Radiomaster radios

I received a marketing email from a hobby joint that I use every now and then advertising the new RadioMaster MT12 surface (pistol format) radio. I haven't seen a mass produced open source surface radio in a pistol config before. Has anyone else looked into the OpenTX or EdgeTX systems for surface use?

Radio in question:
MT12

I'm 100% die hard Futaba for all of my heli and boating needs - I have used them for decades and really like their products. However, it's getting old that I have to spend a good sum of money to get a 'modern' system every number of years. A recent example would be the GPS sensor that I bought a few years ago for my boats, where I am running at 4PX. That $200 sensor doesn't work with the 4PX - but it will with the 7PXR or 10PX - which I do not have. I can't even upgrade the software/firmware on the 4PX to accept a GPS sensor.

I see these OpenTX systems on the various heli forums supporting **** near any telemetry sensor that you could want - and not ~$200 sensors, mind you. It has me seriously thinking about trying/testing one of these surface systems in a boat. Has anyone looked into these systems, or have you used / configured / run one? What do you think? Maybe a speed gun is the best answer?

-Joey

My son has the stick version and says he is getting the wheel. He says its the best radio he has ever had

It will be good to learn how it does around "nitro" models.

Even the Budget Futaba stuff can be challenged around nitro. (not talking about the screen only, the cases can be damaged too.)

The higher end Futaba systems have some great plastic. (maybe this is not important to most.. but its a big deal to me)

(remember the old Tactic stuff.. LOL.. around a nitro model the black would come off in your hands!).. was however a nice little radio for electric models!

Grim

Grimracer said:

It will be good to learn how it does around "nitro" models.

Even the Budget Futaba stuff can be challenged around nitro. (not talking about the screen only, the cases can be damaged too.)

The higher end Futaba systems have some great plastic. (maybe this is not important to most.. but its a big deal to me)

(remember the old Tactic stuff.. LOL.. around a nitro model the black would come off in your hands!).. was however a nice little radio for electric models!

Grim

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Nitro can be hard on plastic but the mosquito repellents will destroy most plastics in no time. So I am extra cautious about it around my radios and glasses.

Looks like a pita to learn and setup.Price is good.I looked at the manual there’s a lot too learn.Differant terminology to what I’m use too only time will tell.

SayMikey said:

My son has the stick version and says he is getting the wheel. He says its the best radio he has ever had

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Interesting. Thanks for the feedback. I've read differing reviews over the years and never really paid much attention to the openTX/edgeTX stuff. I do see a growing number that do like the systems. One good characteristic is the flexibility of them - you can pretty much program / configure it however you want, within reason. However, that adds complexity but isn't a deal-breaker to me.

Roxyflash said:

Looks like a pita to learn and setup.Price is good.I looked at the manual there’s a lot too learn.Differant terminology to what I’m use too only time will tell.

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For sure; I've looked at the various manuals as well..just something different, and I'm not too worried about that. You're right - time will tell!

Thank for the feedback everyone. Keep it coming.

-Joey

I've been flying with one of their stick radios (TX16S) for the last 3 or 4 years. Fantastic radio at a great price, EdgeTX is insanely powerful. A bit of a learning curve, but you can do just about anything you can imagine. And with the 4-in-1 models, you can use just about any RX out there, no more being tied to one brand and overpaying for RX's just to have the branding (looking at you Spektrum and Futaba)

I just got my hands on the MT12 as well (had been waiting with baited breath for an ETX pistol radio) and so far am very impressed.

There will be a lot of guys who are too lazy or stubborn to learn how to use it, and sell it after a few days of struggling which should make it easy to get a good deal on one "used" (although even MSRP is a steal IMHO).

I hope these radios go over well, as I'd be willing to bet that the next iteration will be color and touch screen like some of their stick radios. If that's the case, I'll have one of those on the way as soon as its dropped.

There is more functionality in ETX than any other stick radio on the market, however I think a lot of it will be lost on boat guys who tend to think "I only need 2 channels, what does this do for me?"

MitchFarabaugh said:

I just got my hands on the MT12 as well (had been waiting with baited breath for an ETX pistol radio) and so far am very impressed.

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That's great! I would like to hear more about what you think of it after you feel you have a handle on it. You're right, though, at the price it is going to be hard to not try it.

I appreciate the notes of your experiences with EdgeTX and now the MT12. That's what I was looking for. I'm also betting that the color touchscreen will be the next iteration.

Thanks again, Mitch.

-Joey

It will likely not get "used" until spring, although I've bound one boat up and played with it a bit. It feels good in the hand, with a good bit of weight, can't say much beyond that really... everybody's different.

