Field notes

Articles

Guides, explainers, and tips for amateur radio operators.

Ham radio operator studying for the Technician license exam

How-ToMar 14, 2026 · 20 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.

Read article

LatestAntenna Gain Claims, Checked: 31 Ham Antennas Against Their Own LengthWhat Is FT8? The Ham Radio Digital Mode, ExplainedHam Radio License Levels: Technician, General, Extra

Reading paths

Where a subject takes more than one article, this is the order to read them in: what it is, how it compares with the alternative, how to do it, then what to buy.

Getting Started5

Licensing5

GMRS12

7 more

Budget Handhelds8

3 more

Digital Modes8

3 more

Bands & Propagation7

2 more

Programming3

Mobile & Base Stations3

Brand Guides4

Emergency2

Parks on the Air2

Buying Guides15

What to buy, and why, across every category we track.

A dusty pickup on an overlanding trail at golden hour with a compact GMRS mobile radio mounted on the dash

Jul 23, 2026 · 19 min read· GMRS

Midland GMRS Radios: The Complete Brand Guide (2026)

Every Midland GMRS radio decoded: MXT MicroMobiles vs GXT handhelds, real owner ratings, FCC Part 95E data, and which MXT is actually worth buying.

Jul 15, 2026 · 19 min read· Digital Modes

AnyTone Radios: Complete Brand Guide (2026)

A data-driven guide to every AnyTone we track: the flagship AT-D878UVII Plus, budget D168UV, and 578 mobile. Scores, FCC facts, and which to buy for DMR.

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

Jul 11, 2026 · 13 min read· GMRS

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.

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

Jul 2, 2026 · 17 min read· Mobile & Base Stations

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

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

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

Jun 21, 2026 · 15 min read· Mobile & Base Stations

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.

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

May 27, 2026 · 16 min read· Bands & Propagation

Best Handheld Ham Radio Antennas (2026)

Your handheld's stock antenna is 0.08 of a wavelength on 2 meters. The upgrades worth buying, how to match the connector, and how to check a gain claim yourself.

May 27, 2026 · 20 min read· Digital Modes

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.

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

Apr 11, 2026 · 22 min read· Bands & Propagation

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

Apr 11, 2026 · 23 min read· Parks on the Air

Best Ham Radios for POTA: 6 Handhelds Ranked for 2026

The Baofeng BF-5RH PRO tops our 6 picks for Parks on the Air at 86. Each handheld scored on weight, battery life, antenna fit, and field reliability. $16 to $250.

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

Apr 7, 2026 · 21 min read· Emergency

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.

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

Apr 2, 2026 · 20 min read· Digital Modes

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 budget Baofeng entry point to feature-loaded flagships.

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

Mar 29, 2026 · 25 min read· GMRS

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

Mar 28, 2026 · 20 min read· Getting Started

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.

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

Mar 27, 2026 · 29 min read· Budget Handhelds

Best Baofeng Radios Ranked: Every Model Worth Buying in 2026

We scored 27 Baofeng handhelds on real specs and read their FCC filings: which models are the same electronics, which listings overstate it, and which to buy.

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

Mar 27, 2026 · 22 min read· Budget Handhelds

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, honest tradeoffs for every portable in the list.

Reviews10

One radio at a time, with our scores and owner data.

A pair of Midland GXT1000VP4 handheld GMRS radios in their charging cradle on a truck tailgate

Aug 9, 2026 · 9 min read· GMRS

Midland GXT1000VP4 Review: What 13,000 Owners Won't Tell You

The best-selling GMRS radio pair on Amazon, honestly assessed: the real range behind the 36-mile claim, and what the FCC registry does and does not say about it.

A rugged handheld GMRS radio clipped to a backpack strap on a gravel forest service road at golden hour

Aug 9, 2026 · 9 min read· GMRS

Midland GXT67 PRO Review: The Range Number Nobody Separates

Midland's 5-watt repeater-capable handheld, honestly assessed. Why reviewers report 15 miles and owners report three, what the FCC grant confirms, and who should buy the Rocky Talkie instead.

A Quansheng UV-K6 handheld radio on a workbench beside a laptop showing a firmware flasher, USB-C cable connected

Jul 23, 2026 · 11 min read· Budget Handhelds

Quansheng UV-K6 Review: The $31 Hacker's Handheld

The UV-K6 is the UV-K5(8) in a new shell: 5W, 50-600 MHz receive, and the best firmware mod scene in budget ham radio. Real data on who should buy it.

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

Jul 12, 2026 · 11 min read· Budget Handhelds

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 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

Jul 11, 2026 · 13 min read· Budget Handhelds

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.

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

Jul 4, 2026 · 18 min read· Budget Handhelds

Quansheng UV-K5 Review: Custom Firmware Changes Everything

Hands-on Quansheng UV-K5 review: our 69/100 score, live pricing, the firmware that transforms it, and how it stacks up against the Baofeng UV-5R and TD-H3.

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

May 23, 2026 · 22 min read· Digital Modes

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.

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

May 18, 2026 · 19 min read· Budget Handhelds

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-D878UVII Plus on a vehicle tailgate at a forest-service-road pull-off, paper map and stainless water bottle alongside, pines on either side

May 17, 2026 · 20 min read· Digital Modes

AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus Review (2026): The Affordable Way Into DMR

Honest review of the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus 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

May 16, 2026 · 20 min read· Budget Handhelds

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.

