Thanks for this review, just ordered one. Your other videos are great as well. I flashed ethos on my horus x10s express. For a LOS fixed wing flyer like me, it seems much more intuitive than open tx. Open TX is great but I'm not missing anything for my needs. I really don't understand the hate for Frsky and Ethos. I think they are doing good things. After learning open tx, Ethos is natural and easier to navigate. Seems to me it could convert alot of spektrum users.
Hi Matt, thanks for your kind comments. Yes, I totally agree with you. For me, there are still a couple of things missing in ETHOS, but mostly for the FPV side of the hobby. But I think it is a great, intuitive platform. There is a lot of hate going around for FrSky, and there has been for a few years now. I think some of it may have come from difficulty with older firmware. But a lot of it comes from misinformation or is sparked by certain “influencers” who have ulterior motives. For example, they have a signature edition radio which is a Horus X10 clone. I personally think that the products FrSky are producing right now are excellent. They are also listening to the community, which can only make things better. I agree that FrSky and ETHOS is a much better package than Spektrum. 99% of the issues I see at my flying field are with Spektrum radio equipment. Either signal losses or brownouts on the receivers. The challenge is that Horizon Hobby have everything in a nice little BNF monopoly. If LoS pilots can be coaxed away from BNF, and take 5 minutes to set up their own receivers, they could have a much better system at a much lower cost.
Just like to thankyou so much for your time and effort both in videos and taking a step up into Inav Darren,without the likes of you Lee at Painless and Joshua Bardwell for endless reviews and how to set ups im sure us out here would be so much more confused,we'll done my friend.
Excellent Video :) i have the x20s and love it to bits, and i am getting used to Ethos, Xfire added and i will be in heaven. Like a lot of people i came from the Horus12 and before that the original Taranis 9 which is still working fine to this day.
Hi Ken, sorry for the late reply. For some reason TH-cam held the comment for review. I'm glad you are enjoying ETHOS and the X20S. I'm similar. I have an X10 Express and X9D Plus which are also still working perfectly.
Hi, thanks for the great review. Can you tell me about the different gimbals on the X18 to the X18S? I can't find anything on the internet about this. Only M18 and MC18 gimbals. I am currently flying with an X9D SE plus. However, I would like to move away from OpenTx and would switch to Ethos. Now it's about the model of the transmitter. Would you say the premium is justified? What do you think of the X18SE? Regards, Martin
Hi Martin, The difference in the gimbals is the X18 gimbals have an aluminium panel, but plastic body. Whereas the X18S/SE are fully CNC machined from aluminium. It makes the gimbals longer lasting, a little more precise, and will not flex. I prefer the full CNC gimbals. The SE has a better screen than the other X18 models. It has glare reduction and I believe the image it better too. I’ve not seen one in person to see how much better the image is.
Great video Darren already have the X20 but do like the look of the X18 might have to get one. Mine is on 1.1.1 so looking forward to your upcoming filmware video very much Keep doing a great job it's much appreciated.
To be honest, there will be a bit of a learning curve. It's not necessarily harder to use than Spektrum, just different. Personally I found that this system clicked with me much better than Spektrum. Things just seemed to be in the wrong places there. But my brain can be weird sometimes.
Hi I'm currently on Spektrum DX9 and have a question...i want to move over to Frsky but...I need to be able to measure my Lipo mAh used which I currently can on Spektrum on my 6S 5000mAh lipos ...because I'm a fixed wing 3D flyer I really need this information to the TX ...Do you know if it's possible? TIA
Great video, how is the screen brightness in broad daylight? Question 2, yours is the x18 they also have the S an SE models. If I bought a standard X18 would that be like yours? The the brochure says that it doesn't have 6 axis gyro but obviously you were using it. Hopefully my question wasn't to confusing.
My X18 is pre-production. So it had the gyro. The production X18 doesn’t. Take the comparison table and brochure as what you’d actually get. The screen on the basic X18 and X18S is ok in daylight. But not brilliant if it’s bright out. You can improve it by using the white theme, rather than the default dark colours. But, the screen in the X18SE is better. It’s brighter and better quality.
I definitely agree about the trims, on my X20S I have a hard time finding the rudder and aileron trims. I also really wish the X20 had the blade style switches instead of the round ones, they feel so spindly and delicate
Hi Darren, I have just installed a TD receiver,to use with my x18 . The servos buzz/chatter, I understand this is caused by the 900Hz telemetry. I have twisted the servo wires, and routed them as far as possible from the T Ariel, but the problem persists. Is it possible to disable the 900Hz telemetry?
I've never really had this problem. From what I understand, it only seems to affect some Hitec servos. On the latest RF firmware, you can reduce the 900MHz telemetry to 25mW. This should stop, or at least reduce the chatter. I know FrSKY are looking in to the problem. But the real solution is separation.
Great review, It’s so difficult to find good vids on frsky or x18/x20 in general. Especially being new to FPV, I wish there was a video explaining receivers for these models, I have no idea what to buy for my quad!
SAMEEEEEEE! I think there’s a lot of new drone users shopping on GetFPV because they just started selling the X18. I’m in the same boat I have no idea which receivers are the best for drones. This channel is 1 of only a couple that give any good information on these radios.
@@TaylorGangGang I just bought mine on getfpv a few days ago so maybe lol It should be arriving tomorrow. All the videos I find for receivers haven’t been very helpful 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for the comments guys. I have a little tool for seeing which receivers will work with your radio at www.mrd-rc.com/tutorials-tools-and-testing/useful-tools/frsky-receiver-compatibility-tool/ For a quad, you'll probably do well with an R9 MX. These are pretty small and have an "Inverted S.Port" pad. So you can hook them up using FPORT on any flight controller. That'll be fine on a 5" and up. It has a 900MHz T style antenna. For smaller quads that will be kept closer. There's something in the pipeline that could be very interesting.
@@MrD Thanksssssss! That’s exactly what I needed (: What’s the main difference in MX and SX besides the size, if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks again!
@@MsTrinityS. The SX is larger and has antenna diversity (2 antennas). But it doesn’t have Inverted S.Port which means you would have to connect it to F4 flight controllers using SBUS and S.Port. The MX is a lot smaller, only has 1 antenna, but does have Inverted S.Port. Making connecting to any flight controller easier.
