2026 GMRS/HAM Licenses and Equipment

[YoungGun]

Told myself over the years about getting Amateur/HAM license but never got around to do it. Beginning 2026 I finally got off my behind and started with the most easiest step...got "our" GMRS call sign (main objective is for the whole family as backup communication). I have a Baofeng UV-82HP for over 5 years and exclusively using it for listening (and for emergency as necessary on our hiking). It's programmed with GMRS/FRS channels too. I also ordered a pair of Baofeng UV-5G Mini GMRS units for beginner.

That's where I am at now!

My next step is Amateur/HAM.

Looking for all opinions/recommendations/tips & tricks/you named it/etc.... (not limiting to licensing process and/or equipment).

Thank you.

YG

 

[NYECOGunsmith]

Equipment: Yaesu, almost as inexpensive as Bao Feng these days, but meets Mil Spec, and the only radios to come with a 3 YEAR warranty, and if it ever does need work, the factory and repair depot is just a short ways away in Cypress CA.

Also, about the easiest to program either manually or with CHIRPS or RTS.
I own all the major brands, Alinco, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu, as well as some of the Chinese stuff (Bao Feng, Btech, TYT, Radioddity) and teach the classes on Amateur Radio (for licenses and usage) and GMRS (for usage)
and since all Yaesu radios use the same alphabetic menu tree, folks find them the easiest to program, and since they all used the same menu tree, a 50 year old Yaesu and a 5 minute old one program the same. Saves time and confusion.

The other major brands (Alinco, Icom, Kenwood) make great radios, nothing wrong with the hardware, but the owners manuals are translated from the original non English language they were written in, and can be confusing.

AND they often change the programming completely within the same model radio, between two manufactured a few months apart, went through that more than once with Kenwood dual bands, two radios, same model number, manufactured 3 months apart, look identical, but the owners manual and the programming were completely different, would be confusing to a newbie.

I can provide you with the free study materials for all three classes of Amateur license, and while I am still a certified license examiner, we are no longer offering the exams in Pahrump, there just wasn't any call for them so after 20 years, we quit doing it.

But, you can take a FREE exam in Las Vegas, and I can point you to that as well.

Congrats on getting started, the GMRS license is a good way to go to get into radio communications.