As for ETX, it's kind of like Linux. If you've been using an Apple for 20 years (where you can only do exactly what Apple WANTS you to do, so they dumb it all down), and you try to figure out Linux, there's a pretty steep learning curve. Once you've figured it out though, it's incredibly powerful and easy to navigate.

MitchFarabaugh said:

It will likely not get "used" until spring, although I've bound one boat up and played with it a bit. It feels good in the hand, with a good bit of weight, can't say much beyond that really... everybody's different.

As for ETX, it's kind of like Linux. If you've been using an Apple for 20 years (where you can only do exactly what Apple WANTS you to do, so they dumb it all down), and you try to figure out Linux, there's a pretty steep learning curve. Once you've figured it out though, it's incredibly powerful and easy to navigate.

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No worries, I'm not in a hurry. I may end up with one myself before summer is out; who knows.

I've been a UNIX sysAdmin at a university for over 20 years, so I am pretty interested to see how these linux control systems are adapted into the RC community. I followed a good bit of the ArduPilot stuff, and that is impressive - along with all of the drone flight controllers, etc. It has been a disruptive technology, for sure, and that is kind of where I'm headed with this whole experiment.

In my industry, UNIX got absolutely killed by linux. I'm not saying if it's right or wrong ( I've made a career off of linux ), but I see that same disruption happening in other industries. I'm really surprised how long it has taken to get here, frankly. I've looked for a while for a wheel-steer / pistol style openTX radio. Mostly out of curiosity - I'm very happy with my Futaba gear. But what if......

Thanks again for your input, Mitch.

-Joey

*Edits for grammer

I received one of these radios today. As soon as I can figure out how to charge an xt30 (got cables on the way), I'll get it going.

They sell a 5000Mah Lion battery as well, so I got that and didn't pay attention to the connector. Otherwise, it comes with an installed, but removable AA sized battery tray. It tells you what cells to put in it, and if you go that route you can charge it with the included USB cable. Kinda clever on their part.

Edit: I am trying to scale this photo - not successful
View attachment IMG_3757.jpeg

Can the TX be turned around for left handed drivers?

https://www.radiomasterrc.com/products/mt12-surface-radio-controller

Just looking at the site, it looks like it can from the side views. Both sides have the same basic shape. I dont see anywhere where it says it can thou. Maybe send them an email asking.

https://www.radiomasterrc.com/pages/customer-support

I considered trying one for a couple SAW boats. What turned me off was an added shipping cost added in at the end. I think that it was in the fourth to fifty dollar range.

Zimmerman said:

Can the TX be turned around for left handed drivers?

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There's no docs that came with it, but after looking it over I am going to say no. I don't see a way for the "steering unit" to attach, with relief for the 'thumb switch' on that other side. I've posted a pic, since I'm sure that I didn't describe that worth a dang.

Also I am really liking how small that ELRS RX is.

It only took me a few minutes to get it bound and I had the boat setup in less than 10 minutes. I don't find it that hard to navigate. So far, so good.

Yeah, from the case it looks like not able to go left hand. Just took out 10% of the RC community with that decision. Seeing as surface radios are the smaller of the two. Also Futaba has a large hold on most of the radio buys. I think it was a business decision to not do all the work for a very small piece of the pie.
Mike

Mike Hughes said:

Yeah, from the case it looks like not able to go left hand. Just took out 10% of the RC community with that decision. Seeing as surface radios are the smaller of the two. Also Futaba has a large hold on most of the radio buys. I think it was a business decision to not do all the work for a very small piece of the pie.
Mike

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Not so sure about the small piece part, RC cars/crawlers/trucks are WAY booming over boats. Go to any hobby shop these days and pretty much all they have is cars and parts...

Surface is the smallest part of RC, wheel and stick. Air is bigger and stick only. You dont see left hand stick people. Everyone flys mode 2. You do see stick in cars and boats. For pistol, I agree the cars are bigger. We in boats are nobodys. Barely a drop in the bucket to them as a customer. We are not their market.
Mike

I made a few runs in HSV this weekend with this radio. I didn't even think about having a different radio than my usual 4PX. So, there is one test that is confirmed good.

I will note that the few times that I ran, It wasn't with other boats. It was a test/tune day, and others could have had radios powered on in the pits, but I don't know that. Either way, I didn't notice any control issues or interference.

I don't expect any issues with ELRS, but I don't see much reporting from the marine environment. Fingers crossed....

So far I am very happy with this radio.

I've got a few runs on my MT12 at this point, and am very happy with it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if their next release is a color/touchscreen version like my TX16S air radio, and if it is, I'll have one in the mail as soon as I see it available.

I'm hoping they can start really pulling people away from Futaba and Spektrum surface TX's just like they have with their air TX's.