Finally got one of these as a backup to my X20S. X18SE . Or maybe the X20S will be the backup. The X20S just feels so much more premium and the screen is glorious. But the X18 just feels better in my hands, no interference bumping my fingers into the switch humps since I'm a pincher like can happen on the X20S and I get the 2 missing trims back with traditional trim switches. I can only hope that the X24 is something that has the ergonomics of the X18 with the big screen and premium feel of the X20. I'm curious to see what the "pro" versions of these radios will be supposed to be released this summer.
The X24 is unlikely to be this year from what I’ve heard. I can’t really say much about the X20 Pro, other than it is a more premium version of the X20. I have seen renderings and there are a couple of cool features. I don’t believe there is an X18 Pro planned.
Thank you for the video, great information. Question about the shell, assume the X18 shell is plastic, is the blue radio painted plastic or blue plastic. Reason I ask is the silver finish on my old X9d has worn off in spots.
Hi Darren, congrats on being first to review X18 in english . Question on Ethos, is it possible to have on screen a text status from the position of a 3 position switch? Thanks and good to see your over the Covid
Thanks Eoin. It’s getting there. I think it will still be a few weeks before I’m fully over it. I’ll check on the radio when I get home. But I’m pretty certain you can set up a widget to show the stick position.
Yes, you can do it with the widgets. Set it to a value widget, the category to switches, then set the member to the switch you want to see the value for.
Great review, I received mine this week and I'm very happy with it to replace my good old x9d. I love Ethos as well, much more intuitive than Otx. Good job Frsky👍
Thank you for the review, I ordered one as soon as I finished watching it and I love it. I think it's a great value. I have the Radiomaster TX16 but I don't like how it feels in my hands. It's to large. I ordered an MPM as well to add it to this transmitter. Thank you.
EdgeTX won’t happen. But in all honesty, there really isn’t much that EdgeTX can do that ETHOS can’t. Crossfire support is planned, as is a FrSky 2.4GHz ELRS module. So in the future ELRS will be able to be used on this transmitter.
Great vid . Had several questions answered them all . Do have one slightly unrelated question though , do you have any info on the x20hd ? Frsky has been saying its coming ever since the radio came out , but still no sign . Several inquiries to frsky have produced one response claiming its still coming but that was sometime ago , all subsequent enquiries have been ghosted . Thanks
I’m glad the video helped. As far as the X20 HD and X20S HD are concerned, I have been told that they are imminent. I don’t have an exact time scale. But from what I’ve been told they will be released very soon. They are even available for pre-order now on some legitimate sites, like HorusRC in the US and T9HobbySports in the UK. Actually, I’ve just checked on T9 and they have 2 in stock.
Thanks for the reply , thats new info to me as the x20hd isnt even listed on the frsky website anymore . You have cleared up nearly all the confusion i had . Thanks again
I just checked that out. The X20HD is on the site. It’s just not on the featured products carousel anymore. The Transmitters page shows it as available now www.frsky-rc.com/product-category/transmitters/
I am quite happy with my Horus X10 Express on OpenTX. I can make so many special mixes for my scale planes. Pouring over some of the review videos Ethos make life a bit simpler but with some caveates. According to the Manual for X18 for one example in Special functions I am unable to disable the throttle channel which I use to ensure electric planes don't start - a safety switch. There appears to be a fair bit more missing too compared with Open TX features. I really fancy the X20S or X18S as a second TX but will wait and see future updates. I fly electric and Petrol.
It’s not missing, just different. For example with the throttle. There is a throttle cut built in to the throttle mixer. So setting up a safety switch is actually easier than with OpenTX.
Thanks Ikmal. Yes, I use the X18 most weekends. I have my quad set up on this radio, so am getting plenty of stick time in. As for range. I've not experienced any problems. What sort of range are you meaning, 2.4GHz, 900MHz, line of sight models, or FPV?
@@ikmaldoni1398 yes, I understand that. But in what context? Enough range for flying line of sight planes, where around 1km is all that you will fly. Or are you talking about maximum range with 900MHz?
@@ikmaldoni1398 This radio supports 2.4ghz and 900mhz plus with the external bay you can run Crossfire, Ghost, ELRS, TWIN etc... So to answer your question you need to provide context. ACCESS 2.4ghz? Maybe 1-2km on a good day with no obstacles. R9 or Crossfire 900mhz or ELRS on a good day with no obstacles 30km+
I own a first release black X20 & a much later blue X20S & the buttons have better feedback on the later version so this could be why they feel different on the X18.
Are you meaning the 6-way buttons or the menu buttons? The 6-way buttons are set deeper in the X18. On the X20S, they are raised slightly above the transmitter. But the X18 they are lower than the face of the transmitter by a couple of mm.
@@MrD The buttons are just more "clicky" on the jog wheel & menu if that makes sense when you have them both in your hands you can tell one is later revision & audio is crisper too, I use the X20 for ground based stuff with the left stick centred & the X20S for air.
@@Arcave ah, I get you. I thought the buttons were fine on the X20. But I did find the original jog wheel to be a little flimsy. Nice to hear that FrSky remedied that on later X20 transmitters.
Can you please tell how to use DSC port in TANDEMx18 with phoneix simulator as Im trying to connect the same like always but simulator is not reading the same. Doongle and cable is ok as tested the same with radiomaster tx16. Im just not able to use x18 with simulator...please help as you seems to be expert on this....Thanks in advance
It should work the same as any other radio. I’m sure you set up the transmitter in a trainer configurator. I believe it’s slave, but honestly I can’t remember. It’s been a while since I’ve used the trainer port for a simulator to be honest. These days I just use the USB port. Then the transmitter charges as I use the sim.
Me personally. I would go with the X20S. Mainly for the larger screen, which is a little easier on my eyes. To be honest, they're both great radios. The X20 misses out on the extra trims, which are useful, plus the NAND memory for on radio storage of things like the models. So it's always about what best would suit you.
Some super newbie questions coming at ya. Can the X18 be used on simulators like Liftoff? Also, do you still recommend it 9 months later? Thanks for your time.
Sure, you can set it up for most flight sims. I’ve used it with Liftoff. th-cam.com/video/mtLUrNfdsGs/w-d-xo.html Sure, it’s still working well. Though I would say the X18SE is better if you can get it. The screen is better.
