Which radio will you purchase for your first Amateur Radio station? Do you want a large, full-featured transceiver for the HF bands? Perhaps a mobile radio for operating on VHF+ or even a tiny handheld transceiver?
Before you decide on your purchase, review the advice offered here to help you focus on the features and functions you will need for the operating activities you plan.
Your first radio doesn’t have to be new. There are many older transceivers that have years of useful service left in them. These transceivers (“rigs,” as hams call them) are often available for sale at online auction sites such as eBay. Whether you decide to purchase new or used, check the QST magazine Product Review Archive (Members Only). In every issue of QST the ARRL Laboratory carefully evaluates the key characteristics of transceivers and many other types of equipment.
A friend of mine has been thinking about getting a ham radio, and we wanted to choose the right one. It’s interesting that you say to review the machine and make sure it’s a good one. It would be nice to know that you are getting a quality piece.