With the stock FrSky telemetry, you get to see uplink and downlink RSSI and the receiver internal voltage. It is simple and cheap to make a voltage sensor for the main LiPo. All you need is a basic voltage divider circuit with 2 resistors and the appropriate connectors. I agree that a timer is good enough for most use cases. For me, I landed every couple of minutes and checked the battery voltage on my early flights. Now I know exactly how long I can fly (following the 80% rule). You could also use a LiPo alarm.
I will be able to get my quad in the air in the next couple of days, I will tell you about my experience with the 9XR then. I have prototyped a DIY telemetry display. Once I miniaturise it I can tell you how useful it is.
I don't know enough about the Futaba to comment.

I think I have a fair idea of the roadmap to my RC hobby.

I would like to start with flying PNP and custom aircrafts and gliders for quite some time.
Later, I am very much interested in venturing into Automated Flights maybe using ArduPilot or (using my Arduino kits). During this stage I'll be needing telemetry, but I think I can use 3DR Radio to transmit the information.

Based on the current requirement, I think I wouldn't be needing the Tx/Rx with telemetry. I might just end up with a controller with many channels. So, Turnigy 9x seems to bit the bill. Is there any other alternative I should also consider?

Until I have the radio based telemetry setup to monitor the battery and other stuffs, I think I can rig up a small circuit to check the voltage and light up a RGB LED light under the fuselage to monitor the Battery  Voltage.

Regards

Please help me decide between these two:

1) FlySky FS-TH9XB
2) Turnigy 9X

Both seem to have version 2 firmware. But FlySky has antenna attached to the TxModule, whereas Turnigy has the antenna attached to the controller and it connects to the module by a wire.

Can anyone spell the difference between the two. I am almost certain that I'll be buying any one of these two.

Please advice.

Regards

By functionality, both are exactly the same. They differ only by looks. Go for the flysky as it is cheap in India.

The main difference is that the Turnigy 9x has the module antenna wire soldered on to the circuit board. This make it harder to swap out the module. The FlySky allows you to just pop out the module and put in a different one. It is cheaper too as Sooraj said. I would suggest you go for a FrSky module since the stock module may have some range or reliability issues.

Thank you Sooraj and SK1701 for the advice and suggestion.
I'll definitely go for the FlySky then.

Is there any store in Bangalore I can get  FlySky FS-TH9XB?

Regards

go for 9xr , not just that i am an lhs but it good ,

http://hobbysea.com/products.php?632&sid=b039302f4b91ff8afa5dee9bf4deae8c

it is with warranty

@Hobbysea, 9XR seems to be a great product, but after adding the Modules/Receiver/Battery, the cost is almost double of a 9X. And at that cost or a little higher, there are more to choose from, and that makes my decision making tad difficult.

Anything above my initial budget of about 5-7k (for Transmitter) will definitely, delay my buying of the transmitter and Planes for sometime as I have mentioned earlier. Its a not an easy choice to make. But, at the price point, based on the feedback I have received so far FlySky FS-TH9XB and Turnigy 9X v2, seems to fit the bill.

I am still checking out for local hobby store in Bangalore that have these.

Regards.

both are same..u can buy fly sky it is and can get easily..

http://www.sp4mm3r.com/flysky9x-radio.html

I went through the manuals and review of most of the controllers and after considering all ifs and buts, it seems I'll go for JR XG6.

The reason for this is.
1) JR is available in Bangalore with 1 year manufacture warranty.
2) Very easy and snappy user interface, according to my opinion.
3) Reliable Radio Link, uses DMSS
4) Top notch build and make.
5) xbus system incase I need to expand to more servos controlled by a channel.
6) Profiles transferable to higher models like XG8 etc.
7) controller looks awesome and different.
Seems to have the best ergonomic.
9) Very Crips and detailed LCD screen.
10) Got inherent timer for each model.
11) 20 model memory plus via sdcard.

What I'll be missing with XG6:
1) Only 6 channels. ( for future I will have upgrade path to XG8 and above.)
2) No 3 stage toggle switch (a bit of inconvenience but can make use of the delay to have slow retract of flaps and gears)
3) expensive Rx.

Well as monsoon is on and it will be difficult to find time when I'll be free and it's not raining. It seems I can wait couple of months, save up enough to get JR XG8. And 8 channels seems logical in long term.