Amateur Radio Hardware
Manufacturers, radio equipment, antennas, SDR receivers, accessories, and where to buy. Hardware choice depends heavily on your budget, license class, and intended use.
Major Manufacturers
The amateur radio equipment market is served by several established manufacturers. Each has different strengths, and the best choice depends on your operating style, budget, and preferences.
Icom
ManufacturerJapanese manufacturer known for the IC-7300 (popular mid-range HF), IC-7610, IC-7851, and D-STAR digital voice radios. Strong across HF, VHF, and UHF.
Yaesu
ManufacturerPopular manufacturer of HF transceivers (FT-DX10, FTDX101D), VHF/UHF radios, and the FT-65/FT-60 handhelds. System Fusion digital voice.
Kenwood
ManufacturerQuality HF transceivers (TS-890S, TS-590SG) and the TH-D75 handheld with APRS and D-STAR. Known for excellent audio quality.
Elecraft
ManufacturerAmerican manufacturer of high-performance HF radios and kits. Known for K4, K3S, KX3, and KX2. Popular with QRP/portable operators and serious DXers.
FlexRadio Systems
ManufacturerAmerican manufacturer of software-defined HF transceivers. FLEX-6000 series offers direct-sampling SDR with SmartSDR software control.
Xiegu
ManufacturerChinese manufacturer of affordable portable HF radios. G90, G106, X6100, X5105 are popular among new operators and QRP enthusiasts.
SDR Receivers
Software Defined Radio receivers are an affordable way to listen to a wide range of radio signals. They are excellent for learning, monitoring, and exploring the radio spectrum.
RTL-SDR
~$30Extremely affordable USB SDR receiver covering ~24 MHz to 1.7 GHz. The most popular entry point into SDR. The RTL-SDR Blog V4 is recommended.
Wideband SDR receivers covering 1 kHz to 2 GHz. Better performance than RTL-SDR for amateur radio monitoring.
High-performance SDR receivers with superior dynamic range and sensitivity for serious radio monitoring.
Equipment Categories
Amateur radio equipment falls into several major categories. What you need depends on your license class, operating interests, and budget.
| Category | Description | Price Range | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| VHF/UHF Handheld | Portable radios for repeater and local use. Good first radio. | $25 - $500 | Technician+ |
| VHF/UHF Mobile | Vehicle-mounted radios with more power than handhelds (25-50W). | $150 - $600 | Technician+ |
| HF Transceiver | For worldwide communication on HF bands. Desktop radios. | $500 - $15,000+ | General+ (most bands) |
| HF Portable | Compact HF radios for field/portable operation (QRP). | $300 - $2,000 | General+ |
| SDR Receiver | Software-defined receivers for monitoring and learning. | $30 - $300 | None (receive only) |
| HF Antenna | Wire antennas, verticals, beams for HF bands. | $50 - $5,000+ | N/A |
| VHF/UHF Antenna | Verticals, Yagis, J-poles for VHF/UHF. | $30 - $500 | N/A |
| Antenna Tuner | Matches antenna impedance to radio. Essential for many setups. | $50 - $700 | N/A |
| Power Supply | 13.8V DC supply for desktop radios (20-30A typical). | $50 - $300 | N/A |
| SWR Meter | Measures antenna system match. Essential for safe operation. | $30 - $300 | N/A |
Where to Buy
Major U.S. dealer and antenna product manufacturer. Wide selection of radios, antennas, accessories, and their own line of antenna hardware.
Visit Store →One of the largest amateur radio retailers in the U.S. with multiple brick-and-mortar locations. All major brands.
Visit Store →U.S. dealer with a wide range of equipment, antennas, accessories, and electronic components.
Visit Store →Equipment Reviews
eHam.net Reviews
FreeThe most comprehensive amateur radio equipment review database. Thousands of user reviews covering radios, antennas, accessories, and software.
Read Reviews →YouTube channel with detailed equipment reviews, unboxings, and comparisons alongside operating guides and tutorials.
Watch Reviews →Ham Radio 2.0
FreeYouTube channel with in-depth equipment reviews, digital mode tutorials, and portable operation content.
Watch Reviews →Reference Books
ARRL Handbook
PaidThe comprehensive technical reference for radio communications. Covers theory, circuit design, station construction, and amateur radio technology. Updated annually since 1926.
ARRL Antenna Book
PaidThe definitive reference for antenna design, theory, and construction. Essential reading for anyone building or understanding antennas.