Radio List
These radios are known to work for Robot Combat. They are modern "spread spectrum" digital radios which allow several robots to be operated at the same time with no radio interference among them. Also, they will "fail safe" appropriately if used with a standard receiver – but you must set up and test the failsafe yourself (see Failsafes). Radios in this list can currently be purchased (checked October 2026). Prices are approximate and change often.
Protocols matter: a transmitter only works with receivers that use the same protocol. For example, FlySky AFHDS 2A radios bind to the popular Malenki and Catalyst all-in-one boards, while ExpressLRS (ELRS) radios need ELRS receivers. Some radios (such as RadioMaster "4-in-1" versions) include a multi-protocol module that can talk to several protocols.
| Name | Style | Channels | Protocol | Price | Mixing | Receiver Option | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flysky FS-i6 | Twin Stick | 6 | AFHDS 2A | $60–90 | Elevon / V-Tail | FS2A: about 1–2 grams; FS-iA6: 6.4 grams | Widely used, well documented (see Combat Guide). Binds to Malenki and Catalyst boards. |
| Flysky FS-i6X | Twin Stick | 6 (10 after firmware update) | AFHDS 2A | $60–75 | Elevon / V-Tail | FS-iA6B: 14.9 grams; FS2A: about 1–2 grams | Widely used, well documented (see Combat Guide) |
| Flysky FS-i6S | Twin Stick (touchscreen) | 6 PWM / 10 PPM | AFHDS 2A | about $65 | Yes | FS-iA6B, FS-X6B | |
| Flysky Noble NB4 | Pistol | 4 (NB4+: 8) | AFHDS 3 | varies | Tank Steering | FGr4S: 5.1 grams; FGr4B: 6.4 grams | Easy to program. AFHDS 3 doesn't bind to AFHDS 2A boards. |
| Spektrum DX5 Pro (2021) | Pistol | 5 | DSMR | $380 (transmitter) / $450 (with receiver) | Tank Steering | SR2100: 5.5 grams; SR215: 6 grams | Replaces the original DX5 Pro |
| RadioMaster Pocket | Compact Twin Stick | 16 | ELRS (or CC2500 multi-protocol) | $60–72 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ELRS PWM receivers (see below) | Inexpensive and popular; set up mixing yourself in EdgeTX (EdgeTX Combat Guide) |
| RadioMaster Pocket Crush | Compact Twin Stick | 16 | ELRS | $65 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ELRS PWM receivers | |
| RadioMaster Zorro | Compact Twin Stick | 16 | ELRS, CC2500 or 4-in-1 | $100–120 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ELRS PWM receivers; 4-in-1 version can bind FlySky AFHDS 2A | Used in the EdgeTX Combat Guide |
| RadioMaster Boxer | Twin Stick | 16 | ELRS or 4-in-1 | from $110 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ELRS PWM receivers | |
| RadioMaster TX16S | Full-size Twin Stick | 16+ | ELRS or 4-in-1 | from $200 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ELRS PWM receivers; 4-in-1 version binds many protocols | |
| RadioMaster MT12 | Pistol | 16 | ELRS | $130 | Programmable (EdgeTX) | ER3C-i (included): 4.2 grams | Surface (car-style) radio |
| Turnigy T6A | Twin Stick | 6 | AFHDS | $40 | Yes | TR6A: 8grams | Requires computer and cable to program. Uses the original AFHDS protocol, so it can't bind to AFHDS 2A receivers or boards. |
Receivers
Small receivers with PWM outputs (to plug into ESCs) that suit combat robots:
| Receiver | Protocol | PWM channels | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flysky FS2A | AFHDS 2A | 4 | about 1–2 g | Tiny and cheap; popular in insect robots (example) |
| Flysky FS-iA6 | AFHDS 2A | 6 | 6.4 g | |
| Flysky FS-iA6B | AFHDS 2A | 6 | 14.9 g | |
| Flysky FGr4S / FGr4B | AFHDS 3 | 4 | 5.1 g / 6.4 g | For the Noble NB4 |
| Spektrum SR2100 / SR315 / SR215 | DSMR | 3 / 3 / 2 | 5.5 / 6 / 6 g | |
| RadioMaster ER3C-i | ELRS | 3 | 4.2 g | Ceramic antenna |
| RadioMaster ER4 | ELRS | 4 | 3.0 g | |
| RadioMaster ER5C-i | ELRS | 5 | 5.0 g | |
| RadioMaster ER6 | ELRS | 6 | 14.5 g | Dual antenna |
| BetaFPV ELRS Micro RX | ELRS | 5 | 4.5 g |
ELRS receivers and transmitters need matching major firmware versions. ELRS receivers' default failsafe is not safe for every setup – see Failsafes.
All-in-one boards
For 150 g and 1 lb robots, these boards combine a receiver and ESCs in one tiny package:
| Board | Built-in receiver | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Malenki-Nano | AFHDS 2A (FlySky) | 3 brushed channels (2 drive + weapon) plus 2 servo/ESC outputs; about 2.5 g; built-in mixing |
| Malenki-HV | AFHDS 2A | Higher-voltage version (2–4S) |
| Malenki Scarab | AFHDS 2A | Higher-current drive version (2–4S) |
| Repeat Robotics Catalyst | AFHDS 2A | Dual brushless ESC with built-in receiver, mixing and invert switch; about 4 g |
These boards need an AFHDS 2A transmitter, such as a Flysky FS-i6/i6X/i6S or a multi-protocol (4-in-1 or CC2500) radio. As of 2026 there's no widely available all-in-one board with a built-in ELRS receiver; the usual ELRS setup is a separate small receiver plus a dual ESC.
Legacy radio systems can work perfectly, but they use older protocols, and you can't reliably buy new receivers that work with them. You can sometimes find replacement receivers on eBay or other sites, but if you are starting out there are plenty of inexpensive radios to choose from.
| Name | Style | Channels | Protocol | Price | Mixing | Receiver Option | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spektrum DX5 Pro (original, SPM5010) | Pistol | 5 | DSMR/DSM2 | - | Tank Steering | SR215 | Replaced by the 2021 version |
| Spektrum DX6i | Twin Stick | 6 | DSM/DSM2 | - | Yes | AR620: 8grams | Discontinued (its successor, the DX6e, is also discontinued) |
| FrSky Taranis Q X7 | Twin Stick | 24 | ACCESS | - | Programable | Archer R4: 3.8grams | Discontinued. OpenTX Firmware (Combat Guide) |
| Turnigy Evolution / Pro | Game Controller | 8 | AFHDS 2A | - | None | FS-iA6 (the bundled iA6C has no PWM outputs) | Touchscreen - no mixing, which makes it a poor fit for combat robots |