I started with the Emax Tiny Hawk package. Mistake - both the googles and the radio were pretty poor. I guess as the lowest cost package it was good enough. I like the little quad a lot - it’s been a great into into the hobby.
I got SkyZone 03Os - bottom line very nice.

I ended up replacing the radio with a BetaFPV lite radio 2. It initially seemed to be a nice little radio but the USB port is already failing after a couple of months of use. The battery also dies very quickly. I can get it to charge by putting some weight on the cable but it’s going to fail soon. The other problem is it loses its protocol all the time and setting that is annoying/difficult. Changing batteries to solve the battery problem just means you have to reset the protocol and rebind again. So, while the YouTube reviews of the Literadio are great, I don’t think these reviewers actually used one long term and found out it’s a bad radio.

So....I know the drill. Get a TX16S. What is weird to me is that these radios have all of these controls on them yet you can only actually use a handful as far as I can tell. Am I wrong? What to people do with all those knobs and switches? It seems like a lot of complexity. Is what you are buying the range and multiple protocols?

yes it could seem like a waste having so many switches.

It comes down to personal preference, which switch do you want to use for what purpose. Some may like arm switch on right some on left etc etc.

I only use 3 switches. The rest are unassigned. I do however use my top left 3 way switch for multiple things, Acro, flip over, beeper. Some people would probably do this on multiple switches.

You have 16 channels so you can customise to your hearts content.

Kind of what I thought. It’s too bad the Literadio turned out to be a dud.
I guess I’ll wait for the new version of the TX16S that’s being released. It’s supposed to have a few nice updates.

You'd be surprised how many of those switches you end up finding a use for ...

So many nothings.

I thought the same when i started but having all these extra switches and knobs is very handy. You can use the same switches for a set function like a switch for arm and 3 pos for modes. On a simple build that might be all you use.
But on a more complex build I'll use the same switches for arm / modes and a different one to activate a runcam hybrid/ tarsier or split camera and another switch for failsafe, return home etc on a GPS quad. On fixed wing I'll use the same arm switch, modes and maybe the knobs can control my pan and tilt fpv camera and the sliders can control the gimbal maybe another switch for landing gear.

The best part of all these switches is i can assign a switch a function and not need to reuse that switch on another aircraft for a different function. I'll just use a different switch, this keeps everything way less confusing if you fly a lot of different things.

As a beginner I am using one switch to arm, a 3 way for Angle/Horizon/Acro, another for activting the beeper and a fourth to activate Flip after crash. Of course there are many more than I do not use (yet) but who knows what type of function and model I might be flying in the future?

(19-Oct-2020, 04:09 AM)Ljholland Wrote: So many nothings.

The "nothing" is merely the "off" position on the switch; if you have a 2 position ARM switch it would be: Nothing, Arm {to show what is on each switch position}. Most switches have at least one OFF {Nothing} position.  

If you take a look at the MODEs tab in Betaflight, you will see a lot of functions that could be switched in one way or another; plus you can install a board to switch cameras (if you have two)...and... you can add servos to control on-board devices such as camera mounts, payload drops, landing gear, etc. In reality, you could actually find a use for most of the switches if you had a more complicated craft.   

Also, keep in mind that these transmitters are NOT just for quads; they can control any type of RC craft including, but not limited to, Wings, Cars, Boats, etc.   

OK - making sense. And I'm sure the bigger radio has a lot more range than the literadio. I've had two failsafe spin/crashes when I got out of range (which didn't seem that far). Of course, as a noob, I had no idea that's what was actually happening when the drone fell from the sky. Luckily, my son with the good ears was a around and he helped track it down in the woods.

Has anyone seen the updated TX16S selling anywhere yet?

(20-Oct-2020, 02:05 AM)Ljholland Wrote: OK - making sense. And I'm sure the bigger radio has a lot more range than the literadio.  I've had two failsafe spin/crashes when I got out of range (which didn't seem that far).  Of course, as a noob, I had no idea that's what was actually happening when the drone fell from the sky.  Luckily, my son with the good ears was a around and he helped track it down in the woods.

Has anyone seen the updated TX16S selling anywhere yet?

