A handheld radio is the first piece of equipment most new hams buy, and it's the one that gets the most questions. Which brand? How much should you spend? Do you need digital? This guide covers how to choose the best handheld ham radio for a beginner, what features actually matter, and which radios are popular with new operators right now.
A quick note on how this guide is written. It's a buyer's guide built on what matters to a new operator, not a bench test of every radio on the market. Models change and prices move, so use the radios named here as examples of each category, and check current pricing and availability before you buy.
What a Handheld Ham Radio Does Well
A handheld transceiver, or HT, is a small, battery-powered radio that covers the VHF and UHF bands, usually 2 meters and 70 centimeters. It's the radio you'll use for local repeaters, nets, simplex contacts, public service events, and emergency communications. Through a repeater, a handheld with a few watts can easily reach across a county, and further through linked systems.
What a handheld doesn't do is HF. If your goal is worldwide contacts, a handheld is still a great first radio for learning operating practice locally, but you'll eventually want an HF station too.
Features That Matter for a First Handheld
- Dual band coverage. 2 meters and 70 centimeters cover the large majority of repeaters. Nearly every handheld today is dual band.
- Easy programming. You'll program repeaters into memory channels with frequencies, offsets and tones. Look for a radio with good programming software or a well-documented front panel. Free programming software such as CHIRP supports many popular models.
- Battery life. A bigger battery or a spare is worth more than an extra watt of power. A charger that works from USB or 12 volts is a big convenience.
- A better antenna. The short antenna that comes with most handhelds is the biggest limit on performance. A longer aftermarket antenna is the cheapest upgrade you can make.
- Durability and water resistance, if you plan to use it outdoors, for public service events, or for emergency work.
- Digital modes, only if there's digital activity where you live. More on that below.
Analog FM or Digital?
Most repeater activity is still analog FM, and every handheld supports it. Digital voice adds clearer audio, data and linked networks, but there are several competing systems, and they don't talk to each other:
- D-STAR is used mainly by Icom and Kenwood radios.
- System Fusion (C4FM) is Yaesu's digital mode.
- DMR is supported by many brands, including Anytone, and is popular with operators who use hotspots.
Before paying for a digital handheld, look up the repeaters in your area and see which digital mode, if any, is active. In our experience, a new operator gets more out of a solid analog radio and a good antenna than a digital radio with no digital repeaters nearby.
Popular Handheld Radios for Beginners
Budget Analog Handhelds
The Yaesu FT-65R is a frequent recommendation for a first handheld: simple, rugged and inexpensive, from a major manufacturer. The Yaesu FT-4XR is a similar, smaller option. These are solid choices if you want a dependable radio for local repeaters without spending much.
Very Low-Cost Imported Handhelds
Inexpensive imported radios, such as the many Baofeng models, are often a new ham's first radio because they cost so little. They can be useful as a spare or a radio to experiment with. Know the trade-offs: build quality and receiver performance vary, programming from the front panel can be confusing, and many of these radios can transmit outside the amateur bands. Transmitting on frequencies your license doesn't cover is illegal, regardless of what the radio is capable of, so keep yours on amateur frequencies.
Digital Voice Handhelds
- System Fusion: the Yaesu FT5DR is a feature-rich option with APRS and Bluetooth, and the Yaesu FT-70DR is a lower-cost way into Fusion.
- D-STAR: the Icom ID-52A Plus and the Kenwood TH-D75A are higher-end handhelds with D-STAR, APRS and GPS.
- DMR: the Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus is a popular DMR handheld with a color screen and GPS.
How Much Should You Spend on a First Handheld?
There's a good argument for starting modestly. A dependable analog radio from an established manufacturer, a better antenna, and a spare battery will serve you well while you learn what kind of operating you enjoy. If you later find that your area is active on a digital mode, or you get involved in emergency communications, you'll know exactly what features you need in a second radio.
Ask Operators Who Own the Radio
The best review of any radio comes from the operators who use it every day. Before you buy, post a question to the QSL Shack community and ask the members who own the radio you're considering how it performs in the field. Once your radio is programmed, our guide on how to make your first ham radio contact walks you through using a repeater for the first time.