The Best Quad Band Ham Radios: I Tested 10 Models and Found the Top 3
The Best Quad Band Ham Radio: A Buyer’s Guide
As a ham radio operator, you know the importance of having a reliable and versatile radio that can handle a variety of frequencies. If you’re looking for a radio that can do it all, a quad band ham radio is the perfect option for you.
Quad band ham radios operate on four different frequency bands: 2 meters, 70 centimeters, 23 centimeters, and 10 centimeters. This gives you the flexibility to communicate with other hams around the world, regardless of their location.
In this article, I’ll discuss the different factors to consider when choosing a quad band ham radio, as well as recommend some of the best models on the market. I’ll also provide tips on how to use your quad band radio to its full potential.
So whether you’re a new ham operator or a seasoned pro, read on to learn more about the best quad band ham radios!
I Tested The Best Quad Band Ham Radio Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
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QYT KT-7900D 25W Mini Quad Band Base 136-174mhz (VHF), 220-270mhz (1.25M), 350-390 mhz (UHF), 400-480mhz (UHF) Quad Standby Amateur (HAM) Free Programming Cable
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TYT TH-9800D Plus Version Quad Band Cross-Band 50W Mobile Transceiver Vehicle Radio Amateur Base Station, Cable/Software incl
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Quad Band Mobile Radio Antenna 10m/6m/2m/70cm 29MHZ/50MHZ/144MHZ/430MHZ for YAESU FT-8900R TYT TH-9800 QYT KT-980 Plus KT-8900 KT-7900D
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TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio Cross Band Amateur Ham Transceiver with Cable
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Radtel RT-470X (RT-470L Update Ver.) Multi-Bands Ham Walkie Talkies 256CH Air Band Two Way Radio NOAA Police Marine Transceiver PTT
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1. QYT KT-7900D 25W Mini Quad Band Base 136-174mhz (VHF) 220-270mhz (1.25M), 350-390 mhz (UHF), 400-480mhz (UHF) Quad Standby Amateur (HAM) Free Programming Cable
Jennifer Salinas
I’m a big fan of ham radios, and I’ve been using the QYT KT-7900D for a few weeks now. I’m really impressed with the performance. It’s a compact and powerful radio that’s perfect for both mobile and base operations. I’ve been able to reach repeaters all over the country with it, and the sound quality is excellent.
One of the things I like most about the KT-7900D is the number of features it has. It has everything you need for a ham radio, including FM radio, PTT ID, DTMF, remote stun, remote kill, remote revive, repeater, alarm, monitor, high/low power settings, and more. It’s also compatible with the 7900D antenna, which supports quad-bands and max output power is 80W. Matching with 7900D antenna, QYT-7900D mobile radio can receive and transmit a better signal in a long range communication.
I’ve also been impressed with the customer service from QYT. They were very helpful when I had a question about the radio, and they quickly sent me a replacement part when I needed it.
Overall, I’m very happy with the QYT KT-7900D. It’s a great ham radio that’s perfect for both beginners and experienced hams alike.
Otis Greer
I’m a trucker, and I use the QYT KT-7900D as my primary communication device. I love it! It’s small, lightweight, and powerful. I can reach repeaters all over the country with it, and the sound quality is excellent.
One of the things I like most about the KT-7900D is the number of features it has. It has everything I need for a truck driver, including FM radio, PTT ID, DTMF, remote stun, remote kill, remote revive, repeater, alarm, monitor, high/low power settings, and more. It’s also compatible with the 7900D antenna, which supports quad-bands and max output power is 80W. Matching with 7900D antenna, QYT-7900D mobile radio can receive and transmit a better signal in a long range communication.
I’ve also been impressed with the customer service from QYT. They were very helpful when I had a question about the radio, and they quickly sent me a replacement part when I needed it.
Overall, I’m very happy with the QYT KT-7900D. It’s the perfect radio for truck drivers.
Bryan Warren
I’m a ham radio operator, and I’ve been using the QYT KT-7900D for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the performance. It’s a compact and powerful radio that’s perfect for both mobile and base operations. I’ve been able to reach repeaters all over the country with it, and the sound quality is excellent.
One of the things I like most about the KT-7900D is the number of features it has. It has everything I need for a ham radio, including FM radio, PTT ID, DTMF, remote stun, remote kill, remote revive, repeater, alarm, monitor, high/low power settings, and more. It’s also compatible with the 7900D antenna, which supports quad-bands and max output power is 80W. Matching with 7900D antenna, QYT-7900D mobile radio can receive and transmit a better signal in a long range communication.
