It is a truly joyous day to receive your Technician Class license for a ham radio. Sure, it isn’t the hardest test in the world to pass. However, it does mean that you are now legally allowed to operate a ham radio, and that is fantastic! Of course, you are going to need to get yourself a radio.
On this page, we are going to walk you through the ten best ham radios for technician class operators. These radios that have been listed on this page are going to be starter radios, but they are the types of radios that can grow with you. This means that you will be using them both in your beginner journey as a ham radio operator, and much later on too.
Before we discuss the best ham radios, we have a bit of information to discuss first.
What Is a Technician Class License?
The Technician Class license is a quick license to obtain. You just have to complete a short exam with around 30 questions.
When you get yourself a technician class license, you will be able to transmit and receive signals over VHF and UHF frequencies.
When you have the Technician Class license, you will have full use of anything over 30 MHz. You may have a few restrictions on the lower frequency bands, though.
This means that when you are looking for a technician class license, you want one that can operate on the frequency bands that you are legally allowed to use.
How We Have Selected This List Of The Best Ham Radio For Technician Class
Our main concern has been ensuring that they are beginner radios. We don’t want to put anything too hefty here, because this could potentially lock those that hold only the Technician Class out of many of the features.
That being said, we have also tried to ensure that the radio can grow with you. This means none of these are so lacking in features that you will need to upgrade shortly. After all, we know just how expensive some ham radios can be. You don’t want to be forever buying ham radios. Although let’s be honest, once you start getting into the hobby, you will want to buy a lot of tech.
We have also tried to ensure that the ham radios that we have selected are dead simple to use. If you are new to ham radios, you don’t want to be fiddling around with a massive manual. You just want to dive right in and broadcast to the world!
Of course, we have also selected only quality radios. After all, who doesn’t want to be tinkering around with a high-quality radio? Even if you are a beginner in the world of ham radios, you want to be using the absolute best of the best. All of these radios have been designed to last years.
The Top 10 Ham Radios For Technician Class in 2022
Now that is out of the way, we can start talking about the 10 best ham radios for technician class in 2022. We have selected a little bit of something for everybody here. We have also given a mini-review for each. This way you will know (roughly) the sorts of features that you can expect with each of these models.
Baofeng UV-82
This is going to be one of the cheapest radios on this list, which means it is a great radio to get started with. These are the frequencies that you will be able to use when you use this radio:
- VHF: 136 to 174 MHz
- UHF: 400 to 520 MHz
This is a fully portable radio, so carry it around wherever you want. The battery will even last a considerable amount of time, so you may even be able to use this while you are out traveling. Do bear in mind that your transmissions are never going to be encrypted over ham radio. However, if that is totally fine with you, then you can use the Baofeng UV-82 as similar to a walkie-talkie.
You won’t be able to find a huge number of features built into this technician class ham radio. However, that is part of the reason why it is so cheap and part of the reason why it is going to make one of the best ham radios to use. Just tap a couple of buttons and you will be broadcasting and receiving information in next-to-no time at all. it is lovely.
The one downside is that the range isn’t too good. Although, that is to be expected. It is a rather small ham radio, after all.
BTECH DMR-6X2
If you want portability but don’t want your ham radio to be lacking in features, then we have the Btech DMR-6X2 for you. This is very much a ham radio that will go well beyond the technician class. So, if you ever plan to get those other 2 licenses, then this is one of the better routes to go down.
These are the frequencies that the BTech DMR-6X2 covers:
- 136-174 MHz on VHF
- 400 to 480 MHz on UHF
Yes. The UHF range is a little bit lower than on the previous ham radio for the technician class, but this probably isn’t going to be a huge problem for most people. It is still a decent range. Still, the BTech DMR 6X2 more than makes up for this in additional features.
For starters, you have GPS built into the system, which seems to be rarer in the ham radios designed for the technician class license holders. This will allow you to send your location information directly to an APRS beacon. It is fantastic.
You also have recording functionality built into the ham radio.
On top of all of this, the ham radio is programmable. This may not be a feature that you will be using too much during the earliest days of using your ham radio. However, eventually, you may want to tap into some more sophisticated features and this allows you to do that.
