Your first ham radio: the Baofeng UV-5RM and other budget handhelds
The best first ham radios for new Technicians in 2026: the Baofeng UV-5RM, TIDRADIO TD-H3, Quansheng UV-K5 and Yaesu FT-65R, what each costs, and the two upgrades worth buying.
By Jared, KG5OSL, licensed ham and creator of My HAM Hub · November 3, 2026
You don't need an expensive radio to get on the air. Nearly every new Technician starts with a small dual-band handheld that talks through local repeaters, and the good ones cost less than a tank of gas. Here are four solid choices, from the $25 radio I use every day to a name-brand handheld built to last.
The short answer
- Cheapest good start: Baofeng UV-5RM, about $25 to $35.
- Best receiver for the money: TIDRADIO TD-H3, about $40 to $50.
- For tinkerers: Quansheng UV-K5, about $25 to $35.
- Name-brand and rugged: Yaesu FT-65R, about $100 to $110.
Whichever you pick, add a better antenna. It's the biggest improvement you can buy.
What matters in a first radio
- Dual-band (2 meters and 70 cm). These are the bands most local repeaters use, and they're where a Technician license puts you on day one.
- CHIRP support. CHIRP is free software that loads all your local repeaters into the radio at once. Programming repeaters by keypad works, but it's slow and fiddly.
- Easy charging. USB-C charging means one less charger to carry.
- A decent receiver. Cheap radios can get overwhelmed near strong signals, like a city full of transmitters. Hearing well matters as much as being heard.
Don't worry much about watts. Most handhelds put out around 5 watts no matter what the box says, and a better antenna or a repeater on a hill matters far more than a watt or two.
Baofeng UV-5RM: the cheapest good start
About $25 to $35. This is the radio I carry. I use a UV-5RM as my handheld with a Nagoya NA-775 antenna, and another one in my truck with a Nagoya UT-72 roof antenna. For local repeaters and nets around Baton Rouge, it does the job.
The UV-5RM is the updated version of the famous UV-5R. It transmits on 2 meters and 70 cm, stores 999 channels, charges over USB-C, receives NOAA weather and the aircraft band, and works with CHIRP. Its big advantage is that it's everywhere: every accessory, cable, case and how-to video exists for it.
- Good: very cheap, USB-C, NOAA weather, huge accessory support, CHIRP.
- Not so good: the stock antenna is weak, the menus take getting used to, and the receiver is basic.
- Best for: anyone who wants to get on the air for the least money, or a second radio for the car or a go-bag.
TIDRADIO TD-H3: the best receiver for the money
About $40 to $50. For a little more than a Baofeng, the TD-H3 has a noticeably better receiver that copes with strong nearby signals, a color screen, a 2500 mAh battery, USB-C charging, and the aircraft band. You can program it from a phone app over Bluetooth instead of a cable.
- Good: strong receiver, phone-app programming, color screen.
- Not so good: costs a bit more, and there are separate ham and GMRS versions, so make sure you buy the ham (amateur) version.
- Best for: the new ham who plans to use the radio every day and wants it to just work.
Quansheng UV-K5: for tinkerers
About $25 to $35. The UV-K5 (and its UV-K5(8) and UV-K8 versions) became famous because people write their own free firmware for it, adding features like a spectrum view that shows activity across a band. Most versions charge over USB-C, and it receives a very wide range of frequencies.
- Good: cheap, fun to experiment with, a busy community of firmware projects.
- Not so good: plastic feel and weaker filtering than the TD-H3. Installing custom firmware is optional, but it's on you if something goes wrong.
- Best for: people who enjoy tinkering with gadgets as much as talking on them.
Yaesu FT-65R: name-brand and built to last
About $100 to $110. Yaesu is one of the big three ham radio makers, and the FT-65R is its simple, tough dual-band handheld. It's not packed with extras, but it's rugged, easy to use, and backed by a company that's been making ham radios for decades.
- Good: durable, simple, good audio, strong manufacturer support.
- Not so good: about three times the price of the budget radios, with fewer features.
- Best for: anyone who'd rather buy one reliable radio and keep it for years.
Side by side
| Radio | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Baofeng UV-5RM | $25–35 | Lowest cost, endless accessories |
| TIDRADIO TD-H3 | $40–50 | Better receiver, phone-app programming |
| Quansheng UV-K5 | $25–35 | Tinkering and custom firmware |
| Yaesu FT-65R | $100–110 | Name-brand durability |
Prices are typical late-2026 prices for new radios and change often. All four transmit on 2 meters and 70 cm, which is everything a new Technician needs for local repeaters.
The two upgrades worth buying
- A better antenna ($15 to $40). The rubber antenna in the box is the weakest part of every cheap handheld. A longer, better-tuned antenna like the Nagoya NA-771 or NA-775 (check that the connector fits your radio) can make a repeater you could barely reach come in clearly.
- A programming cable ($15 to $25), unless your radio programs by phone app. With CHIRP, you can load every repeater near you in a few minutes.
My HAM Hub makes that last step easy: import your area's repeaters on the Repeaters tab, star the ones you use, and export a CHIRP file to load them into your radio in one step.
A few rules before you transmit
- Get your license first. Anyone can listen, but you need a Technician license to transmit. Here's how to get yours.
- Stay on the ham bands. Many budget radios can be set to transmit outside the amateur bands. Don't: use them only where your license allows.
- Not for GMRS or FRS. Those services need radios certified for them.
- Say your call sign. Identify at least every 10 minutes and when you finish.
Ready for your first contact? The New to Ham Radio guide has exactly what to say on a repeater.
Don't have your license yet?Start studying for the Technician exam with free lessons and the real exam questions. Try it freeQuestions people ask
What's the best first ham radio for a beginner?
For most new Technician hams, a dual-band (2 meter and 70 cm) handheld. A Baofeng UV-5RM is the cheapest good start at about $25 to $35. If you can spend a little more, a TIDRADIO TD-H3 has a better receiver and easier programming, and a Yaesu FT-65R is the name-brand, built-to-last choice at about $100 to $110.
Do I need a license to buy a ham radio?
No. Anyone can buy one and listen. You need an FCC amateur license (Technician or higher) to transmit on ham frequencies.
Can I use these radios on GMRS or FRS?
No. GMRS and FRS require radios certified for those services. Use these radios only on the amateur bands your license allows, even though some can be set to transmit elsewhere.
How far can a handheld radio reach?
Talking directly radio to radio, often a few miles, depending on terrain and antenna. Through a local repeater on a hill or tower, 20 to 50 miles or more. A better antenna helps more than extra power.
Should I buy a handheld or a mobile (car) radio first?
A handheld first, for most people: it's cheap, goes anywhere, and teaches you the basics. A mobile radio with a roof antenna is a great second radio when you want more range on the road.