so ive been using my old baofeng UV-5R for about two years now and honestly its fine for what it is but im starting to feel like i want something a bit more... i dont know, capable? reliable? hard to explain. it works but sometimes i feel like im missing stuff or the audio isnt great when im out hiking and theres background noise.

my main uses are local repeaters, APRS occasionally (though i dont have a dedicated TNC or anything, just playing with apps), and sometimes i take it out on SOTA activations with a friend who does that regularly. budget is probably somewhere in the $150-300 range but could stretch a little if something is really worth it.

ive been looking at the Yaesu FT-65 and the Kenwood TH-D74A but that kenwood is way out of my price range honestly. also looked at the Wouxun KG-UV9D but not sure about that one. anyone gone through this same decision lately or have strong feelings about any of these?

the FT-65 is a solid radio for the price, really no complaints from me on build quality and audio. had mine for maybe 18 months and its been on a few camping trips, dropped it once on gravel and it kept going. receiver seems noticeably better than the baofeng stuff though i havent done any scientific comparison or anything.

if APRS is something you actually want to use more seriously down the road though, you might want to look at the Yaesu FT3DR instead. yeah its more expensive but it has built-in GPS and APRS without needing anything else. i made the mistake of buying mid-range and then wanting the features of the next thing up, ended up spending more overall. just something to think about depending on how serious you get about SOTA and APRS together.

im kind of in the same boat as you actually, went from a baofeng to a Wouxun last year and i think the step up was worth it even if its not a japanese radio. the menu system is less confusing to me than the baofengs and the battery lasts noticeably longer on a full day out. cant speak to the KG-UV9D specifically but the one i have feels pretty well built.

one thing i'd say is go to a club meeting or hamfest if you can and just hold a few different radios before buying, the ergonomics matter more than you'd think when youre trying to change channels with cold fingers on a hilltop