A radio upgrade from a Turnigy 9x, a step up or just snobbery?!

[iPeel]

The only radio I've ever used is a Turnigy 9x with Er9x, Lipo and a backlight. I've never had any complaints over the functionality or stability but do wonder whether there's a better experience to be had from a radio like a Futaba 14SG in terms of the feel of the gimbals and layout / ergonomics etc.

Last weekend I did try to have a look at other radios by popping into my local aero model shop in Milton Keynes, but found the dinosaurs behind the counter's shocking dismissal of my requirements and their sheer condescending nature completely offputting (apparently nobody will ever, ever need anything other than 2.4Ghz for any reason now or in the future, ever).

So, what' the general opinion of the feel of a big brand radio vs the budget radios in actual flight? I know ergonomics changes from hand to hand but in general does the "feel" and experience of a big brand radio justify the price?

Cheers,


Neil.

[Dizzy]

My two pennies worth ;)

I started flying with futaba and wished i never sold it all but that was years back, I now fly with a turnigy9x upgraded and find it fine i am still using a dx8 however it does feel nicer i dont trust the connection to my uhf as much as i do my own built connectors on the 9x  :D

If i had the pennies i prob would go back to a large futaba but i prefer my 9x for the moment maybe  Taranis later on

Spectrum is going tbh but yes in essence a well made hand set feels nice to hold :D

dizzy :)

[Coyote]

I have flown with Futaba, Spektrum, Turnigy 9x and Taranis. In flight there is absolutely no difference in their feel at all. They all respond in the same way, apart from Spektrum with the dreaded brown out "feature" :)

The 9x gimbals are not the greatest, but the Taranis gimbals are nice and can be compared to the branded gear.

Layout is personal, depending on how many features you need depends on how many pots and switches you need so that would have a heavy influence on the layout. Some have less Switches / Pots / Sliders which some will like because everything i spaced out more, but then of course that limits functionality due to lack of hardware to assign to functions.

After buying the big brands and flying with them, then running out of features or channels, I will not buy another one again due to the budget radios having those channels and functionality at much more reasonable price

[Dizzy]

I have flown with Futaba, Spektrum, Turnigy 9x and Taranis. In flight there is absolutely no difference in their feel at all. They all respond in the same way, apart from Spektrum with the dreaded brown out "feature" :)

The 9x gimbals are not the greatest, but the Taranis gimbals are nice and can be compared to the branded gear.

Layout is personal, depending on how many features you need depends on how many pots and switches you need so that would have a heavy influence on the layout. Some have less Switches / Pots / Sliders which some will like because everything i spaced out more, but then of course that limits functionality due to lack of hardware to assign to functions.

After buying the big brands and flying with them, then running out of features or channels, I will not buy another one again due to the budget radios having those channels and functionality at much more reasonable price

I agree with coyote flying with any radio is the same really ( but my 9x does feel plasticky compared to the dx8)and my 9x gives me enough channels now for fpv)
dizzy :)

[Jimbodiddly]

I"ve used spectrum for land and air as well as futaba for my quad, whilst its reassuring to use a familiar big name brand i can't help thinking the gaps rapidly closing between the major names and some of the budget ' less known' brands. If I was to buy a tx & rx again i would probably go for something like a 9x or frisky. As whilst I like my T8J very much I can't help thinking the build quality is a bit cheap, The phrase 'you get what you pay for .' i think can be true to a degree but i do think some of the lesser known brands do make some great gear & to upgrade from what you have to get a noticeable difference to appreciate I think you would need to spend a modest wedge. That said there are some great tx's that would be awesome with a 2.4ghz module popped in, JR and some of the older Futaba's spring to mind.

Just my thoughts.

Jim

[MarkLincs]

Well their right who needs anything but 2.4ghz

UHF is only for long range which means over 4km now, which of course is a no no but that depends if you follow the rules or not.

As for all sets feel the same i'd disagree...

Futaba feels a world apart from a 9xr crappy thing and that includes the gimbals sticks and stuff.

[DaveyLC]

I have to say I don't care what anyone says all of the frsky TX's feel like they are going to fall to pieces in your hands :D

[rob.thomson]

You ever used a 9x?

Tatamis is allot better, and the 9x has never fallen to pieces.

Having uses a dx6,  I can say that taranis is no worse.  In many ways better. 

I honestly think you got a bad radio.  I have two, and they are both solid.

Rob

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[DaveyLC]

Yep 9x, 9xr and a taranis they are all terrible

[Loopdreams]

I'd be interested to see what they feel like.  I'm just wary because everyone said the Turnigy radios were ok but when I got my hands on one it felt like it came from a pound shop. 

I've been using a DX7 which I bought when it was released, it's been flawless in dozens of models and thousands of flights.  The Turnigy just inspired no confidence at all. 

Even if the differences are illusory a big part of me doesn't care.  I like cars that feel well made because they make me confident that I will reach my destination without the thing falling apart.  If my DX7 reminds me of Toyotas and BMWs I have owned then the Turnigy felt like the Renaults or worse yet, the Citroen.

[skyscraper]

For the money a lot of these handsets cost you might as well Buy a 3D printer and make your own  :laugh:

Would be surprised if someone hasnt done that already tbh?

regards
Andy

[Coyote]

Yep 9x, 9xr and a taranis they are all terrible

You fall under the snobbery category :)

Have any of them actually fell apart in your hands ?

Have any actually failed ever in flight ? ( My DX6i did once while "in control" of a Raptor 50, my Futaba blew a regulator and failed but my Turnigy / Taranis never have.)

With goggles on, can you actually tell any difference in a switch or a gimbal ? OK the Turnigy gimbals leave a lot to be desired so I`ll give you that, but not the Taranis gimbals

[Brucey]

The only radio I've ever used is a Turnigy 9x with Er9x, Lipo and a backlight. I've never had any complaints over the functionality or stability but do wonder whether there's a better experience to be had from a radio like a Futaba 14SG in terms of the feel of the gimbals and layout / ergonomics etc.

Last weekend I did try to have a look at other radios by popping into my local aero model shop in Milton Keynes, but found the dinosaurs behind the counter's shocking dismissal of my requirements and their sheer condescending nature completely offputting (apparently nobody will ever, ever need anything other than 2.4Ghz for any reason now or in the future, ever).

So, what' the general opinion of the feel of a big brand radio vs the budget radios in actual flight? I know ergonomics changes from hand to hand but in general does the "feel" and experience of a big brand radio justify the price?

Cheers,


Neil.

By any chance was that Al's hobbies in mk?
I'm not far from mk, should meet up.

[Chris in Kabul]

Futaba any day of the week, enough said.

[MarkLincs]

You ever used a 9x?

Tatamis is allot better, and the 9x has never fallen to pieces.

Having uses a dx6,  I can say that taranis is no worse.  In many ways better. 

I honestly think you got a bad radio.  I have two, and they are both solid.

Rob

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

I've had the pleasure of using just about every brand or flying with every brand

My 12FG is a world apart from the turingy stuff

I do however like the JR sets nice gimbals

is it sobbery no its what I like Turst and have Faith in  :)