I love the fact that the Baofeng is cheap and I have one myself thinking I'd finally deflower myself on 220 and 70cm. But the rig sits in my trunk unused. I just don't want to use it. The UI is awful. Once programmed some of its users call it the Plastic Fantastic; I don't. No analog squelch knob is still a non-starter.

Try to borrow someone's Icom or Kenwood or Yaesu, listen to the local action, and jump on . Hamming should be fun and it is with a friendlier rig. Try not to let the plastic fantastic turn you off from hamming.