STATEBEAR: Difference between the f8 and f9 is the number on the front. Both are 8 watts, though I would add the 3800 mah battery. Its the biggest battery that I have found. There is a TYT unit, dual band, that is 10 watts. Remember from the Tech Test, double the power, thats a 3dn gain, and is barely discernible to the human ear. Banking storage is the ability for the radio to scan or operate from a limited number of channels rather than the entire radio. The Baofeng has storage for 125 channels so if you arfe scanning those, the radio goes from 1-125 then back to 1. With Banks storage, the radio can scan say 1,4,7,10, then back to 1. The Baofengs are a basic radio, no frills but they have held up for me good. I have a Yaesu vx7, thats 15 years old. Other than 2 battery replacements and dropping from a 50 ft tower and cracking the face plate, , which the radio still operated with a cracked crystal , its been a work horse. Some had comment the uv82, its got many good reports, alittle tougher, alittle more expensive. I have a Wouxan uv8d, then an Anytone Temn8r. The later has all the bells and whistles, 2 tone, bank storage, paging, but 2.5 times more than the uv5 or f8. All the Chinese radiuos have performed exactly like they have advertised. An HT is like a portable computer. Its not a primary piece if gear, handy, but not your prime radio or computer. You will hear many complaints about the Chinese radios, but I have never been told, "its sounds like you are talking on a CCR". Cheap Chinese Radio. Now all HT's have a problem with water. I once operated at an outdoor event where it rained. Every Icom w32, yaesu vx5, Kenwoods, all got wet. Several were sent back for repairs. M y VX7 was not harmed, they said it was water proof, it went through the rain good. Since then, I have packed a sandwich baggie in my to go gear. The ht goes inside, push the antenna through the baggie and poke a hole or two around the mic open. You will hear okay. Or you could use an external speaker mic and just the mic will get wet. .
