Toys is a subjective term. The 1/5 scale Losi DBXL gas powered rc truck would devastate someone’s ankle. Just like a nitro powered TRex 600 helicopter decapitated the pilot while flying 3D.
You should do some more RC car/boat content. Not just product reviews. But like a 3d printed, long-range, FPV, or whatever. You would have to solve a few different technical issues than you are used to with drones. I think something new like that would make some great videos to watch.
I got so excited when the MT12 was introduced I too got 1/10 basher in prep for it. I went with the TA Rival MT10. My first RC as a teen was the RC10 so maybe it's fitting that my last RC car should be Team Associated too lol
Quick note, not ONLY are those switch and joystick plates included with the MT12, but they also include an attachment that adds a standard Nano module bay!
I've been in RC cars since 1978 and was only a car guy until I discovered FPV Quads in 2020. At the end I was doing speed runs with a modified Traxxas Slash 4x4 turned into a GT car. My best speed was 138mph or 222KPH. I had to mod my Spektrum radio and add a signal booster to get the necessary range to do speed runs. This radio would have helped me greatly back then, it's a game changer!
Fantastic ride and review, Joshua! 😃 But put proper FPV in the truck and test the range!!! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊 And happy holidays!
Yeah man I'm an FPV racer and an R/C car racer and I love how this radio bridges the 2 hobbies together! I can't wait to show up to the R/C race track and show the guys there and teach them about OpenTX and ELRS and Open Source baby!
The time that you didn't do the live streams due to your traveling, I purchased an Arrma Typhon 3s buggy and the first thing i did to it was i installed an ELRS PWM receiver in it and i'm using my Radiomaster Boxer radio with it. I also installed a Walksnail Avatar system to it. The range i get with ELRS is amazing. I am having a blast with it.
@@terpsquirter7107 You could take it to a cement car park and drive down several levels - I am positive my radio would crap out on the first level change, and that is not a slight, it is a great radio, it is just not built for that. But with FPV cameras available, people can do some new things with RC cars and trucks and other vehicles.
@@windrider23radiolink is still legit too though. Been using the DSC port on that for a while. The mt12 is exciting because it hints at an upgrade in the ground market.
I love that radiomaster is doing this. I got started into RC after ELRS was released so it's all I've ever used and I have no interest in using anything else. I'm comfortable with it, I like how it works, the performance and especially flexibility. If i ever decide to get a ground vehicle this is definitely the radio I'll be using.
Surface guys call ours RTR, Ready to Run (with radio/rx all electronics etc) and ARTR (almost ready to run, often has no radio system and kits having no electronics at all. often no body or wheels on ikits as well.
I have been using fpv on my Traxxas Summit for years. I use the Dji system and my quad transmitter ( radio master) . I have gone out close to a mile out in the desert. When we go out dirt biking riding and I don't feel like putting on all my gear and my daughter wants to ride I just send my car out and I sit in the shade next to my toy hauler.
So, I recently acquired the Radiomaster MT12 with the intention of replacing all my TRAXXAS and Losi RTR transmitters. This decision seemed logical to me for several reasons: 1. Many RTR transmitters get the job done but lack ergonomic comfort, prompting my search for a more user-friendly option. 2. Stock RTR radios often limit customization options, necessitating the use of a Bluetooth dongle to connect the radio to a phone for parameter adjustments. While I seldom modify settings once my cars are set up, the inconvenience of switching the Bluetooth dongle between transmitters or purchasing multiple dongles for each radio seemed impractical and expensive, especially considering the number of radios I own. 3. Several of my cars feature receivers with built-in stability management. Swapping them out for receivers from brands like Futaba or FrSky, which lack built-in stabilization, would require adding an external gyro. However, the challenge lies in the waterproof receiver box, making the addition of a gyro somewhat tricky, though I'm considering if it's possible since the gyro doesn't necessarily have to be inside the receiver box. 4. The accumulation of numerous radios from each car's purchase led to the inconvenience of managing and storing around 15 radios. 5. Consolidating to a single radio would allow me to sell the surplus radios. 6. The built-in 4-in-1 module of the Radiomaster MT12 would enable me to retain the original built-in receivers, which vary among TRAXXAS, Losi, FrSky, and some unknown brands. However, my plan encountered a setback when I discovered that the Radiomaster MT12 only supports ONE TRAXXAS receiver, and I don't have that particular receiver in any of my cars. Additionally, it does not support LOSI receivers, at least not at the moment. To proceed with my original plan and use one radio for all my RC cars, I would need to invest in 15+ compatible receivers and numerous gyros. This investment doesn't align with my preferences. Given these considerations, I'm now contemplating whether to keep the Radiomaster MT12. Excluding the 4-in-1 module, I'm questioning what makes this radio special and whether it still holds value for me.
This is the king kong of land rc radios and i think it is the perfect radio for fpv on the rc car/truck i really hope you make a vid on how to make your rc FPV i have been wanting to do that for awhile 😁✌🏼
Brooo. Thank you for doing this review. I’ve been telling EVERYONE at my local hobby shop who’s dropping 400-700$ on radios that this radio is going to be the best competition to all things rc car at a fraction of the cost and with greater range/power. I am getting one for my self as well. (My son races cars I don’t but I’m gonna race with him). Again thanks for the awesome Video!
Yea, without a doubt. There have been some good alternatives to the Futaba and Airtronics radios out there. Spectrum has some out there as well but also a bit pricy. Can't recall the brand names but things like the orange receiver were a great way to save money. Now it is driving me a bit nuts to think of the names... I think one is Radiolink but they also might be pricy... got it Fly Sky - I think. Anyway there are many great radios available but yea, this Radiomaster will be one of the best ones out there for sure and you will know for sure that you are not giving up anything because you are not paying a lot more.
My MT12 will be here tomorrow and it's going in my brand new Redcat Machete 6S, along with a Walksnail Avatar HD Pro on a gimbal. I picked the Machete because it has two battery trays and will hold very large capacity batteries without weight distribution being a problem.
