Whether you are new to the world of ham radio (also called Amateur radio) or have been submitting your callsign for decades, technological advancements and the entry of Chinese manufacturers have led to significant improvements and significant price reductions in this area in recent years.
While it is still possible to spend five figures on a high-end rig, a decent portable radio can also be picked up for less than fifty dollars. In between is a wide range of devices, portable and stationary, analog and digital, with an incredible array of features.
No matter your level of experience or budget, there is a good ham radio option on the market for you. Whether you’re looking for a solid entry-level option, a handheld that handles whatever you (and the weather) throw at it, the ideal in-car radio, or anything else altogether, we’ve tracked The best ham radios on the market right now.
Our Top Pick 07 Ham (Amateur) Radios
- Best Overall: Kenwood TH-D72A
- Best on a budget: BaoFeng UV-5R
- Best for in-car use: Yaesu FT-857D
- Best for durability: Yaesu VX-6R
- Best lightweight option: TYT Tytera MD-380
- Best for battery life: BaoFeng BF-F8HP
- Best for extra features: Kenwood TH-D74A
Product Reviews-
1. Best Overall: Kenwood TH-D72A
If you’re short on cash, or just want to dip your toes into the ham radio waters without a huge financial commitment, it’s hard to go beyond BaoFeng. This Chinese manufacturer has a range of portable two-way radios, and the UV-5R is one of the cheapest on the market.
However, despite its low price, this model has most of the core features you’ll need in a portable radio, including VHF / UHF compatibility, and interchangeable high/low power settings to help conserve the life of your Battery. There is also a built-in LED flashlight and commercial FM radio reception.
The range is not very good with the standard antenna, but adding an inexpensive high-gain alternative like Nagoya’s NA-771 greatly increases the transmit and receive distance. Even seasoned ham radio users swear by the UV-5R for use outside the country as it is relatively robust, and if it breaks or falls into a ravine, you will pay little to replace it.
The combination of cost, features, and reliability makes it easy to recommend for those on a budget.
With features, you rarely find from the competition, solid construction, and a reasonable price, the Kenwood TH-D72A is a formidable competitor when it comes to portable radios.
It is one of the few with a built-in GPS receiver, the data of which can be exported to PC mapping software via the USB port. You’ll get around six hours of continuous use at the highest output setting (5W), and you can reduce the output to 0.5W or 0.05W as needed. There is also the option to turn off the radio functions and use it as a GPS tracker, with over 30 hours of battery life.
The D72A can receive simultaneously on both bands, or on two frequencies in the same band. It meets MIL-STD810 and IP54 standards for durability and weather resistance and is compatible with APRS data communications, as well as the VHF and UHF bands. Backed up by the Kenwood name, this is the best overall handheld ham radio on the market today.
2. Best on a budget: BaoFeng UV-5R
If you’re short on cash, or just want to dive into the waters of ham radio without a big financial commitment, it’s hard to move on to BaoFeng. This Chinese manufacturer has a range of inexpensive portable two-way radios, and the UV-5R is one of the cheapest of the lot.
However, despite its low price, this model has most of the main features you’ll need in an outdoor portable radio, including VHF / UHF support and switchable high / low power settings to help conserve battery life. . There is also a built-in LED flashlight and commercial FM radio reception.
The range isn’t great with the standard antenna, but adding an inexpensive high-gain alternative like the Nagoya NA-771 greatly increases the transmit and receive distance. Even seasoned ham radio users rely on the UV-5R for field use as it is relatively robust and if it breaks or falls down a ravine, you will pay little to replace it.
The combination of cost, features, and reliability makes it easy to recommend for those on a budget.
3. Best for in-car use: Yaesu FT-857D
Yaesu has a well-deserved reputation for producing quality radios, and the FT-857D is no exception. Designed for in-vehicle use, it is small enough to easily mount under the dash or in some slots within the dash, but still has almost all the features you would expect from a much larger radio.
The 857D supports UHF, VHF, and HF bands, with fully adjustable output power from 5W to 100W depending on the band. FM broadcast reception is also included. The radio supports 200 memory channels that can be custom named and grouped into collections for quick setup.
The menu interface can be a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s fairly easy to access the radio’s wide range of features and settings. If you are looking for a reliable general-purpose radio to use in your car or truck that can do just about anything you ask of it, the Yaesu FT-857D is an excellent choice.