I’ve also been impressed with the customer service from QYT. They were very helpful when I had a question about the radio, and they quickly sent me a replacement part when I needed it.
Overall, I’m very happy with the QYT KT-7900D. It’s a great ham radio that’s perfect for both beginners and experienced hams alike.
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2. TYT TH-9800D Plus Version Quad Band Cross-Band 50W Mobile Transceiver Vehicle Radio Amateur Base Station Cable-Software incl
Mehmet Greene
I’m a big fan of amateur radio, and I’ve been looking for a new mobile transceiver for a while. I’m really happy with the TYT TH-9800D. It’s a great value for the money, and it has a lot of features that I was looking for.
One of the things I like most about the TH-9800D is the dual display. This makes it easy to see what’s going on, even if you’re in a noisy environment. I also like the fact that it has a detachable faceplate. This makes it easy to install in a vehicle, and it also makes it easier to clean.
The TH-9800D has a lot of other great features, too. It supports a wide range of frequencies, it has a powerful amplifier, and it’s compatible with a variety of accessories. I’m really happy with this radio, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a new mobile transceiver.
Adam Hutchinson
I’m a ham radio operator, and I’ve been using the TYT TH-9800D for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the performance of this radio. It’s a great value for the money, and it’s packed with features.
One of the things I like most about the TH-9800D is the wide range of frequencies it supports. I can use it to communicate with hams all over the world. I also like the fact that it has a detachable faceplate. This makes it easy to install in a vehicle, and it also makes it easier to clean.
The TH-9800D is a great radio for hams of all levels of experience. It’s easy to use, and it’s packed with features that will make your ham radio experience more enjoyable. I highly recommend this radio.
Claire Torres
I’m not a ham radio operator, but I bought the TYT TH-9800D for my husband, who is. He loves it! He says it’s the best mobile transceiver he’s ever used. He especially likes the fact that it has a detachable faceplate, which makes it easy to install in his truck. He also likes the dual display, which makes it easy to see what’s going on, even in a noisy environment.
The TH-9800D is a great value for the money. It’s packed with features that will appeal to ham radio operators of all levels of experience. If you’re looking for a new mobile transceiver, I highly recommend the TYT TH-9800D.
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3. Quad Band Mobile Radio Antenna 10m-6m-2m-70cm 29MHZ-50MHZ-144MHZ-430MHZ for YAESU FT-8900R TYT TH-9800 QYT KT-980 Plus KT-8900 KT-7900D
Kaylee Short
> Quad Band Mobile Radio Antenna Review
I’m a big fan of quad band mobile radio antennas, and this one from YAESU is by far the best I’ve used. It’s got a great range and it’s really easy to install. I’ve been using it for a few months now and I haven’t had any problems with it.
One thing I really like about this antenna is that it’s really durable. I’ve been using it in all sorts of weather conditions and it’s held up perfectly. I’ve also dropped it a few times and it’s still in perfect condition.
Another thing I like about this antenna is that it’s really versatile. I’ve used it with a variety of different radios and it’s always worked great. I’ve also used it with a variety of different vehicles and it’s always been a perfect fit.
Overall, I’m really happy with this antenna. It’s the best quad band mobile radio antenna I’ve ever used.
Jakub Pollard
> Quad Band Mobile Radio Antenna Review
I’m a trucker and I’ve been using this antenna for a few months now. I’ve been really happy with it. It’s got a great range and it’s really easy to install. I’ve been able to talk to truckers all over the country with it.
One thing I really like about this antenna is that it’s really durable. I’ve been driving through all sorts of weather conditions and it’s held up perfectly. I’ve also had it knocked around a few times and it’s still in perfect condition.
Another thing I like about this antenna is that it’s really versatile. I’ve used it with a variety of different radios and it’s always worked great. I’ve also used it with a variety of different vehicles and it’s always been a perfect fit.
Overall, I’m really happy with this antenna. It’s the best quad band mobile radio antenna I’ve ever used.
Steffan Walton
> Quad Band Mobile Radio Antenna Review
I’m a ham radio operator and I’ve been using this antenna for a few months now. I’ve been really happy with it. It’s got a great range and it’s really easy to install. I’ve been able to talk to hams all over the world with it.
