Field notes

Articles

Guides, explainers, and tips for amateur radio operators.

Ham radio operator studying for the Technician license exam

explainersMar 14, 2026 · 21 min read

How to Get Your Ham Radio License: The Complete Guide (2026)

Everything you need to know about getting your FCC amateur radio license: the three license levels, what the exam covers, how much it costs, where to take the test, and whether it's worth it.

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Jess Harmon packing an emergency radio kit at a garage workbench, a Baofeng BF-F8HP standing on the bench and the open garage door behind her

ReviewsJul 12, 2026 · 11 min read

Baofeng BF-F8HP Review: The 8-Watt UV-5R, and the PRO Trap

BF-F8HP review with verified FCC data: what the 8-watt UV-5R upgrade really buys, CHIRP support, and why the radio you saw on YouTube is probably the PRO.

Jess Harmon at the wheel of a parked pickup with the window down, GMRS mobile radio mic in hand, pine trees blurred through the windshield

Buying GuidesJul 11, 2026 · 13 min read

Best GMRS Mobile Radios: 6 Picks Hams Actually Install

The 6 best GMRS mobile radios, from an $85 budget pick to 50W flagships. FCC-verified Part 95E certs, live prices, and what owners really report.

Jess Harmon on the covered porch of a mountain cabin on an overcast morning, pausing with a TIDRADIO TD-H9 handheld radio, forest soft-focused behind the porch posts

ReviewsJul 11, 2026 · 13 min read

TIDRADIO TD-H9 Review: Big Specs, Real Caveats

TD-H9 review: 10W triband, GPS/APRS, Bluetooth for $80. What the spec sheet hides about firmware bugs, CHIRP support, and FCC certification.

Woman holding a GMRS handheld radio on a coastal bluff in late afternoon light

How-ToJul 4, 2026 · 13 min read

GMRS License: How to Get Yours ($35, No Test, 10 Years)

Get your GMRS license in about 30 minutes. The $35 FCC fee, exact CORES and ULS steps, who your license covers, and which radios are actually GMRS-legal.

Jess Harmon at a hotel room writing desk at dusk, updating a Quansheng UV-K5 handheld radio connected to her laptop by a programming cable

ReviewsJul 4, 2026 · 17 min read

Quansheng UV-K5 Review: Custom Firmware Changes Everything

Hands-on Quansheng UV-K5 review: our 66/100 score, live pricing, the firmware that transforms it, and how it stacks up against the Baofeng UV-5R and TD-H3.

Ham radio base station with HF transceiver and accessories set up on a desk in a home study

Buying GuidesJul 2, 2026 · 15 min read

Best Ham Radio Base Stations in 2026: From First Shack to Flagship

The best base station radios at every budget, from a $465 HF starter to contest-grade rigs, ranked with real spec data and honest tradeoffs.

A handheld ham radio and a printed frequency card in an emergency go-kit

ExplainersJul 1, 2026 · 15 min read

Ham Radio Emergency Frequencies You Should Know

The ham radio emergency frequencies that actually matter, from 146.52 simplex to NOAA weather and ARES nets, plus how to prepare a working station now.

A ham operator using a handheld radio to reach a distant hilltop repeater

ExplainersJul 1, 2026 · 15 min read

Understanding Ham Radio Repeaters: How They Work

How ham radio repeaters turn a 5-watt handheld into a regional communicator: offsets, CTCSS tones, finding repeaters, and programming your radio.

A dual-band mobile ham radio mounted in a vehicle dash with the display lit, a microphone clipped beside it

Buying GuidesJun 21, 2026 · 15 min read

Best Mobile Ham Radios (2026): Top Picks for the Truck and the Shack

The best mobile ham radios for 2026 by category: best overall, best value, best DMR and Fusion rigs, and the toughest analog mobiles for the truck or shack.

A ham radio operator holding a dual-band handheld outdoors with open terrain and a clear sky behind, illustrating how different bands carry signals over different distances

ExplainersJun 21, 2026 · 17 min read

Ham Radio Bands Explained: A Complete Guide to the Amateur Spectrum

Every US ham radio band explained: 160m to 70cm, what each is good for, which license you need, and where a new operator should start transmitting.

A digital handheld ham radio with a color display showing a talkgroup, held in front of a city skyline to suggest internet-linked networks

ExplainersJun 21, 2026 · 15 min read

Ham Radio Digital Modes Explained: DMR, D-STAR, Fusion, and APRS

DMR vs D-STAR vs Fusion vs APRS, compared on cost, coverage, codecs, and setup. Which digital mode fits your budget and goals, and how to actually get on the air.

