Antenna polarization. I have been a Ham Radio operator for 46 years now, I have a 2 meter radio that can operate on FM or single sideband, normal operation is vertical polarization on FM or horizontal polarization on single sideband. I had a 10 element beam with an equal number of elements on both polarizations, although mounted on the same boom they are two separate systems selected by a switch in my desktop. Short distance communication are normally done o FM vertical polarized, long range on single sideband on horizontal. It always interesting to be listening to a station at some distance on horizontal polarization and switch the antenna over to vertical. a strong station suddenly becomes weak, or a weaker signal goes away entirely when on the wrong polarization. It really drives home just how important it is to have the proper polarization on your antennas.

Much appreciate it Bruce. Especially love the fact that you promote the use of other KZfaqrs' affiliate links. A truly generous thing, from such a humble gentleman. It does not go unnoticed. Please continue as you have, thanks again.

You are one of the few people who do what you do for the love of it more than anything else and I applaud you sir!!!

Hey Bruce, really appreciate the unbiased review! Agreed with most of the points you brought up, I'll talk to engineering too to make sure the suggestions aren't lost. Regards, James- Fellow kiwi @ RM :)

This was the first review on this thing actually WORTH watching. Thanks for your down to earth honesty! I WANT to buy this controller, but I'll wait and see if maybe Radiomaster will update the flaws. The ones you mentioned were spot on!

I was the dude on your poll who asked for monochrome touchscreen 🥳..... PPL prefer colour because they're more driven by appearance than function as you can see from most consumer products nowadays 😉

Once again a very unbiased review! I’m still hoping that you are able to point me in the right direction with my TX16 issue!👍🏻

Thanks for the honest review Bruce, I like the look and ergonomic design of this radio and have decided that I’m happy to get it, I’ve only got the basic version, but I’m sure that it will be good enough for my needs. If I want to add a crossfire unit I’ll get the mini, I don’t plan on flying much further than a couple of kilometres anyway, so I don’t need the full size unit. As for the strap problem, I’m sure that some bright spark will come up with a fix and publish it on thingiverse or someone will make it and sell it on eBay and make a small fortune from selling them lol. As far as the batteries go, I checked a few websites and found a seller that offered 4 of them for about $17 on eBay including delivery, mind you that was in Australia where I live, so I’ll be getting it way before I get my Radiomaster Zorro. I’ve got a Radiomaster tx16s already and think it’s great, but I sometimes feel uncomfortable with the ergonomics as a result of its size and wish it was a bit lighter and smaller in the hand, but luckily I don’t use it for hours at a time so it’s no big deal, but this new one should be good for being able to be used for hours on the very few occasions that I do. No doubt in my mind that there’s going to be a lot of people designing mods and accessories for this little beauty and I look forward to seeing what’s available by the time I get mine.

Great video I am in the market for a new radio meaning the wheels fell off of my go to radio.ive ordered the zorro off of instinct and u confirmed my belief.I appreciate your perspective and knowledge.thanks!

Well said, thank you for not regurgitating manufacturer’s specs on us. Also, 4.5 hours of continuous operation time, that fact alone is priceless.

Thank you Bruce, very good to hear your take on this! I use my Radiomaster tx16s on my radio control earthmovers, the 4-in-1 really is useful to give me access to a wide range of receivers. The Zorro is interesting as it gives the same abilities in a cheaper and more compact radio. As an "earthbound" user, I'd like to see a modern surface radio using the same technology but with some environmental protection (rain, sand, impact), I think that might be a gap in the market?

Thanks for all your insights on the radio. This is one of two videos on the Zorro I actually got value from an enjoyed watching, made me jump onto your Patreon too. 00:13 I've had my flight friends agree on this for some time and thank god I now hear it from an FPV KZfaqr. The Zorro release videos epidemic has been especially bad, so you had me rolling with satirically summarizing the "reviews" spec sheet first impressions as "the Zorro is the best thing since sliced bread". The parallel fit so well because those videos are also bland and boring, always available, addictive like carbs, but don't bring much to the table.

Another bang on well thought out work. Love the personal stuff that shows critical thinking and time spent with hands on use. And the “ go forth and see what someone else that you trust for the mundane parts “ is classic! I have been following you since your (should be anyway) solder video. Keep banging these out, your perspective is refreshing. Shame about the corporate greed pervasive in web based organizations, what ever happened to fair pay for a job well done?

Great unbiased review. I did wait until your video came out to get the ‘real use’ feedback. Would have been nice to see the screen and layout when you were talking about it. I’m finding myself going back and watching others ‘first impression’ videos now.

