Michael wrote:

very intriguing suggestion... i'd gladly buy baofeng as a "toy" to
tinker with, but i want somthing durable and dependable...

Lots of hams I know are buying them to put in "bug out bags", keep
one in each car, etc. They are small, cheap and run on rechargable lithium
batteries so they don't run down when sitting on a shelf.

I don't have one myself but I have been told they are very easy to use
and program.

BTW, the Woxoun is sold by Yaseu, but they changed the features slightly. :-)

i would not
be confident about that thing holding up. also want somthing i dont
have to struggle with learning how to use. my goal is to use it to
work the local hams and to have somthing when the power goes out. i'm
in north nj, and my power where i live has gone out for over three
days twice in a two year period because our substation is by a river.
this last storm wiped out the power by me and it is still out in my
town.

Personally in that case I would look into older Motorola gear. Lots of
parts, plenty of support in the ham community, and almost indestructible.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
Making your enemy reliant on software you support is the best revenge.