Post by BMFC on Apr 30, 2015 0:32:30 GMT
When talking about rc transmitter modes we are referring to how the transmitter is configured to control the airplane i.e. which sticks operate which controls on the plane. Incidentally, the word transmitter is commonly abbreviated to ' Tx ' in the radio control flying hobby.
Four different modes are possible but only modes 1 and 2 are commonly used by the majority of radio control pilots around the world. Which mode you will fly with depends on a couple of factors...
buying your very first RTF plane will likely determine the mode
if you have someone to teach you to fly, you will take on the mode of your instructor's transmitter.
It's worth noting that rc transmitter modes only apply to radio gear with 4 or more channels , where each stick has both vertical and horizontal movement. The two-stick 2 channel transmitters are universally designed for left stick elevator or power control and right stick directional control ( eg rudder or ailerons).
Here is a diagram of the different modes and controls.
So then, the four different rc transmitter modes for radio control airplanes are explained below:
Tx Mode 1
Stick controls are:
left stick operates elevator & rudder, right stick operates throttle & ailerons.
Tx Mode 1 set up
Tx Mode 2
Stick controls are:
left stick operates throttle & rudder, right stick operates elevator & ailerons.
Tx Mode 2 set up
Tx Mode 3
Stick controls are:
left stick operates elevator & ailerons, right stick operates throttle & rudder.
Tx Mode 3 set up
Tx Mode 4
Stick controls are:
left stick operates throttle & ailerons, right stick operates elevator & rudder.
Tx Mode 4 set up
As you can see, mode 3 is the opposite to mode 2 and mode 4 is the opposite to mode 1, giving complete right handed/left handed user options.
Pros and cons of each mode
No rc transmitter mode is better or worse than another one, but there are pros and cons to each setup.
Take mode 1 for example; the two primary controls (elevator & ailerons) are on separate sticks. This is good because if you move each control independently then there is no chance of you inadvertently changing one while moving the other - a very common mistake made by beginners.
But mode 2 has both these primary controls on the same stick which replicates the joystick, or yoke, of a real airplane, making the control of your rc plane more true to life. So in this case, would you want reality or totally separated control over the two primary controls?
Ask a bunch of flyers, and you'll get a mix of answers!
Mode 1 used to be 'the norm' here in the UK, whilst Mode 2 was commonly used in North America and other parts of the world. But recent rc magazine polls have shown that Mode 2 is much more common now, here in the UK, and Mode 1 is becoming less common.
There's a simple reason for this change in trend; almost all Ready To Fly planes are sold with Mode 2 transmitters, and as time passes and more beginners enter the hobby with a new RTF, they are slowly but surely replacing the Mode 1 flyers.
Changing RC transmitter modes
It's always been possible to change the mode of a transmitter. The job involves dismantling the body of the Tx and swapping a couple of springs around, and a few connections too. Some Tx's are easier than others, but in the past one of the main issues with doing this has been invalidation of the manufacturer warranty if you do alter the Tx.
More recently manufacturers have actually stopped producing mode-specific transmitters; they now give you clear instructions on how to change the mode yourself (the Spektrum DX8 is one example). In these cases the warranty isn't effected because the manufacturer expects and permits mode changes to be made.
Generally speaking, changing the mode of a modern Tx still involves taking the transmitter body apart and swapping some springs, but also changing a few things in some of the computer menus of the transmitter.
If you learn to fly on one mode and then decide to change to another, you'll need to reboot your brain and re-learn the co-ordination! The learning curve won't be as steep as the first time round, but your thumbs will have to do things differently to what they've become used to doing. For this reason, most people learn on one mode and stay with that mode for all their flying days.
BMFC are mainly mode 1 fliers though we do have a limited number who are mode 2 and if you decide to be taught by one of our instructor's then it will be upto you which mode you learn but please be aware that we have very limited mode 2 instructor's so your learning and passing of the 'A' test could be longer then if you choose to learn mode 1 with us.
Four different modes are possible but only modes 1 and 2 are commonly used by the majority of radio control pilots around the world. Which mode you will fly with depends on a couple of factors...
buying your very first RTF plane will likely determine the mode
if you have someone to teach you to fly, you will take on the mode of your instructor's transmitter.
It's worth noting that rc transmitter modes only apply to radio gear with 4 or more channels , where each stick has both vertical and horizontal movement. The two-stick 2 channel transmitters are universally designed for left stick elevator or power control and right stick directional control ( eg rudder or ailerons).
Here is a diagram of the different modes and controls.
So then, the four different rc transmitter modes for radio control airplanes are explained below:
Tx Mode 1
Stick controls are:
left stick operates elevator & rudder, right stick operates throttle & ailerons.
Tx Mode 1 set up
Tx Mode 2
Stick controls are:
left stick operates throttle & rudder, right stick operates elevator & ailerons.
Tx Mode 2 set up
Tx Mode 3
Stick controls are:
left stick operates elevator & ailerons, right stick operates throttle & rudder.
Tx Mode 3 set up
Tx Mode 4
Stick controls are:
left stick operates throttle & ailerons, right stick operates elevator & rudder.
Tx Mode 4 set up
As you can see, mode 3 is the opposite to mode 2 and mode 4 is the opposite to mode 1, giving complete right handed/left handed user options.
Pros and cons of each mode
No rc transmitter mode is better or worse than another one, but there are pros and cons to each setup.
Take mode 1 for example; the two primary controls (elevator & ailerons) are on separate sticks. This is good because if you move each control independently then there is no chance of you inadvertently changing one while moving the other - a very common mistake made by beginners.
But mode 2 has both these primary controls on the same stick which replicates the joystick, or yoke, of a real airplane, making the control of your rc plane more true to life. So in this case, would you want reality or totally separated control over the two primary controls?
Ask a bunch of flyers, and you'll get a mix of answers!
Mode 1 used to be 'the norm' here in the UK, whilst Mode 2 was commonly used in North America and other parts of the world. But recent rc magazine polls have shown that Mode 2 is much more common now, here in the UK, and Mode 1 is becoming less common.
There's a simple reason for this change in trend; almost all Ready To Fly planes are sold with Mode 2 transmitters, and as time passes and more beginners enter the hobby with a new RTF, they are slowly but surely replacing the Mode 1 flyers.
Changing RC transmitter modes
It's always been possible to change the mode of a transmitter. The job involves dismantling the body of the Tx and swapping a couple of springs around, and a few connections too. Some Tx's are easier than others, but in the past one of the main issues with doing this has been invalidation of the manufacturer warranty if you do alter the Tx.
More recently manufacturers have actually stopped producing mode-specific transmitters; they now give you clear instructions on how to change the mode yourself (the Spektrum DX8 is one example). In these cases the warranty isn't effected because the manufacturer expects and permits mode changes to be made.
Generally speaking, changing the mode of a modern Tx still involves taking the transmitter body apart and swapping some springs, but also changing a few things in some of the computer menus of the transmitter.
If you learn to fly on one mode and then decide to change to another, you'll need to reboot your brain and re-learn the co-ordination! The learning curve won't be as steep as the first time round, but your thumbs will have to do things differently to what they've become used to doing. For this reason, most people learn on one mode and stay with that mode for all their flying days.
BMFC are mainly mode 1 fliers though we do have a limited number who are mode 2 and if you decide to be taught by one of our instructor's then it will be upto you which mode you learn but please be aware that we have very limited mode 2 instructor's so your learning and passing of the 'A' test could be longer then if you choose to learn mode 1 with us.