Radio Equipment

Everything you need to control your quad

Radios, TX modules, receivers, antennas, and any other misc accessories for radios, all you need to get control over your craft

If you're trying to decide, or don't even have any prior experience, this list will hopefully help you!

Prices may depend on where and when you source the parts, (prices and specs are sourced from the manufacturers website at the time of the writing when possible)

Budget
Mid-range
High-end
Highly varied

Radios

Protocol:

CC2500 - The main chip used in FrSky radios, used for ACCST transmission
4in1 - A collection of the 4 chips used in nearly all 2.4GHz Radio controllers, allowing you to bind it to pretty much anything. FrSky, FlySky, Spektrum, Futaba, and a lot more
ELRS - Currently the best option for pretty much everything. It performs as well if not better than all the existing long range systems, costs the same if not less than the existing budget systems, and is open source. It's the best of all worlds, it's best to go with it if you can

Gimbals:

Refers to the sensor type used to get the angle of the stick, we mainly see these two used:

Pot - Potentiometer, relies on physical contact to measure, susceptible to wear
Hall - Hall Effect sensors, use magnets to measure. It should practically last forever

Module bays:

The slot in the back of the radio where you can put a TX module. Higher output power, protocols that the radio itself is incapable of. There are mainly two standard-ish sizes:

JR (Full-size/Micro) - An older standard. physically larger, so more room to fit cooling, more features like an external screen, etc...
Lite (Nano) - First introduced on the FrSky X-Lite radio, a more compact option for smaller radios. Less available options and the smaller space

Gamepad style

RadioMaster Pocket (Crush)

$64.99

CC2500 ?

Protocol

ELRS ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power (CC2500)

250mW ?

Output Power (ELRS)

Lite/Micro Modules

288g

Hands down the best entry-level radio on the market right now. This is it if you're after an inexpensive but still fully featured ELRS radio. It's great! It's better than pretty much everything in this group, maybe except the Zorro, it even has fancy colors available. Please get this if nothing else!

Jumper T-Lite V2

$59.99

ELRS ?

Protocol

4in1 ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

150mW ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Modules

258g

The V1 used to be the best budget option for a while, about the cheapest you could've gotten a multiprotocol radio. It got hard to find as Jumper discontinued it a while back, but now it's back! Though lacking slightly in the power output.

Radiomaster Zorro

$99.99/119.99

CC2500 ?

Protocol

4in1 ?

Protocol

ELRS ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power (CC2500/4in1)

250mW ?

Output Power (ELRS)

Lite/Micro Modules

350g

Proven to be one of the best options in this price range, would be one of my top 3 picks. Good hardware with room for individual upgrades and adjustments, a large screen which is a luxury for this kind, overall a good radio. Though it doesn't use standard-size batteries, you'll need 18350 cells

BetaFPV LiteRadio 3 Pro

$89.99

ELRS ?

Protocol

FrSky ?

Protocol

Pot Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Modules

280g

Comes stock in some BetaFPV kits, it's their only radio which runs regular firmware for the OS and transmitter module. Not amazing value, but if it's included in a kit you're buying...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

TBS Tango2

$159.95

Crossfire ?

Protocol

Hall ?

Gimbals

1W ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Modules

345g

If you want a small game-pad style radio, with top-end build quality, this is the one to go for. A large internal battery, and integrated crossfire for those who already run it. TBS make good quality stuff, but for users who don't already run crossfire, it is recommended to get an ELRS module, even though you'd be limited to 250Hz

Compact style

Radiomaster TX12 MK II

$99.99

CC2500 ?

Protocol

ELRS ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power (CC2500)

250mW ?

Output Power (ELRS)

JR/Micro Modules

412g

A successor to the older TX12, improving a lot of the key features. Better gimbals, and internal ELRS, while keeping the good bits like a full-size module bay and nice ergonomics for smaller hands, and an overall increase in the build quality

Full Size

Radiomaster Boxer

$139.99

4in1 ?

Protocol

CC2500 ?

Protocol

ELRS ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power (4in1/CC2500)

1000mW ?

Output Power (ELRS)

JR/Micro Modules

532.5g

Right between a TX16S and a TX12. It comes with pretty much all of the features of the TX16S - full-size gimbals, a 6-value button array, a lot of switches, and an internal transmitter module capable of transmitting at up to 1W with ELRS

Radiomaster TX16S MK II

$199.99

4in1 ?

Protocol

ELRS ?

Protocol

Hall Gimbals

100mW ?

Output Power (4in1)

250mW ?

