K0TFU

Feature Descriptions

Throughout this guide, there are references to commonly used terms for the features and capabilities of handheld ham radios. This page describes and explains these features. For most terms, like NOAA Alert, the manufacturers all use the same name and there is a common understanding of what they mean. Other terms, like dual band, have different meanings depending on the context or the manufacturer.

These definitions are grouped by category, and are in the same order as they appear on the detailed specification page for a radio.

Deconfusing dual band

Let's start by clarifying one of two overloaded terms in ham radio: dual band. Unfortunately band can be used in several ways, and therefore dual band can mean three different things.

Dual band can be a description of the transmit capabilities of a radio. It means the radio is capable of transmitting on both the 2m and 70cm amateur radio bands.

Most handheld radios have some concept of Band A and Band B. On the screen of the radio, each band can be set to VFO or memory recall, and can be configured independently. Often there is a button labeled "A/B" which switches which one of these bands is active for configuration or transmission when you push the PTT button. Some manufacturers, like Yaesu, call this the Main band and the Sub band. Dual band can mean that the user interface for the radio can configure two frequency setups at the same time and conveniently switch between them.

Dual band can also mean that the radio has the circuitry to receive signals on two different frequencies at the same time. Many inexpensive radios don't have this circuitry, but they mimic the capability by quickly switching between two frequencies and then staying on one when it detects a signal.

In this guide, I enumerate the radio frequency bands, or ranges, on which a radio can transmit. I don't use dual band or tri-band to refer to this capability, even though many manufacturers and distributors do. I'll show a radio as able to transmit on 2m, 70cm, and 1.25m instead. I call these transmit bands.

The user interface and concurrent receive meanings of dual band are closely related. You can't have dual receive if you don't have a place to set both frequencies in the user interface of the radio. I combine these two capabilities into a single feature I call Design.

Channels

In amateur radio, the word channel can mean at least four different things. I wrote a deep dive to untangle the various meanings. At least two of those meanings are directly relevant to this handheld buyers guide:

  • the radio setup needed to communicate with another station
  • a memory location

To make things less confusing, I don't use the word channel in this guide at all. When I refer to the settings required to communicate with another station (i.e. TX frequency, RX frequency, CTCSS tone, etc) I call it a communication setup or a radio setup. I call memory locations memories instead of channels.

Assessments

Unlike the other features documented in this page which are objective measurements and facts, the items in this section are my subjective assessments of the radio.

Budget category

The price of a radio is an important attribute to consider when comparing it with alternatives. But prices fluctuate, and sometimes handhelds go on sale. Rather than trying to keep links to the current best pricing for every handheld, I've created budget categories for grouping radios:

  • Economical - less than $100
  • Mid-range - $100 to $300
  • Expensive - more than $300

Headline

My one sentence summary of the radio, emphasizing what I think is unique or important about it.

Tested

True if I physically have a radio to test and measure. I record my measurements in fields like height, carry weight, and measured TX power. If I have not tested the radio, those measured fields stay blank. There are separate fields to capture the manufacturer's published specifications for these items.

Great

If I think this is a great radio, I'll indicate as such. It could be great because it's got amazing features. It could be great because I think it's high quality for a low price. It could be great because it includes features that most radios of comparable price don't. If I mark a radio as great, I'll tell you why I think it's great.

Avoid

There are some radios I think you shouldn't buy. It's not that they are bad, I just think that there are better alternatives at a given price point. For example, the Baofeng UV-5R has nothing inherently wrong with it and it is a tremendous value. But, for the same price, you can now get the Baofeng UV-5R Mini which is better in every way. I don't think anyone should buy the UV-5R any more.

Released

The date when the radio was released. Sometimes I have a specific date, sometimes it's just a month and year, sometimes just a year. And sometimes it's lost in the mists of time and left empty.

Discontinued

The date when the radio was discontinued by the manufacturer. This date is often even fuzzier than the release date.

Receiver

Design

This is not a common amateur radio term, but I use it to make the term dual band less confusing. In this guide the design of the radio combines the user interface and receive circuitry into a single feature with the following options:

  • Single band - the radio has user interface for a single frequency or memory setup, and circuitry to receive on a single frequency at a time
  • Dual band single receive - the radio has user interface for two frequency or memory setups, commonly referred to as Band A and Band B, but sometimes referred to as the Main band and the Sub band. The radio has circuitry which allows reception of signal on only one of these frequency setups at a time.
  • Dual band dual receive - like Dual band single receive but the radio has circuitry to receive on both frequency setups (ie Band A and Band B) at the same time.

