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Top 3 Most Powerful Handheld Ham Radios

Searching for the most powerful handheld ham radios?

In this article we have done an extensive review of the most powerful hts and we rated them according to Features, Audio Quality, Ease of Use and Value for Money.

3 Most Powerful Handheld Ham Radios Review

Number 3. Radioddity GA-510 – Best Budget Powerful Handheld Ham Radio

If raw power at a good price point is what you want, Radioddity GA-510 has you covered. It’s rated at 10W output power and comes packed with a fair bit of useful accessories. Apart from the radio, the packaging includes a dock-style charger, adapter, earpiece, belt clip, wrist strap, and two 2200 mAh rechargeable batteries.

Including two batteries is a nice touch. That way, you can keep one battery for charging, while the other powers the radio. The batteries can individually go on the dock for charging, so the radio doesn’t need to spend time sitting on the dock.

That said, Radioddity GA-510 does a pretty good job of managing its battery and power. The claim is that it can last 96 hours on standby, 24 hours on 5W/1W power, and 12 hours on 10W high-power mode. The actual numbers are somewhat lower, though not substantially lower than the claimed performance.

As RF power output goes, the 10W is a nice touch, especially in rural areas where repeaters might be far away. Although, the output from the radio may not always be 10W.

There is a touch of variance between batches and quality control, so most units see power output max out at 7-8W, while others might see it hit 10W or even slightly higher.

That behavior is very like some Baofeng radios – and for good reason!
Radioddity GA-510 is basically a Baofeng BF-H6 with the Radioddity label slapped on. The packaging specifics might be different, but the handheld transceivers are essentially the same.

Radioddity GA-510 is sometimes compared to the Baofeng UV-5R. The similarities might be evident given the similar (or even same) menu structure and general operation. However, the UV-5R uses a different battery and its RF power output is limited to 5W.

Radioddity GA-510 uses the classic Kenwood connector and can be programmed through a computer to match specific requirements. Although, if you’re so inclined, much of the general functions of the radio can be programmed right at the front panel.

As a classic dual-band radio, the conventional features remain fairly straightforward and thus convenient to program from the front panel. You could be good to go with just a few settings to handle, and the menu is fairly convenient to navigate.

As you start to transmit, you may notice that the high RF output doesn’t necessarily translate into better signal quality or significant increase in distance. While there are physical limitations at play here, one big reason is the rubber ducky antenna used by Baofeng (and thus, Radioddity for the GA-510). Using a good aftermarket antenna might be useful for better performance.

Overall, Radioddity GA-510 is a simple to use dual-band radio with impressive RF output power at 10W. Its build quality, while not remarkable, is acceptable, and the battery performance is quite impressive. This can be a good choice if you want high power Tx on a budget.

To sum up, what we like is the…

• Attractive pricing
• Good battery management
• Convenient front panel programmable
• Three power levels – High (10W), Medium (5W), and Low (1W)
• Includes additional battery that can be independently charged on the dock.

On the downside…

• Rubber ducky antenna leaves much to be desired
• Max output power might vary between production batches.

Our Ratings

• Features: 8/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Audio Clarity: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Number 2. Baofeng AR-152 – Best Premium

It is rare for a Baofeng HT to be considered for a premium pick. However, the company has put in some serious work that bumps up the price and performance of this radio, and makes it a worthy pick for this category.

It probably helps that the AR-152 has design similarities with PRC transceivers, though of course, there cannot be a comparison in performance or price.

Still, the design touch as a tactical radio can be quite alluring.
A big reason for the longer appearance of this HT is its use of a large battery. Baofeng AR-152 sports a 12000 mAh Li-ion battery that can keep it running for a very long time. The radio can easily last a couple of days (or more) with normal use, including substantial time on FM radio reception and sound output through the speakers.

The battery has a 2.5mm charging port for more convenient charging. It’s better to use a standard wall charger for the purpose, though it will accept other modes like a car charger or USB charger.

The large battery is, of course, appreciated in a radio that’s expected to provide 10W RF output power. And it does so quite cleverly. Though much like other Baofeng radios, the maximum output power can vary between batches, going from 7-8W to 11W.