@@MrD Thanks for the reply. If I can bother you with one more beginner question. Will ANY FrSky 900mhz receiver work with the X18 or only specific ones? Any that you especially recommend for range? Thanks again.
Yes. All FrSky 900MHz receivers can be flashed with ACCESS firmware. Though I would recommend the more recent receivers as they can be updated over the air. So R9 MX and R9 SX are the most recent receivers. But also fine are any others that have OTA in the name. The older receivers will work, but cannot be updated over the air. You have to connect a cable.
i like the intro about the X9D which reminds how long I had one till the accss nightmare and fight against crossfire and Jumper oocured and led me to sell all my FrSky stuff except a variometer I guess. They had pushed the Jumper T16S from the european dealer shelves and it was tough to get one cause they had forced me to buy from AliExpress Dealer to get one and I never will forget that story. Since then I did not miss them but I still wonder how they are able to sell the radios that had then suffered from the opentx drama. I like this video and presentation and care for the details, but will for sure not buy any FrSky product due to their behaviour fighting the competition in an inadequate manour. And might be time to call the slider a copy from the jumper ? Not sure about but this time they had copied it too . Great review, even if I would like it I would not buy it cause I no longer trust them - and they had lost the whole club and all the juniors, cause our base radio for beginners we lend out is now a radiomaster. Sad to write such comment but assuming frsky is listening here at least they should be aware that they had to work on the whole topic to gain market share and sales back to former performance. Final point: I clicked your link to aliexpress and the offers from there were about 400€ incl. shipping to germany which means it is twice of what I had paid for the X9D and the final x9d2019SE or however it had been called (cause I had bought one before I got aware of the Jumper battle). That was less than 180€ - incl. neckstrip + case. Also the X20 has gone up or doubled the price too since its introduction cause I can remember when you were presenting the ehtos UI and radio 2 years ago maybe. Lot of good work and I watched it cause I listen what you have to say but this brand has an issue which is most likely not willing to work on which says nothing about their product but about the ethics or moral. Tough to write that you did such great work - just in vain for me due to the ethics. Hard to say but I guess you might get it that I appreciate your efforts and work especially the iNAV stuff.
Thanks for your feedback. However, there are a couple of missing details. Such as TBS using that tactic against FrSky first. They threatened to remove products from any vendor who sold R9, because of the dipole antenna. This was before the jumper issues and before FrSky used slower inverters in some transmitters. As far as the Jumper T16 goes. It is a complete clone of the Horus X10. It wasn't reverse engineered. It was a total clone. The T16 originally used X10 firmware. It only needed different firmware once the multiprotocol module was made internal. But to go even further, there is component inside the T16 that was in the X10. This component would not have been discovered by reverse engineering, as it does nothing with the X10 OpenTX firmware. The only way for that component to be there, was from a complete clone. I can understand people having opinions based on ethics. But I have to ask if those same ethics apply to TBS, who were the first to threaten to refuse products to suppliers who sold R9. As do those ethics also apply to Jumper, who basically too a radio and copied every detail of it?
Out of which, the different X18 models or out of the radios in general? Out of the X18 models, it would be the SE, because it has the better gimbals, and more importantly the better screen. Out of all the radios. It would be the X20S at the moment. Because of the gimbals and the larger screen.
Hi Darren, I have just bought an x18 and have a concern regarding the range test. In range test I am getting a distance of around 30 feet before receiving signal loss warnings and a few more feet causes the model to go into failsafe. Is this typical? I only have two receivers a sr6 and r4 , the results are the same for both.
Yeah, its seems pretty normal to me. My X20S' range test was about half that I could get with my X10S Express. But I've had no problems in flight at all. If your concerned, you could always sit the model at one end of your flying field, walk to the opposite end, and test control at that distance (range check off). That will give you a minimum distance you can still fly. I've not had any RF issue feedback on the radio.
Sure. With the original X9D, Plus, and SE; you would need to used a buddy lead. But with the X9D Plus and SE 2019, the PARA wireless buddy system will work.
Comparison to Paladin might be interesting. I still don't really understand the use case of the hybrid system, when it seems like R9 is going to totally out range their 2.4Ghz protocol.
It’s not just about the range. The tandem system uses both 2.4 and 900 at the same time, when in range. To give better performance as well as redundancy. I don’t have a Paladin, so can’t really compare.
The Paladin was one of the biggest screwups I've ever seen in this hobby. FlySky ships that radio back in 2018 (I think, maybe 2019) with a sd card slot, full size JR bay and OTX support and it would have been impossible to keep it in stock. Instead they kneecap it with almost 0 memory and a proprietary operating system. The X20 is what the Paladin should have been. ETHOS is "propreitary" but its based on OTX with the same features and a much easier interface. As far as 2.4ghz vs 900mhz, 900mhz has very limited bandwidth especially 868 if you're in the EU. 868 is really bad like 2-4 models in the air at the same time you're out of bandwidth. And now with the new generation of 2.4ghz going out to 30km+ with no issues you're going to see 900mhz relegated more and more to a backup like it is in TANDEM or for the hyper long range users who don't care about latency. Or for people who fly in areas where 2.4ghz has a lot of interference and then again I'd still say use TANDEM vs just 900mhz. And now we have the new TWIN module that just released.
Can you also comment on what the differences are in terms of internal memory. Is it true that the X20 has no internal memory at all and needs an SD card to function?
@Mr.D - Falling with style I'm struggling to decide between the 18SE and the 20S. The price difference where I live in India is pretty much insignificant between the two. I've just been informed that the 18SE is now soon to be available in Blue / Black that's good. I have held the 20S and found the under finger squarish grips a bit uncomfortable but have never held an 18 and will not have an opportunity to hold one. Really torn between the 2 choices.. Any advice? Is the quality better on the 20? I think I would be more comfortable with the 18se but with the price so very close i keep going back and forth on whether I should just go for the 20S
Honestly, if I were going for the X18SE, I’d go for the red. It looks so good in that colour. I’m even thinking of spraying mine. The X18 does feel nicer in the hands to me than the X20. But the X20 is a bit better build quality. The bigger difference is the screen size. The X20 screen is a fair bit bigger, so if you eyes are getting older, it is easier to see what’s going on. I did see a question from FrSky asking if people would like softer, foam replacements for the plastic grips. But, whether that progresses any further is anyone’s guess.