See also Full duplex and Cross band repeater

RX circuit

There are several ways to design a circuit which receives radio signals. Superheterodyne circuits are better at isolating received signals than direct conversion circuits. In practical handheld radio usage, the circuit type is almost never the difference between you hearing a signal and you not hearing a signal. Most radios on the market today are direct conversion.

  • Direct conversion - also called a homodyne circuit, this has fewer elements than a superheterodyne circuit and is therefore the least expensive to produce.
  • Superheterodyne - often shortened to superhet, this circuit mixes the incoming signal with a local oscillator to produce an intermediate frequency that is easier to filter and amplify, giving better selectivity and sensitivity than a direct conversion circuit.
  • Double superheterodyne - uses two stages of frequency conversion, providing improved image rejection and selectivity over a single superheterodyne.
  • Triple superheterodyne - uses three stages of frequency conversion for the highest selectivity and image rejection, typically found only in higher-end radios.

NOAA

The NOAA Weather Radio service broadcasts continuous weather information from the National Weather Service on seven VHF frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. Most handheld radios can receive on these frequencies. If the radio has additional features like a weather specific memory group, or a weather scan mode, or a weather quick key, this guide will mark the radio with the NOAA feature.

NOAA alert

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts include a 1050 Hz alert tone that precedes warnings about severe weather, natural disasters, and other emergencies. Radios with the NOAA alert feature can monitor a weather channel silently in the background and sound an alarm when this tone is detected, even when the radio is tuned to another frequency.

Broadcast FM

Broadcast FM signals are transmitted between 88-108 MHz. A single broadcast typically includes a combined left and right mono stream, separate left and right streams, a 19 kHz pilot tone, a 38 kHz DSB-SC subcarrier, and often a 57 kHz data subcarrier for song titles and station info. Combined it uses 200 kHz of bandwidth. This is why there is never a local radio station on 94.1 MHz and another one on 94.2 MHz.

Amateur FM on 2m is narrowband: typically ±5 kHz deviation in a 12.5-20 kHz channel, voice only, no subcarriers, no stereo. Given the relative complexity of broadcast FM signals, you can't just tune an amateur radio to the frequency and hear the broadcast, you need some additional circuitry. If the radio has this additional circuitry and can receive Broadcast FM signals, this guide marks the radio with the Broadcast FM feature.

Airband

Aircraft communications take place between 118-137 MHz, just below the amateur 2m band frequencies of 144-148 MHz. Aircraft use AM instead of FM for several reasons, one being tradition. One practical reason AM is used is that if two transmissions happen on top of each other, the receiver hears garbled audio which aircraft controllers immediately recognize as a collision, allowing them to ask for a repeat. On FM, the strongest signal wins with minimal indication one of the transmissions was suppressed.

Because of the proximity to the 2m band, an antenna that works for 2m amateur transmissions works pretty well for airband receive, if the radio has the AM circuitry to listen to aircraft transmissions. This guide marks radios with the Airband feature if they can tune the airband frequencies and decode the AM transmissions.

RX frequencies

All the frequency ranges on which the radio can receive signals.

Transmitter

Transmit bands

Transmit bands mostly refer to the frequency allocations for amateur radio. Some handhelds can transmit on other frequencies, the most common being GMRS. GMRS is not an amateur radio band, the FCC defines it as a radio service, making it a peer with the Amateur service. For practical purposes, this distinction doesn't matter, and I combine amateur bands and radio services. For radios which are unlockable without hardware modification, I include the bands the radio will transmit on when unlocked. The radios in this guide have one or more of the following transmit bands:

  • 2m
  • 70cm
  • 1.25m
  • GMRS
  • MURS
  • 6m

Max TX power

The maximum claimed transmit power in watts. Most handheld radios claim to transmit at 5W, and often have settings to reduce the power. When measured, the actual transmit power is often less than claimed. In practice, it usually doesn't matter. When transmitting on the 2m, 70cm, 1.25m, and GMRS bands, transmit power is less important than your antenna and your location.

TX power settings

Show the various manufacturer claimed transmit power levels supported by the radio.

TX power (manufacturer)

The transmit power levels the manufacturer claims, organized by band. Each level pairs the name shown on the radio (like High, Mid, or Low) with the claimed output in watts. Some radios use one set of levels for every band; others claim different power on different bands, so the levels are grouped by band.

TX power (measured)

The transmit power I measured for each level on each band, using a Surecom SW-102 power meter. Manufacturers' claimed power is often optimistic; these are the numbers I actually read on the bench. When I have measured a radio, the claimed and measured values are shown side by side so you can see how close it comes to its specification.

