RE: need help selecting a radio
Go with the radio that is most used by your club members. I don't know how experienced you are at flying but if you need the help of an instructor you'll need to hook up with a buddy cord and that will need compatible radios. And, get the most radio that you can for the money, having extra channels and switches just makes your new radio compatible with airplanes that require dual aileron servos, dual elevator servos, etc.
My two cents....