HAM Radio- Okay ELMER where is the easy button on these radios?

[.40isthenew.45]

The $35 BaoFeng's are tempting but I decided I'd rather get a used version of a more expensive radio than a new version of a cheap radio (to translate this into gun terms, wouldn't you rather have a used Glock or Springfield than a brand new Lorcin or Hi-Point? )

I would feel better about a Glock vs STI analogy but I get what you are saying. The handheld I viewed as a throw-away if something didn't pan out. I haven't used it enough to know what I want to do with it. The mobile got fairly good reviews, and while I would like to have a "nicer" radio, I don't know what makes a "nicer" radio or what features I want to add.

I had made up my mind to finally get "serious" about ham last year, that was about a week before the wife decided we needed to move to a new house, and of course that sucked up all my available time and energy. Now that we're settled into the new house I'll again try to get my radios working. I have a Yaesu FT-50 dual band HT that I bought used in 2011 when I got my tech license (I had previously been a Tech+ but that license expired in 2004. Tech + no longer exists as a license class since they got rid of the novice license.) I also have a Kenwood mobile 2m that was in my old 4runner for a while - if I get ambitious I'll put it in my Suburban.

That is close to my plan as well. When you get things set up drop me a note and we will see if we can get them to connect.

As for ham radio enthusiasts, in my (admittedly limited) experience, they are usually enthusiastic about helping you up until the point that they realize you aren't "into" radios and have zero interest in getting into "the hobby" and you just need to use the damn thing. The hams that have been most helpful to me are the ones for whom radio is an adjunct to another hobby, not a hobby in and of itself (for example, more and more 4 wheel drive and off road enthusiasts are getting into ham as it offers much better communications options than CB.)

Which is why I asked the question here, rather than on a ham forum.....