Christopher and Drewd
I've been using a baofeng uv6 with a btech speaker mic and a diamond srfj40a. Works very well! So well that other members of my group are asking me to set them up the same. It is a bit more money than the 888 but works so much better.
Question for you. Will the cord of a speaker mic act as a counterpoise?
Story about a group without radios.
Near Bear Lake, a group of 6 good riders. These guys travel as lite as possible....nothing extra. Beacon, probe, shovel, avi pack, lunch. The 2 best riders dropped into a he]] hole. They made it back out with great difficulty. In the mean time, the 2 least capable riders decided to drop in also. They couldn't get out. Spent tne night. 4 very good riders dropped in the next day. Found the lost riders. Made their way out the bottom with very great difficulty. This event involved 30+ sar people. Many extremely worried friends and family. Ect. All the trouble can be blamed on lack of communication. The first 2 to drop in could have radioed to the rest of the group to, not follow. This would have never happened if, radios had been used.