Getting on air
Equipment Guide
Getting started in amateur radio can feel confusing — there are hundreds of radios, antennas and accessories available. This guide cuts through the noise and covers what you actually need to get on air in Suffolk.
Radios
Choosing your first radio
Most people start with a handheld radio (HT) as their first piece of kit. They're affordable, portable, and capable of reaching local repeaters like GB3PO and GB7AL with a reasonable antenna.
HT / HANDHELD
Handheld Radios
Battery-powered portable radios, typically covering 2m and 70cm. Ideal for using local repeaters, portable operation, and learning the basics. Popular choices include the Baofeng UV-5R for budget users, or the Yaesu FT-65 for something more capable. For DMR, look at the Radioddity GD-77 or Baofeng DM-1801.
Budget: £20–£150
MOBILE / HOME
Mobile Radios
Designed for vehicles or as a compact home station. Higher transmit power than handhelds, better audio quality, and improved receiver performance. Good options include the Yaesu FT-7900R or the Icom IC-2730. Run from 12V — either a car battery or a mains power supply at home.
Budget: £150–£400
BASE STATION
Base Stations
A permanent home setup. Typically a mobile radio (or dedicated base radio) with a mains power supply, external antenna, coaxial cable and any accessories you've added. An HF base station opens up long-distance communication on the lower bands — but that's a next step once you're settled on VHF/UHF.
Budget: £400+
Tip: Before buying any radio, ask on the local repeaters what other operators are using. You'll often get good honest advice, and it means you'll be on the same networks as the people you'll be talking to.
Antennas
Antennas matter more than power
A good antenna will do more for your signal than increasing transmit power. This is one of the most important lessons in amateur radio — invest in a decent antenna before buying a more powerful radio.
Rubber duck antennas
The short flexible antenna that comes with most handheld radios. Convenient and portable, but not especially efficient. Fine for nearby use or when you're very close to a repeater. The first upgrade most people make is replacing it with something better.
Magnetic mount antennas
A mag-mount antenna sits on the roof of your car (or any metal surface) and connects to your radio via a coaxial cable. Much more effective than a rubber duck — good for mobile operation and for using with a radio at home if you can't fit an external antenna.
Vertical base antennas
A proper external vertical antenna mounted outside — on a pole, chimney or mast — is the biggest upgrade you can make to a home station. A simple quarter-wave vertical for 2m or 70cm is cheap and very effective, and should give you excellent coverage of local repeaters. Use the antenna calculators to work out element lengths for any frequency.
Loft antennas
If you can't mount an antenna outside, fitting one in the loft is a good compromise. You'll lose some signal going through the roof, but it's significantly better than operating with a rubber duck indoors. Works well for accessing local repeaters in most situations.
Coax and connectors
Connecting your radio to your antenna
Coaxial cable (coax) connects your radio to your antenna. The type and quality of coax matters — poor coax causes signal loss, especially on higher frequencies. Getting connectors right is one of the things that trips up beginners.
Common coax types
RG-58 is cheap but has significant loss on VHF/UHF over longer runs. RG-213 or LMR-400 are better for longer cable runs. For short runs (under a few metres) most coax types are fine. Poor quality coax from unknown sources is common and can have much higher loss than labelled — buy from reputable suppliers.
Common connector types
You'll encounter several connector types: SMA (common on handheld radios), BNC (handheld radios and test equipment), PL259/SO239 (mobile and base station equipment), and N-Type (higher-performance connections). Adapters between types are inexpensive and worth keeping a few in your kit.
UK suppliers
Where to buy equipment
There are several well-established UK amateur radio retailers. Buying from a specialist supplier rather than a general marketplace means you're more likely to get the right equipment and proper support.
Martin Lynch & Sons ↗
One of the UK's largest amateur radio retailers. Good range of radios, antennas and accessories. Based in Surrey with online ordering.
Nevada Radio ↗
Long-established UK radio retailer based in Portsmouth. Good stock of both new and used equipment.
Moonraker ↗
Good range of antennas, accessories and entry-level radios. Worth checking for antenna masts and mounting hardware.
RSGB Shop ↗
Books, handbooks and study materials from the Radio Society of Great Britain. Essential for exam preparation.
Second-hand equipment: Radio rallies are a great place to pick up second-hand gear. Check the events page for upcoming rallies in Suffolk and East Anglia. The RSGB also runs an online classifieds section.
Video: equipment options to explore
The video below from Martin Lynch & Sons gives a useful overview of some starter options. We have no affiliation with ML&S — it's simply a good starting point for getting a feel for what's out there.