@@MrD Was wondering if this a good or bad thing.. The 18 & the XE both now incorporate NAND storage and this seems to be a good improvement. I wonder if they would add this to the X20 anytime soon as a minor upgraded model. Having the full firmware running off an SD Card seems to be something that could be a point of failure. Is this a practice with any other radios?
The firmware doesn’t run off the SD card or NAND storage. That is run from internal flash storage that all the FrSky radios have. The NAND vs SD is really just for things like sounds, model images, and the model files themselves. The NAND storage should be quicker. But a decent SD card is just as reliable. All but my very first transmitter, which I only used for a couple of months, have used the SD card for storing a lot of the files.
@@MrD Thanks Daren; I accidently installed this firmware. Now I have no model image files. But. I can see them through the radio when looking in the folders. If you go to the model edit folder there is now a selection called "pictures". When I enter it none of my model images appear.
Not at the moment. Multi-protocol modules may be supported by future versions of ETHOS. This is not a limit of the transmitter, but of the current firmware.
Sell all your spectrum receivers, have enough money to replace them with FrSky rx’s and still put money in your pocket. I don’t care what the old timers say, Dsmx FHSS algorithm is unreliable, especially in urban environments. Also overpriced, SAFE is outdated and not trustworthy. For the price of a spektrum telemetry SAFE As3x rx, you can buy a FrSky sbus rx, matek FC and gps.
Remove the battery. There are 4 screws on the back. Then the back of the case lifts off. Be careful with the IPEX 1 connector for the 2.4GHz internal antenna. Once the back is removed, the adjustments for the gimbals are easy to get to. A screwdriver will adjust the ratchet and stiffness of the the throttle. Allan keys will adjust the spring tension for the gimbals. I’ll put an image up on my Instagram.
They’re basically using the same technology. In fact the LoRa chip in R9 is slightly superior to the chip in Crossfire. On an equal footing (up to 1W), the range is comparable. How far do you fly? The range on both systems us usually way more than most people actually fly.
@@MrD 2 to 3 ks at most more for strong signal and no dropouts mainly, i use radiomaster at the moment with crsf module but looking at frsky, i have the x12s one of the first ones but was not happy when they changed protocol as that radio cost me alot so once burned twice shy type of scenario, i know i can upgrade it but not interested in that rather buy latest hence the question
@@dwexoticmaple you could probably do that on 10mW, depending on the noise floor. You really don’t need to be worrying about the range at those distances. Why worry about the protocol on the X12S? You can still buy ACCST receivers. No one has been burned. It’s just something new has come along too. To be honest, if you’re using crossfire, I’d stick with that. The only thing you would gain with R9 is 4 extra channels. Possibly better range telemetry too. I use both systems, and they both work great. Of course, if you’re interested in the X18, at the moment Crossfire isn’t supported. But it is on the list of things to come.
I wouldn’t say that. FrSKY have had 2.4GHz and 900MHz for a long time now. They could be used in redundancy all that time too. TANDEM just brings the two frequencies together on the same RF boards.
I wish this TX had support via an extrrnal module for Spektrum DSMX for my Heli's using that protocol. If it had that, I would buy one tomorrow. I love the ergonomics of this TX for pinchers.
@@MrD Oh!!, OK Thanks! Awesome!! Can you please advise where I could get a MPM that fits the X18 please. All the ones I'm aware of are designed to fit in a JR module bay.
To be honest. I don't miss companion as much as I thought I would, But, yes, it would be hand. However, my understanding is that ETHOS Suite is going to be developed in to a full companion style application.
![☀ FRSKY - Аналитика: как потерять доверие и репутацию. [FrSky Analytics]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NCoXhDKXDOo/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Part 1] รักมาไม่ทันตั้งตัว❤ หนุ่มสาวโสดถูกจับมาแต่งงานกันกะทันหัน แถมเธอยังเป็นหัวหน้าของเขา?!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y2pOOMkuFI0/mqdefault.jpg)
The best review there is comparing these models. Nice job!!
Thanks Tom 👍🏻
Thanks for this review, just ordered one. Your other videos are great as well. I flashed ethos on my horus x10s express. For a LOS fixed wing flyer like me, it seems much more intuitive than open tx. Open TX is great but I'm not missing anything for my needs. I really don't understand the hate for Frsky and Ethos. I think they are doing good things. After learning open tx, Ethos is natural and easier to navigate. Seems to me it could convert alot of spektrum users.
Hi Matt, thanks for your kind comments.
Yes, I totally agree with you. For me, there are still a couple of things missing in ETHOS, but mostly for the FPV side of the hobby. But I think it is a great, intuitive platform.
There is a lot of hate going around for FrSky, and there has been for a few years now. I think some of it may have come from difficulty with older firmware. But a lot of it comes from misinformation or is sparked by certain “influencers” who have ulterior motives. For example, they have a signature edition radio which is a Horus X10 clone.
I personally think that the products FrSky are producing right now are excellent. They are also listening to the community, which can only make things better.
I agree that FrSky and ETHOS is a much better package than Spektrum. 99% of the issues I see at my flying field are with Spektrum radio equipment. Either signal losses or brownouts on the receivers. The challenge is that Horizon Hobby have everything in a nice little BNF monopoly. If LoS pilots can be coaxed away from BNF, and take 5 minutes to set up their own receivers, they could have a much better system at a much lower cost.
Just like to thankyou so much for your time and effort both in videos and taking a step up into Inav Darren,without the likes of you Lee at Painless and Joshua Bardwell for endless reviews and how to set ups im sure us out here would be so much more confused,we'll done my friend.
Thank Mark. I’ll have to do another iNav video soon. 5.0 is only weeks away now.
@@MrD looking forward to it.
Excellent Video :) i have the x20s and love it to bits, and i am getting used to Ethos, Xfire added and i will be in heaven. Like a lot of people i came from the Horus12 and before that the original Taranis 9 which is still working fine to this day.
Hi Ken, sorry for the late reply. For some reason TH-cam held the comment for review. I'm glad you are enjoying ETHOS and the X20S. I'm similar. I have an X10 Express and X9D Plus which are also still working perfectly.
Hi, thanks for the great review.
Can you tell me about the different gimbals on the X18 to the X18S? I can't find anything on the internet about this. Only M18 and MC18 gimbals.
