I'd suggest the 2.4 route also. No risk of some idiot crossing your signals (we all know it can happen), the programmable and mixing features are fantastic, no ugly antenna wire trailing outside your fuse or huge great TX antenna to poke in someones eye etc.
The Spektrum DX6i is cost effective, compatible with all Spektrum/JR 'DSM2' receivers, and I just love the extra satellite receivers on the likes of the AR6200 receivers that lessen the risk of lost signals (I have one in both my .50 nitro heli and .61 sized trainer plane), and with nice ergonomics to boot, as the last thing I ever want to do is risk losing my plane, and especially my heli to a signal issue (them things are NOT cheap to fix/replace!!).