amazing and he said they were in today, though may take a day or two for him to get them sorted.

£150 with X8R RX and £165 to add the case to that. £10 postage on top of those.
Is the case worth it? Wasn't going to bother, but this price is a bit better at least.

 

[Flying Cirkus]

Case will keep your transmitter safe when traveling!

 

[HawkMan]

The case is just a simple case, I wasn't really going to bother with it since I don't expect it to spend much if any time in a case but most packages are case+batter or X8R.

but if you do like to protect your expensive receiver, then yeah sure it is... I should probably think about that but...

 

[RoyBro]

I've also got the strong possibility of 33% import and tax if I order from abroad.

£150 with X8R RX and £165 to add the case to that. £10 postage on top of those.
Is the case worth it? Wasn't going to bother, but this price is a bit better at least.

33% import tax? Ouch!

£175 delivered? Do it. It's a little more than I paid, but this way you can avoid that brutal import tax.

 

[HawkMan]

In Norway we get 25% VAT on everything imported over 200NOK(~20£) so I'm used to it myself, I thought the UK was still at 25% myself after they increased from 17.5% or whatever they complained about before though On goods over 1000NOK we also have to pay a small amount for customs handling too though. and since we're not in the EU we have to pay it wherever we buy from unlike our swedish neighbours.

But yeah as long as you can afford it, get the Taranis, if you can't afford it get something cheap until you can. It is a great radio, even though it's not exactly easy to use, but I guess that goes for most computer radios

 

[_g_]

It's 20% VAT AND 10% import duty, but they're compounded - so a £100 item would, say, become £120 with vat, then get 10% import duty ontop, to become £132 (ok, that's 32% but not 33%, but bah, I only got three and a half hours sleep last night, my excuse.
The only address I can use for parcels where I am right now is a work address and I'm told you'll pretty much always get slapped with both charges due it being presumed to be commercial .

We were at 17.5% VAT for ages, then it popped back down to 15%, before going up to 20%.

Was going to go ahead and order one, but my online banking won't let me log on, despite them making it complicated enough that I just wrote the passwords down .

Cheers for the thoughts all, by the way!