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Choosing your first radio can feel overwhelming — there are hundreds of models available at every price point. This page will help you understand the main categories and figure out what makes sense for your situation, your licence privileges, and your budget.
The answer depends on what you want to do and what your licence allows. Most new hams start in one of two directions:
¶ Path 1: VHF/UHF handheld
If you have an entry-level licence (Technician in the US, Foundation in the UK or Australia), a VHF/UHF handheld transceiver (commonly called an "HT" for handie-talkie) is the most common first radio. These are pocket-sized radios that operate on the 2-metre (144 MHz) and 70-centimetre (430 MHz) bands.
What you can do with it:
- Talk through local repeaters, which extend your range to cover a city or region
- Communicate simplex (direct radio-to-radio) over shorter distances
- Access digital voice networks (if the radio supports DMR, D-STAR, or System Fusion)
- Use APRS for position reporting and messaging (some models have this built in)
- Listen to amateur and public service frequencies
- Work amateur satellites (with the right technique and antenna)
Pros: Inexpensive, portable, easy to use, great for getting on the air quickly.
Cons: Limited to local/regional communication. Rubber duck antennas that come stock are inefficient — an aftermarket antenna makes a big difference.
If you have an HF-capable licence (General or Extra in the US, Intermediate or Full in the UK, Standard or Advanced in Australia), an HF transceiver opens up worldwide communication. HF signals can bounce off the ionosphere and travel thousands of kilometres.
What you can do with it:
Pros: Worldwide communication, enormous variety of activities, deeply rewarding.
Cons: More expensive than handhelds, requires an external antenna and feedline, more to learn.
A step up from a handheld — mobile/base VHF/UHF transceivers offer higher power (typically 25–50 W versus 5 W for a handheld), better receivers, and can be installed in a vehicle or used at home with a proper antenna. This gives you significantly better range than a handheld.
¶ For a VHF/UHF handheld
- Dual-band (2 m / 70 cm): Most hams want a radio that covers both the 2-metre and 70-centimetre bands.
- Power output: Typically 5–8 W on high power. More power means better range but faster battery drain.
- Ease of use: Some radios are more intuitive than others. Menu-driven programming can be frustrating, so many hams use computer programming software with a cable.
- Digital capability: If you're interested in DMR, D-STAR, or System Fusion, make sure the radio supports the digital mode used by repeaters in your area. Note that the different digital voice systems are not cross-compatible.
- Battery life: Important for portable use. Look at the milliamp-hour (mAh) rating and whether spare batteries are available.
- Build quality: There's a wide range from budget to premium. More expensive radios tend to have better receivers (less prone to overload from strong nearby signals), better audio, and more durable construction.
- Frequency coverage: Ensure it covers the bands your licence permits. Most modern HF transceivers cover all amateur bands from 160 metres through 6 metres.
- Power output: Most base HF transceivers output 100 W, which is a good starting point. QRP (low-power) rigs output 5–10 W and are popular for portable use.
- Receiver quality: This is arguably the most important specification. A good receiver helps you hear weak signals and reject interference. Key specs include sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range, and close-in phase noise.
- Built-in features: Modern transceivers may include built-in antenna tuners, audio DSP, spectrum displays/waterfalls, USB audio interfaces for digital modes, and CW keyers.
- Size and portability: Desktop transceivers are larger and feature-rich. Portable/QRP rigs are compact and designed for field use.
¶ For a handheld
Getting on the air with a handheld is straightforward:
- Charge the battery fully.
- Program in some local repeater frequencies (most hams use a programming cable and software — it's much faster than the radio's keypad).
- Find your local repeater directory online or through a repeater directory app.
- Consider replacing the stock rubber duck antenna with a better aftermarket whip antenna for improved performance.
An HF station requires a bit more setup:
- Radio: Your transceiver.
- Power supply: If the radio doesn't run on mains power directly, you'll need a 13.8 V DC power supply rated for the radio's current draw.
- Antenna: This is the most important part of your station. Even a simple wire dipole or end-fed half-wave will work well. See the antennas section for options.
- Feedline: Coaxial cable to connect the radio to the antenna.
- Antenna tuner (optional but recommended): An antenna tuner helps match the antenna impedance to the radio, allowing operation across multiple bands with a single antenna.
- Grounding: A good station ground reduces noise and is important for RF safety.
If you want to operate digital modes with your HF transceiver:
- Connect the radio to a computer via a sound card interface or the radio's built-in USB audio port.
- Install the appropriate software (e.g., WSJT-X for FT8, Fldigi for PSK31/RTTY).
- Set audio levels carefully — digital modes need the right drive level to produce a clean signal.
See Digital Station Setup for a detailed walkthrough.
You don't need to spend a fortune to get started. Here are some general guidance ranges:
- Budget handheld: Very affordable options exist that will get you on local repeaters. Quality varies, so research reviews.
- Mid-range handheld: Better receiver performance, build quality, and features.
- Entry-level HF transceiver: Used rigs from the previous generation can be excellent value.
- New HF transceiver: Modern rigs with built-in digital mode support, waterfalls, and advanced DSP.
Don't overlook the used equipment market. Amateur radio equipment is typically well-built and lasts for decades. A 10-year-old HF transceiver can still be an excellent radio. Hamfests, online forums, and local club listings are good places to find used gear.
- Start with what your licence allows. Don't buy an HF radio if you only have a Technician/Foundation licence — get on the air with VHF/UHF first, then upgrade.
- The antenna matters more than the radio. A modest radio with a good antenna will outperform an expensive radio with a poor antenna.
- Join a local club. Experienced members can offer advice, let you try their equipment, and help you get set up. Many clubs have loaner equipment.
- Don't buy everything at once. Start with the basics, get on the air, and figure out what interests you before investing heavily.
- Ask other hams. The amateur radio community is generally welcoming and happy to help newcomers with equipment choices.