Folks,
Two amateur photographers want to monitor bird watcher channels such as
464.45MHz in or near national parks. Something cheap is needed because it could get damaged in backpacks and such. I found Baofeng radios around $20-35 and sometimes the older UV-82 was recommended over the newer UV-5R:UV-5R reviews aren't bad eitehr though:
Unfortunately these also have a transmitter built in which requires a licence. I have one but the photographer friends don't. Is it legal to use these in the US when never pressing the transmit button?
I am tempted to get one of those for myself for mountain bike rides into the boonies where cell phones don't work. Just in case I mess up badly and can't even walk or when a rattlesnake gets me. Could also be used for EMC hunts on the job but only if the firmware can be hacked to make it at least a wide band receiver.