Youtube; Supposedly in an emergency situation you do not need a license to work on restricted frequencies
Keep in mind these are not secure, would be for short distances line of sight, couple miles. There are even some videos on how you can use them to send text messages, however it relies on a dedicated app, and someone else keeping their translation services up and running
A lot of people recommend cheapie baofangs UV-5R on Amazon
They are radios marketed to licensed amateur radio folks - they cover parts of the VHF and UHF bands VHF: 136-174 MHz(Rx/Tx). UHF: 400-520 MHz(Rx/Tx). They can also listen to commercial radio bands: : 65-108 MHz. Amateur radio folks operate repeaters that greatly extend the range of the handheld, to use them you need to be licensed, and outside emergencies, they would not allow use for the purposes you are talking about here. The repeaters often host weekly nets where they practice providing comms/messaging in an emergency. I have the 8 watt version of that radio.
They can also transmit and receive on unlicensed bands (think the FRS/GMRS UHF Motorola and Midland radios you can buy in walmart) but operate at higher power than is allowed on those bands, as well as MURS, which is another VHF service (the employees at Walmart use MURS radios in store). You can also listen to NOAA radio channels on them.
If I was in a more suburban/rural setting and cared about 'legal' operation buying a cheap MURS radio would be my first choice.
Other things to keep in mind:
FCC says that any FRS/GMRS or MURS radio must only transmit on those services, so a Baofeng operating there would be 'illegal' even if you could be restricted to 2W.
None of these radios/services are encrypted. Anyone with a radio can hear you.
With the same power/antenna, in general VHF will have more range and do better in foliage than the higher frequency UHF. If you live in urban canyons, UHF will probably do better. You can also buy a better (bigger) antenna than what ships with the Baofeng - I have a Nagoya NA-771 on mine.
You also have to think about a handset/headset/mic and how you will key the radio.
One thought - the FCC can impose civil forfeitures on individuals that violate the FCC rules in this area - by my count upwards of $18k per incident, plus maybe up to 10k in enhancements. Trump should insure that Federal officers who arrest Antifa fucks with Baofengs and don't have ham licenses should be reported to the FCC, who can impose the fines without a court or prosecutor involved.
Youtube; Supposedly in an emergency situation you do not need a license to work on restricted frequencies
Keep in mind these are not secure, would be for short distances line of sight, couple miles. There are even some videos on how you can use them to send text messages, however it relies on a dedicated app, and someone else keeping their translation services up and running
A lot of people recommend cheapie baofangs UV-5R on Amazon
They are radios marketed to licensed amateur radio folks - they cover parts of the VHF and UHF bands VHF: 136-174 MHz(Rx/Tx). UHF: 400-520 MHz(Rx/Tx). They can also listen to commercial radio bands: : 65-108 MHz. Amateur radio folks operate repeaters that greatly extend the range of the handheld, to use them you need to be licensed, and outside emergencies, they would not allow use for the purposes you are talking about here. The repeaters often host weekly nets where they practice providing comms/messaging in an emergency. I have the 8 watt version of that radio.
They can also transmit and receive on unlicensed bands (think the FRS/GMRS UHF Motorola and Midland radios you can buy in walmart) but operate at higher power than is allowed on those bands, as well as MURS, which is another VHF service (the employees at Walmart use MURS radios in store). You can also listen to NOAA radio channels on them.
If I was in a more suburban/rural setting and cared about 'legal' operation buying a cheap MURS radio would be my first choice.
Other things to keep in mind:
One thought - the FCC can impose civil forfeitures on individuals that violate the FCC rules in this area - by my count upwards of $18k per incident, plus maybe up to 10k in enhancements. Trump should insure that Federal officers who arrest Antifa fucks with Baofengs and don't have ham licenses should be reported to the FCC, who can impose the fines without a court or prosecutor involved.
I am sure Ajit Pai would be game.
FRS frequencies are public. GMRS are $75 license.
I believe GMRS frequency handhelds operating under 2w are now also license free.
And all these handhelds and mobile units, operating even at 5w, are truly flea-powered transceivers in the world of hams and serious DXers.
If you want one strictly as a receiver, fine. But it’s a waste of money in the shortwave and sidebands that the DXers use.
For two-way handheld radio, $100-150 is going to buy as much real world range as can be had in these units. There just isn’t enough antenna for more.
You just want to avoid frequencies used by Police/Fire/EMS yes?