I have both the H-3 and H-8, and couldn’t be happier with them ! Fortunately, I live near a fantastic repeater, and I talk all over the place. They work so well, I don’t plan on having a GMRS base station.
Yup, first, check out your area. You could luck out like me, and talk all over the place with a H-3 & H-8 Tidradio, because I have a fantastic repeater !
Our “set up”, back in the ‘80’s ! Midland 23ch with SSB and a “VFO”, to get to channel 40, and higher ( that’s where you’d find me ! ), a 750watt linear, and a D-104 desk mic. This was hooked to a Super Penetrator ( standby ), and a four element quad beam for skip ! FUN TIMES !!
Dave, here. Located in Flushing, Michigan. License number WSDD439. Fortunately, I live near a fantastic repeater, in Flint. I mostly talk on the Mi8 repeater system, which includes a number of fine folks from Detroit to Cheboygan. The furthest west that I’ve contacted thus far, has been Muskegon, Michigan.
I live in central Michigan, and I talk to Loraine, Ohio (near Cleveland), all the time, on a TidRadio H-3 & H-8. If conditions are right, your signal can just about bounce anywhere.