Ham radios are still widely used even in this digital age. They provide a reliable means of communication when all other methods fail, and are great for emergencies. Having an efficient and reliable ham radio for your car is essential for staying connected in remote or hazardous areas. Here, we will explore some of the best ham radios for cars and the features they offer.
Best Ham Radio For Car
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Kenwood TM-281A 144MHz FM Transceiver
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
AnyTone AT-778UV Dual Band Transceiver Mobile Radio
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
ICOM 2300H 05 144MHz Amateur Radio
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
QYT KT-8900D Dual Band Mini Car Ham Radio
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
QYT KT-8900 Mini Dual Band Mobile Transceiver
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
BTECH Mobile UV-50X3 50 Watt Tri-Band Radio
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Retevis RT-9000D VHF Mobile Radio
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Radio
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Extended Ham Radio Starter Kit
|
7. 2
|
1. Kenwood TM-281A 144MHz FM Transceiver
I recently purchased the Kenwood TM-281A 144MHz FM Transceiver and I am absolutely in love with it! It has a compact design, with a large and easy-to-read backlit LCD display, and large controls. The signal quality is great and I can pick up signals with clarity even at longer distances. It also has a 103 memory channels, so it’s easy to store and recall frequencies. Additionally, it is powered by a 13.2V DC power supply, making it very reliable. I would highly recommend this transceiver to anyone looking for a great, reliable, and cost-effective radio.
- 2 Meter Amateur Radio Transceiver
- 65 Watts of RF Power Output
- 200 Memory Channels
- 5 Alphanumeric Memory Channels
- One-Touch Repeater and Station Access
- CTCSS and DCS Encode/Decode Capability
- DTMF Autodialer
- PC Programmable Via Optional Cable
- Duplex Capability
- Automatic Simplex Checker
- Front Panel Microphone Jack
- Rugged Die-Cast Chassis
2. AnyTone AT-778UV Dual Band Transceiver Mobile Radio
The AnyTone AT-778UV Dual Band Transceiver Mobile Radio is an excellent choice for any amateur radio enthusiast. It has a powerful 50W output, a backlit LCD display, and a wide range of features including dual band operation, memory storage, and voice and CW transmission. The radio is well-constructed and provides reliable performance. The large LCD display is easy to read, even in poor lighting. The sound quality is excellent and even in crowded bands, it performs well. The radio is easy to set up and configure and has a solid build quality and feels durable. The user interface is intuitive and the features are all easily accessible. Overall, the AnyTone AT-778UV Dual Band Transceiver Mobile Radio is a great choice for any amateur radio user, offering reliable performance, great sound quality, and an impressive range of features.
- Dual Band VHF/UHF Mobile Transceiver
- RX 136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz
- TX 144-148MHz and 430-450 MHz
- Wide/Narrow Bandwidth (25 kHz/12.5 kHz)
- 200 Memory Channels
- Power Outputs: 50/20/10 Watts UHF & VHF
- DTMF Encode/Decode
- EchoLink Ready
- Backlit LCD Display
- High/Low Power Settings
- Time-Out Timer
- Busy Channel Lockout
- Automatic Repeater Offset
- CTCSS/DCS/DTMF/2-Tone/5-Tone/MSK
3. ICOM 2300H 05 144MHz Amateur Radio
The ICOM 2300H 05 144MHz Amateur Radio is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and easy to use radio. The radio has a 50 watt output, making it great for both short and long-distance communication. The menu is user-friendly, making it easy to set up and use. The sound quality is excellent and the built-in features such as the weather alert and automatic channel scan make it even more convenient. The price is also very reasonable, making it a great investment. Overall, I highly recommend the ICOM 2300H 05 144MHz Amateur Radio as a great choice for all amateur radio users.
- High-performance Front-end Design
- 65 Watts of RF Output Power
- Programmable Front Panel Keys
- Large Front Panel LCD Screen
- Remote Control Capabilities
- Wide Variety of Scan Functions
- Full dot-matrix display
- Built-in CTCSS/DTCS Encoder/Decoder
- Optional Microphone Voice Changer
4. QYT KT-8900D Dual Band Mini Car Ham Radio
I recently purchased the QYT KT-8900D Dual Band Mini Car Ham Radio, and I am extremely pleased with it. The radio is compact and lightweight, making it easy to install in my car. It offers excellent signal strength, making it ideal for small-scale communication. The dual band feature allows me to switch between frequencies to talk with people in different areas. It also has a nice backlit display and numerous customization options, making it really easy to use. The radio also has plenty of power and I havent encountered any interference while using it. All in all, I would highly recommend the QYT KT-8900D Dual Band Mini Car Ham Radio to anyone in need of a reliable and powerful car ham radio.
- Dual Band VHF/UHF 136-174/400-480MHz Transceiver
- 25W/20W High Power Output
- 128 Channels & 5 Tone-Calls
- Compatible with Many Accessories
- Emergency Alarm & Reverse Frequency Function
- Voice Compression & Scrambler Function
- Busy Channel Lockout & Busy Channel Scan
- DTMF Encoding & DTMF Decoding
- 1750Hz & 2 Tone Paging
- FM Radio & Voice Guide
5. QYT KT-8900 Mini Dual Band Mobile Transceiver
I recently purchased the QYT KT-8900 Mini Dual Band Mobile Transceiver and I am so happy I did. It has all of the features I was looking for in a mobile transceiver and more. The quality of sound is amazing and the range is great. The display is clear and easy to read, even when you are driving. I also appreciate that it is small and fits in my pocket, making it easy to transport. Overall, I am really impressed with my purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable mobile transceiver.
