Mindmaster

These are currently the 'grey area' frequencies. Businesses are using 900mhz products these days, honestly.

Baofeung already got the slap, I doubt they're going to sell any non-compliant radios anymore. Seriously, they updated the firmware on every model since then. None of these radios will TX on the channels that are outside of the license of the product anymore.

2AJGM are all the new versions of the firmware for these radios. In fact, I don't think you can even get (or would even want) the old firmware besides. They were buggy as all hell having problems saving channels and settings, etc. You want the old one you're going to have to get it on the bootleg at ebay, craigslist, or something. (or maybe someone around here. :D)

You _ARE_ allowed to use it to receive just not transmit on it. Also, again if the purchase is for emergency use realize none of the rules matter then. Ham or not ham if your life or property are in danger you can use the ham radio. You just have to remember the rules: "Identify you have the emergency, identify yourself via callsign or name if you don't have one, and ask for the direct assistance you need." RE: UV-5R - You will have to upgrade the antenna/batteries it's not even optional... The default battery is too small especially after you stick that whip on there. You will never be able to put it down on it's base without it flipping over. You may, however, want the higher wattage models if you're not doing VHF only (UV-5R is gold in 2m band, OK in 70cm but these radios are a bit noisy in that band.)

You had me at codes. I love programming and tinkering with my little radios.

I basically always look at the situation as follows: Follow all the rules unless there is a life or death reason not to. In which case, even the FCC tells you to break the rules, as emergency traffic has priority over everything. I'd love an all-in-one radio, because since I'm going for my ham Tech next I'd just love to carry around one HT but I know that's impossible. If I was in a true emergency I'd have to carry the ham-only radio just due to the transmission distance of VHF being so much greater from an HT. Right now you get forced to either carry two radios, or pick which one... There are probably way more GMRS users, but ham transmits further and you might need that. There is no ionospheric skip with UHF, not even a little, lol. So, my solution is carry two radios that use the same batteries and hope for the best.

TBH, the FCC really isn't in the business of policing the radio bands they leave that up to the sad hams. They're basically only getting into it if you're doing something that qualifies as abuse and poor radio etiquette / repeated complaints.

If experience is anything worrying about it is irrelevant. No one has a way to see your hardware other than being able to tell you are overpowered on transmission or w/e, other than if you had blatantly told them. Personally, I don't care if you hacked your UV-5R to work as a UV-5X/G as well, as long as you have the license. (They're hardware-wise identical, there is only a firmware difference, etc... You would still be 'operating' your radio at an acceptable limit on repeater frequencies, etc...) I'm not aware of the FCC chasing ANYONE down for radios provided that they aren't using bands they're not authorized to use and not doing something that interrupts other users. Not that I'm advocating it... These radios are so cheap you can own quite a few of them, and just buy them for all the bands. Baofeng got in trouble for the UV-5X, fined by FCC, and this is why it was rebadged, etc... We know at least the GMRS radio is compliant, lol. Also, the FCC ID right off my UV-5X box: https://fccid.io/2AJGM-P51UV So, looks good to me.

Bit of a necro, but specifically.. You are supposed to use the minimum power required to communicate as a ham. It's on the test, lol. Seriously though, I can't imagine what you'd need 1500 watts for... Few of us have a 500+ foot antenna to stick our comms on to really get value.