I am currently flying with an X9D SE plus. However, I would like to move away from OpenTx and would switch to Ethos. Now it's about the model of the transmitter. Would you say the premium is justified? What do you think of the X18SE?
Regards,
Martin
Hi Martin,
The difference in the gimbals is the X18 gimbals have an aluminium panel, but plastic body. Whereas the X18S/SE are fully CNC machined from aluminium. It makes the gimbals longer lasting, a little more precise, and will not flex. I prefer the full CNC gimbals.
The SE has a better screen than the other X18 models. It has glare reduction and I believe the image it better too. I’ve not seen one in person to see how much better the image is.
Great video Darren already have the X20 but do like the look of the X18 might have to get one.
Mine is on 1.1.1 so looking forward to your upcoming filmware video very much
Keep doing a great job it's much appreciated.
Thanks Gary. I’ll be making the update video soon.
Thanks Darren for the review,get well myfriend.
Thanks Mark. Hope you're doing well.
Looks nice. Looking to upgrade my DX6. Looks like a much better value than a NX6. Would you say ethos is somewhat easy to use?
To be honest, there will be a bit of a learning curve. It's not necessarily harder to use than Spektrum, just different. Personally I found that this system clicked with me much better than Spektrum. Things just seemed to be in the wrong places there. But my brain can be weird sometimes.
Hi I'm currently on Spektrum DX9 and have a question...i want to move over to Frsky but...I need to be able to measure my Lipo mAh used which I currently can on Spektrum on my 6S 5000mAh lipos ...because I'm a fixed wing 3D flyer I really need this information to the TX ...Do you know if it's possible?
TIA
I like your description of the X18--- but have X20 so don't think I would change right now !!
No, if you have the X20, there’s no reason to change.
I assume that in the UK this is actually 868Mhz rather than 900/915. Is the frequency selected by the choice of TX module firmware (LBT v FCC) ?
Great video, how is the screen brightness in broad daylight?
Question 2, yours is the x18 they also have the S an SE models. If I bought a standard X18 would that be like yours? The the brochure says that it doesn't have 6 axis gyro but obviously you were using it. Hopefully my question wasn't to confusing.
My X18 is pre-production. So it had the gyro. The production X18 doesn’t. Take the comparison table and brochure as what you’d actually get.
The screen on the basic X18 and X18S is ok in daylight. But not brilliant if it’s bright out. You can improve it by using the white theme, rather than the default dark colours. But, the screen in the X18SE is better. It’s brighter and better quality.
Thanks, I'm going to give the X18 a chance. I can always upgrade later.
I definitely agree about the trims, on my X20S I have a hard time finding the rudder and aileron trims. I also really wish the X20 had the blade style switches instead of the round ones, they feel so spindly and delicate
I’ve found the switches to be fine, with the rubber bumpers on them. They do look delicate. But survived a transmitter drop. Oops 😁
Gerald
Hi Darren, I have just installed a TD receiver,to use with my x18 .
The servos buzz/chatter, I understand this is caused by the 900Hz telemetry. I have twisted the servo wires, and routed them as far as possible from the T Ariel, but the problem persists.
Is it possible to disable the 900Hz telemetry?
I've never really had this problem. From what I understand, it only seems to affect some Hitec servos. On the latest RF firmware, you can reduce the 900MHz telemetry to 25mW. This should stop, or at least reduce the chatter. I know FrSKY are looking in to the problem. But the real solution is separation.
Thanks for the review!
By the way- what is the difference between x18-x18s and x18se transmitters?
Glad it was helpful.
Great review, It’s so difficult to find good vids on frsky or x18/x20 in general. Especially being new to FPV, I wish there was a video explaining receivers for these models, I have no idea what to buy for my quad!
SAMEEEEEEE! I think there’s a lot of new drone users shopping on GetFPV because they just started selling the X18. I’m in the same boat I have no idea which receivers are the best for drones. This channel is 1 of only a couple that give any good information on these radios.
@@TaylorGangGang I just bought mine on getfpv a few days ago so maybe lol It should be arriving tomorrow. All the videos I find for receivers haven’t been very helpful 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for the comments guys. I have a little tool for seeing which receivers will work with your radio at www.mrd-rc.com/tutorials-tools-and-testing/useful-tools/frsky-receiver-compatibility-tool/
For a quad, you'll probably do well with an R9 MX. These are pretty small and have an "Inverted S.Port" pad. So you can hook them up using FPORT on any flight controller. That'll be fine on a 5" and up. It has a 900MHz T style antenna. For smaller quads that will be kept closer. There's something in the pipeline that could be very interesting.
@@MrD Thanksssssss! That’s exactly what I needed (: What’s the main difference in MX and SX besides the size, if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks again!
@@MsTrinityS. The SX is larger and has antenna diversity (2 antennas). But it doesn’t have Inverted S.Port which means you would have to connect it to F4 flight controllers using SBUS and S.Port.
The MX is a lot smaller, only has 1 antenna, but does have Inverted S.Port. Making connecting to any flight controller easier.
Finally got one of these as a backup to my X20S. X18SE . Or maybe the X20S will be the backup. The X20S just feels so much more premium and the screen is glorious. But the X18 just feels better in my hands, no interference bumping my fingers into the switch humps since I'm a pincher like can happen on the X20S and I get the 2 missing trims back with traditional trim switches. I can only hope that the X24 is something that has the ergonomics of the X18 with the big screen and premium feel of the X20. I'm curious to see what the "pro" versions of these radios will be supposed to be released this summer.
The X24 is unlikely to be this year from what I’ve heard. I can’t really say much about the X20 Pro, other than it is a more premium version of the X20. I have seen renderings and there are a couple of cool features. I don’t believe there is an X18 Pro planned.
Thank you for the video, great information. Question about the shell, assume the X18 shell is plastic, is the blue radio painted plastic or blue plastic. Reason I ask is the silver finish on my old X9d has worn off in spots.
That's a good question. Did you figure that out?
@@arshishmaneckji9547 Never found out the answer, went with black.
Hi Darren, congrats on being first to review X18 in english . Question on Ethos, is it possible to have on screen a text status from the position of a 3 position switch? Thanks and good to see your over the Covid
Thanks Eoin. It’s getting there. I think it will still be a few weeks before I’m fully over it.
