I completly agree with RCfun! A basic radio will make things a lot simpler for learning. Also the buddy boxes won't use dual rates so whats the point of setting up a trainer for them?! They will simply use the high rate setting. Once you have completed your training you will have a better idea if you need or want a fancier radio. The extra channels are usually used for retracts and flaps. Our rough grass field eats retracts for breakfast so I don't use them. Flaps are usually only used on larger, heavier planes which will be a while before you can handle one of these. IF you get another plane, the first radio can still be used and get a flight pack or get another radio and have 2. It doesn't hurt to have 2 different radios on different channels at the field. If 1 channel is busy, then you can use the other 1. Its also nice to be able to use 1 for a buddy box if you have a friend that wants to try flying down the road. I still use my basic 4 channel and I have a 6 channel that I bought 3 years after I soloed. I still don't use the extra channels and I am up to 8 planes now.