Crawler Canyon Quick(re)view: Radiomaster MT12 4-in-1 radio

This is the Quickview of the Radiomaster MT12 multi-channel open-source surface radio, which is a thing that I am not imminently capable of reviewing, honestly. But that doesn't stop anyone else.
Get a Crawler Canyon tee! www.cafepress....
Some links:
MT12 4-in-1 amzn.to/48wonfE
IG: crawlercanyon

[@some19872003]

For those of us that are not smart enough to program the radio there is Joshua Bardwell here on KZbin. He has all the tips and tricks to programming these types of radios.

[@FYRC15]

Yes I would have sent mine back if it were not for Joshua’s vids. Love it now.

[@lonewolfrcs1331]

watch joshua"s video lead me here down this rabbit hole lol

[@_Sphaxz_]

Since seeing the mt12 launch, I've been convinced this is the radio for people who want radio programming as an additional hobby. It's like the ender 3 3d printer of the radio world. It'll work if you spend weeks setting it up, but if you just want it as a tool to work out of the box, you buy something else

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Agreed on all points. Superb hardware, but I don't need another sub-hobby inside the hobby. Well, at least not one this frustrating.

[@Jesse_7300]

It’s very difficult at first to understand how to program it, but once you understand how to it’s unbelievable what you can do with. There’s some good tutorials on KZbin to help you learn the steps required to achieve the functionality you want.

[@StubbsRC]

I struggled for 3 days, on the fourth, i found Joshua bardwell and a few short hours later, I was KZbin certified! 😂 And now I know, I can fully configure a rig in pretty short order.

[@lastcreations8845]

YES to follow ups on this radio, yes to getting it setup on a crawler, yes to more on this radio :)

[@ryano8613]

Shut it and just move along bud​@@Rc_impulse

[@sleepycbr]

LOL I fly FPV drones and have been using EdgeTX for a few years. It is awesome when you learn it. Just starting with rc trucks. So I'm glad that the radio will be familiar to me.

[@FYRC15]

I’ve had mine for 5 days. My feelings were much like yours. Love the hardware. Still learning the firmware. For the price it’s a game changer. Love it

[@AnyAssumptionBanter]

Roy Kent... Roy Kent! he's here, he's there, he's every-freakn-where!

[@jessjoshwyatt3571]

The whole operating system on that radio, edge TX, is the system that is used for 5 inch race drones. Doesn't really make sense to have all that for ground systems except to really confuse yourself unless you are familiar with drones. Luckily I am so I will definitely get this when I can afford one. I love how u can add switches for the diffs on the base of the radio also.

[@Rc_impulse]

Fixed wing first not drones

[@Fantaman900]

I'm a huge fan of flysky Noble and Paladin EV. Sure the mt12 packs a bit more features and more channels. But touch screen is really nice and easy to use. I also very much adore the scroll wheels on the noble. I don't want to carry 3 remotes to go boating. Just drive the truck with two boats and just switch models as you use them. Flysky 2 way means I can live see voltage of my battery and even model switching while the car/boat is still on is possible. Get an alarm before cut or out of range. My crawler needs many channels to switch lights, F+R diff lock, selectable FWD/AWD/RWD, 2 gears and winch. So 8 channel Noble is nice. And the 18 channel paladin is nice for excavator/crane and VSP tug boat. And you can bind 2 receivers at the same time or link them together with. Only minus I got is the price of the receivers, not cheap. But than again I really like them.

[@curtisknudson8966]

Perfect breakdown... An ever man's view on a complex remote👍.

[@jonaswalther9245]

The features are wonderful 😀 You have to forget anything reminiscent of Futaba or Spektrum and think logic and function. Very simple with endless possibilities 😀😉

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Endless possibilities, sure. Simple? Oh dear god no. Simply finding the menu that the page of the submenu you're looking for is infuriating in itself. It's a one percenter radio.

[@jonaswalther9245]

@@CrawlerCanyon I have been using OpenTX / EdgeTX for model flights for 10 years so I am very familiar with all the menus and settings. I have 60+ flying models in my Radiomaster TX16S...

