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List of RC Airplane Transmitters

The RC transmitter, or radio is responsible for sending signals to the model that control all aspects of the flight. The signals are sent to a receiver within the fuselage of the plane that interprets the signals and forwards it to the appropriate flight control servo. Without a constant stream of uninterrupted inputs from the pilot, the plane would quickly lose control and fall to the ground. Many RC pilots perform a ground check on all the model's functions before takeoff, as any minute in-flight failure can cause a crash.

FM-Based Transmitters
- Just like FM radio stations, these transmitters employ frequency modulation to send signals to the model's receiver module. These radios use a preselected crystals which operate on a certain frequency and channel to broadcast all the desired inputs. While FM transmitters use older technology, they still offer excellent range, and are not prone to brownouts (short durations where signal is completely lost), as found on some newer technologies. The downside to FM units is that interference can easily occur when two or more flyers share the same frequency. When this happens you will experience a "glitch," the model may violently twitch, or even completely go out of control.
2.4 Ghz
- These transmitter use the same shortwave technology as other 2.4-based devices such as cordless phones and wi-fi networks. Such 2.4 systems can be easily identified by their short antennas and have the advantage of being relatively interference free. Each receiver is initially paired or "bound" to a specific transmitter. From this point, the receiver will only listen to signals produced by that particular transmitter. However, some 2.4-based systems may occasionally suffer from brownouts, causing a momentary loss of control.
Multiple Channels
- RC radios all provide a channel designation. This refers to the amount of individual signals or channels they are able to send. A basic, four-channel transmitter is sufficient for controlling most beginner aircraft, as planes typically have four control surfaces for flight. More advanced, six- to 10-channel systems are also available, to control more sophisticated models that employs flaps, retractable landing gear or even bomb-drop and parachute functions.
Programmable and Telemetry Systems
- Only available on the most advanced equipment is two-way functionality. In addition to sending signals that control the model's flight, these radios receive data from the plane that provid vital flight information to RC pilots. Altitude, airspeed and battery consumption can all be tracked and analyzed by computer, giving the modeler a unique insight into her plane's performance.

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