Futaba guy through and through and very happy with it, very few problems and many national wins (a while ago though) but I guess I will give this a try. Great review from a non-car guy Joshua. Thank you.
Just got mine today and programmed it for my crawler. From a racing standpoint the size of the ER3C-i is perfect for all classes and the battery telemetry will be very useful. My plan is to switch all my race cars over to ELRS. Heading over to your customization videos now to continue learning.
With my Futaba 3VCS on my 1:5th scale 27cc FG ModelSport Dodge Viper with independent servos for front and rear disk brakes I found it highly amusing to use a button to lock the front brakes and do burnouts at the racetrack. Looking forwards to re-creating that experience when my (shipped!) MT12 arrives soon. Being able to adjust the front/rear break-bias on the controller was pretty nifty too. Generally you don't go that far away with LoS RC cars, as they're more fun when you can see what they're doing! :D
Big asterisk on the 4-in-1 module (either internal or external, it's the same thing on the inside): the 4-in-1 multi-protocol project is massively slanted to airplanes, and the protocols that are usually found there. Specifically, to my knowledge they have not reverse-engineered DSMR (Spektrum, very common RTR and very popular on the ground in general unlike in the air) or TQi (Traxxas, another huge brnd for RTR and the protocol in the Slash or Rustler that you bought). Also, the "toy" type mini cars typically use really random protocols that are often hard coded to their radio and not able to be picked up by the multi-module. So while the promise of binding to all the cars you have is neat, in reality for most of the things that it would be ideal to bind with, it will not work and you will need to put an ExpressLRS receiver in it. If you're the type to use Futaba or one of the protocols that is supported, you will either be wanting to swap your receivers to the "correct" receiver anyway, or you just won't use this radio. Maybe this radio will get popular enough that there will be some weight behind getting the multi-module project to support some of these more common ground protocols?
Good comment. However, as far as I know it supports FlySky, and many people switched from the stock radios to a GT5 at some point. While not perfect for everybody, at least the FS crew should be covered. :-)
@Vod_VillainousThis comment just saved me a ton of aggravation. Was looking to pickup an SCX24 soon but 2in1 is a deal breaker. Scratch build would be more fun anyway. 🤷
It can work with Flysky AHFDS/AHFDS2A, which can fit quite a lot of surface model, including Sniclo FPV car, they are using the AFHDS. It got Futaba FHSS for those using 4PK. And it got Kyosho FHSS also which can use with Mini Z RTR and also the EVO. Also with Traxxas, Spektrum...... So don't worry about it, also of surface can using it, not starting from MT12, people using it starting from TX16S。
@@RCEVOLUTION do you think this radiomaster mt12 its worth getting and can replace my old sanwa mt44 for competitive racing? i need just one to rule em all but also trustworthy enough to do competitive racing
My MT12 4-in-1 should be here this Saturday. I'm stoked. I've used a Devo7E flashed with Devention and then modded with two additional RF modules internally for my flying for a few years. Having the versatility of multi-RF modules and thus a WIDE option of protocols to bind to, I've wished for a long time that something like that could be available for my RC cars and RC rock crawlers. Thankfully Radiomaster has decided to change the game. Couple of things...we surface RC guys call a vehicle that comes with everything ready to drive an RTR (ready-to-run). Actually RTRs can also be vehicles that don't come with a battery and charger as well. There's no such designation for bind-and-drive. :) Also, at the end of the video you talk about the two add-on modules for the radio. Both the dual two-position switch add-on and the joystick add-on are included with the MT12. Batteries are not, however. The radio comes with the battery tray for two 18650 cells (purchased separately) or you can buy Radiomaster's 5000mah 2-cell 18650 pack.
I started with RC cars, and got into drones because I found your RUclips channel a few years ago. So nice seeing you doing a video on RC car tech, even if it’s an exception for this review. You should really put an air unit into that thing (disable low power mode, so it does not wait for the FC command to wake up) and really test the range of that thing. Ground based FPV is really fun. :-)
lol. That’s great bardwell I just got a arrma outcast 8s. And it’s bad ass. Get all new aluminum upgrade parts for it and upgrade the esc and motor and you will have a real blast but now you showed me I’m going to have to switch my car over to Elrs and setup some jumps or go to a skate park and play with it. Best place to take them and bash 😂🎉
I was the last decade a dedicated RC car racer. With those 3.5ccm nitro cars which cost a furniture to obtain and an other to simple drive and maintain them. Basically those, which can reach up to 130kph and pull off 0-100kph in easily less than 2 seconds, while pulling off around 5gs in the corner. Anyway. I went to FPV a few months ago and was wondering why there was never an ELRS for RC cars and here we have it and it’s as game changing as I imagined it! I’m using Spektrum hardware on my cars and I was expecting the ELRS to perform very decent, but the range test you showed just blew away everything I know from this hobby in this manner. Insane!
Cool …..love Radiomaster and expressLRS now build it with FPV head control 2 axis gimbal with DJI 0 3. Teach us please. I need one for rounding up my chicken at dusk. My drones make them duck and seek out cover. I’m getting the controller for my ground rc habit. Thanks, Pops Fitch
Might be great for something like a nitro car. You can have one steering trim, one for throttle and brake (same servo generally), then one that acts to alter how strong the brake is or something. Could give more precision if the brakes are really strong and they lock up easily. I wonder if it's possible to set the failsafe on the receiver to make the car brake. Could be a neat application. Of course, not the best idea with electric cars. I'd imagine the servo port on the radio is a way to program receivers that can't connect to the computer with wifi directly, among other things.
I got my MT12 last night and worked through these setup things myself. Thanks for the guide this should help those new to edgetx / expresslrs get started quickly. I think one good thing to point out is surface receivers typically have steering as channel 1 and throttle as channel 2. This is opposite by default in edgetx.
Find a competent chase pilot, then put on a set of goggles in audience mode and drive your car third person from the drone's video feed. It takes some practice, but it's a lot of fun.