[@NorgeSquad]

Also another cool thing is. But I think this only work on ELRS version. but if you have for example a robot or something. You need a lot of channels. And you can use the 5 channel one Radiomaster sells. But you can use another 5 channel receiver and set that to be channel 6-10 in the Lua script. so you can use 2 receivers at the same time and they will work on all 10 channels

[@ruslankerget]

As I wrote in my review: “Just before purchasing it, you should think carefully - what do you want to get from this equipment at the output? How critical are its disadvantages and how important are its advantages specifically for you? Are you satisfied with the price/quality ratio, and will you use all the features that can this equipment give you, and do you need them? Maybe simpler and cheaper equipment will be enough for you?" MT12 is good equipment, but with a high barrier to entry. And not everyone needs it. For most people, simple, cheaper equipment will suffice. But for myself, I took MT12 precisely because of the ability to flexibly configure it to suit my needs.

[@sleepycbr]

You need to go into curve not mix to configure the cruise control. It curve you can pick a switch and tie it to a channel. Then make your curve points flat. So when you hit your selected switch it will go to that flat curve you set.

[@jackhando5465]

Very happy with my Radiolink. That's all I need. I'm not one to figure the Radiomaster out. I have a hard time with cordless printers 🖨

[@CrawlerCanyon]

If anyone asks me at any time what radio to buy, it remains: Radiolink RC4GS. It is IMO, suitable for at least 90% of crawling applications.

[@machinedred]

I've had open tx for about 7 years and I'm still learning 😂 but you can turn off switch warning in your first menu it does quickly get annoying,good luck dude ask me if you wanna know how to

[@Braindog]

Hardware for Surface and Software for Flying ^^ This Software was designed for Flying as it comes from Air Radios. But if u figured out how Edge TX works, u will find cool Possibilities for Surface. I use this remote control on my Crawler. You can also drive bashers with a GT5 and 2 channels ;) Most of my crawlers use 6-8 channels. Lights, diffs, 2 speed, dig and so on ;) I also fly FPV and Planes where i use a Radiomaster TX16s with Edge TX, so I have a little experience with it and found my way around relatively quickly. The only thing I miss is a touchscreen. But you only have to set up a crawler once and don't have to change anything all the time ;) If you need some help on the software, check out Joshua Bardwell's How to's. Thanks for ure entertaining Video👍. I like your Voice^^

[@sea_kerman]

By the power of EdgeTX, I'm pretty sure you can disconnect T5 from everything and make it inert, but yeah, real learning cliff. I personally love to tinker and ajust things but yeah it's definitely not for everyone.

[@dandork20]

I use edgetx extensively for aircraft. All the extra functionality and settings you don't need are carry over from the air radio world. Edgetx has a steep learning curve. I use it exclusively on probably 20+ aircraft and still have to look up how to do things. However, I'd pick edgetx over the top end futaba/spektrum/anything. There's literally nothing in the market I'd buy over it, regardless of price.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I still love my MT12. But at the same time I still have no desire whatsoever to learn another language, as it were. The ROI just isn't there. If Radiolink didn't make dirt cheap radios that do everything I need, I might feel differently. I still tell anyone looking for capability above what a $60-80 radio offers, there's really nothing else on the market that comes close to the MT12 for the money. Not remotely close. No pun intended.

[@DrDiff952]

I had a Radiomaster TX16S for aircraft and my 1/14 tamiya semi. Open txis easier programed on your computer and then sent to the transmitter.

[@DrDiff952]

I want one because i have two different transmitters for my two Axial SCX24. I want to use one tx for both rigs. I also have a TT-02 and XV-01 that i would also like to have on the same transmitter

[@bradstahlhut1722]

Edgetx isn't intuitive at all, even for air. For tinkerers though, it's gold. I like the flexibility of edgetx for my crawlers. One switch can change the behavior of other switches and inputs. For example, I like to have a trail mode and crawl mode on my rigs. A single switch changes the throttle curves, end points and enables 4WS. I like a shiftable Forward/Reverse in trail mode and instantaneous reverse while crawling. For trailing, I have a cruise control that is set at the current speed and is adjusted up or down with the trigger. I can't go back to simpler TX for complex rigs, but I recognize that I am a niche user in a niche hobby.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

That was my dream when I ordered the thing-- setups exactly like yours. But the plain truth is, I'm not willing to put in the work. This dog is too old to learn yet another language-- learning to program the AM32s was more than I thought I would ever have to get into, and the MT12 is way past that. And I don't even feel like it's an ever increasing slide into Luddite-ism. It's just SO frustrating to work with/on, that I look up at that woodburn of Marie Kondo and say, "lady, this isn't passing the test AT ALL."

