10 Best Mobile Ham Radio For Car in 2022

Despite the terminology for phones, for ham radio the term “mobile” is quite different. If you want to use a ham radio while you’re driving, then you need the best mobile ham radio for car.

You can use this to communicate with another car when you’re driving with a group of cars on a long road trip.

What are the Best Mobile Ham Radios for Car – Quick Summery

Ham radio comes in handy for long-distance group car drives. It enables you to communicate effectively with each other. Below we summarize the top 10 ham radio available in the market according to their stand-out features that you will use during purchase.

Best Overall: BTECH Mobile UV-50X2 Mobile Ham Radio
It offers out great customization options as well as giving you excellent value for your money.

Editor’s Choice: Kenwood Original TM-V71A Ham Radio for Car
It comes with a user manual which is handy when learning how to operate this radio’s features.

Most Durable: TYT TH-9800 Quad Band Mobile Radio
It has a solid compact build with a cooling fan which endures it lasts long even when used on rough roads.

Best Beginner-friendly: BTECH Mini UV-25X4 Mobile Ham Transceiver
Affordable, easy to scan, edit, save, or delete channels is a joy for someone who has never used a ham radio before.

Most Versatile: Any Tone AT-778UV Mobile Amateur Radio
You can send or receive single, group, and emergency calls.

Best User-friendly: Any Tone AT-5888V Car Amateur Radio
It has a clear and well-lit screen, microphone keypad, which makes it easy to operate even in the dark.

Powerful: Radioddity QB25 Pro Mobile Ham Radio
It has the power to go up to 50 watts and gives you four-band channels to work with.

Best Small-Sized: SOCOTRAN Quad Band Long Range Amateur Radio
It is five by 3.9 by 1.7 inches but emits excellent sound quality, transmits very well, and a clear customizable display.

Easiest to Install: TYT TH-7800 50W Ham Radio For Car
The fuses, brackets, and cables are easy to use and make installing the ham radio in the car straightforward.

Best Budget-Friendly: QYT KT-8900D 25Watt Mobile Transceiver
It is very affordable and still offers the basic features you will need from a ham radio in your car.

Best Mobile Ham Radio – Reviews

In this article, we have reviewed 3 types mobile ham radio: Dual Band, Tri-Band and Quad-Band. Let’s start..

1. BTECH Mobile UV-50X2 – Best Dual Band Mobile Ham Radio

Plenty of people find this particular model easy enough to program and use. This is affordable, but it’s a pretty common opinion that the UV-50X2 may be the top dual band mobile ham radio for the money.

There are too many plenty technical details to mention here, but this has some special features you need to know about. One is its use of an improved power chipset. This is a relief, since quite a few other mobile amateur radios put in a smaller one that eventually burns out.

With this you get 200 programmable memory channels, and you can easily edit channel preferences. that means you can put in additional squelch info, edit tones, and put in or take out channels from your scanning list.

The display is also good, and you can adjust it completely. You can have it display 2 channels with both sowing the channel name and frequency. You also transmit great sound from the mic, as you can customize the mic output.

This also offers several new modes for scanning, including auto scan during reboot, scan resume for interrupted scanning, and variable frequency scanning that lets you edit and scan the way you like it through the frequencies.

This also supports analog tones, along with CTCSS, 2Tone, 5Tone, DTMF, and DCS calling methods. You can set up your calling methods to call by group tones.

Highlighted Features:

2. Kenwood Original TM-V71A – Best Ham Radio For Car

This is a rather pricier model, but then its features give you your money’s worth. You can experiment with those features easily enough, as the user’s manual is very clear and helpful. These features include a high-power output at 50W along with 1,000 multifunction memory channels and multi-scan features.

This is also a true dual-band radio, as you can operate on VHF and UHF frequencies, or on two VHF or UHF frequencies. The display is nice enough, and it even lets you pick your backlight colors (2 different shades of green). The screen clearly displays the 2 frequencies even at a glance.

The build quality is also solid, so you won’t have to worry too much about bumps on the road. This vehicle ham radio can handle whatever your vehicle can.

It also helps that the interface is very simple, with knobs for the volume and squelch. Setting this up the way you want it won’t give you any problems. This is also easy to program, even without the programming software (which you need to get separately). The front panel is also invertible.

Kenwood has made another winner with this solid and easy to use, and it’s not surprising that many consider this their favorite model.

