What I Look For In A Ham Radio HT

I get asked all the time which handheld I recommend, and honestly the answer depends on what you’re doing with it. But over the years running multiple HTs in the shack, the Jeep, and the go-bags, I’ve settled on a checklist I run every new radio through before it earns a spot in the lineup.

USB-C Charging

This one shouldn’t even be a debate anymore, but somehow half the radios on the market still ship with proprietary drop-in cradles or micro-USB. USB-C means I can charge a radio off the same battery bank, car charger, or laptop cable I’m already carrying for everything else. One less proprietary brick to pack.

APRS

I want a radio that can beacon my position and pull it off the network without tethering it to a phone or a separate TNC. Built-in APRS is a huge deal for anyone doing SAR support, POTA, or just wants their family to see where the Jeep is on a trail with no cell service.

Integrated GPS

APRS is only as good as the GPS feeding it. A radio with a built-in GPS chip means fast, accurate position fixes without an external puck hanging off the case.

VHF, UHF, and 1.25m Coverage

Dual-band VHF/UHF is the baseline for me. A handful of radios, mostly older Yaesu tri-banders and the Kenwood TH-D75A, also cover the 1.25m (220 MHz) band, which is a nice bonus if you have local 220 repeaters or just want the extra flexibility.

VFO Access

I don’t want to dig through six submenus to punch in a frequency on the fly. If I’m scanning a repeater directory or working simplex in the field, VFO needs to be one or two button presses away. This is also where commercial land-mobile radios fall flat, since most of them are channel-only with no VFO at all.

Front Panel Programming

CPS software is fine for building out a full codeplug at home, but I want to be able to add a channel, adjust power, or change a tone from the keypad when I’m standing at a trailhead with no laptop.

Other Specs I Check

A few more boxes I look at once the basics are covered:

• Bluetooth for a wireless mic, headset, or app control without a cable snagging on gear.
• KISS TNC support for feeding APRS or Winlink data straight into apps like APRSdroid or RadioMail without extra hardware.
• AES 256 encryption, which matters on the commercial DMR side of things but isn’t legal to use on amateur bands under Part 97.
• Digital mode, since DMR, D-STAR, and C4FM aren’t interchangeable and lock you into an ecosystem of hotspots and repeaters.
• IP rating, because a radio that rides in the Jeep or a go-bag needs to survive dust, rain, and the occasional dunk.

Radios I Considered

• Ailunce HD2 GPS
• AnyTone AT-D168UV
• AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus
• AnyTone AT-D890UV
• Baofeng BF-F8HP
• Baofeng DM-1701
• Baofeng DM-32UV
• Baofeng UV-5R (not recommended)
• Baofeng UV-82
• Baofeng UV-9R (not recommended)
• BTECH UV-Pro
• Hytera BD505 (newer budget DMR)
• Hytera PD502 (older commercial DMR)
• Hytera PD602/PD682
• Icom IC-92AD
• Icom IC-F29DR2
• Icom ID-52A
• Kenwood TH-D75A
• Motorola CP100d
• Motorola CP200 (older commercial analog)
• Motorola R7 (newer MOTOTRBO digital)
• Quansheng UV-K5
• Radioddity GD-77
• Retevis RT-5R
• Retevis RT3S
• TIDRADIO H3 (not recommended)
• TYT MD-380/MD-390
• VGC VR-N76
• Wouxun KG-905G (GMRS)
• Wouxun UV-9V Plus
• Yaesu FT-5DR (newer C4FM digital)
• Yaesu FT-70DR
• Yaesu VX-6R (older classic tri-bander)
• Yaesu VX-8DR/GR

Feature Comparison

I broke this into three smaller tables instead of one giant grid. A single wide table just turns into a horizontal-scroll mess on phones, and grouping by theme makes it easier to scan anyway. All three, plus the cost table below, are alphabetized by radio name.

Bands & Ruggedness

Radio	VHF	UHF	1.25m	Airband RX	GMRS	IP Rating
Ailunce HD2 GPS	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	IP67
AnyTone AT-D168UV	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	Not specified
AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	IP54
AnyTone AT-D890UV	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	IP54
Baofeng BF-F8HP	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Baofeng DM-1701	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Baofeng DM-32UV	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Baofeng UV-5R	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Baofeng UV-82	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Baofeng UV-9R	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IP68 (claimed)
BTECH UV-Pro	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IP67
Hytera BD505	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP54
Hytera PD502	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP54
Hytera PD602/PD682	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP67
Icom IC-92AD	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IPX7
Icom IC-F29DR2	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP67/68
Icom ID-52A	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IPX7
Kenwood TH-D75A	✅	✅	✅	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IP54/55
Motorola CP100d	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP54
Motorola CP200	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP54
Motorola R7	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	❌	IP68
Quansheng UV-K5	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Radioddity GD-77	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	Not specified
Retevis RT-5R	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
Retevis RT3S	✅	✅	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	Not rated
TIDRADIO H3	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not specified
TYT MD-380/MD-390	✅*	✅*	❌	❌	🟡 MARS Mod	IP54 (380) / IP67 (390)
VGC VR-N76	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IP67
Wouxun KG-905G (GMRS)	❌	✅ (GMRS only)	❌	❌	✅	IP66
Wouxun UV-9V Plus	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IP67
Yaesu FT-5DR	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IPX7
Yaesu FT-70DR	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	Not specified
Yaesu VX-6R	✅	✅	✅	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IPX7 / JIS7
Yaesu VX-8DR/GR	✅	✅	❌	✅	🟡 MARS Mod	IPX7 / JIS7

