Radiomaster MT12 Review 

Edge TX was developed for the flyer community. Only now are the surface people starting to discover open source radios. No need to stick to proprietary stuff from HH, Futaba, Sanwa etc. Welcome to the 3d world (2d is surface.)

I pre-ordered mine to use for 1/8 offroad racing. I came from 5+ years in FPV drones to surface about 6 mos ago, so have used this type of open source software before (Freedom Tx on TBS Tango2 radio). I bumbled through but got things figured out pretty quickly. I bought it because of the price point of radio (ELRS version) and receivers compared to other decent radios. I've been happy with it and as a FPV guy, I love the ability to arm/disarm my car (Have had my car drive off as I walked up the driver stand steps before lol). Couple months in and I'm having a "key stuck" hardware issue- MDL key is active with every other click of the roller dial. It thinks the MDL key is pressed until I roll the dial another click. Anywho- opened a ticket with Radiomaster and they sent a whole new display unit to try to fix it. It didn't work, but they're trying... Next step is hopefully RM just replaces the radio for me. (I pre-ordered it directly from them btw). A bit annoying- i can still use the radio but it's a nightmare 100 click operation to change any setting as it keeps reverting to the Channel monitor screen constantly- but RM didn't ignore me. They're trying to make it right...

Coming from the FPV community, this radio is awesome and what I’ve been wanting out of a surface radio. The one thing that is missing compared to the FPV world is that a lot of radio functions are set up with accompanied software like beta flight which makes it far easier to understand and set up. I can totally understand why this radio would be intimidating for someone new to all of this. I think this is just the beginning and it will only get better.

How fun. Seeing you try to understand the setup and other menu items… reminds me of the days I started new in fpv drones. I had to watch hours of Josh Bardwel videos to understand everything. It’s so awesome tho. The biggest use for this I could see for a Basher is set up a function that allows for variable steering control under throttle. Could set it like “if throttle above 75, then change steering rate to x”. That could allow you to have a more stable rig at high speed but also more responsive under low speed. Other simpler options would include having one of those switches being steering rates. Position 1 is high rates, 2 medium, 3 low. So on the fly you can control it. Now I’m just running in my brain with ideas… throttle limits with what ever limit you want. Set up a profile for your young kid to be able to drive your 6s 1:8 rig. Limit throttle to 20% and have it be scaled to a curve where most of the throttle is applied towards the end of the trigger pull. Or create a function that helps you launch in a drag race. Set it up on a switch so when you pull the throttle, for the first second it gives throttle to the amount you set that doesn’t flip it over and is still controllable, but once it gets to the speed more throttle won’t flip it, it gives max throttle. Endless, just takes the community to get interested and start playing. Unfortunately I have multiple kids now so my sleep is a premium. But back in the day I would stay up lateeee making new functions and programs for my drones and planes to do cool things. I even fixed torque roll mixing throttle level and elevon. Fun stuff.

I’m using mine for long range speed runs. It’s the elrs model. Makes my other high end radios seem totally outdated.

Edge TX was not specifically developed for surface RC. EdgeTX offers many of the same features as OpenTX. However, it also includes some unique features and improvements over OpenTX, such as a touch-friendly user interface, improved support for Lua scripting, easier integration with third-party hardware, a rapid development cycle, and many other enhancements.

I just got the 4&1 version. Have it working with a spektrum 6200a in DSM mode. Took some time to configure but found a great surface model file that has most things programed already. For most surface use. Was able to bind my mini-z really easy. Love the feel and response so far. Will be great for my light kits I run. Eventually, I'll get the ELRS module for speed runs and racing if it's allowed. Can't wait to see what updates come down the line. Definitely like it better then the DX5 I had.

I also fly fpv and been using open/edge tx since 2016 lol but i just got a mt12 4in1 like 2 weeks ago and they fixed the whole th on channel 1 and vice versa. Im pretty familiar with the software so itmts easy for the guys in fpv too lol thanks for sharing.

