What is the Difference Between Radio Controlled and Remote Controlled?

If you're looking for a new hobby that you can always count on to deliver fun, a few different RC models that you saw online or in a hobby shop Ithaca may have caught your eye. One of the great things about starting this type of hobby is it's something that people of all ages can enjoy. That means you can partake in it on your own, as well with friends or family members.

Another reason this hobby is so appealing is because it gives you an opportunity to learn a lot. Just keep in mind that this isn't the type of classroom learning that most people dread. Instead, it's the type of learning and knowledge that comes from diving into something and figuring it out as you go.

Because learning is something that comes naturally with this hobby, a common question people who are just starting have is how the terms radio controlled and remote controlled differ. Since both can be abbreviated with RC, this can be a bit confusing at first. But as you'll see by the time we get to the end of this post, it's actually not all that difficult once you have just a little more information at your disposal.

What's a Remote Controlled Vehicle?

The most basic definition of this type of vehicle is one that's operated from a remote or distant location that's not actually inside the vehicle itself. That can technically be done with a remote that's physically wired to a vehicle. However, because having a wire attached to a vehicle is fairly limiting in terms of where you can drive it, a more common approach is for a remote to control a vehicle through the use of radio waves.

A Vehicle Can Be Controlled by a Radio and Remote

Since a remote can contain a radio that communicates with a receiver that's located on the receiver, both terms can actually apply to the same vehicle. In fact, since attached cars and other vehicles aren't that common, it's pretty typical for a vehicle that's driven by a remote to utilize radio technology.

Although that's really all you need to know to understand what the two terms mean, it can also be interesting to know exactly what a radio controlled vehicle needs in order to operate. The four components required for this type of system are a receiver, transmitter, motor and power source. The receiver and transmitter are the two components that interact directly with each other.

Then when the transmitter receives a signal, it needs a motor that can actually power the vehicle. And in order for the other three components to function, there needs to be a source of power. That power source is generally a battery for the transmitter, and then gas, electric or nitro for the receiver and motor.

As you may have realized as you were reading through this post, a big reason why Winks Hobbies Ithaca hobby shop exists is because we're absolutely passionate about this hobby. So even if all you're looking for is a place to stop by and chat for awhile about RC vehicles, we would love for you to pay us a visit at our store!