[@bradstahlhut1722]

One benefit of this setup is that someone who likes the minutiae can share their model files so you can just import them. The community will come through in time. Radiomaster didn't do themselves any favors by not having a handful of example models on the radio with logical settings that users could just copy and paste (no PC required). The 4-in-1 chip that allows me to use this with all of my existing Radiomaster, Radiolink and Flysky surface receivers provided the motivation to power through the learning struggle.

[@mathias4891]

As usual you've opened the can, as it were, to an enormous debate Mr Canyon. I have all the respect for Radiomaster when it comes to the dual dingy drone controllers; however for everything else ive leaned towards Radiolink . My primary radio is the RC8X and i love it, but im not willfully ignorant to its shortcomings. Its far too expensive but you are getting Android software sammiched with rc6 simplicity. The 8x much like the m12 is wholly too much radio for what most people need but thats fine . We are all guilty of being tickled by lights and sounds and buttons oh my. So to sum it up I personally will never buy the m12 because i guess im a Radiolink fanboy having 3 different models, 8 6 and the at10 2 . They are undeniably simpler to program and use but if price is an issue ... Just get the rc4 lol

[@CrawlerCanyon]

That's my stand as well-- the MT12 does so, SO many things, but we honestly don't/won't use 90% of them. The RC4 is a damn near perfect little thing. If Radiolink would make a "crawler edition" with no external antenna and a beefier pot for the VR knob (so we can just slap a steering wheel on it) I don't know if I would be able to recommend anything else. If you want to have a Radiolink Fanboy Battle, I'm game-- I think my RC4 total is into the 20s.

[@mathias4891]

I love you.. ahem, I mean I'll see your forest of foldy antennas and raise you 21 models on the rc8x Lol .. I nerd your advice on something thats been a long time coming. Never had an Element but I love Baseline. The store has an Ecto and an Enduro with the scratch and sniff body . I'm torn . Which one do I get?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@mathias4891 I would personally go for the Enduro, as I'm not a fan of trailing arms. I think the best option is a Builder's Kit with an Ecto or Zuul body on it, but if the choice is between the Ecto RTR and the Enduro RTR, I lean toward the latter. Just because of the trailing arms. Well, and I do like that Sendero body.

[@JIPPERR_1]

All I really want is my radiolink but add a cup holder and heated grip

[@1aview]

Good to b back

[@bsr3280]

Use global functions to adjust your volume on P2 and use the backlight for P3.

[@power21100]

fun fact! you can use an "airplane" receiver on your surface vehicles, its all the same in EDGE Tx's eyes, and easier on your pockets.

[@JP-qq2kn]

EdgeTX is nice, but it is definitely frustrating to use at first. There are so many options and configurations. When I got into fpv drones, it took me a week just to figure out how to use the openTX system on the transmitter.

[@rc_amigos]

But it has fancy lights! I’ve had my eye on this one for a bit. We race off road turf, carpet,dirt, but crawl or monster truck half the time.. it would be great if I could figure it out or be best of both worlds. Nice video!

[@CrawlerCanyon]

If you're willing to basically learn another language, I don't know if there's a wheeled application you couldn't use the MT12 for. But it does NOT have a learning curve. I went back and forth while using it, hovering between sticking to it and giving up, while calling it aloud things like "infuriating" and "hellish."

[@shuster1921]

Brother, if you ever hitch hike, you'll be the first to get a ride🤣😉

[@BroncLander]

I have the ELRS version and I haven't even paired it to anything yet. Got 5 receivers for it so enough for half my rigs. But I haven't taken the time yet to even start figuring it out. I got as far as pong

[@knotical689]

I really like the concept, ergonomics and price of this transmitter, but I'm not sure I'm willing to deal with the programming headache. I've got too many radios lying around right now and would like to get them all on one or two good ones.

[@FaithSaraG]

Way more radio than I can figure out.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

SAME

[@carloswright]

I would love to have it, just for the ability to run most of my rigs from it. I wish it were more user-friendly. I would love to see an update from you in a year or so. Maybe it will get more user-friendly software by then.

[@alanvictorreno]

I got the elrs one. Great receivers. Low latency and cheap.