2 sanwa airtronics m-8's for sale.All kinds of adjustability. Ran Schumacher back in the day, hpi. Tamiya. Ran 3 cars on Saturday night for 10 years, on road ozite carpet and asphalt. Different track every week. Lots o fun
Just an FYI: Matek has been making ELRS PWM receivers for a while now. I have had the R24-P6 for almost a year now and they also have a version with a variometer.
So has happymodel, the EPW6. Both it and the R24-P6 have been real reliable for me. I think RM is filling a hole in the market for elrs receivers in a tough plastic case and pins already soldered and ready to go. I though will keep enjoying those 13 and 14 dollar receivers. :)
Came back to comment about combat robotics. If you watch competitions like NHRL(National Havoc Robot League; for all intents and purposes minor league BattleBots) or the newer seasons of BattleBots you will quickly notice that they are chock full of RadioMaster radios. The Zorro is super popular(usually used with buddy boxing) with a ton of drivers also using the TX16s. Trigger radios are also popular, but often times concessions like dual radio systems have to be made to get it working well. Looking at the MT12's features and realizing that combat robotics has a budding love affair with RadioMaster(and by proxy EdgeTx and ELRS) has me thinking that if combat robotics wasn't the focus of this radio it was at least very high up on the list of possible use cases.
"Like how far do like, RC car drivers actually go?" Full throttle into the jump. She goes as far as she goes. "Big Air" is a relative term I guess. For your property 4x4 would have been ideal and if you stick with it past the honeymoon period, you'll probably want brushless. Can't go wrong with a slash though. Been using air radio for ground RC for years. Originally switched for the extra...err...switches. The travel of full sized gimbals allows for much more manual resolution. It may be time to revisit ground radio world. Really miss being able to drive one handed. BNF = RTR ReadyToRun
I typically stick with traxxas due to local parts availability. Slash 4x4 vxl is what I've been running for years. Have a few of them in different configurations. Stampede 4x4 vxl is more fun on the jumps but prone to rollovers. They're practically identical besides ride height and wheelbase. All but three parts are compatible; chassis, drive shaft, and body(shell). They both have identical 3s 3500kv powertrains, though I've seen Traxxas now have a "BL-2S" system as well, but have no experience with it, and am unsure of the motor kV. If, however, I had RUclipsr money, and considered stretching out that Pixhawk content, the X-MAXX would make a better platform, as cramming all that Ardu-gear into a slash is tricky.
Nice JB, I watch ADHD RC. And always wanted to know how he builds his cars. This ELRS thing will make it a reality with a gimbal'ed O3 and a beep beep horn. I'm dreaming of headlights and maybe a pass through radio speaker.
Been racing my Yachts with a Boxer (ELRS) and the v1 ER-5C since the Boxer was released. May change to v2 for receiver battery voltage Telem. DF65, DF95 and IOM yachts all working well. Feels way better than a typical FlySky and the Hall effect gimbals give smoother control, zero range issues, in case charging, long operation time (5,000mAh) etc etc without the Futaba premium.
Being an airplane guy, and FPV guy who just got in to RC rock crawling I was very happy to see this on RDQ with a pre order sign next to it. And multi protocol.
I recently got a radiomaster boxer 😁 haven't figured out how to make the drone i built work yet (speedybee master 5 v2 with supernova motors and f405 v4 FC, 03 air unit and expresslrs) i wonder if i could get a ground expresslrs for my modified redcat shredder and use the boxer for that? I could probably even put the air unit on it and use my integra goggles 🤣😁 i just can't get the fc to recognize elrs module 😉
Hey Bardwell, can you make a video disassembling the MT12? I have one on order and I’m already thinking of modding the tx and don’t want to screw things up.
You should FPV it and do a more serious range test, would be fun to see. I think getting this radio with the 4-in-1 is the way to go. Then you can get an external ELRS module. The nano ELRS modules are on average 40 dollars while the 4in1's are 60. So it's cheaper to get internal 4 in 1 if you plan to use both modules in the end anyways. Plus you end up with a 1000mw capable elrs module instead of just 250mw. Be interesting to see how much transmit power elrs needs to go a mile in a surface vehicle. Also be interesting to see if 900mhz even helps with a surface vehicle. I think I remember reading that lower frequencies have a larger fresnel zone so being close to the ground should effect them more than higher frequencies.
I have a Futaba 7pxr (around $700 with accesories) I am a rc drifter and noticed a huge difference when I went to the futaba, i am really hoping i can ditch the futaba for this one but I am skeptical of the true feel of the remote. That being said mine should arrive tomorrow and I am beyond excited to take it to the next session!!!!!!!
@@pottyputter05 Definitely! if it wasn't for my Zorro (sold due to not a fan of the hand feel) and now Boxer which I absolutely LOVE!!! My ground RC buddies dont believe me when I tell them this radio is gunna change the ground game! Super excited to setup all my crawlers and short course trucks to it too!
@@SlippinFPVDefinitely doing to ground RC what Frsky did to air a decade ago. My local mates all laughing derisively at the "cheap china crap" Taranis I'd been bragging about. We know how that turned out.
Loving the newer rc car content, i think this can be a big new flex for bigger companies if they have money to invest into new tech. I found exactly the same issue with elrs receivers and rc cars, there are literally none with an 868 rx that elrs modules can bind to 😂 so like you i end up always adding my own rx and/or elrs pwm converter with nano rx, then just use my tx16s for driving about, i hope i see some new goodies coming out soon aimed at long range fpv car driving, i feel like it’s a large market that’s not really been explored yet, still almost a niche Nice video mate, as always :) Kindest regards Shado
So glad Radiomaster & ExpressLRS are getting into surface radios. The MT12 looks amazing. Do they plan to make ExpressLRS receivers with integrated gyros?
