When does it make sense to buy a single/upgraded controller?

[PewPewChris]

I'm starting to see controllers pile up...at what point (if any) does it make sense to invest in a "single" controller?

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

I’m laughing because I am new as well, and have the same issue but I’ve also tried to merge multiple vehicles on less radios and we have 4 radios still and it still doesn’t work

We have 2-4 drivers though depending on who all wants to play

 

[Chubaka]

I'm starting to see controllers pile up...at what point (if any) does it make sense to invest in a "single" controller?

Back in the crystal day I got all red crystals. One radio controllls all. At one point I had over 10 remotes for just me.

 

[DavidB1126]

If you have multiple people that drive your cars kind of like @Lostinthewoods86 situation. Id stick with the RTR remotes since they are cheap and like a throw around radio. Now if your just doing RC by yourself. Id upgrade radios especially multi model ones so you can have all your cars on 1 radio. Most radios have multi model memory to 10 to all the way up to 200 models depending which radio you get. My nb4 is 20 model memory while my 3pv is 10 I believe.

Another reason is a better feeling radio in the hands. Better spring in the trigger or wheel. And settings like EPAs, dual rate, expo, gyros, reversing, 4ws and mixing and a whole lot of other settings.

My current radio setup I have the nb4 for myself (for my race buggy, slash, and future Typhon)
My 3pv is on my rustler and mini b so if dad wants to drive at the same time.

Now at what point? You decide. But its so much more convenient when you have all your cars on one radio and if you bring all your cars to the track so you don't need to worry about hauling the extra radios in a bag or box.

 

[thatcraig]

I wouldn't be able to figure out how to program all the cars to one controller

 

[332_RC]

Back in the crystal day I got all red crystals. One radio controllls all. At one point I had over 10 remotes for just me.

Gosh, I forgot about those.

 

[WickedFog]

I'm starting to see controllers pile up...at what point (if any) does it make sense to invest in a "single" controller?

Right from the get go. But plan accordingly. You are starting out with small scale rock crawling. So just for future proofing, I would say get something with at least 4 channels. Winches, lights, 4 wheel steering, etc can all be controlled with other channels.

But a lot of the small scale trucks use all in one ESC's/Receivers. So if you swap out the Rx, you'll need an ESC as well.

There are a number of low budget radios out there. FlySky has the GT3B, GT5, a few others, then the NB4+. I have the GT3B and the GT5. Both are great radios for the money. Rx's for them are a lot cheaper than other systems as well.

Another one that I really wish I had bought is the Radiomaster MT12. Tons of channels and features. Steeper learning curve, but it also works with just about any Rx. So it may even work with your current stock Receivers.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

I wouldn't be able to figure out how to program all the cars to one controller

If I can do it you can as well

Edit: maybe not the mt12 wicked mentioned, I have chatted with him about that and it’s likely not for me

 

[PewPewChris]

I have what I would consider "two tiers" of the RC's I have today. 3 of them, I only run...or I would only let my boys run them with me there because, well, they are teenage boys and like to destroy stuff. The others are the ones that I would use on my short track for fun with the boys, my niece/nephew, etc. Those I figured I would keep the RTR controller but for mine, step the game up a little bit...I think I've earned it. lol

This bad boy?

or maybe this bad boy?

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

I have what I would consider "two tiers" of the RC's I have today. 3 of them, I only run...or I would only let my boys run them with me there because, well, they are teenage boys and like to destroy stuff. The others are the ones that I would use on my short track for fun with the boys, my niece/nephew, etc. Those I figured I would keep the RTR controller but for mine, step the game up a little bit...I think I've earned it. lol

I’ll give you my situation (as best I can off memory).

on the radiolink rc6gs we got the boys trx4m,trx4 and big rock.

The flysky g7p(?) the mt8, ax24

Gt3b has the tmaxx, daughters granite.

Hmm think I lied, the Injora buggy is on the tqi from the trx4

Daughters trx4m is still the tq it came with

Vorza is the rtr radio, but it’s down for the count right now and it will be on something else

 

[Doom!]

I'm starting to see controllers pile up...at what point (if any) does it make sense to invest in a "single" controller?

When you ask the question you know it's time. I have too many mini's that have 2in1 esc/receivers, don't want to have to upgrade all of them but the controller situation is getting a bit out of hand.

 

[WickedFog]

When you ask the question you know it's time. I have too many mini's that have 2in1 esc/receivers, don't want to have to upgrade all of them but the controller situation is getting a bit out of hand.

I would hate to see your pile of transmitters dude!

I have what I would consider "two tiers" of the RC's I have today. 3 of them, I only run...or I would only let my boys run them with me there because, well, they are teenage boys and like to destroy stuff. The others are the ones that I would use on my short track for fun with the boys, my niece/nephew, etc. Those I figured I would keep the RTR controller but for mine, step the game up a little bit...I think I've earned it. lol

View attachment 199778
This bad boy?

