Best RC Controler

[David Wilcoxen]

Hello, Gentlemen, I am embarrassed to say that I am not only new to Armortek, I am also new to the whole RC scene. I do know the principles and am a fast study. Having said this, I would like to know the very best RC controler that works flawlessly with the Armortek RC system. One that can run the simplest to the most complex models from the same unit. I have read many of the threads on the forum and there seems to be a huge variation, with many having issues, so what do the experts at Armortek suggest?
I will buy a stand alone unit just for my Armortek models. I do not have a full electronic troubleshooting bench like many of the fellows have and would not know how to use it if I did, hence my desire to use the correct equipment from the start. I know that several will "work", but I would like to know the ONE that makes all, both new and old modules, in the Armortek models stand up and bark, without endless mods and troubleshooting! I know there has to be one. I do not want to start a war of experts either... LOL Just a simple answer will do.
With Great Respect,
David

[Paul Sparkes]

Radiomaster TX16 for me https://www.radiomasterrc.com/products/ ... controller runs Opentx and edgetx touch screen.
Much easier to navigate than the taranis and cheaper. No negatives so far.

[Adrian Harris]

I think you'll get as many different answers as there are replies.

Day to day I use the Taranis X9D and haven't had any issues with them.

As a design it's been out a while and is considered stable but on the other hand may now be superseded by the Horus and X18/X20 range.

It is quite difficult to get things set up initially with these software based transmitters, and I've been assisting quite a few people getting their transmitters up and running, but once you have one model working to your liking, it's easy to copy the settings to the next model.

Adrian.

[Gerhard Michel]

Hi David,

I don't dare to recommend my old RC equipment (Graupner MC 32), but you should take care of as many channels / functions as possible, when you like to include some special functions to your tank.

Just some hints for special functions; of course depending on the tank model:

-gun smoke
-engine smoke
-glowing muffler
-front light
-taillight
-cartridge case ejection
-smoke launcher
-opening hatches
-animatronics (crew moving extremities)

and some other possibilities.......

[John Burden]

I use the radio master tk16s with Flysky FS_iA10B Receivers

[Jerry Carducci]

The first thing I would say is decide if Armortek models and models of that ilk are the extent of what you will be using the system you purchase for.

I always feel one should purchase more radio than one needs at the moment because odds are you'll grow into it and more.

I realize I'm not 'normal' with regards to how many RC systems I have ( nor in most other aspects either!) but I like the flexibility.

I use the Taranis X9D in my SdKfz 7 that uses the older 'black' modules as well as in my M3 Lee equipped with the 'red' modules.
Both of my Taranis systems are using OpenTx.

I am using the FrSky X20HD which uses the ETHOS OS which was supposedly developed from a branch of OpenTx code in my current King
Tiger project.

I like OpenTx still even though it's further development is nil with respect to EdgeTx. What really does it for me is the utility of OpenTx Companion that allows full management of a transmitter using that OS plus an extremely usful ability to mange model profiles using a PC GUI.

FrSky does have ETHOS Suite as a PC application to manage the transmitter OS upgrades but also at the present just a stub for model profile management. I feel ETHOS systems will be the future. I have the FrSky X10, X20S, X20HD,X20Pro and Tandem XE. I also have the FlySky Paladin PL18.

I also still maintain 3 Turnigy 9X/9XR series systems that are using er9x OS. I still believe the 9x radios remain one of the underappreciated systems
around. It is a radio that can be had new for $60 that when slightly modified to use detachable modules and USB interface (in the case of the original 9x) and will put radios costing many times that amount to shame. It doesn't look as pretty as a x20 series or snazzy Futaba but and especially for our use will definitely hold its own...

I also still have and are usable old Futaba *UAP and 9ZAP systems primarily used in my IC powered tanks but eventually I plan to convert them over to ETHOS and it's fantastic telemetry.

Speaking of telemetry, you would do well to factor in the ability to send as well as receive data from your model the for of performance and status
data- telemetry- rapidly becoming a must due to the batteries we use and the relatively high current in play.

In short if you are able, buy a FrSky X20S. Second runner up is a Taranis. If you have time I suggest surfing Facebook groups or the net in general for user groups of the systems you are considering- be prepared to filter out the hideous amount of 'Flyboy' posts- they overwhelm everything to do with RC but they are surely not the only users even though many RC companies treat them that way. Look at posts dealing with ease of configuring and system reliability.


Jerry

[David Wilcoxen]

Paul, Adrian, Gerhard, John and Jerry,
Thank You for responding, there is much to consider. I do want a unit that will enable me to expand and add video telemetry in the future, similar to a drone. Simple huh!
But I have also see overly complex solutions to simple problems/needs. Do the units with touchscreen have the video option?
Very Best,
David

[Jerry Carducci]

David, the X20HD has a built in FPV capability and wil work with HDZero’s video transmitters. It’s why I used it for my King Tiger however I find that while the transmission of a video feed was flawless the problem is keeping the video transmitter cool. They’re intended to be in the air so unless we add some sort of cooling for the HDZero unit….I haven’t decided if I want to do that. But I will say the video quality was superb. You can see a brief test somewhere in my build thread.

