If you can use a spreadsheet program you already have most of the skillset you need to program a radio with CHIRP. And if you have more than one CHIRP-compatible radio then you can mostly just copy and paste between files for the different radios.

Programming a channel at the keypad is a good skill to learn too, but it's a lot slower.

Quote from: Anianna on October 02, 2026, 06:35:23 PMI have the vague understanding that I do want this capability, I just don't know enough about it yet to know why beyond that it makes the radio programmable in ways it couldn't be without it.  I think.

Quote from: Anianna on October 02, 2026, 06:35:23 PM

Quote from: EBuff75 on October 02, 2026, 11:13:56 AMAnd if you're planning to use CHIRP to program your radio, make sure that it's a supported radio first!

https://chirpmyradio.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Supported_Radios

I have the vague understanding that I do want this capability, I just don't know enough about it yet to know why beyond that it makes the radio programmable in ways it couldn't be without it.  I think.

For a handheld, programming in channels, names, settings, etc. is really annoying to do using the keypad, especially if you have a lot of channels that you want to program.  It's a LOT easier to do all that in CHIRP and then just load it into the radio.  

For our CERT, our radio guy put together the whole program on his own radio.  Then he could copy it into templates for different radios as people brought them in for programming.  Once they were all done, everyone had the same channels and names all ready to go.  This is for dedicated radios for a specific group, but the same thing holds for doing just one radio. It also gives you a backup of the channels / setup, so that if you have to wipe the radio, you can just reprogram it again later.

As I have recently come to understand it, all of the radios I'm looking at as beginner HAM radios have FRS capabilities, but are technically not legal to use in FRS bands:

Quote from: WikipediaAll equipment used on FRS must be certified according to FCC regulations. Radios are not certified for use in this service if they exceed limits on power output, have a detachable antenna, allow for unauthorized selection of transmitting frequencies outside of the 22 frequencies designated for FRS, or for other reasons. After December 2017, the FCC no longer accepts applications to certify hand-held FRS units providing for transmission in any other radio band.

FRS radios must use only permanently attached antennas there are also table-top FRS "base station" radios that have whip antennas. This limitation intentionally restricts the range of communications, allowing greatest use of the available channels by the community.

I see the reasoning is included here, but I'm not quite wrapping my head around it just yet.  

Is "intentionally restricting the range of communications" meant to limit traffic on those channels?  

If so, how does restricting (legally, not physically) equipment capable of using those channels but that lay outside of the certification parameters serve that purpose?

If the purpose is to limit FRS communication to devices that are solely dedicated to FRS use, why is there no limits set on the capability to access FRS channels on devices that fall outside of those legal parameters?

Were these rules born of poor politics or a functional need?  Or is my understanding to this point faulty to begin with?

Quote from: EBuff75 on October 02, 2026, 11:13:56 AMAnd if you're planning to use CHIRP to program your radio, make sure that it's a supported radio first!

https://chirpmyradio.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Supported_Radios

I have the vague understanding that I do want this capability, I just don't know enough about it yet to know why beyond that it makes the radio programmable in ways it couldn't be without it.  I think.

Awesome resource!

While I'm generally a "Buy Once, Cry Once" kind of guy, when it comes handheld radios; buy 'em all and let experience sort it out. I started my HAM career with the BF-8HP back in 2014; used it both as an HT and a mobile radio. Eventually gave that away to a new HAM. The cheap HTs are a great way to test the waters with what you need to learn the basics of radio use and etiquette.

But if you want the whole family to start communicating right away for cheap; grab that GMRS license and a few BFs or Raddiodity HTs and start the learning there. Radio is radio and what you learn in GMRS is applicable to HAM.

And if you're planning to use CHIRP to program your radio, make sure that it's a supported radio first!

https://chirpmyradio.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Supported_Radios 

GMRS is a bit of a different ball of wax, as that is a different service with different licensing rules. However, many (most?) GMRS radios can also listen to VHF and UHF ham frequencies too. If there is a GMRS repeater within range of your location and you have permission to use it you could potentially cover much of a metro area with one.

Quote from: Rednex on October 02, 2026, 06:36:45 AMJust marking this. I got a pair of Baofeng GMRS Radio GM21 ( fancy walkie talkies) as my gateway into radio. We used them to talk to each other on the drive when we moved.

Just marking this. I got a pair of Baofeng GMRS Radio GM21 ( fancy walkie talkies) as my gateway into radio. We used them to talk to each other on the drive when we moved.

As someone who was just about exactly where you were in the process of learning about radios two years ago, I'm going to give you my suggestion based on what I have been using. Of course, there are other radios out there that are nicer, and certainly many with which I have no experience.

I'm also probably going to oversimplify some things, so I apologize in advance; but don't know where you are in the process of learning, so I'm not going to assume.

VHF/UHF radios, which are the ones you're asking about, only go about 20 miles, best-case. Usually much less with a 5-10 watt HT (handheld). If there is a repeater close enough for you to use that could go up to about a 50 mile radius from the repeater, but again depends on several variables. To go a greater distance you are looking at an HF radio, which tend to be much more expensive and require larger antennas.

With all of that out of the way, a UV-5RM would work just fine for your described needs. I started with a UV-5R myself. I like the Tidradio TD-H3 more personally, which is only a few dollars more than the Baofeng. The Pro model seems to be overkill for where you are at first glance. Having multiple inexpensive HTs means you have spares, and you get to try them all to see which features you like. Pretty much all radios at this level will receive NOAA channels as well as broadcast FM radio stations, which is handy in an emergency. USB charging is also a nice feature that is becoming widespread.

The concepts in your books will apply to pretty much all inexpensive Chinese radios; even the menus tend to be pretty similar.

BaofengTech, or BTech, has some radios that are just Baofengs with better support. They also have some products that are not Baofengs at all, but they are supported by BTech and may have some custom firmware.

So perhaps a bit long-winded, but if I had to buy my first radio today it would be the Tidradio TD-H3. I like the form factor and features a bit more than the entry-level Baofengs, including USB-C or Bluetooth programming. Pretty nice for $30 on Amazon.

Welcome to the world of ham radio! I have cheap/free study resources I'd be happy to gush about if you are interested.