If you’re looking for a good entry-level ham radio with all the features you’ll need, made by a trusted manufacturer, look no further than the compact Yaesu FT-450D. With up to 100W of transmit power, support for VHF, UHF, and HF (6-160m bands), and a high-quality digital signal processor for clearer sound, it covers all the bases for those starting out with radio amateurs who they want something more powerful than a portable device.
The Yaesu FT-450D weighs a portable 12.9 pounds and will run all day on a 12v 30 amp battery, making it equally useful at home or wherever your travels take you. There is also an optional carry handle available if you will be moving it regularly.
Used regularly in the field or mounted inside an RV, this is a reliable, well-performing, and versatile radio that outperforms many competitors that cost hundreds of dollars more.
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4. Best for durability: Yaesu VX-6R
When operating outdoors, especially in particularly difficult or remote areas, the last thing you need to do is damage or drown your radio. If you know you’re likely to have a hard time, take a look at the rugged little Yaesu VX-6R handheld.
The solid magnesium case helps protect it from even major drops and bumps, but the VX-6R’s biggest draw is its waterproofness. Fully submersible, it’s rated to handle 30 minutes under six feet of water, so even a quick dive in a river or getting caught in a storm won’t cause any problems.
The radio has a three-band transmission (2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm), with four different power output settings to help conserve battery life and reduce heat build-up,
A nice extra is the inclusion of ARTS (Automatic In Range Transponder System), to help you stay within range of other devices in the field. All in all, the VX-6R is a feature-packed, rugged, and reliable companion when heading out into the field.
5. Best lightweight option: TYT Tytera MD-380
When you have a lot of gear on your person, anything that helps keep the weight down is a welcome relief. Enter the TYT Tytera MD-380 Portable Digital Radio, which tips the scales at just nine ounces, but doesn’t skimp on features despite that.
While DMR (digital mobile radio) phones require more experience to set up, there are many how-to guides online specifically for this model, and your local ham radio club can likely provide a “code plug” to get you started.
Capable of operating in Tier 1 (low power) and Tier-II modes, you will generally get a full day or more on a single battery. However, since it takes up to eight hours to charge again, you may want to buy a replacement as well.
With up to 1,000 memory channels available, the phone operates in the UHF 400-480Mhz band and includes support for standard digital functions such as text messages, encryption, and individual or group calls. It is also possible to operate in UHF analog mode as required.
With a pair of antennas and a programming cable included in the box, the MD-380 is an ideal, lightweight and economical DMR option.
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6. Best for battery life: BaoFeng BF-F8HP
If you’re tired of your handheld radio going flat in the middle of a conversation and don’t want the extra hassle and weight of carrying spare batteries, take a look at BaoFeng’s BF-F8HP. It comes with a 2,000 mAh battery that provides up to 20 hours in high power mode or 24 hours in mid-range settings.
However, the extra charge isn’t the only good thing about this dual-band UHF / VHF model. The maximum output has been increased to 8W, and there is a built-in flashlight and FM radio to make the radio even more useful.
It’s bundled with a high-gain seven-inch antenna (though it can be easily removed if you prefer a third-party alternative), and the company even includes a “concierge service” for faster customer assistance and warranty support.
As with all BaoFeng radios, the price is very competitive, so if you’re looking for better battery life in an affordable package, you’ve found it in the BF-F8HP.
7. Best for extra features: Kenwood TH-D74A
If you’re looking for the ultimate versatility in a portable radio, the Kenwood TH-D74A is as good as it gets.
This tri-band (144/220 / 430Mhz) model packs a lot in its 12-ounce frame, including a color screen, built-in GPS and Bluetooth support, a microSD card for recording voice recordings, and GPS tracking data, and APRS Two-way data communication.
A default analog radio, the D74-A also supports digital communication via D-STAR, and dual-frequency reception allows you to send and receive in UHF and VHF simultaneously. The device will also easily remove some dust or water, due to its IP54 ingress rating.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll pay more for the D74A than many other models, but when it comes to features, you’ll have a hard time finding anything else that competes.
5 reasons why you might want a ham radio at home
Amateur radio (often called Ham Radio) is a completely useful hobby. It is mainly about radio operators (called “ham”) talking to each other about improbably complex equipment over VHF and UHF frequencies.
