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How to Buy Your First Ham Radio at the Best Price

According to the FCC, every month in the United States, over 1,000 people get their first amateur radio (ham) license. This entry level license, Technician Class, comes with full privileges on VHF and UHF bands, as well as limited HF privileges.

Because most new hams start with VHF and UHF, the most logical rig for the newly licensed operator is the "handie talkie", more commonly known as the HT. An HT is basically a high-tech version of the walkie-talkie.

HTs get the new ham on the air immediately. They are limited to line-of-sight communications, but because of repeaters located on tall buildings and mountain peaks, hams with HTs can talk for many miles. With the right antennas, HTs can even be used to talk to the International Space Station, space shuttle, or bounce signals off amateur radio satellites. The new ham can become trained in public service and emergency response, and volunteer to help with public events using their new HT.

HTs are inexpensive compared to full-sized transceivers used as base stations.

Here's how to buy the right HT at the right price.

Instructions

- 1
  Get your license, if you don't already have one. The ARRL website has plenty of information for prospective hams. The ARRL can also help you find a club in your area that is eager to welcome you into the ham radio community.
- 2
  Determine your budget. What do you want to do with your first ham radio? For around $100 you can get a nice 2 meter (VHF) HT that will get you on most of the repeaters in the U.S. A dual bander (VHF and UHF) will not only open up more repeaters for you, but also allow you to work satellites from your backyard. Dual band HTs cost quite a bit more than basic 2 meter rigs.
- 3
  Read the reviews. QST magazine, published by the ARRL, is available by subscription and in many libraries. Every month the engineers at ARRL report test results on the newest ham radio equipment. If you join the ARRL, you will have access to back issues on the web, enabling you to research HTs. Also, visit the reviews section of eham.net.
- 4
  Check out the websites of Gigaparts, HamCity, CheapHam, and Ham Radio Outlet. These sites are competitive and between them, you will find the lowest price on your first radio.

Ham Radio