Do you have any equipment? If not -- are you getting any help from anyone? If you are then you should buy the same brand that they have since it will make things easier for them. If you are going it alone and you have a local hobby store (LHS) nearby then what brand to they know best?

I prefer Futaba gear and have found the new 7CA? to be a very nice radio for the money. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXGAE9**&P=ML

As a club flight instructor I've seen most of the entry level 6+ computer radios from Futaba, JR and Hitec. All are good and all will fit your current needs with room to grow.