It is okay to buy a used transceiver. They can be bench tested to confirm frequency range, and you can perform tests yourself before purchasing the unit. You should have your unit tested regularly anyway. The price is pretty low on these units, but a new Tracker is just over $300, and they are a great unit for a newbie.
Buying a transceiver that needs to have “wires” plugged in sounds like a pretty dumb idea though. Good idea to steer clear of any of these.
