8 Underrated USED Ham Radios YOU CAN STILL BUY!

Thanks for a good video. Curiously, hams typically recommend gear they have owned with satisfaction. 🙂 If you want a "real, full size" radio that you may never sell, consider the TS-890. 🙂 Thanks for your take. TJ

I bought a Icom IC-746PRO a couple months ago and have been really happy with it. That is another radio to add to the list. HF, 6m, and 2m. No UHF. I have a FT-857 that I had for a few years. I would also add the Yaesu FTM-400 to list

Dinki di reviews 🇺🇸

I've got a ICOM M710, 718 & 7200.

What happened to the used HF simple radios for sub $400?

An Aussie that sounds nasal? Shocker

My biggest problem with the used radio market is the exorbitant prices these old fudds are trying to get for their non-classic radios.
Sorry, but your Icom 706mk2g that's beat to hell and back isn't worth 600-800$, that's used 7300 territory (Or new even, if you get a Japan model and do the diode removal.. Sure, no warranty, but that goes for any used radio too) I'm sure there's some good deals out there but the stuff I've been seeing lately has been WAAAAY overpriced for what it is.

The asking prices of used rigs are outrageous, I will buy new.

I am still happily useing my origanal Kenwood's 440 and 450 TS's

Sorry , but I'd avoid an IC-706. Way too old at this point.

Some of these used prices are crazy. It's too bad there's a lack replacements that don't deviate significantly from the older models.

You sound like the effects of Covid? Is that how you got that accent?

Do any of your radios do frequencies hop ?

Icom Ic 7000 the stove !! this radio has a Class A amplifier... this means there is always current for this reason it's not suitable to buy this radio.

Greetings dear friend. I'd like to hear your honest opinion... Are the new Touch-screen transceivers really reliable and wouldn't they be easier to give technical problems? Or is this a meaningless myth?

Why should you buy a used radio when all these old fuckmooks are charging retail prices or 85% thereof? Boomers are strangling the market.

The thumbnail ,
Nice little play toy .
But I’m hearing the electromagnetic spectrum is being re apportioned . The F C C , is moving tv channels and am radio is being removed . That fo mo co is removing am receivers from their new vehicle line .
It’s getting insane .

I just looked on eBay and what people are asking for most of these rigs is just completely laughable. Not that much better on QRZ, as so many people over-use eBay asking prices as a gold standard for pricing. For $50-200 more you can get a new, up to date rig with a warranty.

It is like talking about tapedecks from TEAC and REVOX, right? Old guys with stunning features and superb quality. Now SDR is getting into DMR and digital stuff with add-on modules. Just waiting for that one chip that has everything inside just to be enabled and used with software.

The 991 was first radio after 40 years of absence from Ham radio (Vacuum tubes). Too much of a learning curve for this old guy. I'd Prefer minimalist radio.

I have done FSTV tx/rx with the IC-7000, on screen. One of my favorite radios I own. :)

First video I’ve heard anyone mention the ceramic filter issue for the FT-857 and FT-897. Thanks. I’m probably going to scrub both of those off my potential used item buy list.

After years of buying used camera gear off fleabay and so on I have a really good collection of lists of questions to ask sellers about cameras and lenses down to specifics on brands and models. It would be great if someone did a video series on questions to ask sellers about each of the major brands/models of radios out there. Just an idea. I’m a newbie. Thanks for your videos.

I love the 706 mk11 G in fact in my radio collection I have 5 of them and the two of the 857 and many more radios and i do like my 7100, and 2 of the 8900 i can not help buying radios thanks for the video

One of the advantages of the 706MkIIG is that there is a switch to be able to transmit on any frequency so no desoldering involved. I turn down the power to 5 watts when mobile and talk to the truckers to find road conditions etc. My Honda is too small for more than one radio so this handled everything I need.

And they trying get a lot of money for radios that hard get parts for if they break

How the FT-450D is not on this list is beyond me, clueless as i just bought mine for $468.

I don't know what's going on, but nearly every old, used ham radio seems to be going for nearly as much as a brand new updated model. Am I just looking in the wrong places?

I have had my Yaesu Ft-991A since new, 5 Years old now.
Please note that the USB controller IC are going faulty in these Radios.
I was lucky enough to have mine replaced under warranty "in the fifth year".

Old rigs are a gamble if you need to repair them can you still get any parts they are not worth what they are asking for them even if fully working and in good condition how much life is left in it

What I really liked about my icom 7000 was being able to plug a monitor into it. I did this both as a shack rig and mobile.

I was surprised you didn’t list the Yaesu FT-847, I still run this in my shack.

