Rc terminology

 Bind

Is a process to bind a receiver with the transmitter.  This has to be done when you are buying a new receiver for your transmitter.  The new receiver can only be used after you bind it with the transmitter. The process is by choosing the bind or link function on the transmitter and push the set button on the receiver.  The led on the receiver will change from blinky to solid once the process is complete.

Calibration

Is to calibrate the speed controller with the transmitter so that the speed controller can be controlled properly by the transmitter.  The calibration should be done before using the speed controller on the car.  The manual provided with the speed controller will explain how to calibrate it.  

Ready to run

Ready to run is a term or phrase refer to a complete chassis that has full electronics and radio transmitter.  A ready to run RC Car is usually has servo, speed controller, motor, receiver, wheels, bodyshell and radio transmitter.  Sometime it also has battery and charger.  However in most of the ready to run RC cars, battery and charger are required items to be purchased separately. A ready to run rc cars are easy to run because it does not required any assembly or installation whatsoever. It is a suitable as a gift and for beginners.  My first RC car when I started this as a hobby is a Tamiya TT01 type E Expert Built. 

Esc

Esc stands for Electronic Speed Controller.  A speed controller is a electronic device connected with a motor and a receiver. The function of a speed controller is to allow a radio transmitter to control the speed of the motor. It allows the radio to accelerate the speed of the car from a stand still to a full speed, to deaccelerate and brake. Is like an ECU in a real car that control the engine. Basically there are two types of ESC. A brush ESC is to be used with a brush motor. A brushless ESC to be used with a brushless motor.

Servo

Servo is a electronic device that control the steering from left to right and center.  A servo has a teeth or gear in front of it to place a steering horn or a plate that link with the linkage that control the steering.  The cheap servo usually has a plastic gears and high end servo usually comes with metal gears. The servo for RC cars are generally in two sizes, A low profile servo has a low height and takes less space.  Most of the servos are in standard size. Analog servo is usually comes with the RTR unit because the transmitter is analog. If you have upgraded your transmitter to a digital then it is advisable to upgrade the servo to a digital servo. A digital servo is much smoother, accurate and faster.

Dual Rate 

Dual rate is a function on the radio transmitter that control or limit the maximum input of the channels. By default the dual rate of the channels are one hundred percent 100% or maximum rate.  The user maybe wish to reduce the dual rate of the channel 1 for example that control the steering if the car has too much steering.  

Channels 

Channels are the the input on the receivers that transmitted into the radio.  Most of the receivers has 3 or 4 channels.  Channel 1 is use for the servo and it can be controlled by the wheel on the radio.  Channel 2 is use for the speed controller and it can be controlled by the throttle lever on the radio. 

Transmitter

A transmitter is a device to control the car.  The current design is like a pistol that has a wheel on the side and a lever just under the main section. The wheel on the transmitter is to control the steering. The lever is to control the throttle. The analog transmitter usually comes with the RTR cars has just a basic functions such as alignment and dual rate. The adjustment is by the knob.  The frequency nowdays is 2.4ghz.  The after market transmitter is a digital and it has many functions. The adjustment is control by button and it has a display screen. 

Receiver

Is a device that allows the transmitter to control or communicate with the servo and speed controller. The wiring from the servo and the speed controller must be connected on the receiver. Most of the receiver has three or four channels. However the car only use two channels. 

Motor

There are two kind of rc motor, a brush motor and brushless motor.  The brushless motor is the latest technology and it offers better performance.  The power of the motor is measured by the kilovolt or number of turns.