Top 5 HF Ham Radios for Beginners!

I'm glad that they do not give out vehicle license like ham radio license. Absolutely zero experience behind the wheel... or in this case behind the mic. 😅

Ft-891 rules !!!!! No needless features !!!

I started in 1966 with a used Hallicrafters SX-25 receiver and a himebrew 10 watt TX, then upgraded to the Johnson Viking Adventurer. Total investment of $95. Seeing that I was 15 at the time, and the best I could earn was 95-cents per hour, it almost broke my bank!

Almost 58 years later, I have gone through more radios than I can remember, but still wish that I kept my Novice station.

De WB2VUO

Yaesu FT 991 - trx which was worst ever I had... Atu increase SWR, extreme complicated menu, end transistor died after half year, waterfall is a joke, display screen not used properly as at IC7300, lack of many functions present at FT 857 / 897, just 100 memories for HF, VHF, UHF trx is joke. I bought IC7300 and 991 shouldnt even be placed at the same shelve. 991 is far away and problematic TRX - I sold it with half price of new. I have 11 other Yeasu TRXes and RXes before colour display edge... I'm happy with that. But Yaesu FT991 was my LAST Yeasu and since that I do not trust them anymore... I strongly recomend IC7300 - it's magic TRX. Up to now I didn't open manual as it's so easu to operate as smatrphone. A lot of great functions included recorder (not only to record CQ but you can store complete QSOs ). On top IC7300 has 4m band even its not written on the body.

Excelente aporte para los nuevos radioaficionados

Ill stick with my FT450AT

Hey this guy looks familiar! That's because he is my teacher, I'm halfway through the technicians course I bought to study for my license. Highly recommend it.

I personally went with the Xiegu X6100. IMHO, it offered me the best mix of features for the price (quirks aside). Being fully self contained (only needing an antenna), extremely portable, and digital ready of of the box, was a perfect fit for me considering I was/am very interested in POTA... Which compensates for the lack of power, by making me a target vs hunting for a contacts. Only needing a USB-PD charger/powerbank capable of 12V/3A (most 36W+ options) and a trigger cable to use it at full power helped too.

That said, I was also considering the G90 (lost out due to additional power cost and lack of being digital ready) and the Yaesu FT-891, which is a full 100W rig, but required a much beefier power source & lacked some features (no waterfall, not digital ready, doesn't pack as small, etc), but still a very solid rig with a renowned reputation within portable op circles (POTA, SOTA, etc)...

I'm looking at the FT-710 as my next rig, due to it's reputation for Rx sensitivity, feature set, and price

Nice video, very interesting......I have a Yaesu FT897D for use in a fixed station.....and a FT817ND for QRP......this way I don't have to remember the different functions between one radio and another....since they are very similar😅😅😅😅.....73 from Italy IU7PFS

How well would the G90 work with the Yeasu 120 antenna

I've had several ft897 rigs.Worked great but prefer a larger display

The first thing I went for was multi band versatility. I jumped on the Yaesu FT8900 because it covered 70cm, 2m, 6m, and 10m. All in one package. I use it in my truck and have a quick release if I need to add it to my go kit.

Excellent video Jim. The Yaesu FT-897 was my first HF radio when I got licensed 20+ years ago. My current shack HF radio is the excellent Icom 7300. My favorite HF radio of all-time and the one I use the most is the very versatile Icom 705. Keep up the great work.

Some other great radios would be the ft-891, FTDX10 and FT-710. I personally don’t recommend a newbie get a qrp radio until they are a little more experienced. It’s insanely fun, but I only say that because I had some experience before jumping into that. When I started out it was already challenging with 100 watts.

N2MTM here, you did not memtioned the FTDX10 or the FT 710.

Get a used icom 718 and start from there,thats a very good rig for starter and also cheap,cheers!

What you don't realize is those radios are pricey and people that are a fixed income can't afford to buy those radios money just doesn't grow on trees 73 and god bless

First was a kenwood ts 140s, now i got a ft 991A love that radio .ok 73

🎉okay. How about a 40m / 80m antenna that will fit in a backyard 40 feet deep. 40ft wide. But width has to avoid triplex 240power

I started out with a IC-705 after I got my General upgrade back in 2020. Over a year later, I got a IC-7300. Worked a lot of DX contacts into Europe with the IC-705, but having the IC-7300 is a lot easier to have a conversation.

As a new ham as myself, this is very helpful. For starters, I've do have now the AT5555N and very happy with it. May I ask sir, how high in watts can you go but still to be considered QRP? Thank you and 73.

With all due respect steering a new ham towards QRP Rigs is a guarantee of frustration. I am a big QRP Fan but it’s probably a mistake to start a new ham off with an HF QRP Radio IMHO.

I started out with a Baofeng UV-5R and then graduated to a Kenwood TS-430 with matching PS-430 power supply. I gave that radio, power supply, a Yaesu 2 meter radio, extension speaker and an auto tuner to another Ham who could not afford a radio when he became a General. Also he was disabled. I did this after I got my new Yaesu FT-991a and power supply. Love my Yaesu! Before I got the Yaesu FT-991A, I purchased a Kenwood TM-281a after my Yaesu 3100's finals burned out. Cheers & 73 from K9POW in eastern TN

I would throw out the IC7000 if you can find one used for a deal. That's what I'm running right now until I can upgrade to a 7300 for HF and pull my ID880 out of storage to handle my VHF/UHF needs, or go 705 plus an amp. I'm already getting a tuner for the 7000, so that will already be checked off my list.

No Yaesu FT-710? Blasphemy!

If you’re brand new to ham like I was, and on a budget, the cheapest used HF radio is the best way to learn and save money for other things you need for your shack. Computer. Headset. Power supply. Feedline. Antenna. Grounding. YMMV, but you can always upgrade. Tons of used old gear out there if you know where to look.

You totally missed that the 991a has fusion and VHF UHF which the 7300 does not. I see so many people compare the 2 but they are different class radios. Put the 7300 against the FT DX 10 and the 7300 Will lose all day long

Nice do you have one of these videos for HTs?

All of these radios are great....I started with a Yaesu FT-891 for HF as I was building a Go-Box with my FTM-300 dual band and GMRS radios. It was a great starter radio and can be used for portable and mobile radio once you move up to an FTdx10 !!!! I love my FTdx10 and have 116 of 195 countries logged in a year's time with just a Palomar OCFD antenna. I run an ICOM-7100 in my truck as to have all bands in a single radio. It works well but I wouldn't pick it for base rig due to not having a good waterfall display.

thanks for the video, I got my license earlier this year and along with it a yaesu ft818, it's great to get started on hf, along with a mfj tuner I was able to use it on ft8 on 10m along with a vhf antenna. but yesterday I bought a new yaesu ft710 and it really seemed like the best jump from qrp to qro, compared to the icom 7300 edta at a better price and does the same

I love my iCOM IC-718 and will use it until until it falls apart. Unfortunately they're no longer available. $700 for a "starter" HF radio was a great price.

Great video for new HAMs like myself. Currently own the IC7300 and am happy with it. I’m looking forward to adding to the shack. Ham Radio Prep is the best!!

Thank you for the video. I also have a Yaesu 991A and love it. I bought my second hand and got a really good deal on it. This is my only radio and my very first. Great for a starter. Thank You

I love my Yaesu 991A highly recommended !