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VHF/UHF handheld performance comparison

This table shows test result data for VHF/UHF handheld transceivers, comparing performance in sensitivity, dynamic range and adjacent channel rejection. Feel free to search, filter or sort as you wish.

Default sorting is by 3rd order Dynamic Range (wide spaced). Scroll to the bottom for notes.

MakeModel2m sensitivity (uV)3rd DR wide 2m (dB)3rd DR narrow 2m (dB)Adjacent Rejection 2m (dB)70cm sensitivity (uV)3rd DR wide 70cm (dB)3rd DR narrow 70cm (dB)Adjacent Rejection 70cm (dB)
IcomIC-V80.13936464
IcomIC-V800.16896574
IcomIC-V820.11886969
IcomIC-T70A0.18670700.12786969
WouxunKG-UV2D0.118669670.12826060
WouxunKG-UVD1P0.118669690.12826060
YaesuFT-60R0.138567670.16835858
KenwoodTH-79A0.148562560.166753
YaesuVX-1200.16846868
YaesuVX-1700.16846868
KenwoodTH-22AT0.14837659
AlincoDJ-175T0.18837070
KenwoodTH-G71A0.168362610.16725858
AlincoDJ-V57T0.198260640.17807062
AlincoDJ-195T0.17825858
KenwoodTH-D72A0.148174770.16706969
AnyToneAT-D868UV0.28163760.18716869
IcomIC-V850.2815865
AlincoDJ-V5TH0.148152550.16695153
KenwoodTH-K20A0.13807491
YaesuVX-6R0.138063630.16625959
KenwoodTH-235A0.14806361
IcomIC-T22A0.14806160
IcomIC-T8A0.168053600.15665259
KenwoodTH-D74A0.197967670.18696262
YaesuFT-51R0.157962660.166158
RadioshackHTX-2450.147961610.22715555
YaesuVX-8GR0.167958650.14645858
YaesuFT-10R0.14787567
WouxunKG-UV8D0.117869790.13817474
KenwoodTH-K2AT0.17786771
AlincoDJ-G5TH0.157867630.15906555
IcomIC-Z1A0.157860630.166061
KenwoodTH-D7A0.167859590.14725858
YaesuFT-25R0.15776374
YaesuVX-1500.16766565
YaesuVX-7R0.167663650.15655861
KenwoodTH-D7AG0.177657570.14785454
AlincoDJ-596T0.177642380.18684340
IcomID-51A0.137565650.12786666
YaesuFT-2DR0.167561620.14575758
IcomIC-92AD0.137561610.14606565
YaesuFT-50R0.147555510.15905451
YaesuFT-11R0.15746369
AlincoDJ-V17T0.19745454
KenwoodTH-F6A0.167360600.17725757
YaesuFT1DR0.187358670.18616355
IcomIC-T2A0.15735351
RadioshackHTX-4200.147350580.14655659
TYTTH-UVF10.157265650.14726767
AlincoDJ-582T0.147263620.166158
YaesuVX-1R0.187262620.18684947
AlincoDJ-C1T0.16725049
YaesuFT-70DR0.137163650.14845965
IcomIC-T7A0.147161650.151055862
RadioshackHTX-2000.22715758
IcomIC-W32A0.137057640.15915862
YaesuVX-8R0.196960600.22606157
AlincoDJ-G7T0.176957570.17735351
YaesuFT-252R0.186860660.20706161
AlincoDJ-190T0.15685859
IcomIC-T81A0.146854540.14666161
YaesuFT-65R0.146763630.14696767
AlincoDJ-500T0.156761720.14716969
YaesuVX-2R0.166746460.14574646
YaesuVX-5R0.156661650.17655858
IcomIC-T90A0.156558660.16605758
AlincoDJ-1910.16655857
IcomIC-91A0.146556590.12735559
AlincoDJ-C5T0.166546460.19704848
AlincoDJ-C7T0.26452510.23695353
YaesuFT-4XR0.26361720.18656865
YaesuVX-3R0.166239390.14753939
IcomIC-P7A0.155956560.13645762
IcomIC-Q7A0.165943510.19655762
AlincoDJ-S11T0.19555659
AlincoDJ-162TD0.187352
RealisticHTX-2020.177072
KenwoodTH-225A0.126760
IcomIC-P2AT0.146570
IcomIC-2SRA0.146567
AlincoDJ-580T0.1665600.146758
YaesuFT-4150.156468
KenwoodTH-28A0.1364630.25
AlincoDJ-F1T0.186258
KenwoodTH-77A0.1660670.26556
YaesuFT-5300.1658640.166064
IcomIC-32AT0.1658620.225961
KenwoodTH-78A0.1658610.166958
IcomIC-W21AT0.1656650.146160
AlincoDJ-G29T0.1754540.145656
YaesuFT-4700.1453650.145862
AlincoDJ-560T0.1853570.287255
YaesuFT-411E0.184363

Notes:

  • Sensitivity – for 12dB SINAD. The lower this value is, the better the radio can receive a weak signal. Most modern radios achieve very similar figures (0.1 – 0.2 uV).
  • 3rd DR wide – two-tone, 3rd order dynamic range, 10MHz spacing. This metric indicates how well the receiver can handle strong signals outside the amateur bands (higher is better). This is the most important indicator for performance in urban areas or wherever strong RF interference is present (FM broadcast sites, mountain tops, proximity to pager transmitters etc). Unfortunately, older radios haven’t been tested for wide-spaced dynamic range.
  • 3rd DR narrow – two-tone, 3rd order dynamic range, 20kHz spacing. This is a good indicator of how well the receiver can handle interference from other transmissions in the same band. A higher number means the receiver is more suited for areas with high amateur activity – hamfests, APRS transmitters nearby, etc.
  • Adjacent rejection – adjacent channel rejection. This metric shows how good the receiver is at rejecting interference from a nearby channel.
  • Unfortunately there is no test data for Baofeng radios as of yet. However, the Yaesu FT-4X uses the same receiver-on-a-chip so performance should be very similar.

The measurements are sourced from the QST lab tests over a period of almost 40 years. If you enjoy this list, consider subscribing to QST to show your support.