I found a nice chunky Flash tutorial on how the programming works on MGM's site. Yes, programming is long and tedious, but in the end, it's well worth it for what would be considered a 'budget' controler.
http://www.mgm-compro.cz/programovani_an.htm
I'f you've ever operated a Castle Creations brushless controler, like the Mamba for the 1/18's, you'll know kind of how the programming works.