For a system not dependant on changing settings on esc or gyro on the fly, this transmitter is awsome. But in drifting community we are bound to use sanwa (code 10 capability) or futaba (mailny accuvance) where i can get access to full settings for esc and some more gyro functions apart from gain. Otherwise i will definitelly switch to RM
no way, i was watching this vid and when you were showing the receiver connected to the radio via the signal bars, i noticed the time was exactly the same on your radio as it is for me rn
🙂 I'm smiling. Last night I finished up what I need to hook up an Ibus receiver to my Raspberry Pi in my toy car (1/18th). I'm suppose to test it today. I've been controlling it with a wheel and joystick plugged into a laptop over wifi. It all got a little too fiddly to be fun so back to a radio. I need knobs/sliders on the transmitter to set things like how much the accelerometer allows. I'm thinking 4 then pan & tilt for 8 real channels then switches. The car is a random rover right now with a GPS and magnetometer. I want to make it a random racer. Go as fast as you can without crashing kinda thing. I'm thinking I can make a little race track with a lawnmower in the back yard and just use 3 ultrasonic sensors to see the edges up front.
Hello mr Bardwell, i think about purchasing the mt12 4in1 variant but do you know if the irangex external module is better than the one integrated on the transmitter?
I replaced my Spektrum DX5C with this. So far, no negative points. However, I think it's pretty sad that they didn't think about making room in the transport box they give to accomodate the radio once you put on the external module. It doesn't seem like it will do good over time if I keep removing it every time I want to put it back in the box sadly.
I love that RadioMaster did come out with this controller being I have a TX16S for my quads and other aircraft. I currently use the Flysky NB4 for my ground RC and love it. You're able to program the radio but with limited functions. I would love to get the RadioMaster's pistol grip controller but the one downside is that I need a lefthanded controller due to some fiscal disability I have at driving with my right hand. As of now, I will probably stick with the NB4 unless they come out with an ambidextrous-style controller like the NB-4, or I do the RadioMaster Zorro mod to pistol gripe.
I think there is a problem with the receiver that came with mine. I was trying to run it in my 13.5 buggy. But if I sustained full throttle for any amount of time, it would act like it was getting no signal and make my car runaway. I didn't have this issue with my 17.5 2wd buggy though. Thoughts?
Kinda late to the game, but do you think you could compare the Radiomaster MT12 to the Radiomaster Boxer to do a stick transmitter to surface transmitter comparison?
I want to know for nitro and gas cars and buggies where my reciver hits the brakes when the controller link fails. Though its never happened its a nice thing to have and stop a drive away.
I’ve just got my first rc car as well because living in the uk the weather is shit more than good so drones collect dust more than fly. I went for a cheap option first the mjx hyper go 1/16 on 3s. Things mental.
My spektrum and crossfire has an actual head tracker port. One goes through the trainer port and the other goes through the crossfire HT port. Where would the head tracker plug into on the ELRS?
Most people i know stick to one radio system (usually higher end than RTR (ready to run), Like the spektrum, futaba, sanwa, radiolink ect. They just buy extra receivers and use the internal memory just like this one. BTW receiver prices are slightly more expensive than radiolink, but much cheaper than Futaba or Sanwa
![☀ Аппаратура РУ с биполярочкой. [Radiomaster MT12]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gGl-9PuuMNY/mqdefault.jpg)
Haha! "Is that all you do is play with toys?"😂
It's cool that she seemed positive about it instead of being a Karen or judging him for it!
😂😂 Yup! There really are people who find a "job" they love so much they never have to go to "work". 😂😂
Toys is a subjective term. The 1/5 scale Losi DBXL gas powered rc truck would devastate someone’s ankle. Just like a nitro powered TRex 600 helicopter decapitated the pilot while flying 3D.
Yes I have been waiting YEARS for this radio. Already pre-ordered and it shipped from a local company yesterday I am so freaking excited
5:30 "Welcome to the world of ExpressLRS. It's never that simple." Truer words have never been spoken 😂
You should do some more RC car/boat content. Not just product reviews. But like a 3d printed, long-range, FPV, or whatever. You would have to solve a few different technical issues than you are used to with drones. I think something new like that would make some great videos to watch.
RC cars, boats, operation wise is way too easier than quads, helis, so Joshua might not be interested in : )
I got so excited when the MT12 was introduced I too got 1/10 basher in prep for it. I went with the TA Rival MT10. My first RC as a teen was the RC10 so maybe it's fitting that my last RC car should be Team Associated too lol
Quick note, not ONLY are those switch and joystick plates included with the MT12, but they also include an attachment that adds a standard Nano module bay!
BTW, the additional joystick you can use for a servo gimbal with FPV! So you can look to the sides and up and down!
It also has a trainer port for head tracker input.
@windrider23 very true!
I've been in RC cars since 1978 and was only a car guy until I discovered FPV Quads in 2020. At the end I was doing speed runs with a modified Traxxas Slash 4x4 turned into a GT car. My best speed was 138mph or 222KPH. I had to mod my Spektrum radio and add a signal booster to get the necessary range to do speed runs. This radio would have helped me greatly back then, it's a game changer!
Bruh this is a diamond 💎
And it has a DSC trainer port. Now you can plug a head tracker into a wheel radio and have the ultimate vehicle FPV experience.
100% treu! Especially for this low price, nothing comes close🤩👍
Fantastic ride and review, Joshua! 😃
But put proper FPV in the truck and test the range!!!
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
And happy holidays!
Oh god, the power up x3 trick to bind still works!!! I would be lost on elrs without that trick.
Yeah man I'm an FPV racer and an R/C car racer and I love how this radio bridges the 2 hobbies together! I can't wait to show up to the R/C race track and show the guys there and teach them about OpenTX and ELRS and Open Source baby!
The time that you didn't do the live streams due to your traveling, I purchased an Arrma Typhon 3s buggy and the first thing i did to it was i installed an ELRS PWM receiver in it and i'm using my Radiomaster Boxer radio with it. I also installed a Walksnail Avatar system to it. The range i get with ELRS is amazing. I am having a blast with it.
mate that laugh at 0:15 is nightmare fuel, imagine walking alone through a corn field at 2 am and hearing that
that's gonna be my new arm sound on my QX-7 radio!!!!