Explainers16

How the bands, modes and rules actually work.

Ham operator at a park pavilion picnic table measuring a long handheld antenna with a tape measure, a handheld radio and a short whip beside it

New

Oct 2, 2026 · 21 min read· Bands & Propagation

Antenna Gain Claims, Checked: 31 Ham Antennas Against Their Own Length

We checked the gain claims on 31 ham antennas against a length-based model. 26 fall within tolerance, five do not, and one stubby claims 8 dB more than we estimate.

Ham operator in a mountain meadow running a portable HF station with a laptop, a compact transceiver and a wire antenna on a telescoping pole

New

Oct 2, 2026 · 15 min read· Digital Modes

What Is FT8? The Ham Radio Digital Mode, Explained

FT8 lets you make HF contacts with signals too weak to hear. How it works, the FT8 frequencies for every band, and what you need to get on the air.

Ham operator at an open garage workbench holding a handheld radio, weighing which FCC license level she needs

New

Sep 13, 2026 · 14 min read· Licensing

Ham Radio License Levels: Technician, General, Extra

Three ham radio license levels, and what each one actually lets you do. Exact frequencies, exam requirements, and which radios need an upgrade.

A handheld ham radio with a long whip antenna standing on a camp chair beside a lit backyard fire pit at dusk

Aug 10, 2026 · 12 min read· Bands & Propagation

2 Meter Ham Radio: What It Does and What to Buy

144 to 148 MHz is where most hams start, and where handheld antennas are worst. What 2 meters can actually do, and the ten-dollar fix.

A handheld GMRS radio held up on an open ridge with a valley and distant hills behind

Aug 9, 2026 · 8 min read· GMRS

GMRS Radio Range: How Far They Actually Reach

Two handhelds on flat ground top out near 7 miles by geometry alone, and most owners get about 3. Where the 36-mile box claim comes from, and what actually buys distance.

Two GMRS handheld radios resting on a rock at a misty lakeside campsite at first light, enamel kettle and tent behind

Jul 23, 2026 · 8 min read· GMRS

GMRS Frequencies and Channels: The Complete Chart

Every GMRS frequency in one chart: all 22 channels plus the 8 repeater pairs, power and bandwidth limits per service, and which channels to actually use.

A solar-powered UHF repeater antenna mast on an open ridgeline in late-afternoon light, layered ridges fading into haze below

Jul 23, 2026 · 8 min read· GMRS

GMRS Repeaters Explained: How They Work and How to Use One

How GMRS repeaters work: the 467/462 MHz channel pairs, the +5 MHz offset, tones, finding repeaters near you, and which radios actually support them.

Jess Harmon handing a GMRS handheld radio to a companion across a pickup tailgate at a high-desert trailhead in golden-hour light

Jul 23, 2026 · 9 min read· GMRS

What Is GMRS? The Plain-English Guide

GMRS explained in plain English: the 22 channels, power limits, the $35 no-test license that covers your family, and how it compares to FRS, CB, and ham.

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

Jul 1, 2026 · 15 min read· Emergency

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

Jul 1, 2026 · 15 min read· Bands & Propagation

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 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

Jun 21, 2026 · 18 min read· Bands & Propagation

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

Jun 21, 2026 · 15 min read· Digital Modes

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 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

May 27, 2026 · 20 min read· Getting Started

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.

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

Mar 26, 2026 · 18 min read· Programming

CHIRP Software: The Free Ham Radio Programming Tool

Download CHIRP software free and program over 700 ham radios, from Baofeng to Yaesu. Step-by-step setup, cable advice, and troubleshooting for beginners.

DMR handheld radio connected to a hotspot

Mar 21, 2026 · 17 min read· Digital Modes

What Is DMR? Digital Mobile Radio Explained for Ham Operators

How DMR actually works: talkgroups, codeplugs, hotspots and networks, explained without the jargon. Includes a registry-verified table of what FCC rule parts real DMR radios hold, and what Part 90 versus Part 15B means for where you can legally use them.

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

Mar 13, 2026 · 18 min read· Licensing

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.

How-To5

Step-by-step, from licence application to programming.

Ham radio operator at a snowy trailhead with a handheld radio clipped to her pack strap

Sep 6, 2026 · 10 min read· Licensing

How to Renew Your Ham Radio License: Cost & Steps

Renewing your FCC amateur license costs $35 and takes about 15 minutes online. The exact CORES/ULS steps, the 2-year grace period, and what happens if you miss it.

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

Jul 4, 2026 · 15 min read· GMRS

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.

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

May 28, 2026 · 27 min read· Getting Started

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

May 28, 2026 · 27 min read· Parks on the Air

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.

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

May 22, 2026 · 20 min read· Programming

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.

Comparisons4

Head to head, when two options look interchangeable.

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

Apr 3, 2026 · 14 min read· GMRS

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.

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

Mar 30, 2026 · 19 min read· GMRS

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

FRS vs GMRS: FRS needs no license but tops out at 2 miles. GMRS costs $35, covers your whole family for 10 years, and reaches 20+ miles with repeaters.

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

Mar 28, 2026 · 12 min read· Getting Started

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.

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

Mar 9, 2026 · 13 min read· Bands & Propagation

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.