so i just passed my tech exam last week (finally) and now im trying to figure out what handheld to get. ive been reading reviews for like 3 days straight and honestly i think i know less now than when i started. everyone seems to have strong opinions

the baofeng UV-5R keeps coming up and its cheap which is appealing but then theres always someone saying dont get that get a yaesu or a kenwood. the price difference is pretty significant though. like im looking at a $30 radio vs a $150+ one and i dont really know yet if this hobby is gonna stick for me so spending a lot feels risky

mainly i want to hit the local repeaters and maybe do some simplex with my brother who also just got his ticket. do i really need to spend the money on a name brand or is the baofeng fine to start? not trying to start a fight lol just genuinely confused

congrats on the ticket first of all. okay so the baofeng question comes up constantly and heres my honest take after years of watching new hams go through this -- the UV-5R will absolutely get you on the air and let you figure out if you like the hobby. the audio isnt great and programming it without chirp software is kind of a pain, but it works. ive seen people use them for years and been perfectly happy.

that said if you think youre gonna stick around, a used Yaesu FT-60 or even a FT-65 is worth the stretch. the build quality is just in a different league and they hold their value way better if you ever decide to sell. i picked up a used FT-60 for like 80 bucks a few years back and that thing is a tank. honestly just depends how much uncertainty you have about sticking with the hobby

i was in the exact same spot about 8 months ago and went with the baofeng just to try it out. its fine for hitting repeaters, me and my buddy use ours for simplex when we go hiking and it works. honestly the biggest annoyance is just getting it programmed the way you want, chirp makes it easier but theres still a learning curve. if money is tight just get the baofeng and upgrade later when you know what you actually want in a radio