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Top 3 Best High Frequency Radios In 2024!

After extensive research, we picked the best high-frequency radios you can buy this year.

First up, we have a popular budget-friendly hf radio with excellent features, perfect for beginners.

Next, a premium radio with advanced capabilities, ideal for enthusiasts.

And finally, our top pick: a cutting-edge hf radio with superb technology and audio quality.

So let’s get started!

Number 3. Icom IC7300 – Best Budget High Frequency Radio

ICOM 7300 is one of the most popular hf radios out there, highly regarded for its outstanding quality and lots of useful features it provides.

One of the most notable features of this device is the RF Direct Sampling System, which ensures you enjoy quality audio with minimal noise. This feature works by digitizing RF signals and relaying them via the FPGA. This helps lower noise levels significantly while also making the circuit simpler.

Besides, it features an internal auto-tuner and a Continuous Wave function to cancel out unwanted noise. It also supports Single Side Band, meaning it makes use of the internal amplifier to improve the sound quality and volume.

Another impressive feature worth mentioning is the unit’s 4.3 inches LCD waterfall touch screen, which makes operating the device effortlessly.

There is also an IP+ feature that enables the base station to receive weaker signals that are usually masked or overridden by stronger signals. This way, you get to eliminate signal interference, so you can hear even the weakest signals more clearly.

It is uniquely designed with a radio-teletype (RTTY), which allows you to wirelessly connect it to multiple teleprinters. Besides the RF Direct Sampling system, this unit also boasts up to 15 band-pass filters that work together to deliver superior performance.

Overall, if you’re ready to spend a few extra dollars for a quality hf unit, but not a small fortune then you can’t go wrong with the ICOM 7300.

Number 2. Icom IC-7610 – Best Premium High Frequency Radio

Icom IC-7610 is amongst the very best HF transceivers available on the market. It performs admirably in comparison with its peers and excels not just in technical aspects, but also in its interface and experience.

The most prominent visual aspect of this radio is the 7-inch color touchscreen that dominates its front. The bright, high-quality display is large enough for most users. You can also split the display into two to show information like main and sub-receivers. Should you desire a larger display, it is possible to connect an external display to the transceiver.

The bright and sharp display shows off several features, including a spectrum scope, waterfall, audio scope, and more. Of course, it also shows the menu and information related to the current channel and frequency.

In case a touchscreen isn’t your cup of tea, plug a mouse into one of the two USB slots and use it for conventional point-and-click functions. Of course, this also works with any external display connected to the transceiver. Yet, what you can do with a mouse is somewhat limited.

Apart from the screen, much of the transceiver’s front is covered in various buttons, dials, and knobs to access its features. The multi-dial knob takes center stage here and remains generally easy to manage. Apart from turning it, you can also push it like a button to access other menus and features.

Thanks to the presence of all these buttons and knobs, most of the features for the HF transceiver are easily accessed, without having to wade through menus. One of the points where the IC-7610 misses is the lack of a backlight for the buttons and knobs.

However, such mild annoyances can be forgiven considering how good the transceiver is at its job. The Tx and Rx audio quality is phenomenal. The audio you transmit or receive is as clear and crisp as it gets, and without distortion.

The unit makes use of two receivers, and they are selective, sensitive, and overall excellent at their job. This setup means that the transceiver can be seen as two separate radios that share single controls. This opens up the possibility of true dual-band functionality, allowing users to monitor, receive, or transmit on two bands simultaneously.

IC-7610 is sometimes compared to the more popular, but lower-priced Icom IC-7300 we discussed before. The comparison is unfair to both of these amazing transceivers. While they are both HF transceivers, they fill different positions in the niche and offer different solutions.
Perhaps a value-oriented beginner could start with the IC-7300 and consider the 7610 when comfortable for an upgrade.

Overall, the Icom IC-7610 is a remarkable high-end High Frequency radio with impressive looks, design, and features. Its Tx and Rx are near flawless, and the digital signal processing works wonders with the signal quality.

Number 1. Yaesu FTDX-10 – Our Top Choice

Yaesu FTDX10 is an interesting HF radio, partially due to its origin and style. The company has placed this radio to compete with the ICOM IC7300, which is the most popular HF radio available at this moment.

However, rather than creating a brand new radio from the drawing table, Yaesu seems to have created a mini version of the more expensive FTDX101D.

The appearance of the transceiver is dominated by a large screen and an oversized knob. The display is a touchscreen TFT that offers a lot of information related to the functioning of the radio. Amongst other things, you can see the frequency and the beautiful waterfall on the display.

Since it’s a touchscreen, you can tap on specific frequencies on the waterfall and then change the operating frequency. You can also touch the screen to access several menus and functions.

The right side of the radio features the large knob and several buttons. Most of the buttons are placed around this knob. Usually, I love prominent buttons and knobs, but in this case, I’d have preferred that the knob lose some weight and make room for the other buttons languishing around it.

The waterfall and band scope often take the biggest pie of the discussion about this radio. The function is visually stunning and fun to use. If you want digital modes like FT8, just connect to a computer via USB. It’s rather quick and painless to connect and works in this mode without a hitch.

With a Network Remote Control Software like the SCU-LAN10, it’s possible to operate the transceiver remotely.

Given the functioning and placement of the transceiver, its comparisons with the ICOM IC7300 are unavoidable. Features like display, waterfall, and spectrum scope are very similar to what’s available on the IC7300.

Yet, there is the benefit of technology on the side of the FTDX10. This model is roughly 5 years younger than the IC7300 and thus benefits from improved components and technology. It has better audio quality and dynamic range. Eventhough it’s a bit more expensive it’s a better value for me currently making it my top choice for a hf radio.

So what do you think? Which of these is the best hf radio for you?

Or do you think another hf radio is better?

Tell us in the comments below.

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Have An Awesome day!