I started out a couple years ago with the basic 4ch radio but upgraded to the 9c after a month or so. IMO the 9c was the best money I've ever spent in the hobby, although the old 4ch wasn't really a waste because the servos, receiver, switch etc that came with it were worth almost the price I paid for the whole thing. I ended up selling the old TX on ebay for $20 or something and came out about even. I'm certainly glad I didn't bother taking a step in-between and getting a 6x or something like that because I would have just ended up having to buy atleast a 9c anyway and end up being stuck with a low end computer radio that I would lose money on trying to re-sell.