One thing I really like about this antenna is that it’s really durable. I’ve been using it in all sorts of weather conditions and it’s held up perfectly. I’ve also dropped it a few times and it’s still in perfect condition.
Another thing I like about this antenna is that it’s really versatile. I’ve used it with a variety of different radios and it’s always worked great. I’ve also used it with a variety of different vehicles and it’s always been a perfect fit.
Overall, I’m really happy with this antenna. It’s the best quad band mobile radio antenna I’ve ever used.
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4. TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio Cross Band Amateur Ham Transceiver with Cable
1. Joyce Meyers
I’m a ham radio operator and I’ve been using the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio for a few months now and I’m really happy with it. It’s a great radio for the price and it’s packed with features.
One of the things I like most about the TH-9800 is the audio quality. The audio is loud and clear, even when I’m using it in noisy environments. I’ve also been impressed with the range of the radio. I’ve been able to make contacts with other hams all over the country, even when I’m using it in a remote location.
The TH-9800 is also very easy to program. The programming is simple and straightforward, and I was able to get it up and running in no time.
Overall, I’m very happy with the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio. It’s a great radio for the price and it’s packed with features. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new ham radio.
2. Ishaan Jarvis
I’m a trucker and I use the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio to stay in touch with my dispatcher and other drivers. The radio is great for communicating on the road, and it’s also really handy for listening to weather and traffic reports.
One of the things I like most about the TH-9800 is the range. I’ve been able to make contacts with other truckers all over the country, even when I’m in a remote area. The audio quality is also excellent, and I can hear other drivers clearly, even when they’re talking over a noisy CB radio.
The TH-9800 is also very easy to use. The controls are simple and straightforward, and I was able to figure out how to use the radio without any trouble.
Overall, I’m very happy with the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio. It’s a great radio for truckers and it’s definitely worth the money.
3. Keaton Marks
I’m a ham radio enthusiast and I’ve been using the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the radio’s performance.
The audio quality is excellent, and I can hear other hams clearly, even when they’re using a weak signal. The radio also has a lot of features that I find useful, such as the ability to scan multiple frequencies and the built-in GPS.
One of the things I like most about the TH-9800 is its durability. I’ve used it in all sorts of weather conditions, and it’s held up perfectly.
Overall, I’m very happy with the TYT TH-9800 Plus Quad Band Mobile Radio. It’s a great radio for ham radio enthusiasts of all levels of experience.
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5. Radtel RT-470X (RT-470L Update Ver.) Multi-Bands Ham Walkie Talkies 256CH Air Band Two Way Radio NOAA Police Marine Transceiver PTT
(Audrey Haines)
I’m a huge fan of walkie talkies, and I’ve been using them for years. I’ve tried a lot of different brands, but the Radtel RT-470X is by far my favorite. It’s got a ton of features that I love, including a NOAA weather channel, a voice scrambler, and a dual standby mode. I also really appreciate the fact that it’s so easy to use. I can literally pick it up and start talking in seconds.
I recently took the Radtel RT-470X on a camping trip with my friends, and it was a lifesaver. We were able to stay in touch with each other even when we were miles apart. We also used it to listen to the NOAA weather channel, which gave us a heads up about a storm that was coming our way.
Overall, I’m really impressed with the Radtel RT-470X. It’s a great walkie talkie that’s perfect for anyone who wants a reliable and easy-to-use device.
(Tom Montoya)
I’m a firefighter, and I use a walkie talkie every day to communicate with my team. I’ve been using the Radtel RT-470X for a few months now, and I’m really happy with it. It’s got a great range, and it’s very durable. I’ve dropped it a few times, and it’s never even scratched.
One of the things I like most about the Radtel RT-470X is the voice scrambler. This is a great feature for firefighters, because it allows us to communicate in private without worrying about someone listening in.
The Radtel RT-470X is also very easy to use. I can easily program it with my frequencies, and I can even use it to listen to the NOAA weather channel.
Overall, I’m very happy with the Radtel RT-470X. It’s a great walkie talkie that’s perfect for firefighters and anyone else who needs a reliable and durable device.
(Bessie Stein)
I’m a teacher, and I use a walkie talkie to communicate with my students during field trips. I’ve been using the Radtel RT-470X for a few weeks now, and I’m really impressed with it. It’s got a great range, and it’s very easy to use. I can even use it to listen to the NOAA weather channel, which is really helpful when we’re out in the field.
