Baofeng UV-5R Starter Kit (custom programmed)

Handy compact hand held unit. Easy controls well lit key pad and screen . Good volume and speaker clarity. New to this type of communication so still learning. Pleased overall with this radio.

The kit was great in terms of the equipment. However, the programming was not what I expected. I expected to receive the GMRS, MURS, NOAA, emergency frequencies, and HAM radio repeaters in my local area. After all, the radio is only 4- to 5-watts. However, after programming the GMRS, MURS, and NOAA frequencies, they loaded the radio's remaining open channels with HAM repeater frequencies, including some that are more than 150 miles away. They did not leave me any open channels to program local emergency frequencies. On top of that, they did not identify where the repeaters are located, so now I need to research the repeaters and attempt to locate them. They could have provided me a paper spreadsheet listing the locations of the loaded repeaters. This way I could have organized them into areas, or deleted those I do not need or want. So I could load the local emergency frequencies. Another way would have been for them to email me a copy of the frequencies (GMRS, MURS, NOAA, local emergency frequencies, and HAM repeaters) with their locations before programming the radio. Then I could have chosen the ones that I wanted. I was hoping to have the frequencies programmed for my local area. But as I indicated, the equipment is good quality and is well built. The cars are extremely nice in the information they provide.

Just getting started with GMRS radios.