Choosing your first ham radio and antenna: handheld, mobile or base station

First, a quick tour of the bands

• VHF and UHF (in practice, bands around 2 metres and 70 centimetres): mostly local, line-of-sight contacts, extended by repeaters. Antennas are small. This is where most new operators start.
• HF (roughly 160 metres down to 10 metres): signals can bounce off the ionosphere and travel worldwide, depending on time of day, season and the solar cycle. Antennas are larger.
• Your licence level decides which bands and how much power you may use, so check your privileges before buying.

Repeaters: how small radios reach further

Handheld radios

• Pros: cheap to start, portable, easy to use with repeaters, great for events and walks.
• Cons: low power and a small rubber antenna limit range, especially indoors.
• Tip: the antenna supplied is often the weakest part. A better antenna, or using the handheld with an outdoor antenna, can make a large difference.
• A caution: some very cheap handhelds are known for poor filtering and can transmit unwanted signals outside the band. Look for equipment that meets your country's rules and read independent reviews from operators.

Mobile radios

• Pros: more power than a handheld, designed for cars but also popular as a home station with a power supply and an outdoor antenna.
• Cons: needs a proper power source and a vehicle or roof antenna.
• Safety: never operate while driving in a way that breaks local rules on distraction; install the radio and microphone so they do not interfere with airbags or controls.

Base stations and HF radios

• Pros: the full range of bands and modes, worldwide contacts, digital modes with a computer.
• Cons: higher cost, a power supply, and above all a suitable HF antenna.
• Second-hand: a well-looked-after used radio checked by someone at a club is a common and sensible route.

Antennas: where your money does the most good

• Height and clearance help more than extra power. Getting an antenna above nearby obstacles makes a bigger difference than you expect.
• Simple wire antennas such as dipoles are cheap, effective HF starters and teach you a lot.
• Vertical antennas take up less ground space but need a good ground or radial system to perform well.
• Matching: an antenna should present the right load to the radio. Learn to measure SWR (standing wave ratio), and consider an antenna tuner for multi-band wires.
• Feedline: good coaxial cable reduces losses, especially on longer runs and higher frequencies.

Safety with antennas

• Never put an antenna anywhere it could touch or fall onto power lines. This is the most serious danger in the hobby.
• Assess RF exposure at your power and antenna position, as your licence requires, and keep people away from transmitting antennas.
• Use proper mounting, and think about lightning: disconnect feedlines in storms and follow guidance on grounding.
• Respect your neighbours, your landlord and any local planning rules.

A sensible first setup

1. A dual-band VHF/UHF handheld or mobile radio for local contacts and repeaters.
2. A better antenna for it, outdoors if possible.
3. Later, if your licence allows, a simple HF radio and wire antenna for long-distance contacts.