Memories

Memories

Some radios call memory locations channels, which doesn't make any sense to me. This is the number of user accessible memory locations for storing frequency setups in the radio. This number excludes the following supplemental memory capabilities which some radios have:

  • Broadcast FM memories
  • Call channel or priority channel memories
  • Scan edge boundaries

Memory details

Shows any additional details about the memories on the radio.

Memory groups

I think every radio that has memories numbers them. Many radios let you organize the memories into groups by name or number range. If the radio has this capability, this feature says how many groups are available.

Length of memory name

Most radios allow you to give a memory location an alphanumeric name. Most radios only allow an 8-character name for the memory. The best radios allow 16-character names, and show both the memory number and the name on the screen at the same time. This value contains the maximum length of the alphanumeric memory names the radio lets you assign.

Digital

GNSS

Global Navigation Satellite System refers to any satellite constellation that provides positioning, navigation, and timing services. There are four systems that provide global coverage: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou.

Some radios only support one of the systems, some support multiple. I mark this feature if the radio supports one or more GNSS.

Bluetooth

If a radio supports Bluetooth, describe what you can do with it, and what limitations there are. Example Bluetooth capabilities include: PTT switches, headsets, programming, and KISS TNC.

USB

For radios with a USB connector, describe what you can do with that port. Common capabilities include:

  • Programming with CHIRP or the manufacturer's software
  • Firmware updates
  • Acting as a USB sound card for digital modes
  • Exposing a serial port for data or computer control
  • KISS TNC
  • Charge the battery attached to the radio

D-STAR

D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) in the late 1990s and first implemented in Icom radios, using 4800 bps GMSK modulation with the proprietary AMBE vocoder to fit a voice signal plus slow data into 6.25 kHz. It provides callsign-based routing through internet-linked repeaters and reflectors, so you can call a specific ham or connect to a specific room by entering callsigns rather than frequencies, making it one of the earliest networked digital voice modes in amateur radio.

System Fusion

System Fusion is Yaesu's digital voice and data protocol, using C4FM modulation with the AMBE+2 vocoder in 12.5 kHz of spectrum. Automatic mode select allows a Fusion repeater or radio to transparently handle both analog FM and digital C4FM users on the same frequency without reconfiguration. Networking happens through Yaesu's Wires-X system of internet-linked rooms and nodes.

DMR

DMR or Digital Mobile Radio is a commercial land-mobile standard also adopted by hams, using 4FSK modulation and the AMBE+2 vocoder to fit two independent voice time slots into 12.5 kHz using time-division multiple access (TDMA). In amateur use it's organized around talkgroups routed through networks like Brandmeister and TGIF, so a single repeater can give you access to thousands of regional, national, and special-interest conversations worldwide.

NXDN

NXDN is a digital voice and data protocol jointly developed by Icom and Kenwood, using 4FSK modulation with a proprietary vocoder in a narrow 6.25 kHz channel (or 12.5 kHz) via frequency-division multiple access (FDMA). Icom sells it under the IDAS name and Kenwood as NEXEDGE. It is primarily a commercial land-mobile standard with only a small amateur following, so you will encounter it far less often on the ham bands than DMR, D-STAR, or System Fusion.

APRS

Bob Bruninga (WB4APR) invented the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) to provide a real-time tactical data network built on top of AX.25 packet radio. APRS broadcasts position, weather, telemetry, and text messages. A digipeater receives these messages and retransmits them, extending the functional range. iGates receive APRS messages and feed them into the APRS-IS internet backbone, which powers aprs.fi and other sites which show these messages on a map.

DPRS

APRS over D-STAR instead of analog frequencies. Many D-STAR repeaters send DPRS messages they receive to APRS-IS.

KISS TNC

Marked true if the radio has a user-accessible terminal node controller (TNC) that uses the KISS protocol. Radios with AX.25 framing for AFSK or related modes have a TNC, but not all of them make the TNC available to the user, and therefore I would not mark this feature. The TNC can be available over a cable or wirelessly.

Physical Characteristics

Width

When I have tested a radio, I measure its width and record it here. With the smallest included battery attached, but no antenna or belt clip attached, put the radio on a table with the screen and buttons facing up. Measure the greatest distance in millimeters from left to right looking down at the front of the radio.

When I have not tested the radio I leave this blank. I show the manufacturer's published width in manufacturer width.

Height

When I have tested a radio, I measure its height and record it here. With the smallest included battery attached, but no antenna or belt clip attached, put the radio on a table with the screen and buttons facing up. Measure the greatest distance in millimeters from top to bottom looking down at the front of the radio.