A fpv range test would be really cool :) maybe with more obstructions in the way? like from inside the house to the outside
Well seeing as it’s a surface radio that wouldn’t do much to prove range you’d need to do a ground test for that lmao
@@terpsquirter7107 fpv can go on ground vehicles too. It would allow him to drive beyond line of sight for said range test.
@@terpsquirter7107 You could take it to a cement car park and drive down several levels - I am positive my radio would crap out on the first level change, and that is not a slight, it is a great radio, it is just not built for that. But with FPV cameras available, people can do some new things with RC cars and trucks and other vehicles.
This is the only wheel radio with a DSC trainer port. That means you can add a head tracker and put the FPV camera on a 180deg pan servo.
@@windrider23radiolink is still legit too though. Been using the DSC port on that for a while. The mt12 is exciting because it hints at an upgrade in the ground market.
I love that radiomaster is doing this. I got started into RC after ELRS was released so it's all I've ever used and I have no interest in using anything else. I'm comfortable with it, I like how it works, the performance and especially flexibility. If i ever decide to get a ground vehicle this is definitely the radio I'll be using.
Surface guys call ours RTR, Ready to Run (with radio/rx all electronics etc) and ARTR (almost ready to run, often has no radio system and kits having no electronics at all. often no body or wheels on ikits as well.
I have been using fpv on my Traxxas Summit for years. I use the Dji system and my quad transmitter ( radio master) . I have gone out close to a mile out in the desert. When we go out dirt biking riding and I don't feel like putting on all my gear and my daughter wants to ride I just send my car out and I sit in the shade next to my toy hauler.
So, I recently acquired the Radiomaster MT12 with the intention of replacing all my TRAXXAS and Losi RTR transmitters. This decision seemed logical to me for several reasons:
1. Many RTR transmitters get the job done but lack ergonomic comfort, prompting my search for a more user-friendly option.
2. Stock RTR radios often limit customization options, necessitating the use of a Bluetooth dongle to connect the radio to a phone for parameter adjustments. While I seldom modify settings once my cars are set up, the inconvenience of switching the Bluetooth dongle between transmitters or purchasing multiple dongles for each radio seemed impractical and expensive, especially considering the number of radios I own.
3. Several of my cars feature receivers with built-in stability management. Swapping them out for receivers from brands like Futaba or FrSky, which lack built-in stabilization, would require adding an external gyro. However, the challenge lies in the waterproof receiver box, making the addition of a gyro somewhat tricky, though I'm considering if it's possible since the gyro doesn't necessarily have to be inside the receiver box.
4. The accumulation of numerous radios from each car's purchase led to the inconvenience of managing and storing around 15 radios.
5. Consolidating to a single radio would allow me to sell the surplus radios.
6. The built-in 4-in-1 module of the Radiomaster MT12 would enable me to retain the original built-in receivers, which vary among TRAXXAS, Losi, FrSky, and some unknown brands.
However, my plan encountered a setback when I discovered that the Radiomaster MT12 only supports ONE TRAXXAS receiver, and I don't have that particular receiver in any of my cars. Additionally, it does not support LOSI receivers, at least not at the moment. To proceed with my original plan and use one radio for all my RC cars, I would need to invest in 15+ compatible receivers and numerous gyros. This investment doesn't align with my preferences.
Given these considerations, I'm now contemplating whether to keep the Radiomaster MT12. Excluding the 4-in-1 module, I'm questioning what makes this radio special and whether it still holds value for me.
This is the king kong of land rc radios and i think it is the perfect radio for fpv on the rc car/truck i really hope you make a vid on how to make your rc FPV i have been wanting to do that for awhile 😁✌🏼
Brooo. Thank you for doing this review. I’ve been telling EVERYONE at my local hobby shop who’s dropping 400-700$ on radios that this radio is going to be the best competition to all things rc car at a fraction of the cost and with greater range/power. I am getting one for my self as well. (My son races cars I don’t but I’m gonna race with him). Again thanks for the awesome
Video!
Yea, without a doubt. There have been some good alternatives to the Futaba and Airtronics radios out there. Spectrum has some out there as well but also a bit pricy. Can't recall the brand names but things like the orange receiver were a great way to save money. Now it is driving me a bit nuts to think of the names... I think one is Radiolink but they also might be pricy... got it Fly Sky - I think.
Anyway there are many great radios available but yea, this Radiomaster will be one of the best ones out there for sure and you will know for sure that you are not giving up anything because you are not paying a lot more.
My MT12 will be here tomorrow and it's going in my brand new Redcat Machete 6S, along with a Walksnail Avatar HD Pro on a gimbal. I picked the Machete because it has two battery trays and will hold very large capacity batteries without weight distribution being a problem.
That bump switch that u programmed to a throttle lock out is there for count down timer reset for fuel stops on nitro Powered racing.
Makes sense. That's how it's programmed from the factory.
Futaba guy through and through and very happy with it, very few problems and many national wins (a while ago though) but I guess I will give this a try. Great review from a non-car guy Joshua. Thank you.
Keep us posted.
Just got mine today and programmed it for my crawler. From a racing standpoint the size of the ER3C-i is perfect for all classes and the battery telemetry will be very useful. My plan is to switch all my race cars over to ELRS. Heading over to your customization videos now to continue learning.
I think the reason this is so exciting (To me at least) is the opportunity to use head tracking via the trainer port.
Bardy needs to put a motionsic head tracker on his 4x4 rc crawler.
Danke!
With my Futaba 3VCS on my 1:5th scale 27cc FG ModelSport Dodge Viper with independent servos for front and rear disk brakes I found it highly amusing to use a button to lock the front brakes and do burnouts at the racetrack. Looking forwards to re-creating that experience when my (shipped!) MT12 arrives soon. Being able to adjust the front/rear break-bias on the controller was pretty nifty too.
Generally you don't go that far away with LoS RC cars, as they're more fun when you can see what they're doing! :D
I have recently bought my first ELRS setup and been playing with RC with a PWM receiver so far I am very impressed.