Highlighted Features:

3. TYT TH-9800 Quad Band – Best 2m 70cm Mobile Radio

If you are looking for an excellent 2m 70cm mobile radio then the TYT TH-9800 is a perfect for your need. This quad band mobile ham radio operates on the 10 Meter, 6 Meter, VHF 2 meter & UHF 70cm bands, and you get 50W power output as well. There are actually too many tech features to mention here, though we do need to point out that this has 800 channels.

In fact, it may take a while for you to get really familiar with this model, since the unit has lots of buttons for you to figure out. But when you transmit, the audio you send out goes very loud and clear. Programming is also easy enough, especially with CHIRP. Once you’re done with the programming, you’ll find it easy to use. It’s very intuitive.

The build quality is excellent, and even on rough roads it shouldn’t give you problems. You can rely on this to work as expected for years. This even comes with a backup fuse, just in case.

Highlighted Features:

4. BTECH Mini UV-25X4 – Best Mobile Ham Transceiver

This is another BTECH, which means you can fit this more easily on a tight budget. If you can work with 25W power output, this should be considered. Just because it’s inexpensive doesn’t mean it doesn’t have all the other great features that you can find in the other mobile hf radios.

This gives you several scanning modes, including auto scan, scan resume, and variable frequency scan. You get the improved power chipset that won’t burn out eventually, dual display mode featuring the channel name and frequency, great sound from your microphone, and the auto power off to save the battery.

With this you can edit saved memory channels without having to delete a channel and saving a new one. There are 200 channels for you to use for the frequencies you like. You get support for DCS, CTCSS, DTMF, and 2/5tone calling methods.

Even beginners will like this, since things are easy to figure out. It helps that the manual offers clear information, as it was written in the US. Your purchase includes the mounting bracket and hardware, along with the cigarette plug connector.

Highlighted Features:

5. AnyTone AT-778UV – VHF/UHF Two Way Mobile Amateur Radio

The price may seem a bit too affordable, and that might make you suspicious. But the quality of this vechicle radio can compare to more expensive models. It’s inexpensive due to the power limitations at 25W, but then other features and functions more than make up for this. This is a very good dual band mobile ham radio, with a frequency range of 136-174MHz (VHF) and 400-480 MHz (UHF).

With this you can make several types of calls. You can send single and group calls, selective calls, and emergency calls. You get 200 channels, CTCSS, DCS,DTMF and 5Tone functions. The display is in color, and you can rotate it 180 degrees.

This comes with a lighted keypad microphone, speakers in both the radio and the microphone, and a built-in cooling fan. The menu system is logical, and the interface is intuitive. Make your transmissions, and the audio your listeners get is loud and clear. You get that same audio quality with your own ham radio speakers.

Highlighted Features:

6. AnyTone AT-5888UV – User Friendly Car Amateur Radio

Now if the 25W power output of the AnyTone AT-778UV isn’t good enough for you, then you can switch to this 50W/40W ham radio instead. The power can be adjusted all the way down to 5W. This also comes with a lot of highly technical features, stating with 758 channels.

The display uses 3 colors, and it’s backlit as well for great clarity. You can easily see the 2 frequencies you’re monitoring at a glance. Here the keypad in the microphone is lighted as well, making it easier for you to press the right buttons.

The built-in speaker is also switchable, as you can put it in the radio body or in the mic. If you have an optional external speaker, you can use that too. Installation isn’t a problem, especially with the removable control head. When you can take off this faceplate, mounting this car ham radio is a more flexible process.

This is programmable by PC, and you can download the software you need. This even acknowledges your smartphone, as it has a USB port to charge that smartphone of yours.

Highlighted Features:

7. Radioddity QB25 Pro – Best Quad Band Mobile Ham Radio

Radioddity is known for the quality of their handheld ham radios, but they’ve entered the mobile ham radio market with a bang. The QB25 Pro is their first car ham radio, but it’s like they’ve been making these things for years.

This gives you 4 bands (2 VHF and 2 UHF bands) to play with. To be more specific, you’re able to operate within these frequency ranges: 136-174MHz, 220-260MHz, 400-480MHz, and 350-390MHz. The 4-color display shows all 4 frequencies you’re using very clearly, and there’s no need to squint to read the screen.