Many have rightfully pointed out about being aware of parts availablity, etc. Also, you should research repair services for your intended purchase. I should like to make you aware that Icom America repairs suck swamp water - the shop in Seattle, that is. There used to be a great gentleman in that area who did marvelous and reasonable repair. I have sent him my IC-745 and IC-706MKIIg and was rewarded with terrific service, decent turnaround time, and an ultra polite attitude. Sadly, he just retired and the Icom America people up there. (This opinion is reflected in the eham reviews.) They are arrogant and dismissive. However, there is a wonderful gentleman in St Joseph, Michigan (near Benton Harbor, the old home of Heathkit) who is terrific! He fixed a problem with my IC-7200 and was reasonably priced and extremely nice.
I also recommend the Yaesu people who are in Buena Park, California. They are just down the road from me and I have been to see them personally and can attest to their capabilities. The expertise and attitude translate to stuff sent to them which is why I am comfortable buying used and new Yaesu gear.
Good luck!

Missed a legend the IC-756 PROIII.

The major difference between the 706 MKIIG and the 7000 was the DSP, AF on the 706 and much more effective IF on the 7000. The color screen was nice but the DSP was the key performance difference!

I have the ic 7000 and it draws a fair amount of current. My dad has an ic 718 and although it is a pretty big radio for it's size, it hardly draws any power. Being a beginner radio, I would put it on this list as well.

You now You can connect a Digital Hot Spot on these Radio through the Router Jack on the Back to Transmit in All Voice Digital Modes,

I have the 706 little brother, the 703+. 10w 180-6. Tuner. 10w. Plays nice with my Roma amp. Sips power on receive, like 0.5 W. Good for QRP and Foundation License.

Yes, $500 for a used radio in good condition is worth it. But I'm seeing hams asking almost the same price for a 20 year old radio as what a brand new Icon 7300 goes for. Definitely not a good deal.

My main radio is the 7300 but I also have a 706mk2g which I listen to VHF/UHF and as a general receiver 👍

I'm still totally addicted to old Kenwood radios - TS-850s in the shack and 2 TS-50s for portable. Did replace the SMD electrolytics on the 850 and all electrolytics on both of the TS-50s. Both 50s also got a simple DSB clipper (1 cap and 2 diodes) (origin: PA0FRI), and they work like a charm and I'm getting very good audio reports pretty often. Maybe a IC-7300 is a newer and (on the data sheet) better radio, BUT I'm convinced, that I couldn't work stations with a 7300, that I can't work with a TS-50!

Almost forgot....a disadvantage of the FT-101 is that it's, admittedly, not as stable as present-day rigs. While those of us who grew up on Heathkit DX-60s & National NC-183Ds, FT-101-style stability would have amazed us, this "ain't the 1960s, no more." But the 101 IS plenty stable for SSB, though I think it would fall flat on its face, with RTTY. As for digital? Can't say....I don't do digital. (Digital? That's all about those new-fangled adders & half-adders, shift-registers, etc, with their "1"s and "0"s, and such. Right?)

I recommend the CLASSIC, the Yaesu FT-101
.
Advantages: 1) It's built like a TANK, and could probably survive being run over by one! Well, maybe not, but a truck, probably. 2) It's easy to repair. First, it employs plug-in PCBs, which facilitate use of an extender card. It uses discrete transistors, a few standard ICs, and of course, 3 tubes in the PA. NO special purpose and/or LSI ICs, or SMDs, which you can hardly see, let alone see where to stick a scope probe. There were quite a few "sub-species" of the 101 (I have the "B" variant). Some have an AF processor, others, not. Some have 11m, most, not. I think some include 160m, others have the switch position for it, but require that you add a crystal for that band. They're all similar in basic performance. However, I'd recommend the earlier models over the "Z" series. The 101Zs aren't as as well-made, and most importantly, lack the plug-in PCBs.

Disadvantages: 1) They're ham-band only (except for11m, for some), and don't have the WARC bands. Of course, you can have any band you want, but a pocket full of crystals can cost more than you paid for the radio. I've seen external VFOs, but they're pretty pricey. You could also build an external HFO reference oscillator, utilizing a frequency synthesizer or Wadley Loop, if you're good at circuit design. 2) They're ALL "long of tooth," by now, and share, with all old gear, the bug-a-boo of failing electrolytic capacitors. However, re-cap kits are available on Ebay, for a reasonable price.

One more comment. I'd rate the FT-7 & 7B as a close second choice. They have all the advantages of the 101, but fewer bands, and lower power.

500$ for that first radio no way if I am going to drop 500$ on a radio I am buy a ft 891

Does NZ use these old looking web pages because they are lower demand?

Sometimes you also see deals on still-current radios, like the IC-7300 you mentioned. New they're about US$1150 (that number goes up and down), but somebody recently sold a used one for US$800. That's a large enough savings to justify forgoing the warranty you'd get on a new one. The sale was within a local radio club, so it was unlikely to be a lemon; that would have come back to haunt the seller if it had been.

On the other hand, some radios are selling for stupidly high prices used. I have a Kenwood TM-V71A that I bought for about $375 new a few years ago, but they're currently selling used for over $500 -- which is silly because the new price is currently $490.

How can I get one ? Can you send one to me in Chile ? Thank´s.

Great video! I'm kind of new ham wannabe so tbh I didn't know mamy of those radios. Excellent rigs.

Where was the Kenwood TS520.....???

Save your money.