Power, Connectivity & Security

Radio	USB-C Charging	Bluetooth	KISS TNC	GPS	AES 256
Ailunce HD2 GPS	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅
AnyTone AT-D168UV	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅
AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅
AnyTone AT-D890UV	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅
Baofeng BF-F8HP	⚠️ Newer variants only	❌	❌	❌	❌
Baofeng DM-1701	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Baofeng DM-32UV	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌
Baofeng UV-5R	⚠️ Newer variants only	❌	❌	❌	❌
Baofeng UV-82	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Baofeng UV-9R	⚠️ Newer variants only	❌	❌	❌	❌
BTECH UV-Pro	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Hytera BD505	❌	❌	❌	⚠️ Some configs	❌
Hytera PD502	❌	❌	❌	❌	⚠️ Optional
Hytera PD602/PD682	⚠️ Some configs	✅ (G variant)	❌	✅ (G variant)	⚠️ Optional
Icom IC-92AD	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Icom IC-F29DR2	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Icom ID-52A	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌
Kenwood TH-D75A	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Motorola CP100d	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Motorola CP200	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Motorola R7	❌	✅	❌	✅ (fleet)	✅
Quansheng UV-K5	⚠️ Newer variants only	❌	❌	❌	❌
Radioddity GD-77	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Retevis RT-5R	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Retevis RT3S	❌	❌	❌	✅ (GPS variant)	❌
TIDRADIO H3	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
TYT MD-380/MD-390	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
VGC VR-N76	✅	✅	✅	✅ (better lock)	❌
Wouxun KG-905G (GMRS)	✅	✅ (audio only)	❌	❌	❌
Wouxun UV-9V Plus	⚠️ Newer only**	❌	❌	❌	❌
Yaesu FT-5DR	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Yaesu FT-70DR	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Yaesu VX-6R	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Yaesu VX-8DR/GR	❌	❌	❌	✅ (GR)	❌

Operation & Digital Modes

Radio	APRS	VFO Access	Front Panel Programming	Digital Mode
Ailunce HD2 GPS	❌	✅	✅	DMR
AnyTone AT-D168UV	⚠️ Digital RX / fixed beacon only	✅	⚠️ Partial	DMR
AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus	✅	✅	✅	DMR
AnyTone AT-D890UV	✅	✅	✅	DMR
Baofeng BF-F8HP	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
Baofeng DM-1701	❌	✅	⚠️ Partial	DMR
Baofeng DM-32UV	✅	✅	✅	DMR
Baofeng UV-5R	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
Baofeng UV-82	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
Baofeng UV-9R	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
BTECH UV-Pro	✅	✅	✅	FM + digital data
Hytera BD505	❌	❌	❌	DMR
Hytera PD502	❌	❌	❌	DMR
Hytera PD602/PD682	❌	❌	⚠️ Partial	DMR
Icom IC-92AD	✅ (via D-PRS)	✅	✅	D-STAR
Icom IC-F29DR2	❌	❌	❌	Analog only
Icom ID-52A	✅ (via D-PRS)	✅	✅	D-STAR
Kenwood TH-D75A	✅	✅	✅	D-STAR
Motorola CP100d	❌	❌	❌	Analog / DMR optional
Motorola CP200	❌	❌	❌	Analog only
Motorola R7	❌	❌	⚠️ Partial	DMR
Quansheng UV-K5	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
Radioddity GD-77	❌	✅	⚠️ Partial	DMR
Retevis RT-5R	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
Retevis RT3S	❌	✅	⚠️ Partial	DMR
TIDRADIO H3	❌	✅ (clunky)	✅ (painful)	Analog only
TYT MD-380/MD-390	❌	✅	⚠️ Partial	DMR
VGC VR-N76	✅	✅	✅	FM + digital data
Wouxun KG-905G (GMRS)	❌	❌	⚠️ Partial	Analog only
Wouxun UV-9V Plus	❌	✅	✅	Analog only
Yaesu FT-5DR	✅	✅	✅	C4FM (System Fusion)
Yaesu FT-70DR	❌	✅	✅	C4FM (System Fusion)
Yaesu VX-6R	❌	✅	✅ (menu-diving)	Analog only
Yaesu VX-8DR/GR	⚠️ Via accessory	✅	✅ (menu-diving)	Analog only

*Sold as separate single-band SKUs, not one radio covering both bands like a ham dual-bander. **Newer UV-9V Plus batteries ship in a USB-C variant, older stock uses a drop-in cradle.

