Hey all. Without gettin too technical I gotta add something as it might save a life someday!
I am not a super tech dude... But I am a amateur radio operator. And one important thing I learned is
while using hand held radio's, always hold the radio so the antenna is vertical, and as high as possible
A lot of people hold the radio in an ergonomically comfortable way, which tilts the antenna... and sends the waves at odd angles... called cross polarization. On VHF and UHF this can really effect the distance a radio can talk..
Otherwise, I can say that with electronics, better stuff costs more!
Cowboybill
