So I just passed my technician exam last week and now im trying to figure out what handheld to buy. Everyone keeps saying different things and im kinda lost. My local club guys are split between baofeng and yaesu and one guy wouldnt stop talking about the kenwood he bought in like 1998 which, okay cool but that doesnt really help me.

I mostly want something I can use on the local repeaters, maybe do some APRS eventually, and just have something to carry around. Budget is probably around $50-100 but I could stretch a little if it actually makes sense. I've seen the UV-5R everywhere and the price is obviously hard to argue with but some people seem really down on them. Also looked at the Yaesu FT-60 which seems more solid but its getting a little old right? There's also the BF-F8HP which I think is just a beefed up baofeng. Anyway just looking for what people actually use day to day and whether the cheap chinese radios are really that bad or if its more radio snobbery.

Congrats on passing the test. Okay so the baofeng debate never really ends and honestly both sides have a point. The UV-5R works, it gets you on the air, and for $25 if you drop it in a parking lot you wont cry. The menus are kind of a nightmare and the receive isnt great compared to something like the FT-60 but for basic repeater use it does the job. I started with one and used it for about a year before upgrading.

If you can stretch to the FT-60 I do think its worth it. Its built like a tank, the audio is noticeably better, the receiver is way more selective so you wont get as much desense near other transmitters. Its been around forever because Yaesu basically just kept making it because people kept buying it, which says something. For APRS though you'd need to look at something like the FT3D or the VX-8DR which are more expensive, or you could just use a phone app with an external TNC and run whatever HT you want.

The BF-F8HP is just more power, 8 watts vs 5, and honestly on VHF/UHF with an HT the extra few watts usually doesnt change much in practice. Hit up a repeater a few times with whatever you end up getting and youll figure out if power is actually your problem or if its something else.

i went through basically the same thing a few months ago lol. ended up getting the UV-5R just to have something while i figured things out and its fine for what it is. programmed it with chirp which made it way less painful. but yeah i can tell the quality isnt amazing, the plastic feels kinda cheap and one of the rubber covers for the ports cracked pretty fast.

i think if i did it again id probably just save up for the ft-60 from the start honestly