One of my claims to fame is the number of folks I have helped in this sport. Heck I have even got awards and things, local, district and AMA. The reason for all the stuff about teaching is this. I have used just about every radio to teach made. Spectrum is a very good radio. I would suggest a 6 volt flight pack in the Spextrum. Hitec is good and mates up to other radios well. Airtronics are very good, but the buddy box is sometimes a issue. What can we say about JR and Futaba. Both good and both popular. As of late I have ran into all kinds of radios I have never heard of. Some of them look like they came from the Dollar Store or tree, what ever it is called, but I have been running into some of the other two. Turigy and Flysky I think. They appear to work well and handle good. Nobody knows in which direction we will head in this sport/hobby. I have taught people and figured they would be gone in six months. Two of them I did not think would make it came to a fly-in with their trailers and their 3D giants. Both started with entry level radios.
I will just reinforce the others that say, go out and see what is what at the local field. Who knows. Some old timer may take you under his wing.