Amazing value and adaptability. Not a fan of the ergonomics - wish they released a lighter version without all the extra buttons and headphone jacks etc - but the quality of the smooth plastics and the wheel/triggers feel amazing in the the hand. I have ended up using my DDF350 mostly for my bashers (also works for my son) but plan on using my 4in1 as they release more compatibility with updates.

Best remote ever made

This radio is not for everyone and not everyone who gets one will like it. It's a niche market where customising and reprogramming is number 1 priority for the end user. Or you just want it for Tue extra long range. Can it be used as a basher radio or racer radio? Sure, I don't see why not, but the menu and interface make it far less desirable than other brands and is by far the worst radio out there. Of course, like anything, once you get used to it, it's not that bad, but for the average Joe who wants a nice multi-model radio, this isn't it. Radiomaster sent me one last year and to be honest, I don't know when or if I'll ever do a review on it. I actually wanted to send it back last year, but they refused. 🤷 Only benifit this radio offers me is the ELRS which is perfect for speed run cars. You can drive the car about half a mile away (or as far as you can see) without losing signal, which is awesome. I think you did well in this review, but I will say, the editing was a little off. Were all those section cuts an afterthought? It's not like you to mess up a video...

Global function settings will go across all models

Global functions are parameters the radio always follows as an operation. Like 1 switch is the same channel between all the models. Or the lighting on the radio does the same thing with every model. The reason your channel mapping is incorrect for steering and throttle is because you have the channel mapping letters incorrect RAET ,AETR etc it stands for rudder, aileron, throttle, and elevator. You need to jumble the letters until your output is correct. Not assign a steering to throttle and vice versa.

I first discovered EdgeTX with the Radiomaster TX16 which is absolutely awesome. I was excited for the MT12 until I found it was using a mono screen. Why oh why would they do that?? Crossing my fingers they eventually roll out a full length color screen version soon.

I think hardware wise this is the best value transmitter you can get. I think that it should have been shipped with some presets for surface vehicles though. I am a littke familiar with opentx/edgetx and set up simple stuff without to much hassle but I still think it's a little to technically advanced for surface. I 100% think it is the future of surface vehicles though and will get support like drones and planes did

edgeTX is a take over of the original openTX. edge tx is just open source program. using edge tx on my drones atm. wait til you discover the ability to use voice packs and other customisable functions

Ive been working with the Flysky PL18 on Edge TX its not really useful for ground use at the min and lots of the rc car features are missing but its nice to see them working more towards the ground rc's on the pl18 you can use AFHDS3 so all the new flysky receivers as well as all the open protocols but you do get full colour screen on the pl18 and pl18ev :)

Hello me I ask if it is normal about radiomaster mt12 when the receiver battery inside RC buggy is drop about 40% the Rx signal will drop maximum 4 bars drops to 2bars and the calibration of steering will delay? I'm using radio master mt12 4in1

This is probably cool for folks who have the time or interest in a customisable radio. That's not me. If it makes stuff move the direction i want and the range is good, I'm fine with it. I have no problem with most spektrum systems. I don't love Traxxas but use the stock one on my TRX. I usually just use the stock radio until i need to change the receiver or if it's a new build. For those cases a dumbo radio works great and receivers are cheap. I much prefer the KISS method. Keep it simple, stupid.

Love the idea of buying this new TX, but I would fear 😨 not being smart enough to operate the dang thing!!!

I'm racing 1/8 offroad with mine. I've had an issue with "key stuck" error. Radiomaster sent me a whole display assembly unit and a video on how to replace it. No change. Still doing same thing.

Ciao!! Come radio tuttofare me la consigli la versione 4 in 1 ??

Radiomaster radios in the air RC world are so friken complicated. Decent quality but they obviously still need to learn simplicity as well on surface side to.

This or a rc6gs v3, want it for a few crawlers and possibly 1/14 buggy. Wanted more channels for 4ws, dig, and overdrive.

good price but i will wait for the dumboRC cheapr one :)

How do these budget radios compare in feel and smoothness to a Futaba? I have a Futaba 4PM which is a great radio but the receivers are expensive which is annoying.

how long will it take before pro reivers get payed to use these radios?