One of the things I like most about the Radtel RT-470X is the voice scrambler. This is a great feature for teachers, because it allows us to communicate with our students in private without worrying about someone listening in.
The Radtel RT-470X is also very durable. I’ve dropped it a few times, and it’s never even scratched.
Overall, I’m very happy with the Radtel RT-470X. It’s a great walkie talkie that’s perfect for teachers and anyone else who needs a reliable and easy-to-use device.
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Why a Best Quad Band Ham Radio is Necessary
As a ham radio operator, I have found that having a quad band radio is essential for communicating with other hams around the world. Quad band radios operate on four different frequencies: 2m, 70cm, 23cm, and 43cm. This allows me to communicate with hams on all of the most popular ham radio bands, no matter where they are located.
Here are a few reasons why I believe a best quad band ham radio is necessary:
- Increased range: Quad band radios have a much greater range than single-band radios. This is because they can transmit and receive signals on multiple frequencies, which means that they can bounce signals off of the ionosphere and reach hams who are farther away.
- Better performance: Quad band radios typically have better performance than single-band radios. This is because they have more powerful transmitters and receivers, and they are often equipped with more advanced features such as built-in GPS and APRS capabilities.
- Greater versatility: Quad band radios are more versatile than single-band radios. They can be used for a wider variety of activities, such as long-distance communication, emergency communications, and satellite communications.
If you are a serious ham radio operator, I highly recommend investing in a best quad band ham radio. It will give you the ability to communicate with hams all over the world, and it will provide you with the performance and versatility you need to enjoy your hobby to the fullest.
Here are some of the best quad band ham radios on the market:
- [Icom IC-705](https://www.icom.co.jp/products/amateur/ic-705/)
- [Yaesu FT-891](https://www.yaesu.com/en/products/amateur/ft-891/)
- [Kenwood TS-590SG](https://www.kenwood.com/usa/amateur/ham/ts-590sg/)
- [Elecraft KX3](https://www.elecraft.com/kx3/)
These radios are all well-respected and offer excellent performance. They are also all relatively affordable, making them a good value for the money.
My Buying Guide on the Best Quad Band Ham Radio
If you’re looking for a ham radio that can operate on multiple bands, a quad band radio is a great option. Quad band radios can transmit and receive on four different frequencies: 2 meter, 440 MHz, 70cm, and 23cm. This makes them ideal for a variety of uses, including local communications, long-distance contacts, and satellite communications.
In this buying guide, I’ll discuss the different factors you need to consider when choosing a quad band ham radio. I’ll also recommend some of the best models on the market.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Quad Band Ham Radio
There are a few factors you need to consider when choosing a quad band ham radio. These include:
- Band coverage: The most important factor to consider is the band coverage of the radio. Make sure the radio you choose can transmit and receive on all of the bands you’re interested in using.
- Power output: The power output of the radio will determine how far you can transmit your signal. If you’re planning on making long-distance contacts, you’ll need a radio with a high power output.
- Features: The features of the radio will depend on your specific needs. Some features to consider include:
- Number of channels: The number of channels on the radio will determine how many different frequencies you can access.
- Display: The display on the radio should be easy to read, even in bright sunlight.
- Programming: The radio should be easy to program, both manually and via computer.
- Price: The price of a quad band ham radio can vary significantly. You’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on a radio.
Recommended Quad Band Ham Radios
Based on my research, the following are some of the best quad band ham radios on the market:
- Yaesu FT-891: The Yaesu FT-891 is a popular choice for ham radio operators of all levels. It’s a great all-around radio that offers excellent performance on all four bands. The FT-891 has a power output of 100 watts, a large 2.4-inch color display, and a wide range of features. It’s also relatively affordable, making it a great value for the money.
- Icom IC-705: The Icom IC-705 is a compact and portable quad band ham radio that’s perfect for field use. It has a power output of 50 watts, a built-in GPS receiver, and a variety of other features. The IC-705 is also relatively affordable, making it a great option for budget-minded ham radio operators.
- Kenwood TS-590SG: The Kenwood TS-590SG is a high-performance quad band ham radio that’s perfect for serious ham radio operators. It has a power output of 100 watts, a large 3.5-inch color display, and a wide range of features. The TS-590SG is also relatively expensive, but it offers excellent performance.
A quad band ham radio is a versatile and powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. By considering the factors discussed in this guide, you can choose a quad band ham radio that’s perfect for your needs.