Multi-Band HF Worldwide Radio

OK, you already have a nice handheld radio and likely a mobile rig for your vehicle, you just got your General Class Amateur Radio License and you are ready worldwide communication maybe join in on all the Parks on the Air action? There are several nice choices, most of which come down to cost. Let’s dig deeper and compare. There is no “right” answer as if Amateur Radio had a “one size its all” but based on years of experience, we will take the “one size fits most” approach and try to steer you into things that we know actually work.

First Choice: Icom IC-7300
Hands down, fantastic HF radio with excellent features:
Pros:
– 100 watts (a standard full power HF radio, hear and be heard)
– Built-in Antenna Tuner (can use most popular standard antennas)
– Built-in Sound and Computer Control (CAT)
(one simple USB cable allows full digital modes with your PC)
– Touch Screen Full Band Spectrum Waterfall Display
(see the activity on an entire band at a glance in real-time)
– Built-in meters and digital gauges for everything
(No external meters needed, has SWR, Volts, Amps, Temp etc.)
– Multi-Band: 160, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meters
– Multi-Mode: USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY
– Can record the action (microSD card slot can save/play audio files)
Cons:
– Price
– Does not do VHF/UHF bands
– Physical keys around the touch screen do not have back lighting
– Size: 9.4 x 9.4 x 3.7 inches and 8.4 Pounds (not huge but not small)
– Optional extra rails needed to protect the front knobs

Second Choice: Xiegu G90
If you are on a tighter budget but still want many features and a smaller/lighter unit, this is a good way to go. The primary concern here is for a new person just starting out, if this is your first radio, 20 watts is not a lot of power and you may hear stations that cannot hear you. Taking extra care (as we all should) to have a resonant antenna should allow plenty of contacts with 20 watts.
Pros:
– Price
– Size: 8.27 x 1.77 x 4.72 inches and only 3.53 Pounds
– Detachable display head unit (can mount the main body remote)
– Built-in Antenna Tuner (can use most popular standard antennas)
– Lighted keys on the microphone
– Band Spectrum and Waterfall Display
– Built-in meters and digital gauges for everything
(No external meters needed, has SWR, Volts, Amps, Temp etc.)
– Multi-Band: 160, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters
– Multi-Mode: USB, LSB, CW, AM
– Comes with metal rail guards that help protect the front knobs
Cons:
– 20 Watts maximum output power
– Does not do HF 6 meter band
– Does not do VHF/UHF bands
– Optional extra bracket feet / cooling unit
– Optional extra data interface unit and cabling
– Optional extra GSOC unit needed for FM

NEXT:
You will need (or may want one or more of the following):
– Multiband HF antenna for home
– Multiband HF antenna for vehicle
– Multiband HF antenna for portable (Parks on the Air)
– Coax (antenna cabling)
– 12 volt DC Power Supply for home
– 12 volt battery kit for portable (Parks on the Air)
– Power Cabling