Handheld Radio - HAM?

[Silverback_WK2]

Doing research now. I currently have a Midland cb mounted in my Grand Cherokee, but looking at getting licensed and someone posted this on Facebook.
https://electronics.woot.com/offers/baofeng-gt-3tp-mark-iii-two-way-radio-2?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_elec_6_1
Does anyone here have experience with this particular radio and is it any good?
If not, does anyone have a handheld they'd recommend that won't murder my savings account?

 

[TerryD]

Those get a lot of flack. They are cheap little radios that are not actually "type accepted" for amateur use by the FCC so not legal. However, many use them, I have one of the UV-5RA Baofengs myself. They can cause interference and are not great radios on the whole but they do work. You need to be careful to not be outside the band with them. They have broad coverage ranges that are well outside Amateur frequencies and can get you in a good bit of trouble if you get in the wrong band.

All in all, they are an ok starter radio and if you are careful with them, they do ok.

The Yaesu FT-60R can be had for about $160 and is a great little radio. They are very well filtered so they don't splatter all over the band and there are tons of accessories for them. You can probably get a good deal on one at a local hamfest if you are diligent. The FT-25R is a 2m only radio that I've seen on-sale for around $110 lately, you might consider one of those as well.

Kenwood makes the TH-K20A that looks like it goes for around $140. I'm not familiar with them but Kenwood makes great radios so I can't see it being a dud. We have the business band cousin of this radio at work and they are bullet proof.

 

[Silverback_WK2]

Thanks.
I'm also scouring the threads here on OB as well as ExPo to try and learn more and more.

 

[4xFar Adventures]

Might be out of your budget, but I have this Yaesu HT. Works like a champ!

 

[94Cruiser]

I have a few of those Baofengs, and Terry is right. You can get into trouble because of the wide frequency footprint. I am a licenced operator, but I am not on the radio communicating so I'm limited in my knowledge of the splatter, but they are fantastic for emergency purposes and the occasional off road trip. When I get serious, I'll get a real dual band mobile...

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