This is a hobby that has a popular reputation. But it is completely undeserved, as becoming a “ham” has some serious practical benefits. Therefore, you should consider learning all about it.
- To be aware of local emergencies
Knowing about a local emergency, such as a car with several cars, can often mean the difference between the expenses that are stuck in a traffic line or not. But finding them in time can be difficult.
TV news is glacially slow to report on events at times and social media can be a cesspit of hoaxes and misinformation 4 Reasons You Should Never Trust Social Media You have just burned in an argument that, once again, you quoted something you saw on social media. Why does this continue?
Hamradio is different. It is both fast and reliable. You will hear about incidents from people who live near where they take place or witness it from their cars, so many ham operators carry cell phones in the car.
This is news you can rely on, as it comes directly from people in your own community, whom you can trust.
But that’s just one side of it. Many authorities use the same UHF and VHF frequencies used by amateur radio equipment to inform people about disasters and extreme weather conditions.
The most famous is operated by the National Weather Service, which transmits automated weather alerts. You can learn more about it in the video above.
- Stay in touch when disaster strikes
When Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the United States, it caused unimaginable damage to infrastructure.
Homes were without power for weeks How residential solar power supplies can keep you online during outages How residential solar power supplies can keep you online during outages While fossil fuel generators are well understood, the same is not true for home solar products. There are thousands of products on offer, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Which are right for, and communication was severely disrupted. Some who were in trouble could not contact the rescue service to get help.
But one thing that the hurricane could not disturb was radio broadcasts. It is for this reason that record operators were so important in keeping people safe during the worst of the storm.
In Connecticut, operators worked around the clock to protect their communities and connect with emergency care, housing, and the local Red Cross. Many left their homes and placed themselves in these places to keep communication afloat.
A licensed amateur radio operator can join groups whose job is to help in emergencies. One of the largest is the amateur radio emergency service, which operates in Canada and the United States.
But that’s not the only thing, and it’s not just the United States that has them. Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive list of active groups that you can consider joining.
- It is a skill to learn and retain
You can not just buy a radio set and become an amateur radio operator. Not legally, at least. Before you can start transmitting over airwaves, you need to get certified and licensed. In the United States, it is with the Federal Communications Commission.
To do that, you need to take some lessons or do self-study. These cover the most important ones, such as the laws in your country regarding amateur radio broadcasts. But others are much more exciting, exploring the math and physics of ham radio, as well as basic electronics.
The FCC certificate at the advanced level (called technician class license) is obtained after completion of the approved written exam with 35 questions. The exam is usually administered by local volunteer researchers. The cost can range from free to a nominal fee that may not exceed $ 15.
If you love finding out how things work and long to go back to learning math and science in a classroom environment, just be an amateur radio operator.
- There is a community
That sounds obvious, does it? But amateur radio is an incredibly social endeavor. I’m not just talking about talking to people on your radio, even though it’s a big part of being a ham.
There are also radio meeting groups and social events that you can attend in your area, as well as online communities as a movement with activity. The amateur radio subreddit, for example, has almost fifteen thousand users and is full of people who share their expertise and brag about their achievements.
Many technology-oriented societies can be toxic wastelands, full of internal conflicts and politics. But the ham is different. They are open to newcomers and are generally happy to help. This is something that is cemented in the hamming code:
“The ham is friendly. Slow and patient delivery when needed, friendly advice and advice to the beginner, friendly help, cooperation, and consideration for the interests of others; these are the mark of the buttocks. ”
- It’s cheaper than you think
If you are discouraged by the potential cost of becoming a “ham”, you will want to pay attention here. In recent years, it has become a much cheaper hobby. This is largely due to the flood of cheap phones that have flooded the market from the Shenzhen and Guangzhou factories.
A Chinese manufacturer of amateur radiophones is Baofeng. They’ve done for Hamradio what Huawei and Xiaomi did for smartphones Why your next Android smartphone should be Chinese This year, Chinese smartphones have gained a bad reputation, but here’s why you should consider getting and now.
Final Words
In short, communication is about having the right technologies. In this case, the best portable ham radio is perfect for convenient communication applications. Equipped with one of these radios, you can easily address various communication gaps. Radios are very powerful and come with several useful additional functions.
Photo source: amazon.com