A fully-featured tri-band radio that also offers amazing D-STAR compatibility? Who could say no? The Icom IC-7100 may be a little bit expensive, particularly for new ham operators. But it justifies its price tag with robust features, excellent sound quality, and a surprisingly small learning curve, especially for those who have already used Icom products… Continue reading Icom IC-7100 Review

If you’re primarily interested in dual-band UHF/VHF performance and you don’t care about digital modes, the Icom IC-2730A is an excellent choice. It doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but it does provide 50w of transmission power, excellent audio, and a surprising amount of expandability and versatility, especially given its low price. Good Simultaneous… Continue reading Icom IC-2730A Review

It’s not cheap, but if you want a truly top-of-the-line, flagship QRP radio for UHF/VHF/HF use, you’re going to find the Icom IC-705 hard to beat. It’s probably not the best choice for beginners due to its high price tag – but its features, expandability, and surprising portability mean that it’s worth the investment for… Continue reading Icom IC-705 Review

Despite a venerable design that hasn’t changed much since the early 200s, the Yaesu FT-818 still is one of the very best QRP (low power) radios on the market. With its full coverage of the VHF, UHF, and HF bands, as well as modern improvements like a more powerful battery and 6W of transmission power,… Continue reading Yaesu FT-818 Review

If you’re newer to the world of amateur radio, you may be wondering what mobile transceiver is the best choice if you want to explore features like APRS and GPS location sharing – without sacrificing overall UHF/VHC usability. The answer is simple – the Yaesu FTM-300DR. It’s packed with features, and while it’s definitely more… Continue reading Yaesu FTM-300DR Review

The Yaesu FTM-400XDR is an excellent mobile ham radio for use in both digital and analog UHF/VHF bands, and is one of the best choices on the market for users interested in APRS. And, despite its feature-packed design, it still clocks in at a relatively affordable price. Good Simultaneous voice/data transmission – This radio uses… Continue reading Yaesu FTM-400XDR Review

Whether you’re looking for a desktop ham radio or a mobile unit for a truck or car, the Yaesu FT-891 combines powerful features with solid value. Its HF receiver, in particular, is extraordinary, rivaling even some base station radios. Good Stellar signal quality – This radio uses Yaesu’s bit floating point Digital Signal Processing (DSP)… Continue reading Yaesu FT-891 Review

Chinese ham radios often get a bad reputation among enthusiasts. But the TYT MD-380 is here to show that there are always exceptions to the rule. This HT (Handheld Transceiver) is an excellent entry-level radio for those who want to get started in the hobby. It combines excellent features with a reasonable price point. That… Continue reading TYT MD-380 Review

If you’re newer to the world of ham radios and you’re looking for a basic, affordable, no-frills HT (Handheld Transceiver) that will grow with you as you learn, the Yaesu FT-65R is an excellent choice. Despite its affordable price, it packs in plenty of features, and with up to 5W of power, it provides excellent… Continue reading Yaesu FT-65R Review