MidnightSunRC Blog

I have received some questions from friends on their way into the rc flight hobby about what the different modes, e.g. Mode 1 and Mode 2, means when it comes to rc transmitters. So I decided to write down a short explanation here to spread some light on this.

The different rc transmitter modes

There are actually four different rc transmitter modes; Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3 and Mode 4 where Mode 1 and Mode 2 can be said to be the most common. Each mode adresses a different configuration on what controls are controlled by each stick, i.e. which rc plane control surface to control. The different controls are

• Throttle/Speed
• Rudder/Yaw
• Elevator/Pitch
• Aileron/Roll

On all rc transmitter with four or more channels there are two sticks, left stick and right stick, with which you control the flight of your airplane/helicopter. Below is a table describing the configuration adressed by each mode.

Mode 1
Mode 2
Mode 3
Mode 4

Which mode should I go for?

Different modes are “standard” in different parts of the world. For example in USA and at least parts of Europe I would say that Mode 2 is the “standard” mode while in Australia Mode 1 is the “standard” mode. But in the end it is up to you which mode you should go for.

Below I have put down two things that I believe will guide you in the right direction.I use Mode 2 just because my first radio had Mode 2. Also, if you are used to fly for example Microsoft Flight Simulator X or other airplane simulators on your computer (or for that sake real airplanes) you will find that elevator and aileron are the two controls controlled by the yoke in a real airplane – just like Mode 2.Basically you can choose whichever mode you like but there are at least two things that I think you should consider first:

• Which is the most common mode among your friends or at your local rc club? By going for the most common mode you can gain benefits such as easy help and also the possibility to borrow equipment between each other.
• Which mode feels natural for you? This might even be the most important thing to consider since you should have fun and feel comfortable when you are practicing your rc hobby.

There are no right or wrong but if you have considered the two items above then I think you are on the right track. It is worth mentioning that some rc transmitters can change which mode to use so you are not always stuck with one mode if you want to change for some reason. This can be accomplished either by changing a menu setting in some newer transmitters or by mechanically open up the transmitter and change the connections inside it. The latter is not recommended due to among other things possible warranty issues.

/MidnightSunRC