Best Higher End UHF/VHF Handheld?

[merlin]

I don't need to run part 90, mostly just the GMRS range for our private stuff

Except for use on GMRS a radio must be part 90 or 95 certified. You also need a GMRS license for other than FRS radios.
My brother and I chat back and forth with a pair of TK-3180 kenwood. They are part 95 certified. Not for use on FRS, but who cares.

 

[nokones]

For portable radios I use various Mototola model radios such as the VISAR, HT1000, MT2000, MTS2000, Astro Saber, XTS1500, XTS2500, and XTS5000 and for my mobiles MCS2000, XTL2500 remotes, XTS5000 both remotes and dash mounts for use on both VHF and UHF Business RAdio and GMRS freqs. I don't do Amateur Radio.

However, I do use conventional P25 voice on some of my Business Radio freqs and in the very near future my GMRS Repeater Club will have a DMR Repeater on a Business Radio Freq on a high elevated remote mountain top site.

 

[Coffeemug]

Best Higher End UHF/VHF Handheld?​

When I passed my Technician, I wanted to look at commercial Handhelds, mainly Motorola. Of course, I don't believe at that time Motorola produced a dual band for UHF and VHF, which wouldn't be budget friendly even used. Besides, on top of the radio itself, there are fees added on for programming software, licensing and cables that drives costs higher. I may like Motorola equipment, but I have to say that some Budget Friendly Radios have improved their quality. I mean there are some manufacturers that I would stay away from.

Right Now, I own a quite number part 90 certified / typed accepted Handhelds. But the newest one, the BTECH UV-PRO. What can I say? The UV-PRO may not have the Bells and Whistles as Kenwood or ICOM with NXDN or DMR, but it's easy to program and make changes too when necessary.

 

[prcguy]

Don't know why I didn't mention this earlier but if a Part 90 radio is being considered the Harris XG-100P is the best bang for the buck out there. Full VHF 136-174, full UHF 380-512MHz plus 700/800 and they are cheap. In contrast the APX7000 comes in two UHF band splits, R1 will do amateur and GMRS but the R2 will also do GMRS but it wont do amateur unless you pay $200 for a mod. The Harris does it all at a fraction of what an APX7000 cost, not to mention its even more expensive cousin, the APX8000.

Nice Harris XG-100Ps are out there for $500 or less and the last three I bought were three for $1k or $333.33 each.