UNDERSTAND YOUR RADIO

Getting the most out of your transmitter

- TONY IANUCELLI

Regardless of the brand, utilizing your radio’s built-in programming helps you fly easier with better control precision of your airplane. Intended for new and intermediate fliers, this article highlights three basic features you need to understand: dual rates, exponential, and program mixing.

GETTING STARTED

First of all, when holding your radio during your flight, it’s a good idea to have the “standard” position on all switches be “away” from you. Another way to say this is to have the switches located on the top of your transmitter toward the back of the case and those on the front of the transmitter toward their top position. Establishing this allows you to always return to your most comfortable flying parameters should your flight get on the edge of your control abilities for whatever reason.

EXPONENTIAL

Simply stated, exponential in our radios gives stick inputs a softer “feel” around the center of stick travel. The greater distance we move the stick away from center, the less effect any programmed expo has. Expo works in concert with rate settings and is another piece of the puzzle in getting your radio controls exactly the way you want them.