Just keep in mind Ham cannot talk on GMRS channels and GMRS cannot talk on Ham channels. Two different animals, I have both myself and they have seperate call signs. Your Baofeng can be programmed to talk on the GMRS channels, I did mine. You use a program called Chirp.I'm in the NW quadrant. As for starters think I will get the GMRS license and then Technicians. Looks like their are more people out there than I thought who are using ham radios and licensed.