Buy Radio Controller for FPV and Racing Drones
The existence of various flight simulators nowadays makes the cost of trial and error much lower for beginning players. It is important to purchase a proper simulator before you start learning to fly through the airplane. Similar to a gaming mouse or joystick, a fully functional remote control that feels good in the hand can help a flyer establish good habits.
If you want to experience the fun of FPV drone, then it is crucial to choose a remote control that suits your needs. When choosing a remote control, the following factors need to be considered.
What factors need to be considered when purchasing radio controller
Frequency
The frequency of FPV remote control can be 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz, both bands have their own advantages and disadvantages. 2.4GHz band has more stable signal and longer flying distance, but it may suffer from interference in urban environment, resulting in unstable signal. 5.8GHz band is suitable for short flying environment, its signal is relatively strong, but the flying distance is shorter.
Number of channels
The number of channels of FPV remote control affects your ability to control the aircraft and the number of devices. At least 4 channels are needed to control the basic movements of the quadcopter. If you need more functions, such as GPS, altitude hold, etc., more channels are needed. When choosing a remote control, you need to determine the number of channels according to your needs to ensure that you can meet your control needs.
Quality and feel
The remote control should have good quality and feel to ensure comfort and reliability when using it for a long time. Some high-end remotes are made of metal and high-quality components to make them more durable and stable. In addition, the weight and balance of the remote control is also very important as it directly affects your hand fatigue during flight and your ability to control the craft accurately.
Programmability
Some high-end remotes can be programmed via computer for more refined control and configuration. For example, you can set specific buttons or sliders to control specific functions of the craft, or adjust parameters such as the responsiveness of the remote control. These customization features allow you to better adapt to your flying machine and personal habits, and improve your control accuracy.
Brand and Compatibility
Choosing a well-known brand of remote control can ensure quality and after-sales service. It is also necessary to consider the compatibility with your flying machine or receiver. Some brands of remote controls are only suitable for specific models of flying machines or receivers, so you need to read the manual and specification sheet carefully when you purchase. If you are going to assemble your own flying machine, then you need to make sure that the remote control is compatible with your flying machine and other equipment.
How to choose the radio controller?
Getting Started recommendation: LiteRadio 2
If you want to have the same control experience as the real one in the simulation practice stage, you can get the mini control. The price of this type of remote control is generally within three hundred dollars, the size is small and easy to carry and store, the disadvantage is that the workmanship is poor, and there is no screen display, the pairing process is very complicated.
Jumper T-Lite V2 ELRS Radio Controller
In addition to being compatible with OpenTX, the Jumper T-Lite V2 ELRS Radio Controller comes with EdgeTX. The specifications state that the built-in ExpressLRS module can produce up to 150 mW.
The output power of only 100mW makes it more appropriate for micro drones with short to medium flight ranges; maybe, 150mW will be offered in the future. You can purchase a higher power external module to attach to the back and power it with an extra battery if you want to go long range.
Medium recommendation: Radiomaster TX12
If the budget is above five hundred you can consider getting a portable full-featured remote control, the construction and function of this type of remote control is basically the same as the professional control. In recent years, a number of manufacturers are actively iterating and upgrading. Such remotes are very suitable for entry or advancement.
pilots with sufficient budget or long-term planning can directly choose expert remote control in one step. There are more models and types of expert remotes, and flyers have their own preferences.
RadioMaster TX16S MKII Radio Controller
RadioMaster TX16S MKII Radio Controller is a multi-protocol radio controller that is popular among hobbyists and professionals alike. It is known for its versatility, affordability, and ease of use.
Features:
- Multi-protocol support: The TX16S MKII supports a wide range of radio protocols, including FrSky, Spektrum, and DSMX. This makes it compatible with a wide variety of drones and other radio-controlled models.
- OpenTX firmware: The TX16S MKII runs on OpenTX firmware, which is a free and open-source operating system for radio controllers. OpenTX is highly customizable and offers a wide range of features, including telemetry, voice alerts, and scripting.
- 4.3-inch color display: The TX16S MKII has a 4.3-inch color display that makes it easy to see and navigate the menus. The display also provides real-time telemetry data, such as battery voltage and signal strength.
- Hall effect sensors: The TX16S MKII uses hall effect sensors for the gimbals. Hall effect sensors are more precise and durable than potentiometers, which are used in many other radio controllers.
Pros:
- Versatile and compatible with a wide range of radio protocols
- OpenTX firmware is highly customizable and offers a wide range of features
- 4.3-inch color display makes it easy to see and navigate the menus
- Hall effect sensors are more precise and durable than potentiometers
Cons:
- Can be complex to set up and use
- OpenTX firmware can be overwhelming for beginners
- Not as compact as some other radio controllers
Overall:
The RadioMaster TX16S MKII is a great radio controller for hobbyists and professionals who want a versatile and affordable option. It is easy to use and offers a wide range of features. However, it can be complex to set up and use, and the OpenTX firmware can be overwhelming for beginners.
Channel of the radio controller
Each of the remote’s joysticks can be swung up, down, left and right, with two joysticks for a total of four channels.
Toggle switches can be used to lock the aircraft or to switch flight modes. The switches are divided into two-segment and three-segment, but regardless of the number of segments, each toggle switch is a channel. Usually four toggle switches of two or more segments are sufficient.
In addition, some controls are equipped with buttons or knobs, each of which also counts as a channel, but are not commonly used on traversers.
During the actual flight, we also have to bind the various channels of the remote control to the aircraft. Taking the most common American hand as an example, the binding mechanism of each channel of the remote control is as follows:
| Throttle | Yaw |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Increase all rotor speeds | turn left and right |
| Pitch） | Roll |
|---|---|
 |  |
| swing back and forth | swing left and right |
Radio controller connection and configuration instructions
Note: For remote control with detachable antenna, you need to install the antenna before starting the remote control, otherwise it may cause the transmitter module to burn up!
Long press the remote control power-on button to start the remote control. For safety reasons, if the left throttle or toggle switch is not zeroed during power on, the power on process will be paused and wait for zeroing before you can start the system. The remote control’s error prompts are as follows:
- Throttle not zeroed (Throttle Warning):Bring the throttle rocker to the bottom.
- Switch Warning:Try to toggle each rocker in turn until the error message disappears.
Wired connection
All mainstream remote controls on the market come with USB ports, which can be directly connected to the computer via MicroUSB cable or Type-C cable after booting. Some remotes will have 2~3 USB ports, which are used for charging, emulator handle or built-in file transfer, etc. You need to pay attention to the distinction before wiring.
FAQ：
- Q: The remote control cannot be recognized:
- A: Check whether the indicator light of the remote control is on, and troubleshoot the contact between the USB port and the cable. Check whether the USB port only supports charging function.
- Q：The remote control can be recognized, but the joystick signal cannot be read:
- A: This is a common problem caused by the driver. the driver version in Window10 system is too high and needs to be downgraded to be compatible with the joystick.
The driver downgrade method is as follows:
- Turn on the remote control and connect to the computer using the USB cable
- Open Device Manager
- Select libusb-win32 devices
- Right-click on BETTER_USB_HS
- Select Let me select from the list of available drivers on the computer
- Select HID-COMPLIANT GAME CONTROLLER