View attachment 199779
or maybe this bad boy?

Those are the nicer ones I listed yes.

The MT12 uses a program on the PC. It is to let you tinker with the open source firmware. Watch some YT vids on it before you consider it. But it shouldn't be hard to figure out.

 

[TeknoJ]

Like @Doom! said, if you asked its already time. Get a cheap radiolink rc4gs for starters then upgrade to some others. You might find you like the radiolink, or maybe go with a flysky? I like my rc4gs’s ( I have 2 of them), but I'm thinking about getting a Noble or maybe a futaba perhaps.

 

[WickedFog]

Like @Doom! said, if you asked its already time. Get a cheap radiolink rc4gs for starters then upgrade to some others. You might find you like the radiolink, or maybe go with a flysky? I like my rc4gs’s ( I have 2 of them), but I'm thinking about getting a Noble or maybe a futaba perhaps.

I always wanted a Radiolink til I saw all the trouble David had with his and their terrible customer service.

 

[TeknoJ]

I always wanted a Radiolink til I saw all the trouble David had with his and their terrible customer service.

Yes the rc6gs i think he has, and I wouldn’t get one of those because of that. The 4 has been fine for me. @DavidB1126, do you have the rc4gs as well?

 

[DavidB1126]

I used to have a 4gs v3 and a rc8x. The rc8x was the trouble maker. But the 4/6s radios are currently ok for right now. They did have issues like 2 years ago that my buddy collab and helped radiolink fix. But now they won't collab with him again and ignore everyone about the rc8x issues.

Edit: I sold off my rc8x and got a nb4. Won the 3pv in the giveaway so I sent my old 4gs to @luke66 since he was in need of a budget radio to get up in running.

I always wanted a Radiolink til I saw all the trouble David had with his and their terrible customer service.

If your wanting to know, it got even worse. They are blocking and banning people from their pages and group for no reason and censoring any posts or replies about anything rc8x related or any negative replies. So 2 of my buddies created another new group. 1 group to bash about radiolink and their issues and another group for strictly a "help" group which nothing gets removed because radiolink's main page which is admin/mods by radiolink official removes posts.

Most of my buddies that I talk to because of the rc8x issues have moved on to mainly using NB4 / NB4+ / NB4 pro. One of my buddies I talk to like everyday now moved to the MT12 by radiomaster. We are all happy now since we can actually trust our radios. But still mad that radiolink censors posts and replies.

 

[TeknoJ]

I used to have a 4gs v3 and a rc8x. The rc8x was the trouble maker. But the 4/6s radios are currently ok for right now. They did have issues like 2 years ago that my buddy collab and helped radiolink fix. But now they won't collab with him again and ignore everyone about the rc8x issues.

Edit: I sold off my rc8x and got a nb4. Won the 3pv in the giveaway so I sent my old 4gs to @luke66 since he was in need of a budget radio to get up in running.

If your wanting to know, it got even worse. They are blocking and banning people from their pages and group for no reason and censoring any posts or replies about anything rc8x related or any negative replies. So 2 of my buddies created another new group. 1 group to bash about radiolink and their issues and another group for strictly a "help" group which nothing gets removed because radiolink's main page which is admin/mods by radiolink official removes posts.

I see, well thanks to you, I will never acquire anything above a 4gs from radiolink! The 4 has been great for me as a budget radio. On a side note, i only got a 4gs because of the dial thingy that i use for rear wheel steering.

 

[DavidB1126]

Just to clarify, both the 4gs and 6gs radios are ok radios for now. Its just that the 8x and some of their flight radios have issues and obviously there poor lack of caring service. All that I say is if you have a radiolink radio. If it works and if it does not have issues, do not mess with the firmware hardware or internals, just in case so your radio doesn't get bricked.

Not to mention radiomaster and flysky's following on facebook pages/groups are way much larger than radiolink by far. For example. Radiomasters main help group has 24K members. While the radiolink offical group that is being censored all the time has 2.9K members. I just noticed that radiolink changed their main group to private so theres that.

 

[Beer_Goggles_RC]

I swapped all my cars to one radio once.. don’t think I’ll do it again.

Radio broke and I couldn’t drive nothin lmao. Now I just use my RC8X for the cars I’m trying to fine tune the handling with.

 

[WickedFog]

I swapped all my cars to one radio once.. don’t think I’ll do it again.

Radio broke and I couldn’t drive nothin lmao. Now I just use my RC8X for the cars I’m trying to fine tune the handling with.

I would like to get down to just 4 or 5 radios. But that is a complete pipe dream.