RE: JR / Futaba TX ??? (Not again)
JR/ Airtronics have pos shift and are compatable. Futaba and Hitec have negative shift and are compatable. Airtronics can be switchrd to fly JR or Futaba, on their computerized radios.
If you will be dealing with a LHS, you may want to see what brand they tend to support for future purchases. If by mail that is not a concern.
Buying a new radio is like buying a new car. No brand is actually "better", they are just differant, so you need to get the one with features that suit you. The key is research, and a lot of it.