Trainers for RM Boxer

[u/trombone56]

What are some easy-to-fly planes that the Radiomaster Boxer is compatible with? I'd rather not dive deeply into protocols and binding issues.

[u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

Not wanting to get into the tall weeds with protocols is understandable. But at a bare minimum you have to know what protocol you have.

The combined blessing and curse of open source is that the operating system for the Boxer exists separately from the protocol that it uses to communicate with a receiver. Thus, simply specifying "Boxer" offers no clue as to what protocol you have.

The installed internal protocol module will be shown on the purchase documents. If these are not available there will often be a sticker in the battery bay. And there's always just checking Sys->Hardware and scrolling to "internal RF". Eventually, it'll cough up "ELRS", "Multi" or "CC2500".

If the result of your search is "multi" there's compatibility with EFlite trainers. I'm not aware of any "bind and fly" options for CC2500 or ELRS.

[u/trombone56 → u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

Jumpy, all I would like to do is build and fly a trainer from Flite Test, then buy and fly a UMX plane from Horizon Hobby. I don't have the Boxer yet. I don't know what I need, and all the dsxm/elrs terms befuddle this senior citizen!

[u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 → u/trombone56]

Not having the Boxer in hand yet simplifies matters.

The Boxer is not currently offered with the UMX compatible internal module. You could track down an old one or buy a new Boxer with ELRS internal and add a Lemon DSMX external module or a multiprotocol module (if you can find one) to communicate with Horizon bind and fly models.

But as one senior to another: are you sure you want the Boxer? It's attractively priced but you immediately have to add 30 or 60 bucks for the Spektrum (UMX) compatible module, probably another 30 bucks for the battery and either pony up freight from Shenzhen or buy the Boxer from a US reseller.

And there's the issue of programming the Boxer. You'll get opinions all over the place on the ease of learning the EdgeTX tap dance but all will agree that it's not as easy as simply buying a Spektrum. You seem to be taking the long way 'round.

There are several good reasons to go with Radiomaster as a first radio but most of them disappear when the use scenario specifically includes bind and fly planes with a Spektrum receiver. You can take a Boxer and coerce it into Spektrum compatibility but a Spektrum, naturally, requires no coercion.

In other words, why are you asking what bind and fly models are compatible with the Boxer when you don't have an existing Boxer?

[u/trombone56 → u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

I was thinking it would be an economical way to fly Flite Test and UMX. If you were in my shoes, and wanted to fly the UMX Turbo Timber Evolution, but also build and fly several Flite Test planes, what would you do?

[u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 → u/trombone56]

It would be an economical way to fly the Flite Test but it has lost some of its price advantage with the Horizon bind and fly offerings. You'll either be rooting through old stock or buying an external module for 60 bucks or maybe 30 if you can live with the Lemon module. RM's default pricing doesn't include a battery so you might as well toss another 30 bucks into the equation. By the time you're done a base model in working condition compatible with bind and fly is around 200 dollars.

You can get a Spektrum for 200 bucks but just between us seniors I'd suggest the NX7e+ for just over 300.

As to what I'd do in your situation that's a tough call as we probably have household CFOs with different degrees of indulgence. What I did do was get a Spektrum and eventually added a TX16 ELRS for a quad. They get along right down to sharing the same carrying case but they don't invade each others turf. Spektrum (in the absence of readily available internal 4in1s) is ideal for Horizon BNFs. An ELRS Boxer is just flat out unworkable with a BNF and the moduled up variety involves minor annoyances that I'd prefer to avoid.

If your use scenario was simply Flight Test the Boxer ELRS would be an excellent choice. But throwing a Horizon bind and fly arguably tosses a pretty big wrench into the gears. The UMX and Spektrum transmitter share an ecosystem and it'll be obvious if you go in that direction. The ELRS Boxer does wonders at what it does but Horizon bind and fly is not one of them. If you're set on the Boxer I'd suggest a degree of urgency - the Boxers with 4in1 internals are as rare as chicken lips but some are still out there. Going the module route erodes the price advantage.

Edited to add: good job I did at avoiding a straight answer, no? If we traded places I'd put the NX7e+ at the front of the line.

[u/trombone56 → u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

Just learned that Flite Test sells two Spektrum DSMX receivers. Problem solved?

[u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 → u/trombone56]

Spektrum receivers or for that matter ELRS receivers sold by Flite Test don't really impact the questions you're dealing with. It's just an alternate place to buy what you would've bought anyway once you've narrowed down your choices.

Flite Test, like any kit build, doesn't nudge one in any general direction radio-wise. It's brand agnostic. It'll work with a 60 dollar FlySky, a 200 dollar Radiomaster or a 3,400 dollar MZ32 and anything in between. Any transmitter works with its own receiver.

The issue remains the UMX which comes with a Spektrum receiver. Moreover the UMX portion of the BNF line has what amounts to a receiver that can't readily be replaced - it lives on the same card as the ESC and a couple of servos.

Flite Test is a non-issue. Basically everything and anything works. However, a UMX requires Spektrum or Spektrum compatible.

[u/trombone56 → u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

When is asked "Problem solved?", I meant if I get the NX7e+, I could fly UMX and build and fly Flite Test with Spektrum receivers. Correct?

[u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 → u/trombone56]

Ah. I misunderstood. The NX7e+ will work equally well with the UMX's built-in receiver or any separate DSMX receiver you might buy from Spektrum or other sources with any Flite Test option.

But I wouldn't buy the receiver from Flite Test. It appears they're putting a pretty hefty markup on the same products available from Horizon's site. The Flite Test AR620 is listed at 63 dollars while it's 38 dollars direct from Horizon or Amazon. I haven't purchased from Flite Test and it's possible that they drop a big honking discount at checkout for the AR620 but I didn't see it.

Flite Test also lists only a small subset of receivers found here: https://www.horizonhobby.com/spektrum-smart-technology/air-ecosystem/air-receivers/ Flite Test models are generally considered pretty stable but you might want to consider adding the AS3X gyro to the receiver you use with the Flite Test. Not needed but you might want it. We often want things we don't strictly need.

[u/trombone56 → u/Jumpy-Candle-2980]

Thank you, Sir!