Thanks, Mark.

If you look here, I see two different-looking UV-5R.  Is the difference mostly in the battery capacity?

https://tinyurl.com/ry44ctzp

Thanks, Mark.

If you look here, I see two different-looking UV-5R.  Is the difference mostly in the battery capacity?

https://tinyurl.com/ry44ctzp

Yes, that appears to be the case.  3800mAh v. 1800 mAh batteries.  When we bought our Baofengs over a decade ago, the UV5R was $45 and the BF-F8HP was $65. That compared to 10 to almost 20 times that price for the high-end handhelds.

My favorite two HTs (Handheld Tranceivers) are the Yaesu VX-8DR and the ICOM 51 series.

Yaesu no longer makes the VX-8DR series. It is truly a "do it all" analog (no digital) HT because it receives the HF bands as well as the VHF and UHF bands. It transmits on all the allowed HF, VHF, and UHF ham bands and can be jailbroken ("modded") to transmit on the non-ham bands. Like everything HF, performance is limited more by "antenna" than anything "radio." I suspect that Yaesu dropped the VX-8DR from their line because of the price. With all the accessories (GPS, earpiece and VOX mike for sniper/spotter use with a ballistic helmet, and upgraded antenna) the price topped out at about $750. Here's a used one (without accessories) on eBay, current bid at $380: https://www.ebay.com/itm/326370980344?_skw=Yaesu+VX-8&itmmeta=01JFGGD1W9NM2FEW1277X8Y77Y&hash=item4bfd39f1f8:g:6LAAAOSwOYJnXHW1&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnFfGXG1r0NfgKx2hy3tqJojWoWgXKvVB1634iyb1%2FmY5UGltZfUUQzEMaf%2Fv4N6qHKM%2FtDnNYa4R%2B5qD8KV9qK2qjLXWIA3nR4HDHNSvBr74616Q6nhsYm9xCPitrG7rFPXjLEuD8VLN4WvqJNXLEyh0rJ31oilXj5zbyiW1d%2Bx9AnSOvf5nn0xsrLA5XjkW7HHlV7trR7u5lRVZqFSKNTLP349tOx2QVbAnYxjNqBNjtPwCI%2BMbDvP9NygfGeu9zPsWA17lZTPlrV3dowkGOe1%2B8g50HYV7HsiUlMeUFicg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5yetJD8ZA

I like the ICOM 51 series because it transceives (transmit and receive) analog on the VHF (except 220cm) and UHF bands (no HF!) and also incorporates D-STAR, a digital mode that utilizes the internet to connect with repeaters worldwide. The signal quality is superb. You can speak to someone on any continent and it is as if they are sitting next to you. Even the best analog HF cannot achieve that signal quality.  The caveat: no internet = no D-STAR. The current model is the ICOM ID52A PLUS 60th anniversary edition at $730. https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-018815

As with guns and optics, "buy once, cry once."

What you propose is illegal and there is no shortage of prissy ass ham snobs who will DF you, dox you, and rat you out to the FCC.

You could use the radios at legal power levels on the FRS bands without any license

…BUT… it is so easy to get the Technician level ham license!

Buy this book: https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-017935

Read it in one night, highlight only the correct answers. Do not read the incorrect answers.

The night before taking the Tech test, re-read the questions and ONLY the correct answers you highlighted.

Doing the above, investing about 6 hours of your time, anyone (except PV) can pass the test. You will not understand or master the material, but you will be licensed.

If you want to understand the basic ham material, read and understand this book: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064

I was just going on the thought that, correct me if I'm mistaken, you can authorize someone (in your presence?) to use your radio, and your call sign, but I can see (and it already occurred to me) that using the same call for both sides of the conversation would be pushing things beyond what is allowed.

What you describe is basically how I studied for my Technician license.  It is indeed pretty easy.