The Baofeng will get you started but I would recommend that you get something better. Find a used FT-60.
Problem with the Baofeng radios is they get overloaded real easy. Baofengs have trouble "hearing". You can have a Baofeng and a more expensive radio side by side and the more expensive radio will hear stations that the Baofeng will not hear. I had 2 Baofengs. Gave one away. I use a Yaesu FT-1D for 2m FM.
If you still want to get one, see if you can find something on Craigslist. They are not expensive but the cheaper you can get it the better.
As far as how far you can transmit, you should be able to get more than a couple miles with them. Make sure you get a better antenna than the stock rubber duck antenna. A good inexpensive antenna is an MFJ Long Ranger telescopic whip. I have it and it performs pretty well. The furthest I've reached with it was 150 miles from a high summit, using my Yaesu FT1D not the Baofeng.
Getting up high will help you get out further. From the summit of Mt. Bachelor I was able to use the stock rubber duck antenna and reach out 127 miles to another station that was also on a high peak. Both those contacts on 2m FM.
I also have a roll j-pole and a portable Arrow 3 element yagi.
Good luck with everything. Study for the tech exam and you will do fine. Also, if you want to study for your general as well you can take both same day same price. If you're feeling really lucky you can go for Extra too.
Problem with the Baofeng radios is they get overloaded real easy. Baofengs have trouble "hearing". You can have a Baofeng and a more expensive radio side by side and the more expensive radio will hear stations that the Baofeng will not hear. I had 2 Baofengs. Gave one away. I use a Yaesu FT-1D for 2m FM.
If you still want to get one, see if you can find something on Craigslist. They are not expensive but the cheaper you can get it the better.
As far as how far you can transmit, you should be able to get more than a couple miles with them. Make sure you get a better antenna than the stock rubber duck antenna. A good inexpensive antenna is an MFJ Long Ranger telescopic whip. I have it and it performs pretty well. The furthest I've reached with it was 150 miles from a high summit, using my Yaesu FT1D not the Baofeng.
Getting up high will help you get out further. From the summit of Mt. Bachelor I was able to use the stock rubber duck antenna and reach out 127 miles to another station that was also on a high peak. Both those contacts on 2m FM.
I also have a roll j-pole and a portable Arrow 3 element yagi.
Good luck with everything. Study for the tech exam and you will do fine. Also, if you want to study for your general as well you can take both same day same price. If you're feeling really lucky you can go for Extra too.
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