Welcome to the hobby, sounds like your catching on quickly, thats always nice.
I myself was faced with what radio to buy , I was getting a Helli and needed a radio to control it, after flying my fathers Hitec prism 7 for many years it was time for a change. I looked at the Spectum and getting the 2.4 module for it but it would have been almost double a DX7 radio.
I compared forever, and well finally decided I did not need over a 7 channel radio. So I went with the DX7. I really like it, after flying Futaba/Hitec was not sure how I would like it, but programming was easy for me and now people at the Field ask me to program theirs LOL.

It will do 6 P mixes and already has common mixes in it like aileron to rudder and
elevator to flap mix ( for really tight loops on 3D planes)
It has a 3 way switch that you can program to be off in middle, front or back then other two locations be whatever you have programed for.

the only thing I don't like is you can't select any switch to do anything, as some radios you can make any switch be a flap switch or so on this one you can't but You really don't need it to be.

I like this one also cause you have septate Dual rates switch for your rudder,ail,and elevator.
or you can program it to all be on one switch, then i guess the other switches could be other things but i have mine set up with all separate thats how I like it.

I have been flying mine for about a year now and just love it, No worries about being on someone Else's channel, no worry of getting shot down cause of someone driving up or turning on while your flying.

I still fly with my Hitec and worry when flying with it. Don't know why, everyone at my club is real good about fecency control but I still worry.


I just have not gotten the money to converted everything over.
they have the small rx for small electric planes, then you can choose a 6 or 7 channel for the bigger planes. I want the 7 channels for everything else and they are around $100 each, sometimes on sell. but there cheaper then some of the others.

I really enjoy mine and I fly things from small parkflyer model electrics, to wild crazy 3D electrics, to 3d glow, to now pattern type electric, and I have not found anything so far it will not do.

I recomend it to anyone on a buget like myself who can get the best bang for thier buck.
its about $350 or a little less most places. when the new 12channel comes out i am sure prices will drop a little, but I do not have $1500 to spend on a radio.
i got a case for this DX7 to go inside of when I am not flying and I fly with a neck strap just so i do not drop it. to much money to break it.