Part of our New Ham? This Is Where You Should Spend Your Money guide.
This is probably the most expensive post I’ve made so far, lol. My HF journey has moved fast, and I’ve ended up with four radios that each do a genuinely different job rather than four radios competing for the same role. Here’s the rundown of what I own, what I use each one for, and how I actually feel about them.
Yaesu FTX-1 with Optima SPA-1 Amplifier
This one has grown on me. When I first got it, the firmware was rough around the edges, but Yaesu addressed it quickly and it’s a pretty solid radio now. I love being able to pull the head off and have a nice, portable QRP radio when that’s all I need, and the UHF/VHF capability built into the same unit is genuinely useful. My one real complaint: I wish the MARS mod unlocked GMRS transmit. It doesn’t, the MARS mod on this radio only affects HF frequencies, so don’t buy it expecting that.
Icom IC-7300 Mark II
Love this little radio. It’s primarily my FT8 and digital modes machine in the shack, and the menu system is honestly far better laid out than the FTX-1’s, with clarity that’s right on par. If I’m sitting down for a digital session, this is the radio I’m reaching for.
Yaesu FT-891
This is the one that lives in my Jeep, paired with an ATAS-120. It’s perfect for portable ops if you’re running a resonant antenna or you’re comfortable tuning one well, and it works great with the ATAS-120 specifically. Honestly, this radio may never leave the Jeep at this point, it’s earned that permanent spot.
Xiegu G90
Great radio. The best integrated tuner I’ve ever used, full stop. Lightweight and compact for 20 watts, and it just works so damn well that it’s hard not to recommend it to people who ask me where to start.
How they actually split the work
- Digital modes and FT8 in the shack: the IC-7300 Mark II
- Grab-and-go QRP, or full base station when I dock the SPA-1: the FTX-1
- Living permanently in the Jeep with the ATAS-120: the FT-891
- Lightweight field ops where the tuner needs to just work: the G90
None of these radios are trying to be all four things, and that’s exactly why I still reach for each one. Different job, different radio, no regrets.