To be fair, the output power will also depend on the battery level. A battery with a lower charge might struggle with maintaining the maximum output power, while a full charge would handle it easier.

Baofeng AR-152 got a bad rep at its launch, with some unethical sellers claiming an RF output at 15W. That was never the expected performance for this HT. Today, listings are generally clear and truthful about the power output, and the radio has won hearts with its performance.

To make things better, Baofeng sells this transceiver with several options and accessories. For example, you could get it with an Abbree tactical antenna, which performs better than Baofeng’s rubber ducky. Accessories like a radio pouch are a nice touch.

The radio is programmable via CHIRP, though you can also use Baofeng’s software to program it. Programming is fairly convenient. Besides, this radio is not very complex, and most options and menus are relatively easy to handle.

Overall, Baofeng AR-152 is a well-built dual-band HT with good performance. Its large battery capacity lends it well to the high RF power output at 10W and can last for a long time. The ability to receive FM radio commercial channels is a nice touch and the included speakers work well, not just for communication, but also for listening to FM radio!

To sum up, what we like is the…

• Large 12000 mAh battery
• Easy to use
• Compatible with CHIRP and Baofeng software
• Three power levels – High (10W), Medium (5W), and Low (1W)
• Good looks and design.

On the downside…

• Can feel bulky due to large battery
• Max output power might vary between production batches.

Our Ratings

• Features: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Audio Clarity: 8.5/10
• Ease of Use: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Number 1. TIDRADIO TD-H8 2nd Gen – Our Top Choice

Good looks, decent performance, and Bluetooth connectivity and programming make the second generation TIDRADIO TD-H8 our top choice for the most powerful handheld ham radios.

The appearance of the radio has a nice touch, and it is perhaps the color screen that grabs attention the quickest. It’s rare at this price point and could be considered somewhat unique for this handheld transceiver.

Once the initial hype subsides, it would be fair to say that the display is pretty standard. It does struggle a bit in the sun, but remains usable.

The star of this HT, or perhaps its Unique Selling Point, is Bluetooth connectivity and programming. You don’t need to manually program this radio, or even use software like CHIRP for the programming, though it is possible. Instead, the path to programming is through a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone.

TIDRADIO TD-H8 has a wireless programming module that works with Bluetooth to pull information from your smartphone. You’ll need to have the Odmaster app installed to manage the programming and repeater list. It works reliably, but it requires the phone to be connected to the internet, which is both odd and annoying.

The second generation TD-H8 shows some improvements over the first. First off, it stops straddling the line of FCC legality. The first generation allowed users to program the radio to work in VHF/UHF, GMRS, or unlocked modes. That’s a no from the FCC.

Additionally, in GMRS mode, it seemed like a poor-performing cousin of the BTECH GMRS PRO. The performance didn’t improve much in the VHF/UHF ham radio mode either.

Thankfully, the 2nd generation stays in its lane as a VHF/UHF dual-band radio and shows better performance with reduced harmonics and spurious emission.

There are three RF power output options available for this radio. These are 10W (high), 5W (medium), and 1W (low). Users can have some customization of the output and settings with the app.

Power comes through a 2500 mAh Li-ion battery with decent performance. Tidradio says that the battery can last up to 12 hours with regular use. Practically, it’s more like 6-8 hours, especially with high power mode. The performance isn’t bad, but it could be better!

Overall, Tidradio TD-H8 2nd Generation ht shows off a good range of features and performance. Its color screen is a nice touch and the 10W RF power output is great plus it’s incredibly easy and convenient to program and use.

To sum up, what we like is the…

• Good mix of performance and features
• Bluetooth programmable with Odmaster app on smartphone
• Large color display
• Three power levels – High (10W), Medium (5W), and Low (1W)
• Good looks and design.

On the downside…

• App needs to stay connected to the internet for programming
• Screen visibility is difficult in the sun

Our Ratings

• Features: 9/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Audio Clarity: 8.5/10
• Ease of Use: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10