Just bought a Baofeng uv-5r

[Wjbell]

So what would be the best choice if you wanted to go analog and digital with the same radio, and is there such a thing?

 

[AK9R]

D-STAR radios from Icom and Kenwood and System Fusion radios from Yaesu do both their respective digital voice mode and analog. I assume that the various DMR radios from the Chinese manufacturers can do both digital voice and analog.

 

[mmckenna]

So what would be the best choice if you wanted to go analog and digital with the same radio, and is there such a thing?

Just make sure you fully understand that there are multiple digital modes used in amateur radio, and they are not compatible/interoperable. Once you buy into a digital mode, that's what you've got.

Before buying a digital capable radio, make sure that the system you are going to use to talk to your friend down south is capable of doing what you want.

As for what is "best", that depends on what you need, what your budget is, and what your level of technical skills are. There's a lot of options, so choose carefully.

Also, when comparing prices of radios, make sure you consider all the costs, including the costs of programming software, cables, replacement batteries, etc. Sometimes the radio is the cheap/easy part.

 

[krokus]

So what would be the best choice if you wanted to go analog and digital with the same radio, and is there such a thing?

Have you found out which digital modes are used near you, or by your intended co-communicator?

 

[KC5AKB]

I tried posting this don't know if it went through so I apologize if it did and I'm reposting.

I'm completely new to ham radio and I'm trying to connect with a friend about 200 mi away. We both have the uv5r and I've managed to find and connect to a repeater successfully.

If we both are able to connect to a repeater can we talk to each other. I'm sorry for the very basic question. Does transmitting from my radio just throw a wide net on the whole airspace and he can hear me and respond to me? In other words, if I try to make a call to him specifically could anybody respond back to me? I'm pretty sure I can't pinpoint his radio so where only him and I are talking back and forth. This is all very new to me and we'll start with that basic question. Thank you for any information that will help me figure this out.

a good video

 

[sloop]

I'm sure that there are other radios that do both analog and digital, but if you want to keep the price down Retevis AT-3S will do both analog and DMR. Got mine when they were on sale for $79...usually run less than $100.