The power options go up to 50W, and it is rather compact. All you need to do first is to learn the programming software, and once you do you can program this mobile amateur radio easily enough. It helps that your purchase already comes with a programming cable and it works with CHIRP as well.

This also comes with a very long list of features and functions that should please every user. You get multiple scan options, including auto scan, scan resume, and variable frequency scan. But what really sets this apart is that the sound from the speaker is much louder and clearer. You won’t have problems understanding what’s said.

This is a durable mobile amateur radio too, and even the built-in cooling fan is smart. It only works when the temperature reaches 113 degrees F so that it prevents overheating while conserving energy otherwise.

Highlighted Features:

 

8. SOCOTRAN – Quad Band Long Range Amateur Transceiver for Vehicle

This is a tiny mobile ham radio (5 by 3.9 by 1.7 inches) and limited to 25W power output. But it offers several terrific features. It shows 4 channels on the main display, and this display is customable when it comes to the color scheme. You really won’t have trouble reading the data.

Programming is easy especially with CHIRP, and once that’s done it’s easy to use. Transmission quality is great, while the speaker is loud and clear enough. You get 200 channels as well. This supports DTMF, ANT, 2tone, and 5tone signaling. If the unit gets a bit hot, its built-in cooling fan turns on to prevent overheating.

Highlighted Features:

9. TYT TH-7800 50W – Dual Display Repeater Ham Radio for Car Truck

Installation for the TH-7800 is no problem, with fuses, brackets, and enough cable to get it right. The programming for this car ham radio is quick and easy, using either the set software or CHIRP. The 2W speaker so terrific too, with clear audio and ample volume. You won’t have to wonder about what you just heard.

This gives you 809 memory channels. The full duplex feature you can listen to two different frequencies, or listen and speak using different frequencies.

This is also a solid unit, and can withstand use in rough road when you put it in an SUV or pickup truck. It can take bumps on the road, and you can open your windows as it deals with dust nicely. If you’re looking for the mobile ham radio for truck drivers, this may suit you.

The LCD display is also large and clear, with dual frequency display as well. It’s also a rather compact unit, with dimensions of 5.5 by 1.6 by 6.6 inches. All in all, this is a ham radio you shouldn’t have any problems with. The list of features is quite long, so you can have fun trying to learn your way around.

Highlighted Features:

10. QYT KT-8900D – 25 Watt Mobile Transceiver Review

Now we’re back to a really affordable model, which explains the 25/20W power output. It’s not too big at 10.6 by 6.1 by 2.6 inches and that’s no trouble in a sedan. Use CHIRP to program this (or the downloadable software), and pretty soon you’re good to go. Many think it’s the best ham radio for car drivers in its price range.

This is extremely easy to use, and even programming manually from the unit doesn’t give you a frustrating time. The sound you get is loud and crisp, and so is the transmit sound. You also still get 200 memory channels as well.

For those looking for a basic car ham radio model with dual-band capabilities, this is great. That’s especially true for those on a tight budget. This is even cheaper than some handheld units!

Highlighted Features:

 

Best Mobile Ham Radio – Buying Guide

There are some important points you need to think when you want to purchase the best mobile ham radio for your car.

The Range of the Frequency

Exactly which frequencies can your mobile amateur radio receive and transmit in? This is crucial, since a wider frequency range offers more options for you. In general, the dual-band mobile radios let you operate on the VHF and UHF bands. You’re able to get FM voice and data transmission on the 144-148 MHz (2 meters) and 420-450 MHz bands.

If you’re mainly concerned about emergency transmissions, you can monitor for these if your radio can operate on the 50 and 222 MHz frequencies. You may also want to monitor the 1.2GHz band if you drive around in densely populated locations.

Power Output

This is about how much power you can use as you transmit your signals. A higher output level lets you transmit stronger signals that reach farther. In handheld radios, the power output is limited to about 8 watts at the most. In some cases, you can only choose between 1 and 5 watts.

But for mobile ham, you have the opportunity to get higher power output. Aim for at least 10 watts (25 watts is much better), and try to get as high as 50 watts if you can.

LCD Display

When you’re driving around, you can’t spend too much time staring at your LCD display trying to decipher the information it’s showing. That’s an easy way to get into an accident. Even if you’re able to drive unscathed, you can get eyestrain with substandard displays.

Instead, you have to insist on a display that’s easy enough to read even at a glance. It should be clear enough for day and for night time use, and it’s best if you have a backlit display.