Jerry

[David Wilcoxen]

Jerry,
I am on it! Thanks for the insight, I am thinking X20HD is the one. I will look at your thread and may hit you up for some pointers on it if I get one.
Thank You!
David

[Gian Marco Menozzi]

I use both a first generation Spektrum DX8,
and a Flysky Pl 18 Ev ( https://www.flysky-cn.com/paladin-evdescription ) is a radio created for land vehicles,
both tracked and wheeled,
in my opinion it is an excellent radio,
in my group we use it in 2.
HI
Marco

[Robert Tanzer]

I use both a first generation Spektrum DX8,
and a Flysky Pl 18 Ev ( https://www.flysky-cn.com/paladin-evdescription ) is a radio created for land vehicles,
both tracked and wheeled,
in my opinion it is an excellent radio,
in my group we use it in 2.
HI
Marco

I have watched that radio for a long time.
It seems to be able to do everything I want a radio to do with a tank.
Robert

[Gerhard Michel]

Hi all,

video telemetry for First Person View (FPV) driving is a thing I don't mean to be necessary in a RC transmitter. Already in 2014 a comrade controlled his Jagdpanther via FPV visual control with video glasses for distances of 500 m and more. This didn't need any optical contact between model and driver.





The green marked component is a tiny video camera, the red marked one is the seperate antenna for FPV control system. This was a first try; later the camera was installed in the tank behind an eye-slit.

[Jerry Carducci]

I agree that an RC system with integrated FPV isn't a necessity. I was streaming real time video from my smaller ( 1/10) as far back
as 16 years ago.

Panther smoking

However the video was crude, the connection prone to interference and sensitive. It remains possible to have a completely separate
parallel FPV system to the main RC system. I just liked that the X20HD had the integrated capability and if you want to stream the video to
FPV goggles you are still able to do that. FrSky also has a separate FPV receiver with it's own screen if you prefer that method.

My point was and is flexibility- you can have FPV just about any way you want it. I think I'll go ultimately for the gimbal mounted camera
that will respond to head motion or other motion command..

Jerry

[Gerhard Michel]

Just a further hint:

There are RC systems especially designed for function models like tanks, trucks, excavators and so on; e.g. the Brixl Control System.

https://premacon.com/Brixlcontrol-18

[Youngjae Bae]

Recently, I came to an interesting conclusion while testing RC transmitter from several companies.
When controlling an RC tank, it is common to adjust with both sticks or control with one stick through V-TAIL mixing or Elebon mixing.
In my case, I prefer to control the tank with a single joystick.
By doing so, I can pursue the convenience of controlling the turret or main gun with the other hand while controlling it at the same time.
What I want to explain is that large and heavy tanks, such as brushless motors or engine-powered ones, can be easily moved forward/backward and left/right pivot rotation, but if I want to make a simple left turn or a simple right turn, there is a problem that the inner track, which becomes the axis of rotation, does not stop reliably and makes an unwanted rotation along the outer track that rotates, and I would like to share how to solve this problem.
To ensure reliable performance, brakes to hold the left/right track of the tank must be included on the left and right sides.
To explain purely from my experience, the existing Chieftain or King Tiger tank I had could be controlled by 2 channels in implementing output, direction, and brake functions using a gearbox-integrated brush motor.
The tank powered by an outrunner brushless motor required a total of 4 channels, allocating 2 channels to control output and direction and 2 channels to a brake system that held each rotation.
In the case of an engine tank, 5 channels are required because the output of the engine must be controlled in addition to the brushless method.
Whether it is a brushless motor method or an engine method, front/back and left/right pivot turns are possible with a single joystick, but there was no answer other than the double stick method to enable simple left and simple right turns.
This is because the mixing stage of the transmitter ends in the first stage of any manufacturing company.
In other words, it was impossible to mix the left and right brakes once more after such mixing because Elebon mixing or V-tail mixing was required to control with just one joystick.
However, in the case of the stick method, the relationship between master and slave can be set based on each stick, so the left and right sticks can be easily set as the master and the left and right brakes as the slave. In the case of the engine method, the left and right sticks can be set as the master at the same time. By using the throttle as a slave, 5 channels could be organically controlled with 2 sticks.
This time, I purchased flysky paladin-18ev among transmitters with left and right slide bars and joysticks and set up the transmitter's model to apply the method of using double stick mode and single stick mode while exchanging modes with one switch.

Youngjae