so i just passed my technician exam last week (finally) and now im trying to figure out what handheld to buy. ive been reading threads here for like two hours and im more confused than when i started honestly. everyone seems to have a really strong opinion and they all contradict each other.

the main thing i want to do is hit the local repeaters and maybe do some simplex with a friend who lives about 4 miles away. nothing crazy. i dont need it to do everything, i just want something reliable that wont frustrate me while im still learning the basics. budget is probably around $100 give or take.

ive seen people mention the baofeng UV-5R about a thousand times and then immediately someone else says dont get it. and then theres the yaesu FT-65 and some other ones. i really cant tell if the baofeng hate is legitimate or just snobbery. can anyone just give me a straight answer on what they would actually buy if they were in my shoes right now

okay so the baofeng thing is kind of both actually. they're not terrible radios for the price, ive had a UV-5R sitting in a drawer for years and it still works fine. the issue is the programming software is a pain, the manual is basically useless, and the receive can be a little deaf compared to the japanese radios. but for hitting a local repeater and talking to your buddy a few miles out? it'll do that just fine, especially starting out.

that said if you can stretch to like $130-140, the Yaesu FT-65 is just... nicer. feels better in the hand, the menu makes actual sense, audio is clearer. its dual band VHF/UHF which you'll want. i gave one to my daughter when she got her ticket and she had zero issues figuring it out without me hovering over her shoulder. if budget is tight go baofeng and dont feel bad about it, lots of people start there. if you can swing a little more the yaesu is worth it imo.

congrats on passing! i was in the exact same spot not that long ago and ended up with a Radioddity GA-510 which nobody ever seems to mention but its basically a more powerful baofeng-style radio and i got it for like $35 on sale. works great for my local repeater. honestly i think for a first radio you almost cant go wrong as long as its dual band, you'll probably end up wanting a second one in a year anyway once you figure out what you actually use it for lol