A new ham operator's first-day kit laid out at a sunlit kitchen table: handheld radio in the box, battery, charger, USB programming cable, laptop with CHIRP open, and a printed call-sign sheet

How-ToMay 28, 2026 · 27 min read

Ham Radio Setup Guide: From Unboxing to First Contact

You passed the Technician exam. Now what? A step-by-step walkthrough from opening the box to keying up your first repeater contact, in about 90 minutes.

A ham radio operator at a national park picnic table with a handheld radio, an upgraded long whip antenna, and a paper log, mountains in the background under late-morning light

EducationalMay 28, 2026 · 22 min read

POTA for Beginners: Getting Started with Parks on the Air

Parks on the Air is hiking plus ham radio. Here is how to do your first activation with the handheld you already own, what gear actually helps, and how the scoring works.

Several aftermarket handheld ham radio antennas laid out next to a handheld radio

Buying GuidesMay 27, 2026 · 14 min read

Best Ham Radio Antennas for Handhelds (2026)

Your handheld's stock antenna is a compromise. The upgrades worth buying, how to match the connector to your radio, and what gain numbers really mean.

Buying GuidesMay 27, 2026 · 20 min read

Radioddity Radios: Complete Brand Guide (2026)

A data-driven guide to every Radioddity handheld we track: the GD-88, GS-10B, GA-510, and GD-168. Which to buy for DMR, which for analog, and how they compare.

A ham operator kneeling at a misty dawn lakeside campsite with a handheld radio, an enamel coffee pot on the rocks beside her and a tent corner at the edge of the frame

ExplainersMay 27, 2026 · 20 min read

What Is Ham Radio? A Complete Beginner's Guide

Ham radio is a licensed hobby, emergency service, and worldwide community over 100 years old. Here's what it is, what you can do with it, and how to start.

A Yaesu FT-70DR planted in fresh snow at a snowy forest trailhead at blue hour, boot prints in the snow leading toward it

ReviewsMay 23, 2026 · 21 min read

Yaesu FT-70DR Review (2026): Is the Premium Worth It Over a Baofeng?

The FT-70DR costs nearly 20x what a Baofeng UV-5R does. After months of field testing, here's exactly what that premium buys you, and where it falls short.

Baofeng UV-5R connected by USB programming cable to a laptop running CHIRP on a wooden desk

Buying GuidesMay 22, 2026 · 20 min read

How to Program a Baofeng Radio with CHIRP (Step-by-Step Guide for 2026)

Programming a Baofeng with CHIRP takes about 15 minutes. Here's the full walkthrough: cable setup, reading memory, importing repeaters, and troubleshooting the errors everyone hits.

A TIDRADIO TD-H3 on the wet deck of a sit-on-top kayak at sunrise, dry bag clipped down beside it, calm lake reflecting golden light

ReviewsMay 18, 2026 · 19 min read

TIDRADIO TD-H3 Review (2026): The USB-C Baofeng Killer, or Just a Pricier UV-5R?

The TIDRADIO TD-H3 doubles the UV-5R's price but adds USB-C charging, a 2,500 mAh battery, and an app-based programming flow. Worth the upgrade? Honest review.

An AnyTone AT-D878UV on a vehicle tailgate at a forest-service-road pull-off, paper map and stainless water bottle alongside, pines on either side

ReviewsMay 17, 2026 · 19 min read

AnyTone AT-D878UV Review (2026): The Affordable Way Into DMR

Honest review of the AnyTone AT-D878UV after a year of daily use. Color TFT, DMR + APRS + GPS + Bluetooth PTT for under $260. Worth it? Yes, with caveats.

A Baofeng UV-5R standing on a flat weathered rock in a high-desert sage flat, big sky and distant mesas behind

ReviewsMay 16, 2026 · 20 min read

Baofeng UV-5R Review (2026): Still the Best $20 Ham Radio?

Eight years in, the Baofeng UV-5R is still the most popular handheld ham radio in the US. Honest review of what it does well, where it falls short, and whether you should buy one in 2026.

Handheld ham radio with an aftermarket antenna on a hilltop overlooking a wide valley

Buying GuidesApr 11, 2026 · 21 min read

Best Ham Radios for Long Distance (2026): How to Maximize Your Range

Ranked handhelds for maximum range plus the antenna, repeater, and power strategies that actually move the needle on long-distance ham radio.

Handheld ham radio and portable antenna set up on a picnic table at a state park

Buying GuidesApr 11, 2026 · 20 min read

Best Ham Radios for POTA: 6 Handhelds Ranked for 2026

AnyTone AT-D878UV tops our 6 picks for Parks on the Air. Each handheld scored on weight, battery life, antenna fit, and field reliability. $25 to $250.