I’ll check on the radio when I get home. But I’m pretty certain you can set up a widget to show the stick position.
@@MrD , Its to show the Mode of a stabilizer as either OFF, SELFLEVEL or ANGLEMODE. Thanks E
Yes, you can do it with the widgets. Set it to a value widget, the category to switches, then set the member to the switch you want to see the value for.
Hello!
What might be the reason for assigned switch to stop working after 2-3 flights?
Thanks.
I have the x20s but got the x18 non s for a back up radio. Love frsky. Hopefully not having the cnc gimbals won’t make me not want to fly with it
The gimbals in the X18 are still decent. I'm sure you'll be fine. Especially if it is a backup.
Great review, I received mine this week and I'm very happy with it to replace my good old x9d.
I love Ethos as well, much more intuitive than Otx.
Good job Frsky👍
Awesome Thomas. I'm glad you're enjoying the experience.
Thank you for the review, I ordered one as soon as I finished watching it and I love it. I think it's a great value. I have the Radiomaster TX16 but I don't like how it feels in my hands. It's to large. I ordered an MPM as well to add it to this transmitter. Thank you.
Thanks Albert. I’m glad you’re enjoying the new radio.
Have we heard anything about flashing this radio with Elrs and edgeTx? This seems like the way! Great introduction to the tandem. Thanks.
EdgeTX won’t happen. But in all honesty, there really isn’t much that EdgeTX can do that ETHOS can’t. Crossfire support is planned, as is a FrSky 2.4GHz ELRS module. So in the future ELRS will be able to be used on this transmitter.
Great vid . Had several questions answered them all . Do have one slightly unrelated question though , do you have any info on the x20hd ? Frsky has been saying its coming ever since the radio came out , but still no sign . Several inquiries to frsky have produced one response claiming its still coming but that was sometime ago , all subsequent enquiries have been ghosted . Thanks
I’m glad the video helped. As far as the X20 HD and X20S HD are concerned, I have been told that they are imminent. I don’t have an exact time scale. But from what I’ve been told they will be released very soon. They are even available for pre-order now on some legitimate sites, like HorusRC in the US and T9HobbySports in the UK. Actually, I’ve just checked on T9 and they have 2 in stock.
Thanks for the reply , thats new info to me as the x20hd isnt even listed on the frsky website anymore . You have cleared up nearly all the confusion i had . Thanks again
I just checked that out. The X20HD is on the site. It’s just not on the featured products carousel anymore. The Transmitters page shows it as available now www.frsky-rc.com/product-category/transmitters/
Hi Daren; Are you looking into how the Ethos 1.2.8. suite functions ? Thanks
I will be. I have an update video out tomorrow.
Very usefull video!!! Clear and to the point.
This might be a dumb question but can you hook up a d8 module to it? Or can you bind it to a tiny hawk 3 whoop or tiny hawk 3 freestyle?
If you use an external XJT Lite or multi-protocol module. It should be possible.
I am quite happy with my Horus X10 Express on OpenTX. I can make so many special mixes for my scale planes. Pouring over some of the review videos Ethos make life a bit simpler but with some caveates. According to the Manual for X18 for one example in Special functions I am unable to disable the throttle channel which I use to ensure electric planes don't start - a safety switch. There appears to be a fair bit more missing too compared with Open TX features. I really fancy the X20S or X18S as a second TX but will wait and see future updates. I fly electric and Petrol.
It’s not missing, just different. For example with the throttle. There is a throttle cut built in to the throttle mixer. So setting up a safety switch is actually easier than with OpenTX.
@@MrD Hi Darren, thanks for the update. I had not seen any references to it in any reviews. The X18S is at pre-order only at present at T9
Excellent review, you have confirmed, this radio has more plus's for me personally, than the higher priced X20.
Thanks Chris. Yes, this is a very capable transmitter. The X18 and X20 are very similar in terms of what they can do.
Hi that's awesome video, just wondering have you tested it..? And how about the range of frsky x18?
Thanks Ikmal. Yes, I use the X18 most weekends. I have my quad set up on this radio, so am getting plenty of stick time in. As for range. I've not experienced any problems. What sort of range are you meaning, 2.4GHz, 900MHz, line of sight models, or FPV?
@@MrD I mean range between pilot and model, what kind of reciever do you use..?
@@ikmaldoni1398 yes, I understand that. But in what context? Enough range for flying line of sight planes, where around 1km is all that you will fly. Or are you talking about maximum range with 900MHz?
@@ikmaldoni1398 This radio supports 2.4ghz and 900mhz plus with the external bay you can run Crossfire, Ghost, ELRS, TWIN etc... So to answer your question you need to provide context. ACCESS 2.4ghz? Maybe 1-2km on a good day with no obstacles. R9 or Crossfire 900mhz or ELRS on a good day with no obstacles 30km+
I own a first release black X20 & a much later blue X20S & the buttons have better feedback on the later version so this could be why they feel different on the X18.
Are you meaning the 6-way buttons or the menu buttons? The 6-way buttons are set deeper in the X18. On the X20S, they are raised slightly above the transmitter. But the X18 they are lower than the face of the transmitter by a couple of mm.
@@MrD The buttons are just more "clicky" on the jog wheel & menu if that makes sense when you have them both in your hands you can tell one is later revision & audio is crisper too, I use the X20 for ground based stuff with the left stick centred & the X20S for air.
@@Arcave ah, I get you. I thought the buttons were fine on the X20. But I did find the original jog wheel to be a little flimsy. Nice to hear that FrSky remedied that on later X20 transmitters.
Hi, how to change from modo 2 to modo 1? Can you realize a tutorial? Many thanks Alberto
Can you please tell how to use DSC port in TANDEMx18 with phoneix simulator as Im trying to connect the same like always but simulator is not reading the same. Doongle and cable is ok as tested the same with radiomaster tx16. Im just not able to use x18 with simulator...please help as you seems to be expert on this....Thanks in advance
It should work the same as any other radio. I’m sure you set up the transmitter in a trainer configurator. I believe it’s slave, but honestly I can’t remember. It’s been a while since I’ve used the trainer port for a simulator to be honest. These days I just use the USB port. Then the transmitter charges as I use the sim.
Which one do you prefer, the x20 or the x18? If you had to pick one of the two, which one would it be and why?