Bruce I love you and neck straps are nice to you can fiddle with your airplanes and quads without having to put the radio down in the mud. And no, I don't want to lift weights. That sounds too much like work. Edit: After a bit of thought, I realize I use my neck strap on the DJI FPV drone mainly so I can fiddle with my goggles and still find the radio again.

Oh to have enough time to fly for 4.5hrs, have lunch and fly again. What paradise is this?!

Great review as always Bruce, Thank You.

Unbiased review! That's what makes me coming back! Keep it up! Cheers!

Great video, I haven't bought a radio for years, I have a few Qx7,s and a tango 2, work great.

Been sooooo long since I've heard the Zorro theme song.... LOL As usual Bruce... A great review.

Nice review. Thank you

And this is the reason why you are the best of the best. Thanks Bruce.

A great review Bruce, thanks.

Thank you, sir! You are doing a great service to humanity!

I picked one up recently and it's pretty nice. I wanted something compact for when I go hiking. Feels great.

I love a reviewer who isn't a shill. Another great video! The sliders without the detent isn't a deal-breaker for me, although strange it is not there when it is so standard. If the radio had haptic feedback and each time you were on center of the slider it briefly was felt in the radio (like the small vibration you may receive each time you press key on the screen when typing on your phone) I think that would be a slick alternative. I appreciate an honest review from someone who isn't a shill and thinks of the scenarios which may deter someone from the product should it be significant enough.

Great review Bruce!

I love your reviews as always.

Great review. Thanks!

Fantastic review, Bruce! Thanks a lot! 😃 This radio is really tempting! BTW, Wayne (CurryKitten) had less range with the antenna pointing up than in the closed position. Go figure. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Thanks for the review

Make sure you buy the batteries with it, they do not ship them separately and can be hard to find because they are 18350's. Really like mine so far. It is smaller than a full-size controller but somewhat larger and beefier than a game-type controller. Feels good in my hands, ergonomic. Put all my non-hd aircraft on this one controller. Really nice. Somewhat hard to choose as their are multiple models. I got the 4-in-1 as I don't fly long range at all, most of my receivers are FrSky compatible. Now, all my switches and the like are set up basically the same for every aircraft.

Awesome review, love your non affiliate links stance... Although I do but through the affiliate links usually👍 still thinking about this vs the jumper.... Totally agree with you if they had a combo of the two .. would have been amazing if jumper had actually worked with the ELRS devs...

Best review as usual. 👍

Just feels good in the hand. Love mine!

Big key ring thingy on the lanyard hook for one finger carry!? Great review Bruce. 👌

Like the way you think..Very good perspective..👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Hi Bruce Great Great video and review of the RADIOMASTER Zorro. I am still laughing, however I think this is the best review so far. I have been looking for a new radio but I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, I am still flying my FRSKY Xlite v1 radio. And before that is my FUTABA T8UAF radio. So you know I don't run out and purchase the new greatest hipe. I do like that it comes with ELRS system, I have been flying Crossfire for years, but I am starting to have problems. I have a couple of issues with this one but it is still in the running. Thanks again for the video and information about the Radiomaster Zorro

just ordered the Zorro because of this video thanks

I picked up a zorro, great trainer radio to plug into my tx16s!

Very useful review

I am one of the people who said they prefer a color screen over a monochrome screen.I fly using the spektrum DX8 and that has a monochrome screen.Your right it's better in direct sunlite.I didn't know color screens are harder to see in direct sunlit.My old full scale aviation GPS is also monochrome.And I like using it.So I'm really a monochrome screen fan.

i like the fact that you can say that something is crappy if it is.

Fellow kiwi here, love your videos

Idea: 3D printed plug for that antenna hole that also includes a finger loop for carrying.

Brilliant review. What we want: personal opinion! Crappy design flaws: not opinion.. fact. Carrying: use the damn lanyard 🤣

Been waiting for this release- thanks so much for the honest review, Bruce! "grow up man, lift some weights" --- golden, just golden...

Just checked what I had paid for the 2 Jumper t-lite in November + December 2020: 48€ for the first radio 51€ for the second one So 80€ for the big screen and at least 2 batteries even though smaller makes think over and over again cause currently I just would wait for chrismas 2022 after I had recognised, that roughly 90% on my RC wishlist components have increased prices that go up to over 200% compared to last summer. Only some chrismas single prime sales were quite reasonable. Good review, bad for my pocket, sooner or later I will get one preferred the Zorro MAX for bigger battery and those standard 18650 where I had paid 7€ for 2 or better 35€ for 10 cause I had to build more packs.

