As an Amateur Radio Operator (aka Ham) I’m often asked about my recommendations for hand held Ham/SHTF Radios, aka Handy Talkies (HTs). I’ll try to capture my recommendations in this post. Keep in mind, these are just my recommendations. Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself what’s best for you.

First of all, go and get either a Ham Radio Technician license, or at the very least a GMRS License (no test required). Having these licenses will allow you to use radios with more power than other bands and radios like FRS. There are previous posts on how to go about getting one or both of these licenses. Just do a search on the AmCon MoKan Locals page using “Ham” or “GMRS”.

I realize you’ve been told you can technically use any frequency in an “emergency” situation, but trust me when I tell you you don’t want to wait for the “S” to hit the “F” before you figure out: how to communicate with a radio, how far the range is for a given radio, who’s around you with radios, how you will communicate with family and/or neighbors when mobile phones don’t work, etc. SHTF scenarios are NOT the time to be figuring all this out. You can get your Ham Technician license in a matter a few weeks using HamStudy.org with minimal studying. If you’re serious about learning to communicate via radios DO IT.

These radio recommendations assume you’ll get your Ham Technician license. If you’re not planning on getting that license and want to go GMRS check out the Boafeng UV-5X GMRS or the Radioddity GM-30 GMRS.

On the analog side you can get by with just “listening” without a Ham license, but for digital communications like Yaesu Fusion or Motorola TRBO DMR you’ll need a Ham callsign which requires a Ham Technician license. The two largest, local “networks” of people in the Kansas City area for UHF/VHF communication are the B.Y.R.G. repeater groups (using DMR), and the Kansas City Room and Kansas City Room Wide repeater groups (using Yeasu Fusion/Wires-X).

These radio recommendations are broken down based Analog/Digital and then by price with a Budge Buy, and a Best Radio. I did this because not everyone will want or need to communicate via Digital, but I personally recommend DMR due to widespread use in both the Kansas City area as well as in Missouri/Kansas. Additionally, the AmCon community has broad knowledge and support of DMR nationally.

Analog Radio Recommendations

Budget Analog Buy – Boafeng UV-5R
Around $30
This is a ubiquitous radio in the Ham/Prepper community. A bit like the AK of the HT radio world.

Pros
• 5 Watts of Power
• Inexpensive
• Somewhat durable
• Easy to program via CHIRP (free, but requires a USB cable)
• Can receive/transmit on a broad frequency range
• Receives NOAA Weather
• Lots of accessories available including high capacity batteries, dry cell battery carriers, car chargers, etc.
Cons
• Not waterproof or dustproof
• Limited to 128 channel memory
• Requires an additional programming cable to be purchased – about $23
• Antenna is just so-so. Recommended to replace with a Signal Stick antenna – about $20

Best Analog Radio – Yaesu FT-60R
Around $160
Yaesu radios are much better quality than the Boafeng’s, but priced accordingly. It just feels like a better quality radio. The FT-60R is recommended by many preppers as a solid analog, dual-band HT.

Pros
• 5 Watts of Power
• 1,000 Memory Channels
• High Quality
• Durable
• Receives NOAA Weather
• Lots of accessories available including extra batteries, dry cell battery carriers, car chargers, etc.
Cons
• Not waterproof or dustproof
• Programming requires purchase of a USB cable and software (about $42)
• Yaesu accessories are expensive
• Frequency range not a broad as the Boafeng UV-5R, but does have MARS mod option (about $50)

Digital (DMR) Radio Recommendations
Budget Digital Radio – Radioddity GD-77
Around $95

For the price this is a fantastic radio that has excellent support for opensource firmware and programming (CPS) software development. The pros/cons listed below assume you are using the OpenGD77 firmware and CPS.

Pros
• 5+ Watts of Power
• 10 different power levels from 50mW up to 5W+
• Supports Motorola’s TRBO DMR Tier 1 & 2
• Runs the Opensource OpenGD77 software
• Wide frequency range
• Receives NOAA weather
• 1,024 channel memory
• Includes a “virtual zone” that allows scanning of all 1,024 channels
• Can run as a DMR Hotspot when used with a laptop and another DMR radio
• Includes USB programming cable and firmware/software is free
Cons
• Not waterproof or dustproof
• In order to get the full features of the radio you need to install and use the OpenGD77 software which requires some technical ability
• Does not store the entire DMR Contact ID list, but does have storage for 10,000 contacts and uses Talker Alias
• Battery is only 2,200 mAh

Best Digital Radio – Anytone AT-878UV+ or BTECH DMR-6X2
Around $240

These two radios are nearly identical, but the Anytone AT-878UV+ includes Bluetooth capabilities, while the BTECH DMR-6X2 comes with both a “standard” battery as well as an “extended”, 3100 mAh battery and also includes a few features not found in the Anytone including Multiple Scan Groups and Digital Simplex Repeater capabilities. Both of these radios have a better build quality than the Radioddity GD-77 and appear to be more durable.

Pros
• 7 Watts of Power
• Supports Motorola’s TRBO DMR Tier 1 & 2
• Both radios include a 3100 mAh battery. The BTECH also comes with a 2nd, 2100 mAh battery.
• Stores the entire DMR Contact ID list (currently 160,000+ users)
• Receives NOAA weather
• Includes USB programming cable and firmware/software is free
• Includes GPS and supports APRS (reporting only)
• Includes Bluetooth (Anytone AT-878UV+ only)
• Can functions as a Digital Repeater (BTECH DMR-6X2 only)
• Includes mic/earpiece combo (BTECH DMR-6X2 only)
Cons
• Not waterproof or dustproof
• Over twice the price of the Radioddity GD-77
• Scanning is limited to individual zones (Anytone AT-878UV+ only)
• Expanded frequency range not easy to setup