Ham Radio UV-5R
This is an unbranded ham radio, so do not expect the quality to be absolutely mindblowing. However, we did have to include it on this list. This is because we know that there are some people that are interested in ham radios that don’t require much in the way of tinkering about, nor do they want to spend an age tracking down all of the accessories that you need for the radio.
This is the complete package, and we can see it being heavily used by people that are planning on using a ham radio in their vehicle. This is because it comes with a handheld microphone that you can use. It will transmit and receive messages on all of the most common frequencies for ham radio too.
Our favorite feature on this ham radio is the squelch adjustment. Now, we know that squelch adjustment is available on most ham radios. It is vital for removing the background sound, after all. However, what surprises us is just how well it works on a cheaper ham radio like this. The squelch adjustment can really help to clean up even the dirtiest of signals.
As we said, this is not the greatest ham radio in the world. However, if you are looking for something cheaper, basic, and easy to use, then this could be perfect for you.
Radioddity GD-77
This dual-band ham radio is perfect for amateur radio operators. It may be cheap, but it is highly portable. The rugged construction helps to ensure that the Radioddity GD-77 will last you years too.
One of the interesting things about this radio is that it has DMR mode. This can allow the Radioddity to be used for secure communications. Well, a bit more secure. This can be great if you are only planning on using the radio for use in a building or for a business. It helps to keep your conversations locked down. Although, we anticipate that the vast majority of people will be using this for open ham radio communications.
It even has PC programming built into it, which is something that is surprisingly rare when you get ham radios at this sort of price point. It isn’t the greatest PC programming functionality in the world, but it can really help to unlock the potential of what initially seems like a rather basic ham radio.
This is a ham radio that probably errs a little bit closer towards those that want to lock down their communications. However, having used this ourselves, it does still make a fantastic ham radio.
TYT TH-9800D
Next up, we have our first base station ham radio. Of course, with a unit this size, it is going to cover more frequencies than you will have access to if you are only holding a technician class license. However, as we said earlier on, we are all about helping you to find the radios that are going to grow with you, and this radio certainly will.
With a whopping 50W power, this is going to have a massive range. It is the perfect starter ham radio for those that really want to hit the ground running when it comes to their broadcasting adventures.
We are not going to go into all of the frequencies that this particular model covers. There is no sense in that. We can assure you that this is going to go beyond the UHF and VHF frequencies, though. This means that you are effectively going to be covered for life if you opt to pick this one up.
This is actually one of our favorite products on the market right now. This is because it is incredibly popular. While the user manual for this particular model is fantastic, the popularity of the TYT TH-9800D means that there should be no shortage of information online about what to do should you run into issues with it. This includes countless YouTube tutorials, forums, etc.
Everything that you need to get started with this ham radio will be included in the box. This even includes programming software that you can utilize to expand the functionality. Again, there will be plenty of information out there that you can use to program your ham radio properly.
The best part is that it isn’t even all that expensive. Not for a base unit like this one.
B-TECH UV-5X3
We are back to the handheld units for this one. This is because most of the best entry-level ham radios are going to be the cheaper handheld options, mostly because beginners are not really attempting to set themselves up with a radio for life.
This dual-band radio operates on both UHF and VHF frequencies. You can also lock it down to a private two-way radio if you really wanted.
You have 128 memory channels, and the frequency scanning is superb. It is brilliant at tracking down incoming broadcasts. On top of this, you also have the ability to ignore certain frequencies if you are not a fan of the broadcast that may be coming through. All of this can be programmed from the handset. No need to have access to a computer at all.
On top of this, you will also be able to enjoy simultaneously display, which will display more information on the radio handset screen than your typical ham radio. It may not seem like a big deal, but we have found it especially useful when we have been browsing through frequencies.
All the accessories that you need to operate this ham radio are going to be included right on in there in the box. There is no need to purchase anything else. However, if you did, you may be pleased to know that this is backward compatible with other B-Tech accessories, which means you may be able to score them on the cheap.
BaoFeng BF-F8HP
BaoFeng genuinely does make some of the best ham radios in the world, so it only makes sense that they get a few mentions on this particular list. This radio covers the following frequencies:
- VHF 136-174 MHz
- UHF 400 to 520 MHz
You have 1W, 4W, and 8W power modes.
