I wouldn’t recommend the AT-878uvII+ (or the 878uv) as a first rig. It is a good radio (I have one) but it is DMR and uses a Windows-only CPS that isn’t user friendly to program the rig. Similarly, it is a bear to program on the rig. Unless you really want to get into DMR (is there activity in your area?), I would suggest the king of all HTs - the Radio Shack HTX-202 (I have one as well). They’re easy to program on the rig, true FM, have a superhetrodyne receiver, are a classic, and can be found at reasonable price on eBay. Drawbacks - only 2m, big, squelch seems sensitive to some of my computer monitors, and you’ll probably need to buy a wall charger and new battery.
I wouldn’t recommend the AT-878uvII+ (or the 878uv) as a first rig. It is a good radio (I have one) but it is DMR and uses a Windows-only CPS that isn’t user friendly to program the rig. Similarly, it is a bear to program on the rig. Unless you really want to get into DMR (is there activity in your area?), I would suggest the king of all HTs - the Radio Shack HTX-202 (I have one as well). They’re easy to program on the rig, true FM, have a superhetrodyne receiver, are a classic, and can be found at reasonable price on eBay. Drawbacks - only 2m, big, squelch seems sensitive to some of my computer monitors, and you’ll probably need to buy a wall charger and new battery.