I can't wait for the video where you put an FPV camera on the car 😎
Big asterisk on the 4-in-1 module (either internal or external, it's the same thing on the inside): the 4-in-1 multi-protocol project is massively slanted to airplanes, and the protocols that are usually found there. Specifically, to my knowledge they have not reverse-engineered DSMR (Spektrum, very common RTR and very popular on the ground in general unlike in the air) or TQi (Traxxas, another huge brnd for RTR and the protocol in the Slash or Rustler that you bought). Also, the "toy" type mini cars typically use really random protocols that are often hard coded to their radio and not able to be picked up by the multi-module. So while the promise of binding to all the cars you have is neat, in reality for most of the things that it would be ideal to bind with, it will not work and you will need to put an ExpressLRS receiver in it. If you're the type to use Futaba or one of the protocols that is supported, you will either be wanting to swap your receivers to the "correct" receiver anyway, or you just won't use this radio.
Maybe this radio will get popular enough that there will be some weight behind getting the multi-module project to support some of these more common ground protocols?
Good comment. However, as far as I know it supports FlySky, and many people switched from the stock radios to a GT5 at some point. While not perfect for everybody, at least the FS crew should be covered. :-)
@Vod_VillainousThis comment just saved me a ton of aggravation. Was looking to pickup an SCX24 soon but 2in1 is a deal breaker. Scratch build would be more fun anyway. 🤷
It can work with Flysky AHFDS/AHFDS2A, which can fit quite a lot of surface model, including Sniclo FPV car, they are using the AFHDS. It got Futaba FHSS for those using 4PK. And it got Kyosho FHSS also which can use with Mini Z RTR and also the EVO. Also with Traxxas, Spektrum...... So don't worry about it, also of surface can using it, not starting from MT12, people using it starting from TX16S。
@@RCEVOLUTION do you think this radiomaster mt12 its worth getting and can replace my old sanwa mt44 for competitive racing? i need just one to rule em all but also trustworthy enough to do competitive racing
10/10 remote for FPV RC cars!!! Let's go 🙌
Oh man, I'm dreading slash really looking forward to switching over from radiolink.
Extra range that ELRS offers would be great for those that do high speed runs. Seems radio range is what high speed runners need from a radio link.
For loner range suggest switch to "50Hz" refresh and you add 10dB for receiver sensivity, and increase transmitter power to max in menu.
If you dont have that car fpv'd by the end of the video I will cry a little bit
My MT12 4-in-1 should be here this Saturday. I'm stoked. I've used a Devo7E flashed with Devention and then modded with two additional RF modules internally for my flying for a few years. Having the versatility of multi-RF modules and thus a WIDE option of protocols to bind to, I've wished for a long time that something like that could be available for my RC cars and RC rock crawlers. Thankfully Radiomaster has decided to change the game.
Couple of things...we surface RC guys call a vehicle that comes with everything ready to drive an RTR (ready-to-run). Actually RTRs can also be vehicles that don't come with a battery and charger as well. There's no such designation for bind-and-drive. :) Also, at the end of the video you talk about the two add-on modules for the radio. Both the dual two-position switch add-on and the joystick add-on are included with the MT12. Batteries are not, however. The radio comes with the battery tray for two 18650 cells (purchased separately) or you can buy Radiomaster's 5000mah 2-cell 18650 pack.
I can't wait to get one for Onroad carpet racing. I just helped build the floating plywood floor in our new building! I can't wait to race Sunday!
I started with RC cars, and got into drones because I found your RUclips channel a few years ago. So nice seeing you doing a video on RC car tech, even if it’s an exception for this review. You should really put an air unit into that thing (disable low power mode, so it does not wait for the FC command to wake up) and really test the range of that thing. Ground based FPV is really fun. :-)
lol. That’s great bardwell I just got a arrma outcast 8s. And it’s bad ass. Get all new aluminum upgrade parts for it and upgrade the esc and motor and you will have a real blast but now you showed me I’m going to have to switch my car over to Elrs and setup some jumps or go to a skate park and play with it. Best place to take them and bash 😂🎉
I was the last decade a dedicated RC car racer. With those 3.5ccm nitro cars which cost a furniture to obtain and an other to simple drive and maintain them. Basically those, which can reach up to 130kph and pull off 0-100kph in easily less than 2 seconds, while pulling off around 5gs in the corner.
Anyway. I went to FPV a few months ago and was wondering why there was never an ELRS for RC cars and here we have it and it’s as game changing as I imagined it! I’m using Spektrum hardware on my cars and I was expecting the ELRS to perform very decent, but the range test you showed just blew away everything I know from this hobby in this manner.
Insane!
Currently converting my helicopter fleet over to ELRS/EdgeTX thanks to these amazing new receivers from RadioMaster!!!
Cool …..love Radiomaster and expressLRS now build it with FPV head control 2 axis gimbal with DJI 0 3. Teach us please. I need one for rounding up my chicken at dusk. My drones make them duck and seek out cover. I’m getting the controller for my ground rc habit. Thanks, Pops Fitch
Might be great for something like a nitro car. You can have one steering trim, one for throttle and brake (same servo generally), then one that acts to alter how strong the brake is or something. Could give more precision if the brakes are really strong and they lock up easily.
I wonder if it's possible to set the failsafe on the receiver to make the car brake. Could be a neat application. Of course, not the best idea with electric cars.
I'd imagine the servo port on the radio is a way to program receivers that can't connect to the computer with wifi directly, among other things.
I got my MT12 last night and worked through these setup things myself. Thanks for the guide this should help those new to edgetx / expresslrs get started quickly.
I think one good thing to point out is surface receivers typically have steering as channel 1 and throttle as channel 2. This is opposite by default in edgetx.
Find a competent chase pilot, then put on a set of goggles in audience mode and drive your car third person from the drone's video feed. It takes some practice, but it's a lot of fun.
You have been missing out sir. Get a crawler and put a fpv setup on it. It's great.
2 sanwa airtronics m-8's for sale.All kinds of adjustability. Ran Schumacher back in the day, hpi. Tamiya. Ran 3 cars on Saturday night for 10 years, on road ozite carpet and asphalt. Different track every week. Lots o fun
Just an FYI: Matek has been making ELRS PWM receivers for a while now. I have had the R24-P6 for almost a year now and they also have a version with a variometer.
