Dual Band HT

[ponykilr]

Looking for a good Dual Band HT 2M/440. Needs to be good quality. Looking at Icom T-70 and Yaesu FT-60 but wondering what you would recommend. Is there anything with the durability/cost of these units in a dual watch?
Anyone with a T-70 or Ft-60 who could offer a quick review?

 

[w9cll]

Baofeng UV-B5, just picked one up off Amazon for $27. Here is a good review:
https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/review-baofeng-uv-b5-baofeng-uv-b6/

Honestly unless there is a feature they offer I see no reason to look at the "big" three anymore. They have priced themselves out of the game.

Oh and it will do 220 (not a lot of power) as well

 

[Decoder]

I have two Baofeng UV-5RTP These are the triple power ones 1, 4, 8 watts, I keep it on 4 watts which rally puts out a little over 5 on 144 and just 4 on 440. I also use a Wouxun KG-UV8D. All of these are dual band. The Baofeng are alittle more detailed to hand program as after you save the main frequency you have to go back and save the spilt one two and to put it in letters manually. But if you do it from the software its a snap. the Wouxun is easier to program by hand. Both radio's are great units and I got mine Wouxun from Cheapham for $79.00.

 

[Mudfoot]

The Boofang's and Waxons are OK radios for what they are, but are a pain to manually program. If I used them all the time, it would become second nature, but I don't. The big 4 rigs are usually more intuitive to program. Yes! Alinco is part of the big 4.

 

[w9cll]

Yes I agree the Chinese rigs are harder to program but Chirp(free program) supports most of the (and most of the big4) and makes it very easy to program them.

 

[Mudfoot]

I do use CHIRP, but I'm talking about being out and about with the need to do a field program without a computer to do it.

 

[w9cll]

I do use CHIRP, but I'm talking about being out and about with the need to do a field program without a computer to do it.

Yes there I do agree the programming can be tedious

 

[ponykilr]

Thanks for the replies fellas, but I mentioned Icom and Yaesu quality. Water resistance and durability is important in my quality requirements.

 

[w9cll]

You didn't ask about water durability.

 

[ponykilr]

You didn't ask about water durability.

"Is there anything with the durability/cost of these units in a dual watch?".

Sorry I was misunderstood.

 

[w9cll]

I would still go with the Baofeng, for $27 you could buy several for the cost one IcomYaesuKendwoodAlinco unit.

 

[Zagadka]

Water resistance and durability is important in my quality requirements.

This thread may be of interest to you.

 

[ponykilr]

This thread may be of interest to you.

That thread IS me LOL.