BF-888s family net

[WHB]

Midnitemo,
Yep, 5 Watts right out of the box.
One thing to think about is the group security aspect, you do say that you/your group will sit on them until it goes belly up.
I would buy the computer programming cable and configure them to PMR 446 channels, the ones that come preset are not in use in the UK. That might be a plus for group OPSEC you may think but then also think of other groups.
There are a lot of kids out there that have had PMR 446 walkie-talkies for Christmas/birthdays and who have got bored shite-less with them. Come the fall there will be quite a few that remember they bought them for the children and they now have a more survival usage.
Note, 70cms is not the greatest range band so if you can hear a PMR radio not of your own group then there is a good chance that you have them within an relatively close location to you.
Also remember that Ham radio frightens loads of people, CB is almost as daunting what with talk of SWR meters and such. PMR comes with it ready to go so I would think many, many people will go that route if they think comms-wise.
If your group is going to stay close in a bug-in or bug-out situation I would say PMR would work quite well, Hell, have fun with yours and try to pick up some of the PMR nets that are out there already. You never know you may even find out useful things about PMR that many amateurs don't factor into their understanding of the PMR part of the 70cm band.

If you have questions I'll try and answer them, I have a fellow Ham friend that is quite well versed in 70cms and actually owns one of the BF-888s himself.

WHB