Handheld Radios
Handheld VHF/UHF transceivers (known as “HTs”) are used for portable operations. Here are some considerations for choosing a handheld VHF/UHF radio.
- Reputable Brand
Alinco, Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu are long-standing Japanese amateur radio brands with good reputations. Anytone, Baofeng, Wouxun, and many others are newer Chinese brands with mixed reputations.
Chinese radios are often cheaper, but not as good: poor receiver filtering, cheaper and less durable materials, more confusing controls and menus. They may be adequate for a newbie, or as a backup radio, but the better alternatives are worth the cost.
- FCC Certification
- Purchase a radio that is FCC certified, so that you can legally use it. Cheap HTs from unfamiliar brands may not be certified or legal.
- Transmitter Power
- Choose a radio with at least 5W output when powered by an external 12V source. When powered by batteries, 5W output is best, but 2.5W is acceptable.
- Battery Type
- Prefer a radio that uses lithium ion (Li-ion) battery packs rather than the older nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery packs, especially if the radio will go long periods without being used. Both are serviceable, but NiMH loses its charge much more quickly when not in use, and needs to be recharged more often.
- Battery Capacity
- To work a standard 12-hour shift with a handheld radio, you need at least 3 Ah of battery capacity. You will probably need to buy an extra battery pack or two to achieve this. The HT that you keep in your 2-Hour Go Kit, for use while returning home to get your full equipment, should have 3 hours or 750 mAh of battery capacity.
- AA Battery Case
- Some HTs can accept standard AA alkaline batteries with a special battery case. If your radio supports this, it’s worth having one of those cases as a backup option. But most such radios can only transmit at low power on those batteries, so they are not the best choice for your primary power source.
- Frequency Bands
- Choose a “dual band” radio that operates on the 2m (144–148 MHz) and 70cm (420–450 MHz) amateur radio bands.
- Dual VFO / Dual Receive
- Prefer a “dual VFO” (variable frequency oscillator) radio so you can tune and listen to two different frequencies at the same time. (Note: some HTs try to emulate this with a single VFO by rapidly scanning between two frequencies. This is a poor substitute.)
- Front Panel Configuration
- All HTs can be programmed from the front panel, but some are easier than others. (The cheap Chinese ones tend to be more difficult.) Ensure that you are comfortable programming the radio you select from its front panel (i.e., not through software). In a field deployment, you will need to. Keep a copy of the radio’s manual in your Go Kit just in case (or make or buy a cheat sheet for it).
- Squelch Knob
- Prefer a radio that allows control over squelch with a knob rather than a menu setting.
- Avoid Unnecessary Features
- Many newer HTs include digital modes, making them more expensive and more complex. SCCo ARES/RACES does not use these HT-based digital modes, so unless you have some other need for them, you can save money by avoiding them.
- Accessory Availability
- Make sure accessories (power, headset, antenna) are available for your radio from third parties, not just from the manufacturer.
- Disable Unwanted Functions
- Example: voice-operated transmit (VOX) features can cause your radio to transmit when you do not intend it.
- Example: Yaesu radios have a “WIRES” feature that will mute the first second or two of every transmission.
- Beware of Common Issues
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Check with other users of your radio for any “gotchas.”
- Example: the headset connector on a Yaesu FT-60R, which opens PTT constantly if it gets loose. You will often see this type of radio with a large rubber band securing the headset cable to prevent this embarrassing mishap.
* Manufacturer, product, and vendor names and images on this page are given as examples and are not endorsed by SCCo ARES/RACES.