Protocol Showdown: Jeti vs. Futaba vs. FrSky vs. Spektrum vs. PowerBox vs. ExpressLRS

Author: Allan Cohen

Choosing a radio protocol is arguably as important as choosing the radio itself. The protocol dictates your range, how “locked in” you feel, what telemetry data you get, how much redundancy you have, and how much you pay for every new plane or drone you build.

Here’s how the six major players stack up.

Quick Comparison Matrix

Feature	Jeti Duplex EX	Futaba FASSTest	FrSky ACCESS / ETHOS	Spektrum DSMX	PowerBox CORE	ExpressLRS (ELRS)
Primary Focus	High-end precision, telemetry	Traditional reliability	Feature-rich, value	Plug-and-play ecosystem	Redundancy & power safety	Long-range, speed, open-source
Learning Curve	Medium	Low	Medium–Low	Very Low	Medium	Medium (new 4.0 WebUI greatly improves experience)
Link Speed	Standard (~100Hz)	Standard	Fast	Standard	Standard	Ultra-Fast (up to 1000Hz)
Reliability	Gold Standard	Gold Standard	Very Good	Very Good (modern DSMX)	Absolute Redundancy	Best Signal Margin - Dual-Frequency Diversity with Gemini
Telemetry	Best in Class	Good (closed)	Excellent	Good (Smart / XBus)	Excellent (system-level)	High Bandwitch / Native Vario / Expending offers
Typical 7ch Rx Price	€75–90	€60–80	€35–55	€45–70	€90–130	€15–25 (20-35€ with built-in Vario and Voltage Telemetry)

Reliability & Link Confidence

PowerBox:  This deserves special mention. PowerBox doesn’t just focus on RF — it focuses on system survival. Dual receivers, dual batteries, dual regulators, intelligent failover, and real-time diagnostics are standard. If something fails, it tells you what failed and when.
Jeti & Futaba:  These rely on premium hardware quality and mature protocols. Jeti’s dual RF path redundancy (on many transmitters) is a huge advantage. You pay more, but the expectation is: it simply never fails.
Spektrum: Older DSM2-era issues hurt the reputation, but modern DSMX is solid. Range and interference handling are very good for sport and large-scale flying, though it lacks native redundancy compared to Jeti or PowerBox unless you add it manually.
FrSky:  ACCESS and Tandem systems (2.4GHz + 900MHz simultaneously) are genuinely robust. Not quite the “military-grade” aura of Futaba, but real-world reliability is excellent today.
ExpressLRS: Protocol-based dominance. ELRS has evolved beyond simple LoRa sensitivity. The new standard is "Gemini" Mode (simultaneous dual-frequency transmission), which effectively matches Jeti’s "Dual Path" redundancy at a fraction of the cost. In practical terms, it is almost impossible to failsafe a Gemini-equipped ELRS model in visual line-of-sight flying, even in noisy RF environments..

Link Speed (Latency)

• ExpressLRS: 3–5ms possible at 500–1000Hz. FPV and 3D heaven.
• FrSky: ~15–20ms. Snappy, modern feel.
• Spektrum: ~20–30ms. Smooth, predictable, more than fast enough for 99% of pilots.
• Jeti / Futaba / PowerBox: ~20–40ms. Rock-solid consistency prioritized over speed.

Latency differences only truly matter for FPV racing, top-tier heli 3D, or competitive drone work.

Telemetry Capability

Jeti:

 Still the king. EX Bus allows wireless programming of ESCs, servos, gyros, and power systems directly from the transmitter. Deep, fast, reliable telemetry — but expensive.

PowerBox:

 Telemetry is system-level, not just RF-level. You get battery health, power flow, regulator temperatures, servo loads, and redundancy status. This is aircraft diagnostics, not just telemetry.

FrSky:

 Best value telemetry ecosystem. Sensors are affordable, flexible, and plentiful. Excellent balance.

Spektrum:

 Good but limited. Smart telemetry works well, but customization and third-party expansion are weaker than Jeti or FrSky.

Futaba:

 Closed and functional. Does the job, but expensive and limited in variety.

ExpressLRS:

 The very new ELRS V4.0, along with recent RadioMaster offerings have completely changed the game. Gone are the days of "basic link health only."

Native Sensors: The latest RadioMaster ER-series PWM receivers (e.g., ER6GV, ER8GV) now feature built-in variometers and flight pack voltage sensing. No external sensors required—it’s plug-and-play for gliders and planes.

Bandwidth: ELRS 4.0 introduces "Gemini Telemetry", which utilizes dual active links to double telemetry bandwidth. It can now handle high-speed GPS data, flight attitude (Horizon), and even Turbine telemetry (VSpeak/HoTT protocol support) without choking the control link.

Range Comparison (numbers to take with care)

This is where marketing claims often mislead. Let’s talk about usable range, not theoretical limits.

Visual Line of Sight (LOS) Flying

Jeti / Futaba / Spektrum / FrSky:

 All comfortably exceed 5–8 km LOS with proper installation. This is already far beyond what most pilots can see or legally fly.

PowerBox:

 Similar RF range to Jeti, but with far greater system safety if something fails.

ExpressLRS:

 Easily 20–50 km+ with correct antennas and power levels. Completely unnecessary for LOS, but unbeatable in interference.

Practical Takeaway

For traditional RC aircraft, range is not the limiting factor. Confidence, redundancy, and telemetry quality matter far more than raw distance.

ELRS wins on range by an absurd margin — but most pilots will never use even 10% of it.

7-Channel Receiver Price (Typical Cost)

• PowerBox (e.g., PBR-26D): €90–130
• Jeti: €75–90
• Futaba: €60–80
• Spektrum: €45–70
• FrSky: €35–55
• ExpressLRS: €15–25  (€20-35 with built-in Vario and Voltage telemetry)

Never forget the hidden Cost Reality:  You can equip an entire foam fleet with ELRS for the price of one PowerBox receiver.

The Verdict: Which One Is for You?

Choose PowerBox if: You fly very large, expensive models where power redundancy matters more than RF. You want to know what failed before it becomes catastrophic.

Choose Jeti if: You fly turbines, high-end gliders, or competition models. You want the best telemetry, redundancy, and long-term confidence.

Choose Futaba if: You want a rock-solid, no-nonsense system that just works and never surprises you.

Choose Spektrum if: You want the easiest entry point with excellent ecosystem integration and minimal learning curve.

Choose FrSky (ETHOS) if: You want the best all-rounder: modern features, great telemetry, fair pricing, and flexibility.

Choose ExpressLRS if: you want the highest performance link on the market and refuse to overpay for brand names. With ELRS 4.0 and modern PWM receivers, you no longer sacrifice telemetry for range—you get both. Getting rid of the frustrating “Ch5 reserved for arming” limitation also helps greatly in the learning curve. Perfect for pilots who want a "set and forget" bulletproof link that handles everything from park flyers to competition models or turbines.