Icom V80 or v82?

[alvinjohn]

I'm gonna be buying my first HT since i came back to the hobby. So what should I get? v80 or v82? I'm very tempted with the 7 watts of the 82 but am very inclined at the ruggedness of the 80. So is the 82 just as rugged as the 80? What are the cons of the 82?

Thanks.

 

[binrat]

I got the V-82 and love it. I'm on the fringe of the local repeater and that extra 2 watts helps.

 

[alvinjohn]

thanks Binrat, that is also important to me as there is no repeater on my area and i'm going to use the HT to com with the IC2200 on my farm house. This is also why i'm concermed wtih the ruggedness of the HT that i will buy because it will be used doing farm work and also hiking. Water resistance is my primary concern.

Thanks.