Greetings, as it looks like I'll be closer to getting licensed for Ham Radio, I
was looking at some
portable handheld radios.  I found a couple of cheap radios that might be good
for starting off....

The more I look, the more the BaoFeng Dual Band looks like a better choice for
me.  I get the feeling it'd be better
for connecting to the Repeater in Brookhaven, Mississippi....  What do you
think?

BaoFeng UV-3R Mark II dual band display ham 2-way handheld radio UV3R  ($31.35 
$14.90 shipping from hong kong)
Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-470Mhz
Dual-Band Display, Dual Standby
Output power 2 Watts
99 Channels + 1 Emergency
50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
Built-in VOX function
1750 Hz Burst Tone
FM Radio (87.0Mhz - 108.0Mhz)
LED Flashlight
Large LCD Display
High/Low Power Switchable
25KHz/12.5Khz Switchable
Emergency Alert
Low Battery Alert
Battery Saver
Time-Out Timer
Keypad Lock
Monitor Channel
PTT Earpiece

and 

JT-988 VHF 136-174 Mhz handheld portable 2-way ham radio LED flash earpiece 988
$56.60 no shipping, but $10.99 for 3-yr warranty

199 Memory Channels
VOX, LED Flashlight
LCD & keypad backlit display
Orange digital keyboard
FM Radio function
voice guide (chinese and english)
Sound Alarm
4W power output
Comes with an earpiece  (PTT (E-065K))
VHF 136-174 Mhz
FM Radio 70-107.9Mhz


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