Thanjs for the revuew, I only have one question about this radio : when you reduce throw on throttle, do you need to change end points in the radio, or is the new smaller max at 100%.

Great review. Would love to see how the 4 in 1 gets on with a ELRS module. On it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the radio! Are the gimbals the same size as a Jumper T12 or Radiomaster TX12? I'm not sure the Zorro is saving much on overall size vs the boxy radios, but it looks nicely built.

Oops newbie obviously, great review, for sailing I think this will work nicely.

Awesome design!!

About to start watching, I hope you give it a thumbs up because I already ordered one :) One question I've not seen asked/answered is how it that little 2S balance port connector wired up? Surely it can't be wired directly to the internal 18350 cells, putting them in parallel with whatever 2S you plug into it without even basic diode protection is asking for trouble of the fiery kind. BTW, I've been working on a design (all in my head so far) of a 3D print to cover the gimbals+screen+switches, I've come up with a lot of ideas to throw into the design already but waiting for it to arrive to start modeling, Banggood says it'll be shipping within a week, we shall see...

I think the flying time argument is actually valid.. I do lots of wiring up, testing and changing the models setup, so more than half the time the radio is on its not actually flying anything, I've been caught out plenty of times with gliders where I get to the slope and I only have about an hour of flight time left on the tx.. I could easily spend 3 hours on the slope.. Now if I turn on my radio and need to adjust the flaps or whatever again, that's another 10 minutes gone that the radio is on doing nothing.. So to me Long battery time is a must.. I don't want to be worried about how long I've had my tx on before I went flying.. We all know you spend the majority of the flight day tinkering with setups on the radio..

This guy does great reviews keep up the great work brother! I am new at this hobby and I have a TinyGo kit and now I want to buy an Emax Hawk Pro so will this transmitter bind to the Emax Hawk Pro?

Nice review. The only detail make me dosen't buy one right now is the lack of center ident on the sliders. I'm what for a version with or a aftermarket mod to fix that.

Hi Bruce what output amps is on your USB charger….if I recall I have 1.5 and 2.0 amps here…? Thanks Laurie

G'day from across the wet bit Bruce. I have a question about 4in1, 3in1 and ELRS radios. I have a GepRC TinyGo, it came with a GR8 915mhz (on the back it says it's the tinyradio, but the button combos showed to do certain things, bluetooth/wifi) it's locked at 500mw output which in itself isn't a problem. Iv now gotten a Darwinfpv babyape as well but it was a PnP kit, so what receiver can i get to connect to that gep radio? I got a 915mhz betafpv receiver and it refuses to bind. so i was looking at just getting a decent ELRS radio to replace the gep radio, but i kept coming across all these 4in1 or 3in1 things and i have no clue what i'm looking at, i just think, from what iv heard, that 915mhz is the way to go if you want to go a long way, but after that i get lost in all the jargon and protocols that you need to have the same like frsky and edgetx. sorry for the long rambling comment Bruce, but i feel you'll understand what i'm trying to say and be able to teach me something new, i find your videos quite informative and straight forward. keep up the good work 👍🏽

I was really excited when i ordered mine then someone told me theres like 4 versions and i got the non elrs version.

Hi, do you know how the gimbals compare to the frsky x-lite pro, I use the x-lite but think the gimbals are slightly too long for my small hands, also how would an external crossfire module would effect the battery life? Thanks

18:30 I think you may have forgotten to show us the ELRS version at the end - does its aerial pop up in the same manner? Thanks again!

Great video and like your frankness. As a beginner, I'm thinking of buying one now. Will you consider making a video on how to bind the Zorro to a crossfire receiver? I haven't seen any around, or is the process similar to how one would bind a tx16s to crossfire?

best honest review I've seen so far, keep it up Bruce!

How on earth did your eye sight get better? Great review Bruce. Thank you!

I have 2 questions for you: 1. Can you inform me the video related to the vertical vs horizontal polarization? 2. Does the zorro reset/restart when you connect/disconnect usb from power bank? could it be plug/unplug charger during the flight?

Thank you for all your videos and rants ( I love your rants, they speak my mind) Will this radio buddy box with a Taranis QX7 ( I'm looking for a radio that will fit the small hands of a five-year-old ) Or are there any other radios that you would saggest for a buddy box setup?

Does the screen have a backlight? Great review - thanks, Bruce!

Radiomaster make the impression of actually listening to people from the hobby. That's why their products get all the importpant things right and there are only minor flaws.

