The present invention provides a radio receiver system for a radio controlled device with the ability to select an operating frequency for a radio controlled receiver unit using a modular programmer to be plugged into the receiver unit in order to select and program the receiver unit with an operating frequency, and then removed so that no further weight is left on the receiver unit. The radio receiver system comprises a programming unit and a receiver unit. The programming unit comprises a selector for selecting a value corresponding to a desired operating frequency for the receiver unit; and a signaler for initiating transmission of the selected value to the receiver unit for programming the receiver unit with the selected operating frequency. The receiver unit is adapted to accept a selected value from a programming unit and comprises a retriever for obtaining the selected value from the programming unit; at least one analog-to-digital converter for converting the selected value into a digital signal; a microcontroller connected to the at least one analog-to-digital converter for receiving the digital signal and for determining the desired operating frequency of the receiver unit therefrom; a voltage controlled oscillator and a phase lock loop operatively coupled to the microcontroller for generating the desired operating frequency; and an antenna for receiving radio controlled signals from a transmitting unit at the desired operating frequency.