PMR446 v Walkie Talkies

[Lightspeed]

Midnight,

If you can afford the Yaesu route, it will for sure beat the Baofeng stuff hands down.

Comparable transceivers from Yaesu that are currently available in Uk are

Vx3e £130 Nevada Radio
0.1 -3.0w miniature radio with full HF receive capability

Vx6e £ 165 Martyn Lynch
As above but full submersible and o,5 - 5w output

FT 60e £130 Maplins
Basic 0.5 -5w output

All of the above radios are transmit restricted to the amateur bands. If you want full band coverage you'll need to find a supplier who sells "opened up radios" there is a merchant on e-bay from Greece who does this, but I do not know how reliable he is.

Also bear in mind the cost of power packs for the Yaesu radios, likewise the cost of accessories. They are many many times greater than those for the Baofeng. Of course they are far better manufactured and will last longer as well.

A huge number of amateurs, me included use Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood gear, but we also use Baofengs and the like in situations where our precious radios might get damaged.

There are also higher grade chinese manufactures Wouxan and TYT for example who make products that are starting to give the main ham manufacturers from Japan a run for their money