I'll wait for the Polar White version !!!

Can I bind my flysky receivers to zorro cc250 or do I need to get the 4in1 thanks

if you have a store that stocks 18650s much of the time they will order other lithium batteries for you if you ask, particularly 18350s at a vape store because those are used in some high-end devices anyway. The biggest annoyance is getting a distributor that has shipping set up for lithium in the first place.

Would like to see and hear your thoughts about the antanna issues: linear, moxon, horizontal/vertical polarized, what si the best position/ orientation on the quad and on the radio. I purchased a moxon antenne for my QX7 with ELRS module, ans was wondering what is the best way to mount it

Was the video on the controller screen real or was that edited I'm still waiting for my radiomaster zorro got 4 batteries already and can't wait it has spectrum right lol 😆

Hey Bruce, not sure if I trust any one else's review to be honest. On antenna's though, I know this is all RC, but I'd love your input on those 8 antenna wifi routers that get spruiked at the techie shops. Are they more effective than just one or two antenna's?

I'd love one of those... if they fixed it. My Jumper might have some limits, but it's a rock solid build. It's as premium as an Xbox controller.

I'm torn between getting this and upgrading the gimbals if I like it or just going all out and getting the tx16s mark 2 with the ag01 already installed. Never used one of the small radios and love the heft of my x9d but I would like something that can fit in my work backpack and still leave room for water lunch goggles and a 5in quad.

Are you going to review the FrsKy TWIN X Lite S?

You forgot to mention that back in the days of 14 hours charging times. It was all uphill.

I feel so old when the kids complain about 4hours of battery life 🙂

A negative for me is the max power of elrs. 250mw. I've been flying a lot recently with an audio tpwr when running it in dynamic power mode. I've been surprised at how quickly it's jumping to max power and how long it stays their. Whilst I've not failsafed yet when flying low and long at 250mw it doesn't inspire confidence in my link. Knowing I have another boost of power available to me would be nice. For this the Jumper at 1w is more appealing.

Really enjoy your reviews Bruce. From one old curmudgeon to another, keep ’em coming.

Bruce: Am I right that the Radiomaster Zorro comes with EdgeTX installed? Any Gotchas there? - Jim

I can't do the gamepad-style controllers. I also don't like those suitcase-sized units, either. Gimme a Radiomaster TX12 or a Jumper T12/T8SG anyday. Love the proper mid-sized niche. And the mono screen. But if that form-factor works for you, you could do worse than the Zorro. Looks like a decent rig.

Would love to see that antenna orientation vid for elrs

Could you do the jumper tpro elrs version it has a lot of quirks

Not switching from the tango 2 looks good though

"I love the T-light cause its small and easy to carry... But I love the Zorro cause its bigger" huh???

Tommy Tabahia's last video on the deadliest catch shoot, he had his Crossfire Tx antenna horizontal.

has anyone done a range test with the antenna folded and ELRS?

Will it run my little Eachine Mustang etc??? I currently run Spektrum gear for my big models but I'd love a decent radio to fly my little Eachine toys

Is the 4.5 hours flight time on the ELRS or one of the other one?

02:30 : "Only negative thing is that they dont seem to use 19650 batteries" ..... Its IMR 18650 cells old man .. not 19650 !!

Thanks for review. I'm looking for 2nd radio with elsr but looks like zorro isn't for me. Two issues are deal breaker lack of indents on potentiometers and low power of elrs module.

what power in elrs have you used to fly for 4h with the battery ?

runtime on elrs or 4in1 version? edit: ok. 4in1

This is Jana from RC drone company. May I know how can I contact you about sending you our drones for reviewing?

Almost certain my town of 90k people won't have 18300, despite having nine vape shops. "Back in my day we grew our own crystals"

If someone has enough charged batteries to fly for 4 hours they need to rethink their life. This isn't an issue, would be nice if they used 18650 as I have tons of them laying around. But 10 quid for 2x 1100mah will do 7 hours. I have to say, the colour scenario is ridiculous, I don't wear a black T Shits in summer. Why would I leave batteries and plastic in full sun and assume its not going to get hot? Especially when its black which is known to absorb heat. Also FYI, batteries don't work like you said, if the power connector or plug is only capable of 1.5 amp its not going to magically charge at 3.5 amp in the time you said. It doesn't have magic built in to pull power that plug cant provide. You also failed to mention the Jumper can be bricked if the flash failed without soldering it with a wire or buying an addon cable.

I'm still staying with my good old trusty Aurora 9