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United Kingdom · Licence exam

Choosing your first ham radio: handheld or HF?

Choose by what you want to do. A 2 m or 70 cm handheld ham radio puts out about 5 W and reaches roughly 5 to 10 miles on its own, or more than 20 through a repeater, according to the RSGB. For contacts around the world you need an HF transceiver. Whatever you buy, your licence sets the power: 25 W at Foundation, 100 W at Intermediate, and up to 1,000 W at Full on bands such as 80 m, 20 m and 2 m.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Is a handheld ham radio the right first radio?

TypeWhat it’s forPower and supply
Handheld (2 m / 70 cm)Local contacts and repeaters. Dual-band models cost a little more, and 70 cm range can be slightly less than 2 m.5 W. Battery life is short, so you may need to charge it daily.
Mobile (2 m / 70 cm)Fitted in a vehicle, or used at home with a power supply and an outdoor antenna.Often up to about 60 W, and usually adjustable. Runs from 12 V.
Base station (2 m / 70 cm)Serious VHF and UHF work, including SSB.Usually a built-in mains supply. Costs considerably more than a mobile.
HF transceiverWorldwide contacts, usually covering 160 m to 10 m and often 6 m.Portables 5-10 W. Base sets 100 W, which you can usually turn down to your licence limit.

An HF set also receives shortwave broadcasts, VOLMET weather and aircraft. The RSGB suggests a 100 W set may be worth it even on a lower licence if you plan to upgrade soon.

That RSGB page still gives the old 10 W and 50 W limits. Since 21 February 2024 the licence allows 25 W at Foundation and 100 W at Intermediate on most bands.

RSGB: Buying a new transceiver ↗How far a radio reaches →

Power limits and amplifiers

An amplifier doesn’t change your limit: your output must stay within your licence’s power for that band. Above 10 W EIRP you also need an EMF check of your station.

Power limits band by band →Antennas and EMF checks →

Power supplies

  • Handhelds run on rechargeable batteries. Not all run on 13.8 V, so check the voltage before you use an external supply.
  • Mobiles and most base stations need a 13.8 V supply, though some base stations have a 230 V supply built in.
  • A typical 100 W HF radio can draw 20-23 A. A bigger supply is fine, because the radio only draws what it needs.
  • Linear supplies are big and heavy. Switched-mode supplies are smaller, lighter and usually cheaper, but can cause interference, so look for a low-RFI model.
RSGB: Other equipment you need ↗

Before you buy

  • Visit an amateur radio supplier, explain what you want to do and ask what they’d suggest.
  • Try the radio first, or ask a club member to show you theirs, so the controls aren’t a surprise.
  • Budget for an antenna, coax and an SWR meter to set the antenna up.
  • A digital voice radio holds a call sign, so set your own.
Ham radio clubs near you →Buying used equipment →Antennas and coax →
Sources: RSGB and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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