When I have not tested the radio I leave this blank. I show the manufacturer's published height in manufacturer height.

Depth

When I have tested a radio, I measure its depth and record it here. With the smallest included battery attached, but no antenna or belt clip attached, put the radio on a table with the screen and buttons facing up. Measure the distance in millimeters from the surface of the table to the point on the front of the radio that is farthest from the surface of the table.

When I have not tested the radio I leave this blank. I show the manufacturer's published depth in manufacturer depth.

Weight

When I have tested a radio, I weigh it and record it in this field. I weigh the radio with no battery, no antenna, and no other accessories attached.

When I have not tested the radio I leave this blank. I show the manufacturer's published weight in manufacturer weight. Sometimes the weight published by the manufacturer includes the battery, sometimes it doesn't. They hardly ever say whether the weight they publish includes the battery or not.

Carry weight

When I have tested a radio, I weigh it with the lightest included battery and the lightest included antenna attached. No belt clip or lanyard are attached or included in this weight. This is meant to describe the lightest possible weight of a functional radio, or the lightest weight you need to carry for the radio to be useful. If I don't have a radio to physically test and measure myself, I leave it blank. Manufacturers generally publish one weight for the radio, and do not tell you whether it includes the battery or not.

Manufacturer width

The width of the radio as published in the manufacturer's specifications, stored in millimeters regardless of the units the manufacturer uses. When I have tested a radio, I show this beside my measured width so you can compare the two.

Manufacturer height

The height of the radio as published in the manufacturer's specifications, stored in millimeters regardless of the units the manufacturer uses. When I have tested a radio, I show this beside my measured height so you can compare the two.

Manufacturer depth

The depth of the radio as published in the manufacturer's specifications, stored in millimeters regardless of the units the manufacturer uses. When I have tested a radio, I show this beside my measured depth so you can compare the two.

Manufacturer weight

The weight of the radio as published in the manufacturer's specifications, stored in grams regardless of the units the manufacturer uses. When I have tested a radio, I show this beside my measured weight so you can compare the two.

Display

A description of the size (in diagonal inches) and type of display. Often the size of the display is not published in the specifications or marketing materials. Most displays are color LCDs, but some older radios have monochrome backlit dot matrix LCD displays.

Antenna connector

The type of antenna connector that is on this radio. Sometimes the marketing copy for radios talks about the connector you need on the antenna to attach to the radio, which can be confusing. All handheld radios expect 50 ohm antenna impedance.

  • SMA male - many Chinese radios have this antenna connector
  • SMA female - common on Kenwood and Icom radios
  • BNC male - found on some commercial-derived Icom handhelds like the IC-V86 and IC-U86
  • BNC female - usually not found on radios

USB connector

The type of USB connector, if any, on the body of the radio. This is separate and different from any USB connector on the battery. More radios have USB connectors on the battery than have USB connectors on the body of the radio.

Audio connector

The type of audio connector on the body of the radio. Most radios have an audio connector of some type for connecting a handheld speaker mic or an external speaker. Types of connectors include:

  • K1 or Kenwood style - 3.5mm and 2.5mm TRS connectors combined on the same assembly with centers 12mm apart. The 3.5mm carries mic (tip) and PTT (sleeve). The 2.5mm carries speaker (tip) and ground. Mic and PTT are separate lines, and you key the radio by shorting the two sleeves. Most common type of connector.
  • Icom Slim L or SL-type - 3.5mm and 2.5mm TRS connectors combined on the same assembly with centers 10 mm apart. Found on modern Icom handhelds, and different from the older L-type connector.
  • Icom 2 pin screw down - 3.5mm and 2.5mm TS connectors combined in a single assembly with two retaining screws to securely connect it to the radio.
  • Single TRRS connectors in various sizes.
  • GP328 Plus - a 6-pin connector named for the Motorola radio on which it was introduced, also known as Motorola multi-pin or EX500

PTT

Describes the one or more Push-To-Talk buttons on the radio. Some radios have two buttons, one for each band in a Dual band single receive design. Common values include:

  • Single side button
  • Two side buttons, one for each band

Buttons

A short description of any additional buttons found on the radio. Keypad buttons, or those on the face of the radio, are excluded. Here's some examples:

  • Left side programmable button
  • Left side monitor button
  • Two left side programmable buttons
  • Left side power button

Knobs

A short description of any twistable knobs on the radio. The most common knob is:

  • Volume knob with power switch

Other knobs include:

  • Encoder knob
  • Encoder knob with volume ring

An encoder knob is a knob that has detents when you twist it, but can be twisted infinitely in either direction. A volume knob has a minimum value and a maximum value beyond which the knob cannot be twisted.