Bro, like your channel, but this was not a great overview/review based on the title. It would be great if you can spend some time with this radio and give it a proper review. Im not a Ytuber, but I spent a weekend with mine and got it all setup. Not easy but doable. Assigning thinks like D/R, ATL, EXPO, Gyro and crusise control to different inputs.

This transmitter seems to be beyond complex. I would not have even been able to spot those input discrepancies you mentioned. Seems that this is still an air specific transmitter first and foremost. I'll stick with my DX5C until they make it more compatible with Spektrum and also Traxxas electronics. Don't need something to be off with this and cause damage to the vechiles other electronics.

Actually there aren't any good tutorials for this radio. Please do a series on the MT12.

Linux for RC😂

Why don't more people use stick type radios for RC cars? It's obvious why air people use them but there are millions of video gamers that use sticks to control virtual vehicles.

I'm not liking this radio. It doesn't make sense to me, it's intended as a surface radio however it has a feature set and design that's more inline with air based vehicles. Just seems to miss the mark on features important to RC carrs and provide featues only useful to drones etc. The steering and motor channels are reversed to the surface standard. The GUI isn't pleasing to the eye, the screen is basic. It's very confusing and difficult to program and configure. No bstteries are included and it doesn't use household batteries such as AAs so that's another expense that has to be factored in. No gyro support. An abundance of channels, but how many channels do car guys need? Again, seems to be tailored to air based vehicles a lot more than it is for surface based vehicles. Unless they address these issues in a future revision, I doubt that this is the future of surface radios. I've watched videos of pro racers and they don't seem to like it either. It's not ergonomic, has too many features that aren't applicable to surface vehicles and isn't quick and intuitive to set up. What am I missing here? Range? Sure, but most of us car bashers don't need range beyond what we already have with other chepaer radios. Speed and latency? Probably the only valid positive of this radio, but without tieing this in to the same standard as everything else it's not a compelling bullet point. I think the likes of Radiolink, Flysky, DumboRC hit the mark of what we want in a surface radio more than Radiomaster has.

im 7 min in and you still didnt mention wtf open source means and you just started going through the functions of the TX so it doesnt seem like youtr gonna any time soon

Looks like a product created by people who don't know much about RC racing or bashing. Tries to solve 10 problems we don't have, while creating 100 problems wedon't want to have. Looks a lot like most new cars where you spend half a day digging around in menus and sub menus trying to get a working solution. Then discover something is not set right and its another 15 or 20 minutes trying to get back to it. All we need, is steering, throttle, brake, with trims and tweaks for those. This hasn't changed for 30 years. Maybe revisit this product in 3 years or 5 years see if it went anywhere after they figure out what RC cars do, and they figure out how to write a User Manual.

I don’t understand anything

Yo! really new to the RC world but I have a disability that limits the use of my hands. I was wondering if you might know other options? I would like a single joystick control

Sorry but that was all over the place. I know you basically wing it but not a good idea for this video. No offense, just being honest 🙂

If the 4-in-1 is compatible with the aftermarket DSM2 surface receivers then I would be highly considering it.

You sound like Christian Slater

Been waiting for this one!

So this doesn’t work with TQI receivers?

If this work with old spektrum and tqi it would be an instant sell for me I have Like 20 of them rx.

I sold mine. I hate it. The development team absolutely shit the bed making the menu and setup on this thing. I'm sure it's great, but you have to be a damn IT genius to even use it. When another company makes one with a user friendly system, I'm all for it. But this thing SUCKS. This radio is the prime example of why NOT to take anyone seriously who gets free stuff to review. The only opinions I will respect are those who pay for their own stuff to review. No offense to anyone who gets free stuff for giving positive reviews, it's just not objective enough for me. This was my lesson in that. I listened to the wave of initial reviews about how awesome it is and how EASY it was to use. I have subsequently unfollowed those channels now because they're just sellouts.