Even if the first products you buy are Chinese. I'm compelled to add that because there is such a cost difference -- in great part fueled by lack of interest in the radio hobby -- that is crucial right now.

I'm referring specifically to Baofeng handie-talkie radios, ~136-174 and ~400-520Mhz. Roughly $40 each and though they are a pain to program they are functional. It is time to obtain as many as you can afford for what is to come. Look for packages where a pair of them are sold along with 110V/12V chargers, extended time batteries, dual and single band antennas, programming cable (for use with free CHIRP software)... for under $100.

Of course, no one is going to flood the airwaves and transmit illegally and create a babbling storm on the airwaves. Just to have.

Consider basic VHF/UHF handie-talkies now. Then the lower frequency greater distance modes later as you 'formalize' your hobby.

Of course some or all of you will eventually become licensed HAMs and be enriched greatly. If your kid's resume has an amateur call sign it might give them a real boost for a tech job, and it's easy. There is a need for your family to have reliable local off-grid communication in an emergency. Actually there always was, but people have become complacent and entrusted their lives too much to the cellular network.

"I don't need to have a flashlight or spare tire or wrench in my car, I have AAA." That level of ridiculous unpreparedness.

And of course you will find a few HAM Karens out there moaning about dropping the Morse requirement, treating radio equipment like 'munitions' and (like Civil Defense groupies) treating any band-unlocked transmit-capable unit as a danger to society. The kind of people who would waste time pressing you for a callsign when you are trying to communicate an emergency. Thankfully fewer every day, and to them I say, I'm an Extra and fuck you. There is a shameful deficit of young amateur radio operators out there.

SORRY most present day amateur radio manufacturers, you took the high road. The last US manufacturers went belly-up back in the days of discrete components. You (US hams) gave the market away to the Japanese and the Koreans without a fight. Then you failed to successfully pass the hobby down to your children until every radio became a Boutique Item loaded with ever more fancy features. Baofeng saw a market gap a mile wide and they drove into it. Bless them..

You want to have at least six fully functional HT units. For the price of ONE SINGLE Boutique (well made sure but what the fuck) radio you have one for every menber of your family, and spares.

Of course I'm not shilling or promoting anybody. Just looked around one day and saw there was literally nothing else even close in the price range.