So has happymodel, the EPW6. Both it and the R24-P6 have been real reliable for me. I think RM is filling a hole in the market for elrs receivers in a tough plastic case and pins already soldered and ready to go. I though will keep enjoying those 13 and 14 dollar receivers. :)
Came back to comment about combat robotics. If you watch competitions like NHRL(National Havoc Robot League; for all intents and purposes minor league BattleBots) or the newer seasons of BattleBots you will quickly notice that they are chock full of RadioMaster radios. The Zorro is super popular(usually used with buddy boxing) with a ton of drivers also using the TX16s. Trigger radios are also popular, but often times concessions like dual radio systems have to be made to get it working well.
Looking at the MT12's features and realizing that combat robotics has a budding love affair with RadioMaster(and by proxy EdgeTx and ELRS) has me thinking that if combat robotics wasn't the focus of this radio it was at least very high up on the list of possible use cases.
@ceh_rc designed and printed a shell to convert his Zorro to a ground radio a year ago(6/12/22). His short comes up anytime I RUclips "radiomaster".
Please make a tutorial on making your slash fpv🙏🏼😁
Haha ... im about to install a 1s walksnail into my tamiya subaru brat.. .. soo much fun ...
"Like how far do like, RC car drivers actually go?"
Full throttle into the jump. She goes as far as she goes. "Big Air" is a relative term I guess.
For your property 4x4 would have been ideal and if you stick with it past the honeymoon period, you'll probably want brushless. Can't go wrong with a slash though.
Been using air radio for ground RC for years. Originally switched for the extra...err...switches. The travel of full sized gimbals allows for much more manual resolution. It may be time to revisit ground radio world. Really miss being able to drive one handed.
BNF = RTR ReadyToRun
What would be a good choice if I was looking to get a brushless 4x4 RTR?
I typically stick with traxxas due to local parts availability.
Slash 4x4 vxl is what I've been running for years. Have a few of them in different configurations.
Stampede 4x4 vxl is more fun on the jumps but prone to rollovers.
They're practically identical besides ride height and wheelbase. All but three parts are compatible; chassis, drive shaft, and body(shell).
They both have identical 3s 3500kv powertrains, though I've seen Traxxas now have a "BL-2S" system as well, but have no experience with it, and am unsure of the motor kV.
If, however, I had RUclipsr money, and considered stretching out that Pixhawk content, the X-MAXX would make a better platform, as cramming all that Ardu-gear into a slash is tricky.
Well with ELRS it’s bind and drive now
Team Associated has a few 4wd rc trucks and buggys like the rc8b3.2 or the rc18b
Nice JB, I watch ADHD RC. And always wanted to know how he builds his cars. This ELRS thing will make it a reality with a gimbal'ed O3 and a beep beep horn. I'm dreaming of headlights and maybe a pass through radio speaker.
This interests me for boats. I've been trying to figure out what radio to get. I'm just starting to get into model boats. Thanks for the review.
Been racing my Yachts with a Boxer (ELRS) and the v1 ER-5C since the Boxer was released. May change to v2 for receiver battery voltage Telem.
DF65, DF95 and IOM yachts all working well. Feels way better than a typical FlySky and the Hall effect gimbals give smoother control, zero range issues, in case charging, long operation time (5,000mAh) etc etc without the Futaba premium.
Once the servo is plugged into the receiver them the trim switches work
Being an airplane guy, and FPV guy who just got in to RC rock crawling I was very happy to see this on RDQ with a pre order sign next to it. And multi protocol.
I like the neighbor part that you left in; "Oh, you play with toys all day!" Priceless...
You should check out something from Arrma's 6s line. The kraton and Notorious are beasts.
I was waiting for a sign when I would enter the RC car hobby...This is it!!!!
@12:41 You don't know who Joshua Bardwell is? One of the FPV greats!
I recently got a radiomaster boxer 😁 haven't figured out how to make the drone i built work yet (speedybee master 5 v2 with supernova motors and f405 v4 FC, 03 air unit and expresslrs) i wonder if i could get a ground expresslrs for my modified redcat shredder and use the boxer for that? I could probably even put the air unit on it and use my integra goggles 🤣😁 i just can't get the fc to recognize elrs module 😉
I’ve been waiting to see this…..okay Bardwell, show us your RC driving skills. I’ve gotten pretty good with my little rally car of late. 😁
Hey Bardwell, can you make a video disassembling the MT12? I have one on order and I’m already thinking of modding the tx and don’t want to screw things up.
we need a video of your fpv RC car setup !
19:09 Rig the Mini Joystick up to a FPV camera on the windshield of your truck so you can have Look Around mode.
Hopefully the speed run guys are noticing this radio. With the range, low latency, and programming capabilities it's a great choice.
You should FPV it and do a more serious range test, would be fun to see.
I think getting this radio with the 4-in-1 is the way to go. Then you can get an external ELRS module. The nano ELRS modules are on average 40 dollars while the 4in1's are 60. So it's cheaper to get internal 4 in 1 if you plan to use both modules in the end anyways. Plus you end up with a 1000mw capable elrs module instead of just 250mw. Be interesting to see how much transmit power elrs needs to go a mile in a surface vehicle. Also be interesting to see if 900mhz even helps with a surface vehicle. I think I remember reading that lower frequencies have a larger fresnel zone so being close to the ground should effect them more than higher frequencies.
No issues on the ground with Crossfire over here. Absolutely destroys spektrum in my "testing".
Bonus, you can use the elrs air rx and attach into your inav rover and run off pwm servo from there. Best get a 5v bec to power up servos though.
This radio is an excellent option for people doing rock crawlers, which require some weird configurations to do front, rear, crab, winch, etc.
I havent got through the whole video....buuuuuut. can't you set a uid through wifi and it will just bind?