Hi Ljholland,

While the short range could be partially the transmitter, it is more likely the Rx receiver in the quad. If it is a tiny whoop, something that has a "build in" receiver, those don't generally have a lot of range... Maybe 30-40 meters (about 100-150 feet) even with a  full size transmitter. For example, my BetaFPV Meteor 65S has a range of about 50-60 meters, tops; and that is with a Jumper T16...even though the quad has an FrSky D16 compatible receiver, it has no where near the range of an actual FrSky XM+ receiver. 

As ifly said, these are not just for quads. You start flying some of the fancy fixed wings and you need to control mixes, pitches, flaps, etc. So the beauty of this is there is the option of using them if you dive in to the hobby. Just cause you have a fast car doesn't mean you have to drive it fast. But you have the option to.
I started with just an arm switch. Then I added a safety pre-arm switch, just to be sure. Then I added a beeper. Then I added the acro/angle mode if I wanted to maintain level while I scratch my nose. Then I added tutle mode. Then I added different throttle curves. Then I added GPS...... If I had just gone with what I needed in the beginning (1 switch), I probably would have sold it and bought another by now.
On the other hand, I do have a friend who says he likes simple and doesn't want a controller with many switches. He prefers the look of the other. But then he only flew a tiny whoop, crashed it and never flew again ?

(19-Oct-2020, 02:41 AM)the.ronin Wrote: You'd be surprised how many of those switches you end up finding a use for ...

I too use all the switches....

It's the roller pots on the side that are wasted ;D

(20-Oct-2020, 02:05 AM)Ljholland Wrote: OK - making sense. And I'm sure the bigger radio has a lot more range than the literadio.  I've had two failsafe spin/crashes when I got out of range (which didn't seem that far).  Of course, as a noob, I had no idea that's what was actually happening when the drone fell from the sky.  Luckily, my son with the good ears was a around and he helped track it down in the woods.

Has anyone seen the updated TX16S selling anywhere yet?

I got mine over priced from amazon.... but I got it in 2 days with a 30 day money back guarantee with no questions asked so I didn't mind.

Especially cuz I already had one I had just bought on eBay that had a broken switch, and wasn't the updated version. I thought about just taking all the upgraded parts putting it on the old one and returning it to amnazon to keep the new one for the much lower price eBay offered.... but then amazon might have noticed that the new software was no longer in it....... (although it's HIGHLY unlikely) and I'm just over all pretty fond of the USB C port charger......

And besides... all that un screwing and clicking just seemed so...... work.

I started with a FlySky i6x and after 3mo I have outgrown it. I now have the Jumper T12 Pro. Some of the most common complaints surround the size of this radio. I went ahead and purchased it Bc the price was right and I only truly use 3 switches... with that said, I have the radio, tbs crossfire starter, extra battery and tray for right around $250. The size came to be ‘nit picking’ at finding something to dislike. I am a thumber and not a pincher, and even trying it as a pincher I don’t hit no switches but my hands are medium size. anyway, just my two cents.

(22-Oct-2020, 01:48 PM)luispequeno Wrote: I started with a FlySky i6x and after 3mo I have outgrown it. I now have the Jumper T12 Pro. Some of the most common complaints surround the size of this radio. I went ahead and purchased it Bc the price was right and I only truly use 3 switches... with that said, I have the radio, tbs crossfire starter, extra battery and tray for right around $250. The size came to be ‘nit picking’ at finding something to dislike. I am a thumber and not a pincher, and even trying it as a pincher I don’t hit no switches but my hands are medium size. anyway, just my two cents.

Weird I startedwith an FS i6 as well IMMEDIATELY when I wanted anew radio I got that exact one T12 pro...... As soon as I put it in my hand I put it back in the box and drove to the amazon return store.

First it didn't come with the ion battery case it was supposed to come with, SECOND it was WAYYY too small, the switches were in the way of my knuckles (I fly using pinching).

I did end up getting the jumper T16 pro, and you know what...... I think I like my flysky just as good........ I like the feel of the throttle stick. On the jumper it's very loose.... but i tightened the friction plate 100% and it's still not as tight asthe flysky, but MUCH better than it was.....

The main thing about the two controlls is that with the FSi6 I lose RSSI fairly quickly... with the jumper T16 on the same FS receiver, I have yet to find a field big enough to even get my RSSI to go below 50. I have been wanting to do a range test but I literally cannot find anywhere that is big enough to do so.