DC input connector

If the radio body has a DC Input Connector to power the radio directly from an external DC source, I describe that connector. Only a few radios have this feature, and even fewer have the specifications of the connector. Sometimes I will just say "Yes", but if the details are known, you could see a value like "3.5mm x 1.35mm".

DC input voltage

If there is a DC Input Connector on the radio, this is the voltage that input connector expects to receive.

Ingress Protection Rating

The manufacturer's claimed Ingress Protection (IP) rating. An IP rating consists of two digits. The first digit measures protection from ingress of solid foreign bodies and dust and has values from 0 to 6. The second digit measures protection from ingress of water and has values from 0 to 9. Higher numbers mean more protection. If the manufacturer does not claim an IP rating, I show it as IP00. Common ratings include:

  • IP54 - protection from most dust and protected against splashing water like rain
  • IP67 - dust tight and protected from submersion in 1m of water for 30 minutes.

Most modern smart phones carry an IP68 rating.

MIL-STD-810

A summary of the manufacturer's MIL-STD-810 claims, if any. There is no certification body for MIL-STD-810. It consists of a variety of tests devised by the U.S. Military to measure how well equipment holds up to extremes of ambient operating temperature, rate of temperature change, humidity, salt fog, vibration, mechanical shock, and more.

MicroSD

If the radio has a Micro SD slot, describe what you can do with a card placed in that slot. Common uses include recording GPS log points, recording received or transmitted audio, and doing firmware upgrades.

Battery and Cradle

Battery capacity in mAh

The capacity of the battery in mAh. If the radio comes with multiple batteries, I specify the one with the smallest capacity.

Battery Voltage

The voltage of the current supplied by the battery.

Battery USB connector

The type of USB connector, if any, on the battery included with the radio. All batteries with USB connectors can charge the battery from that connector. This is different from the USB connector on the body of the radio.

Battery charges from radio

Will the battery charge from power supplied to the radio body. Most radios don't have any sort of connector, DC or USB, on the radio body which can power the radio from an external source. The radio must have such a connector in order for it to charge the battery from that external power source. Some radios that do have external power connectors can not charge the battery from that external source (i.e. they don't have any of the charging circuitry). In order for this to be yes, the radio must have an external power connector, and be able to charge the attached battery from current supplied via that external connector.

Battery charges from a cradle

Will the battery charge in a cradle. Some radios do not include a charging cradle, but the supplied battery will charge in an optional or third-party cradle.

Cradle USB connector

The type of USB connector, if there is one, on the charging cradle. Some cradles can be powered over USB rather than from a DC barrel jack. This is different from the USB connector on the battery.

Cradle DC input connector

The type of DC input connector on the included battery cradle. These connectors are almost always barrel jacks, and if the dimensions of the barrel jack are known, they will be included here. Leave empty if there is no DC input connector on the cradle.

Cradle DC input voltage

The DC input voltage required by the battery cradle. Clever manufacturers make cradles that accept 12V input, so it's easy to power them from either the included charger which plugs into utility power, or separately from another 12V power source like a large capacity LiFePO4 battery.

Extras

CHIRP

The freely available CHIRP software programs handheld radios from your computer. CHIRP runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux and supports many radios from dozens of brands. If CHIRP supports the radio, I mark this feature yes.

Cross band repeater

A cross band repeater receives a signal on one band and simultaneously retransmits it on another band. This is commonly used to extend the range of a handheld radio by placing the cross band capable radio in a location with better antenna height or reception, so you can work a distant repeater on 70cm from your handheld while the cross band radio relays your signal on 2m (or vice versa).

Full duplex

Most radios cannot transmit a signal and receive a signal at the same time. When you key up the radio by pressing PTT, the radio stops receiving. A full duplex radio is (usually) a dual band dual receive radio that has the added circuitry and filters to allow it to transmit on one band at the same time it is receiving signals on another band.

Full duplex radios are particularly desirable for communicating with satellites.

Flashlight

Marked true if the radio has a built-in flashlight.

Roger beep

Why the roger beep is important 🤣

Unlockable

Handheld amateur radios are usually limited to transmitting on the frequency ranges of the amateur radio bands. For most radios, you can modify the hardware to allow it to transmit on a broader range of frequencies. Some radios have a software unlock feature, which permits the radio to transmit on non-amateur frequencies without making any hardware modifications. If the radio has such a software feature, it's referred to as "unlockable".