Useful Info
Happy to take any requests on what to add to this area;
- Radio Control transmitters
Common frequencies in use for Model Boating include 27mhz & 40mhz analogue and 2.4ghz digital.
27 & 40mhz are channel specific, meaning you are required to have the same ‘crystals’ in both the transmitter and receiver for them to ‘talk to each other’, anyone also using the same channel will cause conflicts.
40mhz is a stronger signal typically used for submarines as the signal can travel through the water when they are submerged.
With 2.4ghz Digital you are required to ‘bind’ the transmitter to the specific receiver you are using, this then creates a link between the two that cannot be interfered with, avoiding conflicts with other boaters. Personally as the price of Radio control has come down so much I see no real value in the analogue radios anymore, the majority of the old ones are being updated.
Now that we have decided on a 2.4ghz digital set, which one? depending on how many ‘auxiliary’ extras you plan to operate via your transmitter determines how many channels you require, ie Lights, Radars, working turrets, smoke etc.
If you are looking to go forward & back, left & right, you only require a 2 channel set.
It is always worth purchasing more than you need at the moment to future proof yourself, you never know you may decide you want lights operated by a switch at a later stage.
We all seem to have multiple boats as the hobbies very addictive, some some sets give you the option of having multiple models set up on a single transmitter, as trims and what switch does what is likely to differ between them.
A great relatively inexpensive set I like is the Volantex Exmitter EX7, a 7 channel set available from Howes Models currently £65
The transmitter has a futuristic look and feel to me and is lighter & thinner than most, the menu operation is simple to use, and it has a 6 model memory, the only weak spot is the tags on the battery cover, so be very careful and gentle when removing it to replace battery’s.
A cheaper EX6 model is available for currently £45 with no LCD screen, 6 channels, and no multiple model memory option, for the sake of £20 I would take the EX7.
You will need a separate receiver for each of your boats (Unless you plan on moving one between them) but receivers are available on their own from Howes also.