![What Communication Device Should I Get?? [1000x1000 - 346KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/nDJ6lM.png){kind=link}
I've used CHIRP and it does a fine job with the Baofeng. The main problem with that radio is they are 5 Watt, you can receive well, but are very limited in terms of transmitting. I've heard people have ran homemade antennas up trees with success, but I've never tried it.
*Looks like Baofeng makes a 8 Watt version now.
I should have clarified in my "30-mile" comment that I was using the 8W unit. It's a BF8-HP I think it's what they call it. Still, 15-18 miles is probably more typical. That was with a Nagoya 18" whip. I built a J-Pole but have not benchmarked it yet.
I can't reliably hit the repeater which is about 15 miles away with mine, but I'm in an inner ring suburb, a lot of buildings and interference. I'd imagine if I went on top of an apartment building I'd have no issues.
I built a J-Pole but have not benchmarked it yet.
That's pretty cool. I really haven't done anything with radio in awhile, kind of lost interest tbh, but it is nice having the gear just in case. I do turn the handheld on to listen to the 'storm watch' guys during heavy weather. That is somewhat entertaining, but that is about it recently.
The HTs in general are really picky about antenna interference. If I am sitting in my fiberglass-topped Jeep I cannot hit the repeater. If i stand beside it I can. Never bothered to overthink it. Meh.
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