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RC RADIOS - YOUR BEST FLYING PARTNERAfter all, without a radio – there is no radio control. The radio basically puts you (or at least your commands) inside your model aircraft. A good radio will serve you for years and computerized ones with model memory can be used for many models of aircraft from helis to fixed wing... In short, one radio for everything plus computerized radios are the only option if you want to properly setup your collective pitch heli - again why they are so important. Without question, RC radios have changed more over the years than any other RC component. Better performance, more versatility, feature rich, and the best news... RC radios cost less now than they ever have. 
This picture illustrates how radios have changed over the years. From left to right: I actually feel a bit ill (I know I am not the only one) when I think of what I have spent on some of my RC radios over the years. They are basically obsolete now. Even my PCM computerized radio that I purchased just a few years ago is considered a dinosaur thanks to 2.4GHz spread spectrum modulation . For those of you who are just getting into radio control – you don’t know how lucky you are and I am a bit jealous. RC radio gear is so good and so inexpensive these days – it makes justifying this hobby a piece of cake – a very sweet piece of cake. Before we start getting into specifics, let’s first look at how a RC radio actually controls a radio controlled aircraft – specifically a helicopter. 
The transmitter is what you hold and use to control the aircraft with two joysticks, switches, and knobs. Computerized radios will also have a LCD menu screen with additional switches for choosing and entering data. 
The receiver, receiver battery, and servos are all inside your RC model. The receiver as the name suggests, receives the radio signals from the transmitter. It then converts these radio signals into electrical signals the servos understand. 
The servos are small electrical/mechanical devices that convert the electrical signals from the receiver back into mechanical movement. 
In effect, the speed controller is tapping into some of the power from the main battery pack and conditioning that voltage to run your onboard radio system. No receiver battery pack results in a substantial weight savings, and the small amount of power that is used by the on board radio systems is negligible compared to the many amps the motor draws. Larger electric models will have dedicated receiver battery packs since there is so much load already placed on the main battery pack from the very high amperage loads drawn from the motor (over 100 amps in some cases). Pretty basic right... The radio converts the movement from your hands into radio signals. These radio signals are then received by the receiver and converted into an electrical signal and sent to the servos. The servos understand this signal and convert it back into movement – just as if you were inside your model. This movement is proportional – in other words, if you only move the transmitter stick 30% on your radio, the servo will only move 30% (assuming you have no exponential rates enabled). This is the very distinct difference in quality hobby grade RC radios over inexpensive RC toys. Most inexpensive RC toys don’t use proportional RC control; the signals are either on or off – full movement or no movement. It would be impossible to control any RC aircraft without the precise small and variable control movements provided by proportional commands. The other big difference between hobby grade RC radios and a toy RC radio is the transmitter's power output. With this high transmitting power, you will loose sight of your RC model long before you are out of radio range. I get this exact question a lot when flying... “how far away can you control it”. If you can see it – you can control it is the answer. What RC Radio System Should I Get? With so many RC radio systems on the market, and so many features, how do you know what radio system is right for you? Just like choosing your best RC helicopter , choosing your best RC radio requires information and some research – I will give you a head start and what I would recommend. Here are some of the many choices you will be faced with: Don’t forget about the GYRO – a very important and essential component for RC helicopters that works hand in hand with your radio system. Holly Radio Gear Batman! So much to decide on and understand! Relax - with radio systems these days, this list has been greatly simplified because most good computerized radios now come standard with many of the features listed above or technology has eliminated or made some features/choices obsolete. As I said before, the very best news is that the new radio systems of today come with all these standard features at very reasonable prices. You can basically get a 6 channel computerized 2.4GHz radio with all the bells and whistles, way better performance and reliability for less than a very basic 4 channel AM airplane radio cost 25 years ago – wow! Sure, there are one or two radios out there that cost over $2000 CND, but most average pilots who fly RC helicopters and airplanes will be spending in the $250 - $500 range on radio gear. This will give you a superb quality computerized radio system with all the features that most people will ever need or use and will never out grow. The other great thing about computerized radios is you can use one radio for many different model aircraft. While this was partially true in the past, most of us had several radios because re-configuring your radio setup for each RC model was a pain in the butt, plus there were helicopter specific radios and airplane specific radios if you flew both types of aircraft. With today's computerized radios, each RC model can be configured into the radio’s memory and it is a simple mater of choosing what model you are flying by just scrolling through the list you have programmed into the radio – helicopters, airplanes, gliders, and jets - one radio can handle all your RC models – even more added value. Here is the best advice and recommendations I can give you regarding RC radios. Get a name brand computerized radio that uses 2.4 GHz spread spectrum modulation. It is the only choice you should consider in this day and age. No more interference issues and the prices have plummeted over the last little while. You will have a powerful tool that provides features and freedoms that you will appreciate every time you fly – beginner to pro – your radio will become your best flying partner. I have also listed several good RC radio choices on the bottom of the RC Helicopter Radios Page including the Spektrum DX8 and new Spektrum DX7s .
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Budget LiPo Battery Recommendations
As many of you may know, I'm a pretty big fan of Turnigy LiPo batteries these days as they have made large electric RC flight an affordable reality. Sure, they are out of stock most of the time, but when they are in stock, I always order several up. Listed here are a few of the packs I have personally used and in what application/s to give you some ideas of what Turnigy packs are available and an easy link to them to read up on the pack's specs if it's the size you are also looking for. This is only a small sample however of what Turnigy LiPo's are available; basically a few popular sizes for some popular size electric RC helis. I've listed them in order of cell count and capacity (smallest to largest).
The Turnigy Nano-Tech 1S 160mAh 25C micro LiPo is what I use most of the time while flying my Blade mSR. At only $1.47 USD, getting a half dozen or so for back to back mSR flights is a very inexpensive reality.
The Turnigy 3S 800mAh 20C LiPo pack is a perfect low cost power source for the Trex 250. Only $6.70 USD again making getting a half dozen or so very affordable.
The 850 mAh 3S 25C Nano-Tech LiPo is what I now use in my Trex 250. At $8.40 USD it costs a couple bucks more than the basic 20C above, but it's definitely worth it. Even when pushing this LiPo hard in the Rex 250, it barely gets warm and has a lot of punch!
Turnigy's 3S 2200 25C LiPo is my basic flying all round favorite pack for most 400/450 size RC helicopters - Only $10.79 USD. For sportier type flight, the 30C at $13.79 USD is still a great bargain as is the 35C version for 3D power hungry maneuvers at only $17.95.
For the Trex 500 as well as many other 500 size electrics, the Turnigy 6S 2450mAh 30C LiPo pack is hard to beat for only $34.79.
The Turnigy 6S 5000 mAh LiPo's are by far the most adaptable packs I have. They are the perfect choice for the Trex 600ESP(6S version), can be used in the Trex 550E, and two of them wired in series are a perfect fit in the Trex 700E. The 25C versions are a good choice at only $59.29 USD if you don't push your helis much past light sport aerobatics. The 30C version that I use in my Trex 700E most of the time are very capable of some power hungry aggressive sport flight and only cost $70.20 USD (the best overall value of the bunch in my opinion); but if extreme 100% throttle curve 3D is your thing, the 35C's are the ticket and still a good deal at only $99.99 USD.
I also just picked up a couple Turnigy Nano-Tech 6S 5000 mAh 45C packs to try out in the Trex 700E and the 600ESP's. I'm still breaking them in so haven't pushed them that hard yet, but so far I'm very impressed. At only $89.70 USD for a 45C (90C burst) rated pack, these things are hard to pass up!