Reddit reviews Baofeng BF-S112 Two Way Radio Speaker,Black

Sounds like an HT would be a good first addition.

• Baofeng UB-82 - Dual band HT, great for local communication, repeater access, etc etc. You can also monitor other public service frequencies/weather band. $37.50
  
• Handheld mic for the Baofeng - Nice if you keep it on your desk in a charger, or if the radio is clipped to a bag or something, you can still access the mic (it's also a speaker). $6.37
  
• USB Programming Cable - Easily program memory channels with your computer. $20.46
  
• Upgraded antenna for the HT - This one is pretty big, plenty on Amazon of various size which will vary in performance, but anything should be better than the stock antenna. $16.99
  
  Well that's $81.32. Remaining could be spent on an extra battery, a power cable for the car etc etc.

Since you mentioned talking with local hams while riding a bike:

Baofeng UV-5r

External mic

This antenna mounted to a metal plate on a rear bike rack, or this antenna and you can just strap the radio to a back pack or your belt.

And you'll need a programming cable.
Use Chirp to program in all of the local repeaters as well as the 2m calling frequency and any other freqs you might want to use.

I didn't do the math, but that's well under $100 (probably around $50 in fact). You can also use the mag mount antenna on your car for mobile ops, I've been doing this for a while, and it works great, but I am finally upgrading to a real mobile with a more proper mobile whip.

Use a handset with a headphone jack?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

UV5R uses the Kenwood style connector. You can get a speaker mic that has a 3.5mm output. When you plug a headset into it the built in speaker turns off.

I completely agree, I just can't justify the cost in relation to the radio especially for something so simple.

A good compromise however could be to take something like this https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-BF-S112-Two-Radio-Speaker/dp/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=btech+speaker+mic&qid=1568889384&sprefix=btech+speaker&sr=8-8

And modify it. You get a decent cable with a moulded plug on one end and you can cut the speaker and mic from the PCB to add cables for a pc

If you use something like this https://www.amazon.com/noot-products-Auxiliary-Headphones-Smartphones/dp/B07HCPVG4W/ref=sxbs_sxwds-deals?keywords=3.5mm+audio+cable&pd_rd_i=B07HCPVG4W&pd_rd_r=76ea0ba8-57fd-45ad-9e37-e7f0fca4871a&pd_rd_w=LLsMg&pd_rd_wg=79o50&pf_rd_p=7958e92f-adc8-4d7f-bef4-1e7fb156ae05&pf_rd_r=B2NC2EE005TNRJGV7F3V&qid=1568889703&smid=A3FSIWTA4211F2&sprefix=3.5

You can cut it in half and use the halves for the pc side of the cable

Skills required are basic hand tools to take apart the speaker mic and cut the wires for the speaker/mic, and basic soldering to make the 4 connections for the pc cables.

You get mostly factory quality cables with only a DIY join in the middle with a bonus PTT button to debug things.

Should be roughly half the cost of the APRS cable. And if you want to be adventurous you could add switches to retain the original function. Though that would take more skill and thought into the mod.

But as you say different people will want and will do different things and that's perfectly ok.

(It's shocking how much baluns and ununs cost compared to the components, I built a balun for my dipole, probably cost about £5 total compared to £40 for one online)

Would this work for what I need?

Yessss! I have finally decided on my things that I am going to get (when I will get these I will explain in a bit).

Radio - Baofeng UV-B6

Programming Cable - [Programming Cable for Baofeng UV-5R and UV-3R+ with Driver CD] (http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Cable-Baofeng-UV-5R-Driver/dp/B008RZJHJU/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y)

Speaker/Mic - [Pofung BF-S112 Speaker mic] (http://www.amazon.com/Pofung-BF-S112-Two-Radio-Speaker/dp/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z)

Antenna - [Diamond Rh-770] (http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Rh-770-144mhz-Antenna-Walkie-talkie/dp/B00GBWBAKU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

Now, if my calculations are correct, all of this adds up to $47.20 (right now), and I do not have the moola for this right now, believe me. My Mom did hint at a possible Christmas present opportunity, so I am definitely not spending the money on this. I will send my Mom these links very soon.

Edit: Formatting

Edit 2: Never mind about that one thing... *click*