[@meirdeaph]

Awesomeness ❤

[@al-castro]

I think all the screws on the other side I’m pretty sure you can change to left handed

[@themountain59]

I was intruiged when it came out first, but now I think you have to realize what you will need it for . That thing has very few limits programming wise but do you really need that for your hobby? Until there are some decent configurations for crawling/ racing available, I will stay away from that radio. Still,for the price its a bargain with headache guarantee. Good videos on YT are on the arminRC channel

[@jayleeson8517]

I'm looking for a radio that I can channel mix more than 2 channels together, any recommendations

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Well, this one will certainly do it-- I just can't tell you HOW to do it. From my blundering (and having to delete models to get the parameters to reset) it at least appears that you can mix every one of the 32 channels, a combination of physical and logical switches. It does feel like you need to perform a ceremony and recite an incantation to get anything to work, though. I've yet to hear a single soul say "Oh, I love EdgeTX." It smells strongly of, "designed by engineers, for engineers."

[@jesseharless24]

So you're saying this remote will work with my radiolink receivers so the rc8x wasn't a complete waste lol

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I have a whole fleet of Radiolink 6-channel receivers paired to mine. Buying the MT12 actually saved me like $200, because it freed up all those radios.

[@FeralRC]

I spent over an hour trying to bind a FlySky AFHDS 2A using tutorials and it just wouldn't do it. I had to put it away before I did something I'd regret later.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Honestly, these comments are keeping me going-- on the one hand, you hate to see people suffer, but when you're suffering, for some reason you don't want to be alone. So knowing that basically, "it's not just me" feels kind of amazing. Sucks for all of us, but we can take some solace in the fact that it's the thing's fault. That's worth a little something.

[@cesco_rc]

It looks like a nice radio. I was drawn in by the fact of not having to replace the receivers in all of my 25 RC cars. Currently using 8 channel hacked Flysky GT3Cs, with the extended 1700mAh batteries (last forever), for my sons and I. But then on the other hand, it is just like @_Sphaxz_ is saying. Looks like you also get another sub hobby. Which is already what I have had with 3D printing. And I do not need another steep learning sub hobby. I just need something to work. On one hand my four Flysky GT3Cs are 8+ years old and need replacing somewhere in the near future. So the Radiolink MT12 makes sence as I can reuse all my Flysky receivers. But I watched a bunch of videos, including this one by you, on the MT12 and I totaly agree with you. Too complicated. Price is ok. But like you have enough and everything for crawling works fine with your Radiolink RC4GS/RC6GS. I keep going back to my 8ch hacked FlySky GT3Cs. For the price of one MT12 I can replace 2 or 3 GT3Cs with new ones. And also do not have to invest in 25 new receivers. Spending timewise days or weeks learning about all the options of the MT12. Or spend around an hour to open up a GT3C, waterproof the electronic boards, upgrade the firmware to 8 channel and program it with several cars. I think I rather spend my time on building my cars and crawling with them. Thanks for the video. Subbed and liked.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

It truly is a brilliant radio. So long as I remind myself to forget that when I'm running one of my go-fasts and using a whole 2 out of the 36 available channels that I'm not using 5% of the radio's capability, I'm fine with it. As a radio hoarder (one rig, one radio) putting the go fast things on the MT12 probably saved me $300.

[@jleftbrane]

Why not use it for crawlers and or trail rigs? Like if you have dig or lockers or winch's?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

You absolutely could-- but you had better toughen yourself mentally for the process, provided you don't have the built in ability to deal with it.

[@jleftbrane]

Looks like once you have one set up you can copy and then tweak . So should get easier with each model

[@KutterNixon]

i don't have the mental capacity for a RadioMaster MT12, I'm a monkey who knows how to use hand tools and a cordless drill. The MT12 is kool but i'm not cleaning out memory space in my head for a radio, that i wouldn't use a quarter of a quarter of the functions. very kool radio though

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Hey, I'm perfectly fine using it for a flotilla of 2-channel rigs. 60-model memory means it's the last go-fast transmitter I'll ever need.

[@mitsuman5555]

As an elder millennial I’m a few years too old to want to sit down and figure out all the menus 😅. Seems like a great value though!

[@CrawlerCanyon]

It's really a 2-for / 1-against score for me, I think. If you're willing to withstand the terrible software, you can do anything with this radio. If you are willing to do what I'm doing, and exploit it for it's model memory and barely scratch the surface of the capabilities, again, you're looking good. But if you don't want to enroll in a learning annex course to figure out how to mix channels... yeah, this is not your radio.

