First off, I'd like to welcome you to R/C!
Secondly, I agree with the others who recommend visiting your local flying club.
I'm relatively certain that once you do, you'll be convinced to go 2.4GHz.
I see many clubs using the Spektrum brand almost exclusively. I prefer Hitec myself.
On the other hand I've been flying on and off for 24 years and only this last December did I sell my Futaba 9CAP!