Chart attached gives some insight into the range of various radio configurations.

>>2859842

Anon, There is no federally funded repeater network. Everything is done by non-profit clubs, individuals, and groups. There is barely even a Internet hookup in many cases, have you seen the websites old ham radio guys love? Straight out of 1995. Many of the failure points you mention are completely moot, you're not limited to VHF line of sight comms either. on a given day, you can ping stations worldwide using <5W of power and little more than a wire strung out of a 2nd story window. It likely takes more energy to light up the room you're in.

Also- Ham radio isn't exactly a public utility. It provides a worst case emergency communications method (assuming the operators are trained- read up on the debacle with Puerto Rico and the ARRL) but there is no formal training beyond the government license to transmit.

>>2860738

I would suggest swapping out the tuners and IC-718 for a Yaesu FT-450D, and take the extra $300 you would spend on an ATU and spend it on either books (ARRL handbook, antenna book, etc.), CAT / Sound Card adapter, or any number of other useful acessories (ferrite beads, better microphone, grounding straps and cables, etc.)

>>2872495

The UV-5R is good enough. Sure the baofeng has it's quirks, and programming could be easier; but for $25 you get a heck of a lot of radio. Good advice overall.

>>2882724

For studying for the ham test, websites like Ham Study ( https://hamstudy.org ) make it super simple, compared to even the 'easy' Gorden west books popular in the 90s and early 00s. As for the radio, Any modern HT is going to have comparable performance in the 2M/440 Mhz bands, there's little difference between the $25 UV-5R or your $200 FT-70 (Save for the C4FM on the FT-70, but Digital radio formats are their own discussion).

>>3174238

You're really best off watching youtube videos explaining how to program a baofeng. hoshnasi has a decent one, so do others. Did you get a programming cable with the radio? Using the open source CHIRP software, it makes programming the radio very simple. It is possible to do this by hand, but a lengthy process, and long undertaking if you want to fill all the 100+ channels.

You could tune to one of the weather frequencies in the 162.xxx mhz range, or use the FM radio function if you're dying for something to listen too.

Make sure to keep an antenna attached at all times, in case you accidentally key up the radio. It's unlikely, but possible to damage the radio otherwise.

There is a general purpose frequency list available here as a CSV file, and can be imported into chirp. It includes FRS and GMRS frequencies, among others. This is an ok 'starter' channel set IMO but no means exhaustive.

https ://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/program-your-vhf-uhf-transceivers-for-disaster-preparedness-with-frs-gmrs-pmr-murs-business-weather-marine-ham-channel-frequencies/

CHIRP does take some learning how to use, but is miles better then the Baofeng software.

And yes, people sneer at baofengs, but they're the honda civic of the radio world. Cheap, relatively reliable, and work just as well as expensive handhelds for many needs.