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General discussion

Good Enough? & Which One?

Sep 8, 2015 7:31PM PDT

Hi all,

I was asked to decide to buy these radios. Ham here of course so feeling struggling to decide. I have been looking at Amazon and found the price and features of these two seem to meet the given requests. They get high-capacity battery and I think this is what I prefer.

No HF/VHF/UHF mode rigs wanted.

Still, not sure which to buy. (I understand that handheld transceivers aren’t good starter radios)
Not sure if here is the right place to ask but I would like to have a try and am looking forward to listening to your voice. What do you think about them? Or do you have any other recommendations.

What we use it for (with amateur radio licenses): mainly emergency communications and public service
Budget: around $60 for one is fine

(1)
Baofeng GT-3TP Mark-III Tri-Power 8/4/1W with 7.4V 3800mAh Battery

(2)
Baofeng GT-3 Mark-II with large capacity 7.4V 3800mAh Li-ion Battery
http://www.446shop.com/pic/201212/2112218.jpg
Thanks in advance. If this is a wrong/improper discussion here, I will say sorry about this. Please feel free to let me know.

Discussion is locked

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I'm thinking eham sites.
Sep 9, 2015 4:21PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11789 calls out a battery but even if you give them a day of battery they want a week. Give a week and they want a month.

It's been years since I've seen Ham gear. Try eham.
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Thanks!
Sep 10, 2015 7:04PM PDT

Thank you for sharing the website. I found it very helpful; the forum the product review are just great.

I saw one guy said he bought Baofeng UV82. No extra life battery neither but he bought a spare one and keep it charged. The ht stays cooler than the UV5R on long keydowns.

Yes, thx, will try eham. Happy

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So how far can one of these walkie talkie...
Sep 10, 2015 8:16AM PDT

communicate? What ever happen to citizen band, does it still exist? How's the airwave? Probably not all that heavy anymore because of the internet and cellular. I remember we had a ham radio station at my high school radio shop long long time ago.

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(NT) I'd find an e-ham site.
Sep 10, 2015 8:33AM PDT
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I was just curious more than anything.
Sep 10, 2015 12:28PM PDT

I would think citizen band walkie talkie would do just as well and I don't think a test is require to get a license. However, I guess ham radio operators are a different breed.

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Test is required but it is easy.
Sep 10, 2015 7:10PM PDT

Wiki:

"Prospective amateur radio operators are examined on understanding of the key concepts of electronics, radio equipment, antennas, radio propagation, RF safety, and the radio regulations of the government granting the license. These examinations are sets of questions typically posed in either a short answer or multiple-choice format. Examinations can be administered by bureaucrats, non-paid certified examiners, or previously licensed amateur radio operators.

The ease with which an individual can acquire an amateur radio license varies from country to country. In some countries, examinations may be offered only once or twice a year in the national capital and can be inordinately bureaucratic (for example in India) or challenging because some amateurs must undergo difficult security approval (as in Iran)."
Laugh