Output Power (ELRS)

JR/Micro Modules

750g

The radio to end all radios, if you want the top of of the top, this is the one to get. A large color touch screen, all the switches and pots you'd ever need, faster charging and better ergonomics from the original, and amazing build quality make this radio very futureproof and versatile for not only quadcopters

TX Modules

ELRS

Happymodel ES24TX

$28.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

250mW ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

9.5g

The original ready-made ELRS module to hit the market. It still holds its ground, as it's one of the best modules for the price if you're just getting into ELRS without intent to go the full range with 1W of output power

Happymodel ES24TX Pro

$37.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

51g

An upgrade for the ES24, its 1W of output power will be way more than what you will reasonably need, but if you want to have the confidence of almost never failsafing, it's a great option. No extra fancy features also help to bring the price down too

Happymodel ES24TX Slim Pro

$47.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

50g

If you want to upgrade your Tango2 as recommended above or a different radio that uses the Lite bay, this would be your best bet. Even if 1W is overkill, it's still a great module to get the best even out of the most compact radios

Namimno Flash

$49.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

51g

One of, if not the best value modules out there is made by a surprisingly unknown manufacturer. It includes all the things you'd want and adds a small screen to change settings without ever turning the radio on, with its external power port

AxisFlying Thor

$84.90

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

105g

If you want overkill, this is the way to go. More than enough power for anything you'd want, the color screen and full external control make it a universal module for radios that might've not supported it otherwise, and it's overall really well built

Jumper AION

$29.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

500mW ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

37g

Back to lower prices again, the Jumper AION is a very affordable module for Lite bays, great if you want to upgrade a small radio to ELRS at an affordable price. You also get a screen to also give you full external control, a rarity at this price. But you only get 500mW of output power

BetaFPV Micro TX

$39.99/49.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

900MHz ?

Frequency

500mW/1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

100g

And lastly, two more modules from BetaFPV. Comes in both black and white versions, to possibly fit your preferred radio color, as well as RGB that will most definitely make you a better pilot ;) It's overall a pretty nice module for the price as well

BetaFPV Nano TX

$29.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

900MHz ?

Frequency

500mW ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

28g

Similar to the Micro, just made for Lite bays, and missing its screen and black color variant. Still a nice module, but if you want more than 500mW of output power (same goes for the AION), you might want to reconsider the Happymodel ES24TX Slim Pro

Radiomaster Ranger Micro

$39.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

50g ?

With Antenna

Radiomaster's brand new ELRS module, with great build quality and performance. Only having the features you actually need also makes it quite reasonably priced, and even more so with the starter bundle that includes 3 receivers for only an extra $20

Radiomaster Ranger Nano

$39.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

48g ?

With Antenna

Very similar to the bigger one in terms of features, in a Nano bay size. One of the only few Nano TX modules to also use 1W to get the most out of even the smaller radios on the market

Misc

iRangeX IRX4 Plus

$41.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

100mW ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

45g

One of the original 4in1 multiprotocol modules available to buy, it still holds up pretty well today, both with its price, and reliability. Decently well known, and at a lower price than the TBS one, while offering something for the radios with full-size module bays

iRangeX IRX4 Lite

$45.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

100mW ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

32g

Pretty much a direct competitor to the TBS MPM, but (in my opinion) better in pretty much all aspects. Cheaper, better known, officially supported by the Multiprotocol project, and better documented. The same goes for the larger one as well

Jumper JP4in1

$39.99

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

100mW ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

42g

Another offering in the 4in1 category, this time from Jumper. They have a lot of experience manufacturing radio hardware, as well as 4in1 systems in specific. For an even lower price, it's a good alternative to the IRX4

TBS MPM

$59.95

2.4GHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

50g

Designed in collaboration with Radiomaster, it offers the four main RF chips as described above with the 4in1 radios. Made by TBS, it offers higher quality than some other external 4in1 modules

TBS

TBS Crossfire Micro TX V2

$69.95

900MHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

JR/Micro Size

48g

The original go-to protocol for anything long-range, and the best option to get Crossfire compatibility. Fits into most radios with the JR bay, and 1W output will give you comparable range to ELRS... and that's the thing. I wouldn't recommend the TBS systems for new users unless you're already in the ecosystem

TBS Crossfire Nano TX

$69.95

900MHz ?

Frequency

1W ?

Output Power

Lite/Nano Size

48g

A sized-down version of the standard Micro TX, to fit into any other radio that uses the Lite bay. Outputs the same 1W to compete, just in an even smaller form factor, but still falls into the same trap as its bigger counterpart

Receivers

ELRS

Happymodel EP1 (TCXO)

$16.99

(TCXO) ?

Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator

0.41g

One of the first ELRS receivers to hit the market, it is still widely used to this day. Good price-performance, well known, and now with the new TCXO variant, it makes it even more reliable

Happymodel EP2 (TCXO)

$16.99

(TCXO) ?

Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator

0.44g

Along with the EP1, it was one of the first to come out. Meant for micro quads, it uses a tiny on-board ceramic tower antenna for the easiest and smallest possible installation. Also now available in a TCXO variant

Happymodel EP1 Dual (TCXO)

$21.99

(TCXO) ?

Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator

A newer addition to the Happymodel receivers, this receiver uses two antennas in a true diversity configuration for an even better signal reception. Ideal whenever you need the most range and reliability. Also with TCXO variants

BetaFPV SuperD

$19.99

TCXO ?

Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator

PA ?

Power Amplifier

LNA ?

Low Noise Amplifier

1.1g

Another true diversity offering for a slightly lower price than the Happymodel ones. It was the first receiver to hit the market with both true diversity, TCXO, and other nice features

Radiomaster RP1/RP2

$18.99

2.2g ?

RP1 + antenna

0.55g ?

RP2

Grouping external/internal antenna receivers, it's pretty much in the same difference as the Happymodel EP1/EP2. The radiomaster RP series receivers have nice big pads to make soldering a breeze, and also good and durable antennas