difference bet. turnigy 9x and 9xr?

[xtopher]

Hi guys, those who have turnigy transmitters, which is better to buy? the 9xr seems to be the latest but people on forums say that there has been programming issues.

[GleM]

Here is my short analysis.

9X (also called TH9X)
==

The 9x has a longer history, has a larger user base, and is less expensive overall because it comes with the transmitter module. There is no backlit on the display which can be harder to read in certain lighting conditions. The proprietary stock firmware installed is not interesting at all. The problem is that to upgrade the firmware you need an hardware modification to the radio which requires either soldering or the installation of a third party board inside the radio which increases its cost. I'm not aware of all the details but the trainer port is also unusable in certain conditions without an hardware fix The radio has more physical space inside (as compared to the 9xr) to install hardware mods such as voice alerts, etc. It is normally powered by AA batteries.

9XR
===

The 9xr is more recent and is an 9x that includes in its design popular hardware modifications made by 9x users. It does not come with a transmitter module but supports JR compatible modules. It has two trainer port connectors which make it compatible with JR/Spektrum radios as well as some Futaba radios (those with the square connector). These connectors can also be used to connect some FPV head tracking systems. It features both a backlit display and an ISP connector on the bottom to easily install and upgrade firmwares such as opentx using an AVR programmer (such as the USBASP). Since it does not come with a transmitter module, you can choose to install a FrSky module which can provide telemetry functions. FrSky technology is considered more of a full range transmitter/receiver system as compared to the stock transmitter provided on the 9x. The 9xr is equipped with a 3s balance plug connector to easily power it from 3 cells LIFE (or LIPO) batteries. The latest version of the radio is equipped with the m128 chip which, as compared to the 9x, doubles the EEPROM space to save plane/heli models.

From the configuration point of view, the two radios are almost equivalent. The main difference is the larger flash memory for radios equipped the m128 chip that supports larger firmwares. The larger firmwares have some additional features that need to be stripped on radios with less flash memory.

My personal recommendation when comparing the two radios would be:

The 9xr with opentx, an FrSky transmitter module, and D8 FrSky receivers.

Of course, there exists better radios, transmitter modules, and receivers that are more expensive.

[Andrew Fernie]

Or, as mentioned in another thread, buy an FrSky Taranis. That gets you the OpenTx S/W in a better overall transmitter package. On backorder everywhere, but to compare prices, HK is selling it at $172 (TX and case only). That would compare with the 9XR at $50, plus about $30 for a TX module (plus $17 for a case if you don't already have one). The Taranis gives you sixteen channels (O.K., I don't know what to do with them all either, but I am looking for more than nine), or even 32 if you want to get silly and add a second TX module. To use more than eight channels you use the SBus output, or two RX, it is up to you.

Build quality is good, nice features like voice announcements, RX only responding to the specific model it is bound to (like JR), one built-in TX module plus room for a second (e.g. if you want to control your JR/Spektrum models), good RX selection and prices, reasonable telemetry sensor selection and prices ("reasonable" as the implementation is a bit of a patch at the moment if you use the latest RX, but fine using the older RX).

It comes with a six NiMH 600mAh battery pack, although there is a connector that would suit a LiFe balance connector. The NiMH charger is built in, the power supply just provides 12V. I will replace the 600mAh pack with a 2200 mAh NiMH pack, beyond which point I don't see much of an advantage from using LiFe (same or greater capacity, can charge the NiMH in the radio, no puffing,...)

Canadadrones.com in Toronto is selling it for $229, including an RX that HK sells for $31, and the power supply that HK charges $5 for so it is really C$229 vs US$172+31+5=$208, or about C$215. Far better in my opinion to pay a few dollars more and get it from him rather than HK. If something goes wrong I would much rather deal with someone local.