[Danke]

Here's the deal; start out by checking what other players in your area are using.

You will find that will vary from no radio at all; to Costco blister pack FRS radios, to full on mil-spec handsets. There is no point in getting a full on mil spec setup if you can't talk to anyone with it. Also if your local group has a particular brand loyalty you want to sync up so software and programing cables the the other guys have will work for you; and in some cases they can even copy the channels over radio to radio saving time on the programing steps.