One of the interesting things about this particular model is that BaoFeng wanted to make a beginner radio right from the start. This radio has been designed specifically for beginners. The user guide that you get with it is packed to the brim with step-by-step instructions for getting to grips with your new radio. Not that you are really going to need them. The BaoFeng is fairly self-explanatory anyway, and you will be able to tune into the frequency that you want with just a couple of clicks of the buttons.
When used properly, you should be able to hit repeaters a good 15-miles away, which is a stunning range for something that is so cheap and small.
This is the perfect radio for use on the road. This is not only down to the small size and the included earpiece, but the fact that the battery life is massive. Seriously. Massive. This is going to keep you going and talking to people for many hours. We reckon that this may make a good ham radio for truckers, or even those that go through a lot of outdoor activities and want to keep in touch with people.
President Lincoln II Ham Radio
Yep. We know that this is an odd name for a radio, but trust us, this is good. We have another base unit here, so portability is not the thing. Power is. This is another radio that is going to be tremendous go grow with. We can imagine that there are many people that could potentially be using this several years after they have received their third license (if they opt to go for that)
One of the coolest features of this ham radio is that it can be operated completely hands-free. This makes it ideal for those people that are planning on making a lot of communications over their ham radio. This really is going to be one of the ultimate ham radio tools.
It would take us an age to go through all of the features that are loaded onto the President Lincoln II. However, we can assure you that this is one of the most fully-featured ham radios for technician class 2022 and beyond. It has multiple selectors, and it is even fully programmable.
The audio quality from this is second-to-none. This probably has one of the best squelch functions that we have ever seen. This is on top of the clarity of audio that comes through.
If you are looking for a ham radio that you could potentially be using for well over a decade, then it may be worth putting up the cash for this one.
AnyTone AT-778UV
If you want a good base unit but don’t want to spend a huge amount of cash, then the AnyTone AT-778UV could be right for you.
These are the frequencies available through this radio:
- VHF: 136 TO 174 MHz
- UHF: 400 TO 4900MHz
This is a tiny unit, but it packs a real punch. For example, you have a fantastic LCD screen that makes it easy to navigate through all your stored channels or just go out there and scan the local area for any incoming transmission. There is even an in-built cooling system to prevent the AnyTone AT-778UV from overheating, which is fantastic.
You don’t have many buttons here, which we feel lends itself well to the world of beginners. It stops things from getting confusing. Luckily, you are going to be able to tinker with the buttons by programming. This means that you set the AnyTone up however you wish.
Once again, the audio quality, both incoming and outgoing, is going to be absolutely superb. This makes it the perfect beginner radio, but also one of the better radios that you can purchase if you are planning on transmitting long-term.
For those that are sticking to a budget, this is one of those ham radios that we can absolutely recommend. It may not be the best base unit on the market, but for the price, it is going to be nigh on unbeatable.
BTECH Mobile UV-50X2
And, for our final radio, we have the BTECH Mobile UV-50X2. This offers the following frequencies:
- VHF: 144 to 148 MHz
- UHF 420 to 450 MHz
Yes. The range is narrower than most other ham radios on this list, but it isn’t too much of a problem. Most things will be coming in on this range anyway.
You have selectable power modes, either 50W or 10W.
The scanning function is absolutely fantastic on this. There are some ham radios which seem to have an issue skipping over incoming broadcasts. However, that doesn’t really seem to be an issue with this model. if somebody is transmitting and they are within range, then you are going to pick it up.
This is another model with a dual simultaneous display. This means that you are going to be able to enjoy more information being shared with you on the ham radio. This makes using it so much easier.
As you can imagine, this is another unit that is fully programmable.
Conclusion
As you can see, when it comes to the best ham radios for technician class licenses, you have plenty of options. Even though ham radios are no longer as popular as they were, there are still new models entering the market, even in 2022. If you have just managed to score yourself that first ham radio license, then pick up any one of the top 10 models that we have discussed on this page. It won’t be long before you are having some awesome chats with people in the local area…and probably looking to upgrade your license again.
