3-Your first radio for around £50

***Do not expect to buy a shack in a box as your first radio or buy expensive rigs brand new. The markets are saturated with people’s mistakes, just like digital photography. Buy cheap and learn what you really need. Look for silent key sales and second-hand bargains; reliability is rarely an issue; I have had 40-year-old radios working perfectly. Do not blame the gear for your lack of experience! ***

Yes, you can just buy a Baofeng UV-5R, but you can do a lot better for a little more. Even license-free!

The Walkie-Talkie/Handy Talkie- consider a better antenna for long-distance capability and try moving up a hill!

The generic walkie-talkie works either on VHF 144-146 MHz, UHF 430- 440 MHz, or PMR44 on 446 MHz or possibly CB radio 27 MHz; these are great for short - medium range communication out of the box, 1 mile - 5 miles at ground level in the city. With a better antenna (Antennas transmit and receive; aerial receive only), I have managed 50 miles on 2 M FM and further via a repeater.

Typical prices at the time of writing on Amazon.co.uk. Amateur Radio shops offer better service and advice generally.

Baofeng UV5RM– pronounced BOW-Feng £26

Quansheng UV-5K(8) £32

*My setup 

I have a Baofeng UV-S9 VHF/UHF 5W walkie-talkie, a TYT MD-UV380 also VHF/UHF FM and DMR, both with Diamond and other better antennas.

Base Station/Mobile - budget for a portable battery and antenna

• Anytone AT-779UV VHF/UHF £75

• Yaesu FT-2980E HVF 80 watt mobile

*My setup 

A base station can utilise a bigger, higher antenna, subject to planning permission. I use a Yaesu FT450D HF/6M transceiver (100 W) that can serve as base or mobile as it runs on 12 VDC and as a base station via a 12 VDC 30 A power supply made by Watson. I also use an external Antenna Tuner that covers a wider range of antennas than the built-in one and requires another 12 VDC input from the Watson Power Supply.

Photo: My two budget walkie-talkies, the Baofeng UV-S9R VHF/UHF FM around £25, and the TYT MD UV-380 VHF/UHF FM/DMR around £90 when bought.  Both obsolete, but greater choice of bargains to be had now.