- Dual band operation (VHF & UHF) with up to 200 programmable channels
- 0.5W / 5W / 10W programmable output power
- Time-out Timer (TOT) function to prevent long transmission
- Busy Channel Lock-out (BCLO) to prevent interference with other users
- Large LCD display with backlight
- Bright illuminated full keypad for easy night operation
- High capacity Li-Ion battery pack for extended operation
- Power supply voltage range from 8-14VDC
- Compact and lightweight design ideal for mobile operation
6. BTECH Mobile UV-50X3 50 Watt Tri-Band Radio
I’ve been using the BTECH Mobile UV-50X3 50 Watt Tri-Band Radio for the past few weeks and I’m impressed with its performance. The radio is powerful, with up to 50 watts of output power, and it’s very versatile with its tri-band capabilities. I’ve been able to pick up signals from all over the world, and the sound quality is great. The unit is easy to use, with a large LCD display and intuitive controls. It also has some nice features, such as a built-in scan and store, and the ability to customize settings for each band. Overall, I’m very pleased with the BTECH Mobile UV-50X3 50 Watt Tri-Band Radio, and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a high-performance radio.
format
- 50 Watt Output power on VHF/UHF
- Tri-band Radio – 133-174Mhz, 350-390Mhz, 400-520MHz
- Dual Synchronize Display Mode
- 30 Memory Channels
- Built-in CTCSS/DCS
- Remote Stun/Kill/Revive
- Wide/Narrow Bandwidth Selection
- 1750Hz Tone Burst for Repeater Acces
- Dual Receive
- Adjustable Mic Gain
- Large LCD Display with Backlight
7. Retevis RT-9000D VHF Mobile Radio
I recently purchased the Retevis RT-9000D VHF Mobile Radio and I am very pleased with it so far. It has a great range for communicating and is incredibly easy to operate. The radio has a strong and clear signal, which is important when sending and receiving messages. I also appreciate the extra features, such as the dual-band scanning and the CTCSS/DCS encoding/decoding capability. The buttons are intuitively designed and the screen is very easy to read. On top of that, the speaker is loud and clear, making it easy to hear when I’m in a noisy environment. All in all, I highly recommend this radio for anyone looking for an effective and reliable VHF mobile radio.
- VHF coverage up to 200 channels
- High/low power setting with 5/50/125W output power
- Backlight LCD display with color customization
- Comes with dual antennas for improved range
- Compatible with analog and digital radios
- Built-in 50 CTCSS/104 DCS
- Voice prompt and voice scrambler
8. Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio
The Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and affordable two-way radio. It has a long-range of up to 5 miles, which is great for keeping in touch over long distances. The device is easy to use, with a simple user-interface and intuitive controls. It also has an emergency alert feature, which is useful in case of an emergency. Additionally, it has a good sound quality, making it great for communicating with people in a group. All in all, the Baofeng UV5RA is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable two-way radio.
- Dual Band Frequency Range: VHF 136-174MHz(Rx/Tx) UHF 400-480MHz(Rx/Tx)
- 128 Memory Channels; 10 Memory Banks
- Frequency Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz
- High/Low Power Settings (4/1 Watts)
- 50 CTCSS and 104 DCS Codes
- Programmable Software for PC
- Dual Watch and Dual Reception
- Battery Save Function
- Emergency Alarm
- Busy Channel Lockout
- Priority Channel Scanning
- Time-out Timer
- Battery Voltage Display
9. TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Radio
I recently purchased the TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Radio, and I must say that I am very impressed with the product. The radio itself is lightweight and easy to use, and the buttons are laid out logically, making it easy to adjust settings and operate the radio. The battery life is fantastic, and it’s even waterproof, so I don’t have to worry about it getting wet. The sound quality is great, and it has a range of features, like dual-band operation and multiple channels, that make it perfect for communicating over long distances. Overall, I’m very pleased with this radio and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable, waterproof communications device.
- TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Radio
- IP67 dust and waterproof rating
- VHF and UHF Dual Band
- 50W maximum power output
- Compatible with both analog and digital modes
- Multiple scan modes
- High/low power settings
- Emergency alarm function
- Voice prompt function
- Automatic power saving mode
10. Extended Ham Radio Starter Kit
I recently purchased the 10. Extended Ham Radio Starter Kit and I am extremely pleased with the product. The kit contains everything you need to get started with Ham Radio, including an antenna, radio, microphone, coaxial cable, and even a handy guide. The quality of the components are excellent and the guide has been a great help in getting me up and running quickly. The customer service I received was outstanding as well. I would highly recommend this starter kit to anyone looking to get into Ham Radio.
- All-in-one kit for getting started with ham radio
- Includes everything needed to begin using ham radio
- Transceiver and antenna with antenna analyzer
- Power supply and microphone
- Headphones and cables
- Comprehensive instruction manual and guide
- Complete glossary of ham radio terms and language
- Pre-assembled for ease of use
- Weatherproof and durable construction
- Extended warranties and customer support