Estimated Cost

These are rough street prices in USD as of this writing, not live pricing. New radios get discounted, discontinued ones swing wildly on the used market, and imports fluctuate with shipping and tariffs, so treat this as a ballpark for comparison rather than something to quote back at a seller. Sorted low to high rather than alphabetically, since that’s the useful order for shopping.

Radio	Estimated Price (USD)
Quansheng UV-K5	~$25
Baofeng UV-5R	~$25
Baofeng UV-82	~$30
Retevis RT-5R	~$30
Baofeng UV-9R	~$40
TIDRADIO H3	~$40
Radioddity GD-77	~$60
Baofeng BF-F8HP	~$60
Baofeng DM-1701	~$65
Baofeng DM-32UV	~$65
Wouxun UV-9V Plus	~$70
VGC VR-N76	~$70
TYT MD-380/MD-390	~$90
BTECH UV-Pro	~$100
Wouxun KG-905G (GMRS)	~$100
Retevis RT3S	~$110
Yaesu FT-70DR	~$130
AnyTone AT-D168UV	~$130
AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus	~$140
Ailunce HD2 GPS	~$150
Hytera BD505	~$150
Motorola CP200 (used)	~$150
AnyTone AT-D890UV	~$180
Hytera PD502	~$200
Motorola CP100d	~$220
Yaesu VX-6R	~$260
Icom IC-92AD (used, discontinued)	~$300
Yaesu VX-8DR/GR (used, discontinued)	~$300
Hytera PD602/PD682	~$400
Icom IC-F29DR2	~$400
Yaesu FT-5DR	~$450
Icom ID-52A	~$550
Kenwood TH-D75A	~$630
Motorola R7	~$700+

A few closing notes. The Motorola and Hytera radios are commercial land-mobile units built for fleet use, so they’re channel-only with full programming done through the manufacturer’s CPS software rather than the front panel, which is a fundamentally different design philosophy from ham gear. The Wouxun KG-905G is a GMRS radio, not a ham radio, so it’s included here as a reference point rather than something you’d actually get a Technician license to use, and it’s the only radio in this whole list that carries real FCC Part 95 GMRS certification. On the encryption front, true AES 256 voice encryption isn’t legal on amateur bands under Part 97, which is why it only shows up on the commercial DMR side of this table (the Ailunce HD2 and AnyTone D168UV included, since both are marketed with security features borrowed from the commercial world). And if you’re the type to open up a radio’s TX range for GMRS use via a MARS mod, remember that transmitting outside the service you’re licensed for can put you outside FCC rules depending on the radio and the frequency, so treat that capability as something to know about rather than something to lean on. Specs also shift between firmware revisions and regional variants, so double-check the current listing before you buy.

The Bottom Line

After running through all of that, here’s where I actually landed with my own gear.

EDC radios: Kenwood TH-D75A and AnyTone AT-D890UV. Both give me everything I actually need day to day. The D75A comes with me on long road trips, where I’m running APRS a ton and want the GPS and D-STAR flexibility. The D890UV rides along everywhere else, on the motorcycles, in the Jeep, out to the range. It gets the job done without complaint. The D890UV also shares the same DMR programming as my Ailunce HD2s, so if I ever hand those out, I can still communicate with them completely, over analog and digital, and with encryption if it comes to that.

SHTF hand-out radios: pre-programmed Ailunce HD2 GPS units, fully unlocked and MARS modded, with encrypted frequencies already loaded in from my SHTF frequency list. Hand one of these to a friend or family member and they’re ready to go without ever touching a CPS.

Family disaster radio kit: built around a BTECH UV-50PRO as the mobile base unit, paired with four BTECH UV-Pro and VGC VR-N76 handhelds, one each for me, my wife, and the kids. Everything is pre-programmed. If I ever need to add or change a frequency for the family, I only have to update my own radio, then push that update out over the air to the rest of the group all at once. No chasing down four radios with a programming cable. I went with the UV-Pro and VR-N76 specifically for my wife and kids because they’re easier for someone new. You can fully control the radio from a pretty intuitive mobile app, so nobody has to learn a menu tree or touch a CPS. That matters for people who aren’t tinkering with radios on a regular basis the way I am.