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How does an RC radio control system work?

The radio control is simply the command post, the cockpit, the pilot's cabin to remotely control your model aircraft, whether aerial, land or water.

It is often a substantial budget when you practice model making. But fortunately, a radio control can follow you long in your passion. You can fly different models with the same radio control.

The 2 main types of radio controls: stick or wheel

Generally speaking, there are two types or formats of radio control units that will affect your way of flying and their handling: stick radios and flyer radios.

The preference for one or the other format is quite personal, the best is to try on both formats before buying. There is no objection to fly a plane with a steering wheel radio (be careful with the number of channels though) or to drive a car with a stick radio!

Steering wheel and trigger controls

Steering wheel and trigger radios are most often used for land vehicles like cars, trucks, motorcycles... but also floating models like off-shore and some speed boats.

The number of channels is usually more limited on a steering wheel radio (but Futaba now makes steering wheel radios with up to 10 channels).

Radio controllers with handles/sticks

Handheld radio controls are mainly used in model aircraft (airplanes, gliders, helicopters, drones...) and some boats like sailboats or submarines.

For radios with handles, we distinguish between thumb-up or console control:

- Thumbs-up control: as its name indicates, the pilot will have his thumbs on the upper part of the sticks and will support the weight of his radio control in his hands or can be helped by a single-point strap. The sticks or handles are therefore controlled by the thumbs.

- Console control: this control principle consists of holding the sticks or handles of the radio, clamped between the thumb and the index finger, the support of the remote control will be done through a two-point strap and suspension brackets. In general, this radio control has a larger case and will have longer handles. Some pilots will choose this type of control for its precision and comfort.

The different components of a radio control system

The transmitter

This is the control box, for the simplest, it is composed of two handles. Each of them can be operated on two axes (up, down and right, left), by performing an action on the handles, a mechanism will drive potentiometers that will transform these orders into electronic impulses. These orders will be transmitted in turn to the receiver through the HF module, by emitting radio waves using the frequency of 2.4 GHz (frequency similar to WiFi, the principle is that the radio scans the available frequencies and selects a free channel to communicate with its receiver).

The receiver

It is the electronic module on board the car or plane, whose purpose is to receive and analyze the radio signals emitted by the transmitter in order to transmit them to the various control elements.

The control elements

These are the various electronic devices embedded in the airframe, which will allow the pilot's orders to be returned.

Servomotors

Often abbreviated to "servo", it is a mechanical and electronic unit, used to operate, for example on an aircraft, the moving parts of the model (ailerons, elevator, steering...).

The drives or controllers

Electronic device, used to vary the speed of a motor whether it is brushless or bruhsless.

The number of channels of the radio control

Back 30 years ago, radio controls had at best 4 channels with only the direction of the servos and a double travel, which was done through switches.

Today, technology has made a giant leap forward, and we now have programmable radios that can manage up to 32 channels, with information readable on screens (sometimes even touch screens), which can be for some of the latest technology (LCD, LED, OLED ...), allowing infinite settings from the transmitter or through a microcomputer with the latest technology of the transmitter open TX.

Fortunately, the price has not followed the evolution of technology and programmable radio controls are currently very affordable (even if it remains an investment).

Let's take the example of a basic motorglider with flaps, you will need the following channels:

- 1 channel for the motor

- 2 channels for the ailerons

- 2 channels for the flaps

- 1 channel for elevator

- 1 channel for the direction

This makes a total of 7 channels used, which is why it is advisable to choose a radio control with at least 8 channels.

In conclusion, when buying a radio control, think about investing in a durable product that will not limit you later on, especially with the number of channels managed. The objective is that you keep your radio for a long time and that you can use it on the models you wish to acquire. In short, think longevity and versatility.

Find our radio control section here, and use the type or number of channels filters to easily find the product that is right for you.

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Comments

radio commande
By: Jean-jacques ballet On 21/03/2023

Bonjour oui tout à fait il faut savoir si l'ont veux évoluer ou juste essayer, là il vaut miens investir dans une bonne radio performante au départ . Type T16 SZ ou T18 SZ ect .cela évitera de mettre 800 € de plus dans une autre radio .

JJ B.
radio commande
By: Jean-jacques ballet On 17/03/2023

Sont -elles toutes réellement compatible avec tout les programmes planeurs , butterfly , phases de vol ect ?
là je doute qu'il faille mettre le prix dans une bonne radio .

essayer en 2 axes c'est pas cher, après il sera temps d'évoluer en matériel .

Replied by: Vincent On 20/03/2023 Afin de pouvoir accéder aux fonctions telles que butterfly, phases de vol, …. Il est nécessaire d’acquérir une radio programmable. Une large offre de modèles et de tarifs est disponible à notre catalogue.

Une radio basique, non-programmable sera intéressante pour s’initier à la discipline avec un petit budget (idéal sur un choix planeur 2 axes)