What Radio should I start with?

Again, I would recommend taking some time with some local RC Clubs. You can also check the internet for local remote control hobby club in your area. Now, as far as brand go, you will want to keep in mind that if you use a RC Hitec buddy cord, you can connect Hitec radios to Futaba radios--just don't use the Futaba buddy cord. Those are the only two brand of radios that are compatible that way. The JR and Airtronics radios have unique cables. Also, the standard JR and Airtronics receivers are interchangeable, as are the Hitec and Futaba receivers. There are a few models that can transmit to all brands of receivers, but they are not so common.

Now, if you are wondering what model to get, we would recommend a 4 channel radio if you are working with a tight budget. Always remember that you don’t have to be a millionare to get started with a radio that will do the trick and get you experienced enough, and feeling comfortable while you are saving your pennies for when you are ready to take it up a couple notches. You can't go wrong, because the price of the radio is about the same as if you were to go buy a receiver, 4 servos and a battery. With this route, your money will not be wasted, and you'll have a radio that is good enough to learn on. If you can, get the inexpensive 4ch Hitec--it has some end-point adjustments that aren't on the other brands of radios which will give you some diversity.

If and when you are ready to take it up those couple notches, you want a step up, and Futaba or Hitec radios are common at the field, then get a Hitec Flash 5x radio. It's a good starter computer radio that has 5 model memories, and will last you a good while. It's very cost effective also, usually just over $150 or so. I don't recommend any of the $200+ computer radios, at any time during the beginner states of this Remote Control Hobby. The reasons are simple--they don't have enough features to be worth the extra cash for a starter radio, and they don't have enough features to work as a GOOD radio either, when you are flying the big planes.

When I purchased my first computer radio, I should have listened to my expert buddy that has been in the rc industry/hobby for years. He told me to save my money, get a Futaba 8U, and skip the midrange radios all together. (Especially if you are buying new.) I decided to go off on my own thinking I knew it all, and I outgrew my midrange radio (Hitec Prism 7x) within 6 months, at which time I ended up buying the 8u anyway. (For JR users, the 8103 is similar, I believe.) It's highly unlikely that you'll ever outgrow one of those much better radios. They can be bought NEW for $230 for the Tx alone, and you can often find them used for under $200...sometimes even lower.