so i just passed my technician exam last week and im trying to figure out what handheld to start with. everyone keeps telling me different things and honestly its getting overwhelming. some guys at the club said get a baofeng just to learn on, other guy said dont bother and just save up for a yaesu or kenwood right away. i dont really know what the difference is beyond price at this point.

im mostly going to use it for local repeaters and maybe some simplex with my brother who also just got his ticket. probably wont be doing anything fancy for a while. budget is flexible but i dont want to spend like $300 on something if a $50 radio does the same thing at my level, you know?

is there anything i should actually be looking for features wise or is it mostly just personal preference at this point

honest answer — for what you're describing a baofeng UV-5R or one of the similar cheap dual band radios will absolutely work and theres nothing wrong with starting there. yeah the build quality isnt the same as a yaesu FT-60 or whatever but you're hitting repeaters and talking to your brother, not doing anything where that matters yet. i started on a cheap chinese HT and still have it as a backup 15 years later.

the thing people dont tell you is the programming learning curve is kind of a pain with the baofengs. get CHIRP and a programming cable, saves a ton of headaches. the manual is basically useless.

if you do want to spend a bit more right off the bat, the yaesu FT-65 is usually around $70-80 and its a noticeably nicer radio — better receiver, easier menu, feels solid in the hand. that would be my actual recommendation for a first HT in your situation. but seriously either way you'll be fine on local repeaters.

congrats on passing! i was in the exact same spot about a year ago and went with the baofeng to start. its fine, does the job, but i will say i ended up getting a yaesu about 6 months later anyway because the receiver on the cheap ones can be kind of deaf on weaker signals. not a huge deal for local stuff though.

one thing nobody mentioned to me that i wish they had — check what repeaters are actually active in your area first before you decide anything. some places have tons of activity, some its pretty quiet and you might end up wanting to look at other bands or modes sooner than you think. just something to keep in mind