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels you have will be important too, since this tells you how many frequencies, channels, and repeaters you can save in memory. This makes it easier for you to gain access to a favorite channel.

Get more memory channels and you can arrange and group them in ways that are convenient for you. The groups can be for particular topics (for weather alerts or for sports) or for the location of the station.

Weather Alert

This is mainly about getting the NOAA alerts through your mobile ham radio. This gives you important weather news that may concern you when you’re driving. You may get news about deep snow in one area, or flooded streets in another. If the weather predicts deep snow, you can also change your vehicles features (like your tires) to suit the new weather.

Scan Functions

With too many frequencies for you to use, you need multiple scan functions to find the frequency you want quickly and easily. Scan functions can include a full scan, a priority scan, and a memory scan.

Durability

A mobile ham radio must be able to endure road conditions while you’re using it. Even if you’re driving on bumpy roads, you should be able to expect it to keep on working. It’s a waste of your money if you buy a car ham that stops working just because you dropped it.

Squelch

This is the feature that reduces channel noise so that you can communicate clearly over the radio. A ham radio is basically worthless if you can’t understand what you’re listening to over the radio.

Programmable

The best car ham radio for beginners can be programmed easily. Each has its own way of being programmed. Some can be programmed manually. This means you use the radio keypad to do your programming.

Other amateur radios offer the option of letting you use a computer to help with the programming. Often the manufacturer lets you download free software for this purpose, and they can generally be used on Windows machines. Others allow for the use of OSX and Linux computers. Just be sure you get the right programming cable for this to work right.

Brand

Do some investigative work regarding the reputation of the brand of ham radio you’re thinking about buying. Some brands are known for its affordable models, other brands may be famous for the quality of their units or even the helpfulness of their customer support.

Price

This needs to be mentioned, as it’s a crucial factor for every responsible consumer. Beginner ham radio user may want to stick to more affordable models, since they’re typically simpler and easier to use. More experienced can go with more expensive models that feature more sophisticated functions.

In general, it’s true that you get what you pay for. Buying a cheap model doesn’t make sense when your vehicle ham radio doesn’t last all that long and you can’ rely on it to work properly each time. However, some affordable models can be terrific, while some expensive mobile ham radios may not be worth the money you’re paying.

Dual Band vs Tri Band Mobile Ham Radio

The names of these types of ham radio already tell you the main difference between the two. A dual band mobile ham radio lets you operate on both VHF and UHF frequencies.

The tri band mobile ham has a 3rd band, which is often the 220 band. This is the special part of the VHF fulcrum that’s reserved for ham radio use. More specifically, these are the frequencies from 220 MHz to 225 MHz.

How to Install a Mobile Ham Radio in Car

Installing a mobile ham radio in your car shouldn’t take a lot of time. It should only take 20 minutes at the most, with some even able to do it in 10 minutes. You need to check out the manual carefully, and it will help if you can watch a video on YouTube demonstrating the procedure.

But it really shouldn’t be that difficult. Here are the basic steps:

1. The Right Location

The first step is determining where in the car you want to put your ham radio. You want this out of the rain and direct sunlight, so you can’t put it right on your pickup truck bed.

It should be inside the cabin, but not in any place that can disrupt your driving. Yet it should be near enough to you so you can easily reach out to answer a call. Obviously, you need enough space for the unit. You also need to make sure that there’s enough space around the heat sink. You need good air circulation in this area to make sure your car ham radio doesn’t overheat.

2. Mounting the Car Ham Radio

Just follow the instructions on the manual. In general, your purchase should include the bracket and mounting hardware. If it doesn’t have these accessories, you may want to buy another model. Just mount and then make sure it’s secure. Check that it doesn’t wobble.

3. Testing

Just turn the car ham on and contact your buddies in your local ham community. Make sure you hear them clearly, and that your own transmissions are easily understood.

4. Driving Around

Now drive around with the ham radio on, and see if you can use it well enough that you don’t hamper your driving. Check for noise issues as well.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

A mobile ham is generally a much more powerful transmitter than a handheld unit, and you can use this for many reasons as you drive around. But to get the maximum enjoyment out of ham radio hobby, you need to make sure that you get the best mobile ham radio you can afford. Just be safe – you don’t need to be distracted while driving either!

Also Read:

1. DMR radio reviews and buying guide by expert

Sharing is caring!