so i just got my technician license last month and im finally ready to get my first handheld. ive been lurking on here for a while and reading reviews but honestly the more i read the more confused i get. everyone seems to have a strong opinion one way or the other.

my main use would be local repeaters, maybe some simplex with a buddy who lives about 8 miles away (lots of flat farmland between us), and eventually i want to get into APRS but im not sure if i need that built in or if i can add it later somehow. budget is probably under $200 but i could stretch a little if something is really worth it.

ive been looking at the Yaesu FT-60, the Kenwood TH-D75, and obviously everyone mentions the Baofeng UV-5R but people seem pretty divided on those. what would you guys actually recommend for someone just starting out? dont want to spend a ton but also dont want to regret it in six months.

honestly for your situation id say skip the Baofeng for now, not because theyre terrible but because the programming software is a pain and the receiver isnt great — you'll pick up a ton of interference on busy areas and it can get frustrating fast when youre still learning the ropes. the FT-60 is a really solid choice for a first radio, its built like a tank, the audio is loud and clear, and its genuinely straightforward to use without diving into the manual every five minutes. been recommending it to new hams in our club for years and i dont think anyones come back complaining.

the TH-D75 is awesome but its also like $500+ so that seems outside what you're looking at. if you really want APRS built in and dont mind spending more the D75 is hard to beat, but you could also just grab an FT-60 now and do APRS later with a phone and a cable or a dedicated tracker. no rush to have everything at once when youre just getting started.

i was in basically the same spot about a year ago and ended up getting the Yaesu FT-65 which is kind of the newer version of the FT-60 in a slimmer body. paid around $80 for it i think. its been totally fine for repeaters and i've made contacts 15 miles out on simplex from a decent hilltop. for 8 miles of flat farmland you should be pretty good with almost any HT honestly depending on antenna.

one thing nobody told me when i started — the stock rubber duck antenna that comes with most HTs isnt great, like its genuinely worth throwing $20-30 at a better aftermarket antenna pretty early on. made a noticeable difference for me. anyway good luck with it, the local repeater scene is a lot of fun once you get settled in