Best Higher End UHF/VHF Handheld?

[Gstoneburner]

Hi everybody. I have been using the budget UHF/ VHF radios for a while now, and have decided that it's time to step up and get a higher quality handheld with a much better front end. I use Motorola professionally at my job, and I'm pretty partial to them, but am open to other suggestions as far as brand goes. Is the front end and RX/TX clarity worth the price over the more affordable handhelds? My Ailunce HA1's do pretty well as is, and they are much better than the baofeng types as far as spurious emissions and handling rf interference. We are mostly running in the UHF band on GMRS frequencies and repeaters in a pretty rural forested area. Mostly for family communication and dirt work, in and out of heavy equipment all day long.

Last question, I have read that the Motorola basic CPS is now free to download. Is this true? How does it compare to chirp, etc as far as user friendliness and the learning curve?

 

[jeepsandradios]

Your posting this in the GMRS/FRS/MURS Section. There are no certified dual band radios for those services. If your looking for amateur service I'd start with the big three, Kenwood, Icom, Yaseu. All have quality handhelds. For LMR Part 90 frequencies then the APX7000/8000 series are theo nly dual band but defiantely way more than the stuff your using. Harris and Kenwood also offer dual band stuff. If your only usiong GMRS then alot of part 90 radios could fit your bill.