Me personally. I would go with the X20S. Mainly for the larger screen, which is a little easier on my eyes. To be honest, they're both great radios. The X20 misses out on the extra trims, which are useful, plus the NAND memory for on radio storage of things like the models. So it's always about what best would suit you.
Some super newbie questions coming at ya. Can the X18 be used on simulators like Liftoff? Also, do you still recommend it 9 months later? Thanks for your time.
Sure, you can set it up for most flight sims. I’ve used it with Liftoff. th-cam.com/video/mtLUrNfdsGs/w-d-xo.html
Sure, it’s still working well. Though I would say the X18SE is better if you can get it. The screen is better.
@@MrD Thanks for the reply. If I can bother you with one more beginner question. Will ANY FrSky 900mhz receiver work with the X18 or only specific ones? Any that you especially recommend for range? Thanks again.
Yes. All FrSky 900MHz receivers can be flashed with ACCESS firmware. Though I would recommend the more recent receivers as they can be updated over the air. So R9 MX and R9 SX are the most recent receivers. But also fine are any others that have OTA in the name. The older receivers will work, but cannot be updated over the air. You have to connect a cable.
@@MrD Sweet, thanks for the info, I just ordered the R9 SX + OTA 👌 I subbed for sure.
Nice. The Slim+ OTA is still a receiver I’ll happy use too.
Any update on getting CRSF support on x20?
It has been there for a few months now.
i like the intro about the X9D which reminds how long I had one till the accss nightmare and fight against crossfire and Jumper oocured and led me to sell all my FrSky stuff except a variometer I guess.
They had pushed the Jumper T16S from the european dealer shelves and it was tough to get one cause they had forced me to buy from AliExpress Dealer to get one and I never will forget that story. Since then I did not miss them but I still wonder how they are able to sell the radios that had then suffered from the opentx drama.
I like this video and presentation and care for the details, but will for sure not buy any FrSky product due to their behaviour fighting the competition in an inadequate manour.
And might be time to call the slider a copy from the jumper ?
Not sure about but this time they had copied it too .
Great review, even if I would like it I would not buy it cause I no longer trust them - and they had lost the whole club and all the juniors, cause our base radio for beginners we lend out is now a radiomaster.
Sad to write such comment but assuming frsky is listening here at least they should be aware that they had to work on the whole topic to gain market share and sales back to former performance.
Final point: I clicked your link to aliexpress and the offers from there were about 400€ incl. shipping to germany which means it is twice of what I had paid for the X9D and the final x9d2019SE or however it had been called (cause I had bought one before I got aware of the Jumper battle). That was less than 180€ - incl. neckstrip + case.
Also the X20 has gone up or doubled the price too since its introduction cause I can remember when you were presenting the ehtos UI and radio 2 years ago maybe.
Lot of good work and I watched it cause I listen what you have to say but this brand has an issue which is most likely not willing to work on which says nothing about their product but about the ethics or moral.
Tough to write that you did such great work - just in vain for me due to the ethics. Hard to say but I guess you might get it that I appreciate your efforts and work especially the iNAV stuff.
Thanks for your feedback. However, there are a couple of missing details. Such as TBS using that tactic against FrSky first. They threatened to remove products from any vendor who sold R9, because of the dipole antenna. This was before the jumper issues and before FrSky used slower inverters in some transmitters.
As far as the Jumper T16 goes. It is a complete clone of the Horus X10. It wasn't reverse engineered. It was a total clone. The T16 originally used X10 firmware. It only needed different firmware once the multiprotocol module was made internal. But to go even further, there is component inside the T16 that was in the X10. This component would not have been discovered by reverse engineering, as it does nothing with the X10 OpenTX firmware. The only way for that component to be there, was from a complete clone.
I can understand people having opinions based on ethics. But I have to ask if those same ethics apply to TBS, who were the first to threaten to refuse products to suppliers who sold R9. As do those ethics also apply to Jumper, who basically too a radio and copied every detail of it?
Nice read.
If you could only buy one, which would it be and why?
Out of which, the different X18 models or out of the radios in general?
Out of the X18 models, it would be the SE, because it has the better gimbals, and more importantly the better screen.
Out of all the radios. It would be the X20S at the moment. Because of the gimbals and the larger screen.
Hi Darren, I have just bought an x18 and have a concern regarding the range test.
In range test I am getting a distance of around 30 feet before receiving signal loss warnings and a few more feet causes the model to go into failsafe. Is this typical?
I only have two receivers a sr6 and r4 , the results are the same for both.
Yeah, its seems pretty normal to me. My X20S' range test was about half that I could get with my X10S Express. But I've had no problems in flight at all. If your concerned, you could always sit the model at one end of your flying field, walk to the opposite end, and test control at that distance (range check off). That will give you a minimum distance you can still fly. I've not had any RF issue feedback on the radio.
@@MrD Hi Darren, Thanks for that, I will try what you suggest 👍
is it possible to buddy box between the X18 and the old X9d?
Sure. With the original X9D, Plus, and SE; you would need to used a buddy lead. But with the X9D Plus and SE 2019, the PARA wireless buddy system will work.
Scusami i file salvataggio di taranis open TX
Sono compatibili con ethos?
No, you would have to recreate the models from scratch.
Tank you very much
You are most welcome 👍🏻
Comparison to Paladin might be interesting.
I still don't really understand the use case of the hybrid system, when it seems like R9 is going to totally out range their 2.4Ghz protocol.
It’s not just about the range. The tandem system uses both 2.4 and 900 at the same time, when in range. To give better performance as well as redundancy.
I don’t have a Paladin, so can’t really compare.
The Paladin was one of the biggest screwups I've ever seen in this hobby. FlySky ships that radio back in 2018 (I think, maybe 2019) with a sd card slot, full size JR bay and OTX support and it would have been impossible to keep it in stock. Instead they kneecap it with almost 0 memory and a proprietary operating system. The X20 is what the Paladin should have been. ETHOS is "propreitary" but its based on OTX with the same features and a much easier interface. As far as 2.4ghz vs 900mhz, 900mhz has very limited bandwidth especially 868 if you're in the EU. 868 is really bad like 2-4 models in the air at the same time you're out of bandwidth. And now with the new generation of 2.4ghz going out to 30km+ with no issues you're going to see 900mhz relegated more and more to a backup like it is in TANDEM or for the hyper long range users who don't care about latency. Or for people who fly in areas where 2.4ghz has a lot of interference and then again I'd still say use TANDEM vs just 900mhz. And now we have the new TWIN module that just released.
