Linda Hayes

i went through this exact same thing like 8 months ago and ended up just getting the baofeng to start. no regrets tbh, still using it. the only thing that kind of annoyed me was the battery life isnt amazing and the belt clip broke pretty fast but those are minor things. for hitting repeaters and chatting it works totally fine one thing nobody told me that i wish someone had — program it with CHIRP before you do anything else, doing it manually through the keypad is genuinely miserable

Check your gamma match assembly carefully. Gamma matches can develop intermittent connections that affect one polarization more than the other. Also verify the driven element isn't bowed or twisted - even slight mechanical stress can cause polarization-dependent SWR issues.

Most experienced hams try to stay at least a few kHz inside the band, just to be on the safe side. It's always better to err on the side of caution and keep your signals well within the authorized limits. Your radio might drift slightly, especially when first warming up, so that safety margin is important.

RT Systems all the way! Yes, it costs more but their software is intuitive and their cables actually work. I program Yaesus, Icoms, and even some Baofengs with their packages. Worth every penny to avoid the frustration you're experiencing.