True, no license required to just listen.... As noted, you need a license for them. But they're good for just listening, and for true emergencies there are exemptions to using them without a license I believe if you are looking for an "in case" radio.
They're not legal for gmrs/murs because of an ability to be keyboard programmed and because of the removable antenna. How will the FCC know that listening to you broadcast? I don't know.Baofengs can be programmed and used for GMRS with a license, just don't transmit on HAM channels.
They can also use marine bands when on the water. There are tons of aftermarket goodies like antennas, mics, and batteries too.
Buy a six pack. If you lose or break one, no big deal.
I got started with a baofeng, and when training found it far superior to the $300+ radios my counterparts were using so for uhf/vhf I've never upgraded.FRS is free to talk, or GMRS with a very cheap just-buy-it license gets suprising range IF you get good radios.
Any Icom, or the commercial (not consumer!) Kenwood, Motorola, and so on. Do a bit of research on what are LMR (land mobile radio) in the GMRS bands and how to program them (some require software, so you likely want to avoid those models) and often they are available quite cheap on eBay, etc. If you go that way, get battery cases you can stuff AAs into and buy a supply of Lithium batteries. Rechargables go bad with age and are expensive new, need a charger, and if it's "bad-times" planning, or just travel, you won't have convenient recharge power. Stuff more batteries in. Pro radios also have very high quality accessories (mics, headsets) that don't always cost too much.
Random example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384408190716
Two radios for under $200. They look and act like consumer radios in that they are FRS and pushbutton to change channels but... Icom doesn't really make consumer radios. They are very high quality, work great, with no learning curve.
(Icom also is nice as they use the same audio connectors on all their HTs (handy talkies) so you can go all the way to military headsets if you want to upgrade the system without adding complexity to your life... but others have some compatibility so if accessories matter, check that stuff before you buy).
Now to make enemies:
I see lots of people come out to to the woods with Baofeng and if you like is great but I see terrible performance out of them all the time. Not just people not knowing how to program, but noisy transmitters that interfere with other electronics nearby, lower range than they should get, bad batteries, bad connections causing low life and restarts, etc. If you love your Baofeng, great. I don't and won't own one, like to stay a good distance from people using them.
They're not legal for gmrs/murs because of an ability to be keyboard programmed and because of the removable antenna. How will the FCC know that listening to you broadcast? I don't know.
They're pretty notorious for spurious emissions. You're correct, it's usually an additional charge, not the intial charge.Looking at the transmission with the proper test equipment to see if it meets the spectral purity requirements for one. CCRs tend to be dirty. But most of the people who get charges with using non-approved equipment have been caught for some other misbehavior, like jamming, then get the non-approved equipment rap added on.
A little quick example of why a repeater located on a local grain elevator is good to have access too. Some are very simple, and even solar powered.
A little quick example of why a repeater located on a local grain elevator is good to have access too. Some are very simple, and even solar powered.
Even better when the repeaters are on 11,000+ ft. mountains, even better when they are linked. We truly do get spoiled here in the SW.
Baofeng is popular over here with campers and ''overlander'' groups.
There is no way at all, that all of them are licensed. In fact I'll bet that most of them are outlaws.
The test can be studied, practiced, and taken completely online now. And is easier than ever last I heard.
including the internet.the internet ruins everything
PS, I'm shocked this hasn't been shut down for not being firearm related, yet.