Can you also comment on what the differences are in terms of internal memory. Is it true that the X20 has no internal memory at all and needs an SD card to function?
Yes. The X20 doesn’t have any NAND storage.
@Mr.D - Falling with style I'm struggling to decide between the 18SE and the 20S. The price difference where I live in India is pretty much insignificant between the two. I've just been informed that the 18SE is now soon to be available in Blue / Black that's good.
I have held the 20S and found the under finger squarish grips a bit uncomfortable but have never held an 18 and will not have an opportunity to hold one. Really torn between the 2 choices..
Any advice? Is the quality better on the 20? I think I would be more comfortable with the 18se but with the price so very close i keep going back and forth on whether I should just go for the 20S
Honestly, if I were going for the X18SE, I’d go for the red. It looks so good in that colour. I’m even thinking of spraying mine.
The X18 does feel nicer in the hands to me than the X20. But the X20 is a bit better build quality. The bigger difference is the screen size. The X20 screen is a fair bit bigger, so if you eyes are getting older, it is easier to see what’s going on. I did see a question from FrSky asking if people would like softer, foam replacements for the plastic grips. But, whether that progresses any further is anyone’s guess.
@@MrD Was wondering if this a good or bad thing.. The 18 & the XE both now incorporate NAND storage and this seems to be a good improvement. I wonder if they would add this to the X20 anytime soon as a minor upgraded model. Having the full firmware running off an SD Card seems to be something that could be a point of failure. Is this a practice with any other radios?
The firmware doesn’t run off the SD card or NAND storage. That is run from internal flash storage that all the FrSky radios have. The NAND vs SD is really just for things like sounds, model images, and the model files themselves. The NAND storage should be quicker. But a decent SD card is just as reliable. All but my very first transmitter, which I only used for a couple of months, have used the SD card for storing a lot of the files.
Hello. Does anyone know what this "X20S-Il" firmware is for ? Thanks
It is for people in Israel.
@@MrD Thanks Daren; I accidently installed this firmware. Now I have no model image files. But. I can see them through the radio when looking in the folders. If you go to the model edit folder there is now a selection called "pictures". When I enter it none of my model images appear.
has some one tried switching the momentary switch to the other side ?
Is there any option to add dsmx to the tandem x18?
Not at the moment. Multi-protocol modules may be supported by future versions of ETHOS. This is not a limit of the transmitter, but of the current firmware.
Sell all your spectrum receivers, have enough money to replace them with FrSky rx’s and still put money in your pocket. I don’t care what the old timers say, Dsmx FHSS algorithm is unreliable, especially in urban environments. Also overpriced, SAFE is outdated and not trustworthy. For the price of a spektrum telemetry SAFE As3x rx, you can buy a FrSky sbus rx, matek FC and gps.
How do you remove the ratchet on the throttle?
Remove the battery. There are 4 screws on the back. Then the back of the case lifts off. Be careful with the IPEX 1 connector for the 2.4GHz internal antenna. Once the back is removed, the adjustments for the gimbals are easy to get to. A screwdriver will adjust the ratchet and stiffness of the the throttle. Allan keys will adjust the spring tension for the gimbals. I’ll put an image up on my Instagram.
Thanks
what is the range like compared to crsf ?
They’re basically using the same technology. In fact the LoRa chip in R9 is slightly superior to the chip in Crossfire.
On an equal footing (up to 1W), the range is comparable. How far do you fly? The range on both systems us usually way more than most people actually fly.
@@MrD 2 to 3 ks at most more for strong signal and no dropouts mainly, i use radiomaster at the moment with crsf module but looking at frsky, i have the x12s one of the first ones but was not happy when they changed protocol as that radio cost me alot so once burned twice shy type of scenario, i know i can upgrade it but not interested in that rather buy latest hence the question
@@dwexoticmaple you could probably do that on 10mW, depending on the noise floor. You really don’t need to be worrying about the range at those distances.
Why worry about the protocol on the X12S? You can still buy ACCST receivers. No one has been burned. It’s just something new has come along too.
To be honest, if you’re using crossfire, I’d stick with that. The only thing you would gain with R9 is 4 extra channels. Possibly better range telemetry too. I use both systems, and they both work great. Of course, if you’re interested in the X18, at the moment Crossfire isn’t supported. But it is on the list of things to come.
Can you use this on petrol planes?
Yes. You just need to use the correct receiver. Any of the Pro or TANDEM receivers have the correct filtering for ignition engines.
I actually dislike the CNC gimbals on the Horus X10S and ended up downgrading it to the plastic ones.
Each to their own. I prefer the CNC gimbals as there is no flex at the limits of travel. But we're all different :)
So, both the design and the two-band frequency were inspired by Jeti, so Tandem is accessible to Jeti, great.
I wouldn’t say that. FrSKY have had 2.4GHz and 900MHz for a long time now. They could be used in redundancy all that time too. TANDEM just brings the two frequencies together on the same RF boards.
Since I updated the boot loader I am no longer able to assign an image to my models.
Sorry Frank. Just see this comment. But I've seen your other comment, so know you're sorted now.
I wish this TX had support via an extrrnal module for Spektrum DSMX for my Heli's using that protocol. If it had that, I would buy one tomorrow. I love the ergonomics of this TX for pinchers.
It does. Multi-protocol module support was added in ETHOS 1.3.0. MPM modules can work with DSM2 and DSMX.
@@MrD Oh!!, OK Thanks! Awesome!! Can you please advise where I could get a MPM that fits the X18 please. All the ones I'm aware of are designed to fit in a JR module bay.
I believe the IRangeX IRX4 Lite works with the X20/X18. I’ve seen people using that module.
@@MrD Awesome! Thanks!👍
You’re welcome Graham.
The only thing i dont like on my x20 are the round switches.
I don't mind them. I use the little plastic caps that came with the transmitter.
Ethos is nice , but its realy lacking the companion
To be honest. I don't miss companion as much as I thought I would, But, yes, it would be hand. However, my understanding is that ETHOS Suite is going to be developed in to a full companion style application.
People use frsky still 🤔
Of course. They make great products.