RE: RADIO HELP NEEDED! HOW MANY CHANNELS?
If you want something before the end of May, I think the DX-7 is it. I don't think anything else is actually available yet.....wait, I think Futaba is shipping a new system now....I don't know anymore. It's all happening very quickly.
You will use six channels for anything with a split elevator. If it has retracts, more. Plan on upgrading your radio every few years. They get old and, although they still work just fine, you will want a new one every so often; especially with the newer technology improvements coming so quickly.
You will want at least a 10 model memory, most systems have at least 10, some have 30, some 99....
You will need dual elevator programming, dual aileron functionality, switch assignability, flaperon function and a few other mixes....pretty standard stuff on most modern systems.
Good Luck!!!