[@just_inolredneck8319]

I guess it’s the flysky gt5 then for me thanks

[@im2tall1]

Familiar territory for me !!

[@frankiemabry1726]

it has the software that rc planes use

[@lancephelps4871]

You are blowing my mind! Hmm....to pay $139 for a new shelf queen??

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Absolutely not a shelf queen for me-- I don't do shelfers. This will be the second hardest working radio here, behind the RC4GS that is paired to (nearly) every active ICTFW series. My MT12 will have 9 rigs paired to it.

[@thatoneguy2756]

I told ya that MT12 was the most ridiculous, clusterpuck to navigate through the features. It's the nicest radio you will ever dislike.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

It's fortunate that setting it up to perform the most basic functions of a 2-channel rig is pretty easy. If it would pair to Sanwa receivers I'd be over the moon. This radio will get used a lot-- just not for what I had initially bought it for.

[@RcBuddy]

❤ Funny 👍❤✌

[@jammer2150]

Too much for my 2 step brain, simplicity is my flavor.

[@chrispearce9224]

Daaaang! Susan in TOP FORM! LoL.

[@Organized-_-Chaos]

That's open source software for you

[@MikeErwin-fpv]

As a drone and rc plane guy that watches your channel religiously I get why you hate it it is such a pain to learn. But if you was to take that time to properly learn it I know for a fact you would never go back and would 100% have your entire canyon fleet and go fasts converted to one radio and sell all your others for more rigs to build lol

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I well and truly doubt that. The interface is SO clunky and unwelcoming that it, combined with the groove between grip and wheel being too narrow puts the MT12 firmly in the category of "just owning the one." If the software in the transmitter were completely different, tghis would be a different discussion entirely.

[@brettskinner5824]

I just want spectrum DX6r

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Spektrum has never really gotten it right in pistol grip, and the speed with which the DX6r was discontinued-- and not replaced-- leads me to think that the Android integration didn't help much.

[@HVT03]

This radio definitely isnt for me, my brain would melt before even touching it

[@nicholasstephey8475]

Lol. I had to baseball bat tape my rc6.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

All of my rake handles have bicycle grip tape on them to make the handles a size I can actually hold without fatiguing my hands. The struggle is real.

[@rc-daily]

Hahah you can pull the trigger with your pointer or thumb🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@billtruett8593]

I have a 10px I ain’t got nothing for ya sorry.

[@Rc_impulse]

Never will I buy this especially after your review even though radiomaster pays bardwell to teach us it’s a big NO never as I fret from my drones 35 percent of the time cause man I don’t need another hobby “phd in programming” I simple hate edge tx period I use two radiomaster radios for my fixed wing and quads and moved to crawling cause I hated connecting my drone to my laptop more than actually flying. It meh have awesome hardware but never will o use even 5% of the features

[@CrawlerCanyon]

When people tell me that they don't want to get into outrunners simply because of the "laptop slaving" I get that 100%. This is way, way worse than that if you want to even scratch the surface of the radio's functionality. I don't plan on it. I'm going to abuse this radio by pairing it to a fleet of 2-channel rigs, and just enjoying the hardware. But it is so thoroughly unintuitive that every time I have to pair a new receiver, I have to figure out how to do it again.

[@Rc_impulse]

@@CrawlerCanyon I think my comment put of ppl and I’d like to say that I will buy one of these simply for the hardware and slowly try my best to bind them with wltoys fms Carismagt24b (can you shine some light if it will bind with these brands of rx) The menus are complicated and first time setup will be a pain but I’d like good hardware someday and ditch the 30 other cheap radios used for individual rigs

[@Socalnik66]

Just ordered a MT12. Tired of being expensive receivers. Tired of finding light just to see the lame screen on my Spektrum Rugged. Hated the touch and swipe controls of the Rugged. And it felt so cheap in the hand. Also have a Futaba 7PX which feels premium but the receivers were pricey. What i like about the MT12. The price. The affordable receivers. The fact that it can pair with other brand receivers. Back lit screen. Scroll wheel. USB C charging.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

It definitely has a lot going for it. It is a really good radio, and if I can remember to just email the guy back who is offering to provide files so I don't have to learn to program it myself, I'll be using mine a lot more.