Baofeng UV-5R

Baofeng UV-5rAnother useful handheld radio is the Baofeng UV-5R.

This cheap and cheerful Chinese radio makes an ideal companion when working outside or hiking around rough terrain.

The low cost of these radios means that should it get damaged or lost then it really isn’t a major problem.

The UV-5R features 128 programmable channels with priority channel scanning, dual watch and 1750 Hz call tone making it quite comparable to much more expensive radios.

The UV-5R also features built-in VOX (Voice Operated Transmit) for hands-free operation and a high illumination flashlight, neither of which is sported by the Yaesu.

As with most Chinese products, the user guide could be better written or translated. A reasonably well translated version can be found here