Hi Martin

I have both the Hobbyking Turnigy IA6 and the Banggood Flysky I6, which are nearly the same except in naming.

Both are very good units and I am very happy with them.

Banggood have coloured knobs for the control sticks also a kit to make the IC throttle channel into self centering.

I too use the Fly Sky radios, I prefer the T6 over the i6, I found the i6 smaller and more 'plasticky' if you know what I mean, but the i6 does give you receiver voltage. I had to return an i6 due to a fault on channel 3 on the transmitter, but the T6 has been good so far! I also like the fact that you only need one transmitter for up to 20 boats, and the end point setting which is a great help when setting up a sail winch.

Regards

Eddie.

I use 2 channels for the 2 props (tank steer), 1 channel for the additional rudders & channel 5 (which is rotary), to control the servo operated cam with 3 micro switches for radar & lighting

Edited By Kip Woods on 05/07/2018 19:00:56

You may only need 2 channels but modern 6 channel chips come just as cheap as 2 or 3, plus of course these sets are meant for car, plane or helicopter use hence all the gizmos on them.

I am building a Thames Sailing Barge at the moment so I may be able to use more than the 2 channels that I am using to sail Ardent.

Eddie

Tank steer, is when you have two motors independent from each other, my L/stick controls 1 & the R/stick controls the other, to go forward, push both sticks up, to go backward, pull both sticks down, if you push 1 up & the other down, you can spin the boat in it's own length

Martin

As Ron says it depends on your models, I have a 2, 6, 9 channel radios and a Futaba F14 Navy with an expansion module to give 2 proportional and 6 switched channels. I have a number of models with working features, hence the radios.

The 9 channel is a Radio Link AT9 and is used for a German rescue cruiser, controlling the cruiser and the daughter boat from the one radio.

Tim

Whatever floats YOUR boat Martin,

But while we are on the subject! you asked what could you use the 3rd channel for at the start, so here are a couple more, non-military suggestions…..The most fun at shows you can have is squirting the kids with a water cannon (or 4) and if you're into crew onboard, one of my Fairey Cabin cruisers has a steering captain who turns his head and a bikini clad sunbather sitting up and waving at the crowd, all with separate channels. I know of several clubs who have a summer night sailing regatta and they look amazing and are well attended.

Everyone is different and should enjoy their hobby as they see fit, we are only answering your question after all.

Ron R.

Depending on the type of yacht, 6 channels might be too restrictive. A great many class yachts can only use 2 channels, winch and steering, but even a tiny one like the Micro Magic has provision for a fore sail twitcher. If you then start into a working genoa rig and want to be able to do remote adjustments, you can soon run out of channels.

But since a fairly typical 6 channel receiver that works with compatible transmitters offering less channels actually costs less than a pair of crystals did a very few years back (and less than a 27MHz 2ch RX), why worry?  The really annoying aspect of modern practice is the lack of compatibility, not only between manufacturers, but between ranges from a single manufacturer.  

Edited By Malcolm Frary on 07/07/2018 10:21:25