Best affordable ham radio

The best ham radios can also come in handily during emergencies when all other means of communication fail. With these radios, people can keep in touch with each other. This is one of the most affordable ways of wireless communication across the globe.

What is the meaning of ham radio? Before the Millenials were born, there used to be a time when there was no internet and no cellphones. People used ham radios to communicate city-to-city, country-to-country, road-to-road and over different places.

Today, people use these radios, also called amateur radio for hobbies and fun. An enthusiast in Arizona can communicate with not only other ham radio lovers in a place like France, but also with astronauts in space.

What Is The Best Ham Radio To Buy?

Despite the wide availability of ham radios in the market, buying one for a beginner wireless communication enthusiast can be a daunting challenge.

Do you go for the cheapest one? Or is the most expensive one the best value for the money? It is all in the features though.

If you pay more money and get more features, you can consider it money better spent than when you pay less and get fewer features.

Best Affordable Ham Radio

1. Ailunce HD1 DMR HAM Radio – Clear Winner

hd1

Radio Name	Ailunce HD1 Dual Band DMR Amateur Radio
Brand	Ailunce
Band	Dual Band
GPS	Yes
Channels	14 FRS, 15 GMRS ( 7 Common channels)
Frequency	136MHz – 174MHz, 400MHz – 480MHz
Antenna Impedance	50Ω
Battery	3200Mah
Power Source	AC & Battery

If you’re just starting to explore communications with ham radios and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on your first device, or you’re looking for a backup device, the HD1 is a great option.Retevis offers a variety of communication devices, including basic two-way radios, handheld two-way radios, waterproof two-way radios, and of course, ham radios.

HD1 offers10 watts of power as opposed to 5 watts, so it offers twice as much output power. Ailunce HD1 DMR allows transmission in both VHF (136-174 MHz) and UHF (400-480 MHz) frequencies. It comes with a highly accurate GPS tracker, capable of giving altitude, at long, speed, and bearing information. Many features make this two-way radio an excellent option for survivalists. The 3200 mAh battery with 160 hours of standby and 15 hours of usage time is great during SHTF situations!

The HD1 offers 3000 channels, 200,000 contacts, 256 zones, and 1000 priority contacts. It is compatible with both digital and analog modes. It also offers a Promiscuous function that will allow you to listen to all signals even if you aren’t in the same group.

Interestingly, it comes with an SMS function with DMR data functions that will allow you to send and receive text messages of 144 characters in length.

The Ailunce HD1 comes with squelch technology to offer crystal clear sound reception. The integrated VOX feature allows hands-free operations.

Pros of Ailunce HD1 DMR

It is compatible with Motorola Tier I and Tier II.
It allows one-to-one calls, one-to-many calls, and many-to-many calls.
It comes with a password lock and keypad lock.
It even has voice annunciation.
The radio is firmware upgradable.
It comes with an LCD display and backlit keypad.
It is 100% IP67 waterproof.
It has a durable body casing with a sturdy build that can endure harsh weather conditions, rain, sand, snow, etc.
Cons of Ailunce HD1 DMR
- There is no flashlight.
- There is no separate mic.
- What is the Handheld ham radio range?
  
  Some handheld ham radio manufacturers will claim up to 20 miles of range for their devices. Don’t be fooled, sir! In general, a handheld transceiver will give you a range of up to 2 miles in a city. This range may, however, increase if you are using a separate high gain antenna.
  
  Alternately, if you have a clear line of sight with no obstructions (like trees, high grounds, etc.) in between, you may get up to 6 miles. If you are in the countryside with flat terrains, the range may increase to 10 miles. That’s the most you can get.