I have a Futaba 7pxr (around $700 with accesories) I am a rc drifter and noticed a huge difference when I went to the futaba, i am really hoping i can ditch the futaba for this one but I am skeptical of the true feel of the remote. That being said mine should arrive tomorrow and I am beyond excited to take it to the next session!!!!!!!
Radiomaster makes some veryyyyy solid stuff
@@pottyputter05 Definitely! if it wasn't for my Zorro (sold due to not a fan of the hand feel) and now Boxer which I absolutely LOVE!!!
My ground RC buddies dont believe me when I tell them this radio is gunna change the ground game! Super excited to setup all my crawlers and short course trucks to it too!
I will be replacing my entire spektrum setup and hopefully the drift/race gear
@@SlippinFPVDefinitely doing to ground RC what Frsky did to air a decade ago. My local mates all laughing derisively at the "cheap china crap" Taranis I'd been bragging about. We know how that turned out.
Looking forward to ELRS RTRs in the future. You listening Arrma? Axial? We all know Traxxas won't do it.
I'll hold out for the "pocket" version but this looks awesome. I hope there are many more options for ELRS RC car controllers
That servo connector at the side i wonder if it can be use for testing servos 🤔
Loving the newer rc car content, i think this can be a big new flex for bigger companies if they have money to invest into new tech.
I found exactly the same issue with elrs receivers and rc cars, there are literally none with an 868 rx that elrs modules can bind to 😂 so like you i end up always adding my own rx and/or elrs pwm converter with nano rx, then just use my tx16s for driving about, i hope i see some new goodies coming out soon aimed at long range fpv car driving, i feel like it’s a large market that’s not really been explored yet, still almost a niche
Nice video mate, as always :)
Kindest regards
Shado
You should definitively try out rock crawlers.
It's like meditating, hiking and fun at the same time. And you barely need to repair anything.
Speed run RC guys need a lot of range. With this there's no more need to add a signal booster.
So glad Radiomaster & ExpressLRS are getting into surface radios. The MT12 looks amazing. Do they plan to make ExpressLRS receivers with integrated gyros?
For a system not dependant on changing settings on esc or gyro on the fly, this transmitter is awsome. But in drifting community we are bound to use sanwa (code 10 capability) or futaba (mailny accuvance) where i can get access to full settings for esc and some more gyro functions apart from gain. Otherwise i will definitelly switch to RM
Cool that you have discovered RC cars. If you start racing you will be hooked.
no way, i was watching this vid and when you were showing the receiver connected to the radio via the signal bars, i noticed the time was exactly the same on your radio as it is for me rn
Bind and Fly = RTR or ready to run for surface vehicles
Waiting patently for my preorder - absolute game changer for surface vehicles. Ps. nomclature is "ready to run"
🙂 I'm smiling. Last night I finished up what I need to hook up an Ibus receiver to my Raspberry Pi in my toy car (1/18th). I'm suppose to test it today. I've been controlling it with a wheel and joystick plugged into a laptop over wifi. It all got a little too fiddly to be fun so back to a radio. I need knobs/sliders on the transmitter to set things like how much the accelerometer allows. I'm thinking 4 then pan & tilt for 8 real channels then switches.
The car is a random rover right now with a GPS and magnetometer. I want to make it a random racer. Go as fast as you can without crashing kinda thing. I'm thinking I can make a little race track with a lawnmower in the back yard and just use 3 ultrasonic sensors to see the edges up front.
Think there is a 4 in 1 module you can use on the ELRS radio.
Hello mr Bardwell, i think about purchasing the mt12 4in1 variant but do you know if the irangex external module is better than the one integrated on the transmitter?
Mine is getting delivered today!!!
is that radio a must have for better drive? Now i have a Zorro, cause i can fly + drive at same place
I replaced my Spektrum DX5C with this. So far, no negative points. However, I think it's pretty sad that they didn't think about making room in the transport box they give to accomodate the radio once you put on the external module. It doesn't seem like it will do good over time if I keep removing it every time I want to put it back in the box sadly.
I asked for this right after elrs came out, well i asked if we could use elrs with surface vehicles.
Sweet, I cant wait to use my Radiomaster Boxer on Ground vehicles to drive Old School style.
I love that RadioMaster did come out with this controller being I have a TX16S for my quads and other aircraft. I currently use the Flysky NB4 for my ground RC and love it. You're able to program the radio but with limited functions. I would love to get the RadioMaster's pistol grip controller but the one downside is that I need a lefthanded controller due to some fiscal disability I have at driving with my right hand. As of now, I will probably stick with the NB4 unless they come out with an ambidextrous-style controller like the NB-4, or I do the RadioMaster Zorro mod to pistol gripe.
I think there is a problem with the receiver that came with mine. I was trying to run it in my 13.5 buggy. But if I sustained full throttle for any amount of time, it would act like it was getting no signal and make my car runaway. I didn't have this issue with my 17.5 2wd buggy though. Thoughts?
Kinda late to the game, but do you think you could compare the Radiomaster MT12 to the Radiomaster Boxer to do a stick transmitter to surface transmitter comparison?
I want to know for nitro and gas cars and buggies where my reciver hits the brakes when the controller link fails. Though its never happened its a nice thing to have and stop a drive away.
Thx Josh! Excellent class!
I’ve just got my first rc car as well because living in the uk the weather is shit more than good so drones collect dust more than fly. I went for a cheap option first the mjx hyper go 1/16 on 3s. Things mental.
My spektrum and crossfire has an actual head tracker port. One goes through the trainer port and the other goes through the crossfire HT port. Where would the head tracker plug into on the ELRS?
Headphone jack
The connector next to the SD Card - can it center servos? That would be incredibly cool
Are there any R/C cars with an ELRS receiver already installed? Seems like an emerging market opportunity.
Bind and Fly RC Cars. Nice!
Most people i know stick to one radio system (usually higher end than RTR (ready to run), Like the spektrum, futaba, sanwa, radiolink ect. They just buy extra receivers and use the internal memory just like this one. BTW receiver prices are slightly more expensive than radiolink, but much cheaper than Futaba or Sanwa