Any tips Ray? how long have you had your licence? This is the one I will be getting it should be on the way now I couldn't find a bad review of it other than it doesn't do some things as well as one 10 times its price.
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A

I am studying and taking pretests as we speak it appears my knowledge of electronics and soldering will come in handy.

JYD#176
"dein Gott schickte mich zu zerstören"
"Sic semper evello mortem Tyrannis"
"Sometimes the chance of a zombie outbreak is the only reason I need to make many of my life's Decisions." General Delivery