Newb here, help me choose a radio

[Mike]

Hey everyone, I would like to get a hand held radio that I can take hiking for fun and use in emergencies like hurricanes, but I have no idea what to get. I live in a hurricane area (New Orleans where hurricane Katrina hit). I was thinking of something like this

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146

but I'm not sure if it has the capability to use repeaters and whatever else is useful in emergencies. Any help/advice? I'm in the US.

[K7KBN]

Mike - do you have a ham license? My guess is that you don't.

If you don't, you're pretty much stuck with FRS/MURS type radios, or CB.

I checked the link you posted. These seem to be GPS-related stuff. Garmin is big into stuff like that, but they don't sell ham gear as far as I know. I don't think any of these will work with any repeater.

[Mike]

You are correct. I don't have a license yet but I'm willing to get one if I need to. I just started researching this stuff a few weeks ago so I know very little. Do you have any advice?

[john_600cc]

hi there, i think the best bet for you would be to join a local club, there you can get sound training and advice on taking all the steps needed. what did you want from a set? you can go from just local chatting to making contact with stations all over the world? also your budget is a big player in this one! you can spend a small amount to a small fortune. all the best. john