Emergency go-bag with handheld ham radios, batteries, and a printed frequency list on a workbench

Buying GuidesApr 7, 2026 · 21 min read

Best Ham Radios for Emergency & Prepping (2026)

The best ham radios for emergency preparedness, ranked by battery life, durability, and reliability. From $18 budget backups to IP67 rugged picks.

A GMRS handheld radio and a ham radio handheld side by side on an outdoor table

ComparisonsApr 3, 2026 · 14 min read

GMRS vs Ham Radio: Which License Should You Get?

GMRS is simpler and cheaper to start. Ham radio gives you more range, modes, and community. Here's how to decide which license is right for you.

Collection of DMR handheld radios arranged on a table with a laptop showing codeplug software

Buying GuidesApr 2, 2026 · 18 min read

Best DMR Radios (2026): 6 Handhelds Ranked by Data

We scored every DMR handheld in our database. Here are the 6 best DMR radios for 2026, from a $47 entry point to feature-loaded flagships.

Two handheld radios side by side on an outdoor table, one a simple FRS walkie-talkie and one a more capable GMRS radio

ComparisonsMar 30, 2026 · 16 min read

FRS vs GMRS: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?

FRS needs no license but tops out at 2 miles. GMRS costs $35, covers your whole family, and reaches 20+ miles with repeaters. Here's how to choose.

Two GMRS handheld radios on a camping table next to a lantern and trail map

Buying GuidesMar 29, 2026 · 25 min read

Best GMRS Radios: Top Picks, FCC-Checked and Ranked

The best GMRS radios for family, off-road, and emergency use. Picks with FCC Part 95E certification verified, real range numbers, and the $35 license.

A new ham radio operator unboxing a handheld radio at a desk with a license study guide and laptop

Buying GuidesMar 28, 2026 · 19 min read

Best Ham Radios for Beginners, Ranked by Ease of Use

The best beginner ham radios, each scored 0-100 for ease of use with live prices. From a $16 Baofeng to a $70 top pick, find the right first handheld.

Ham radio operator on a mountaintop holding a handheld radio with a wide valley landscape stretching into the distance

ExplainersMar 28, 2026 · 13 min read

Ham Radio Range: How Far Can You Really Talk?

Real-world ham radio range data: what handhelds actually reach, what affects distance, and how to maximize your signal.

A handheld ham radio and a CB radio microphone side by side on a truck dashboard

ComparisonsMar 28, 2026 · 12 min read

Ham Radio vs CB Radio: Which Is Right for You?

An honest comparison of ham radio and CB radio: licensing, cost, range, community, and use cases. Find which one fits your situation.

Several Baofeng handheld radios lined up on a workbench, from classic UV-5R to modern BF-5RH PRO

Buying GuidesMar 27, 2026 · 15 min read

Best Baofeng Radios Ranked: Every Model Worth Buying in 2026

We ranked every Baofeng handheld by real specs and scoring data. From the $15 UV-5R to the $250 DMR-6X2 PRO, here's which one to buy.

Collection of handheld ham radios arranged on a wooden table, ranging from budget Baofeng to premium Yaesu models

Buying GuidesMar 27, 2026 · 19 min read

Best Handheld Ham Radios (2026): 9 Picks Ranked by Data

We ranked the best handheld ham radios using real specs and scoring data. Budget to premium, FM to DMR, with honest tradeoffs for each.

CHIRP radio programming software interface on a laptop connected to a handheld radio

ExplainersMar 26, 2026 · 17 min read

What Is CHIRP? The Free Software That Programs Almost Every Ham Radio

Free programming software for 1,000+ ham radios. Step-by-step CHIRP setup for Baofeng, Yaesu, Kenwood, and more, written for beginners, not engineers.

DMR handheld radio connected to a hotspot

ExplainersMar 21, 2026 · 14 min read

What Is DMR? Digital Mobile Radio Explained for Ham Operators

DMR is the most popular digital voice mode in ham radio, but it has a reputation for being confusing. Here's how it actually works: talkgroups, codeplugs, hotspots, networks, and what you need to get on the air.

Licensed amateur operator sitting on a pickup tailgate at a high-desert trailhead, checking a Baofeng UV-5R held in her lap

RegulationsMar 13, 2026 · 16 min read

Is the Baofeng UV-5R Legal? Here's What the FCC Actually Says

Short answer: yes, for licensed amateur operators on the ham bands. No otherwise. The full FCC story, the 2018 enforcement action, and what actually matters.

A ham operator standing on an open ridgeline with a handheld radio, looking out over a long valley

explainersMar 9, 2026 · 13 min read

VHF vs UHF for Ham Radio: Which Band Do You Actually Need?

Every VHF vs UHF guide online is written for business two-way radio buyers. This one is written for ham radio operators, covering the actual bands, repeater infrastructure, and which radio to get first.