frame rate is not dependent on the radio protocol. To support the faster frame rates you have to have servos capable of it, as well as an rx capable of it. The default is 22ms. Frame rate was all the rage a few years back, and from what I can remember really only the heli guys were able to supposedly notice much benefit from it. Supposedly it was less latency (servos move quicker when you move the sticks). The 9503 is a 22ms frame rate only, it's an older radio from before anybody cared about that. Spektrum/JR came out with a DX7-SE that was a faster frame rate capable radio, and then the Spektrum DX8/DX9 began being capable too I think.
I used to have a 9503 and had no problems running either DSM2 or DSMX on it. It would automatically bind in whatever the rx supported. The only way I even knew how to tell which it used is to power off the rx while leaving the tx on. Then power the rx back on, and if the light blinks it's probably a dsm2, and the blinking light indicates that it lost power, while the tx didn't. Useful to know if you have a power issue in flight.
On DSMX however this doesn't work as it's implemented by check the last two transmitted frequencies and if the tx is still operating on them then it knows the tx never lost power. On DSMX it channel hops all over, and so it can't check the last two frequencies, and thus the flashing light tattle doesn't work.
Check to make sure your servo polarity is right. The diagram on front shows you which way it goes. If memory serves one of the rx's has the pins opposite the normal way that almost all other Spektrum RX's use...