36 models · 6 brands · 1955–2020
A good used rig puts you on the air for far less than new. Here's which radios to buy and what to check before you pay.
Plenty of old radios still make contacts every day, and a used rig costs a fraction of new. A listing rarely says whether the transmitter makes full power into a dummy load or only powers on, whether every band receives, which filters are fitted or what supply it needs. Each page covers one model, with its story, what to check in the listing and the eBay listings we’d buy.
A checklist for all 36 modelsFacts checked, sources listedNo affiliate links
Know the model? Start there.
model indexHams shop by model number. Tap one to go straight to its page, or read how to check a used ham radio first.
Kenwood
Find yours
browse byBy brand
The rigs people hunt for
Icom
HF transceiverIcom IC-7300
- Launched
- 2016
- Power
- 100 W
- Features
- Built-in tuner
$1,100–$1,325 typical ask
Yaesu
QRP rigYaesu FT-817ND
- Launched
- 2004
- Power
- 5 W
- Features
- 2 m / 70 cm
$775–$1,100 typical ask
Kenwood
HF transceiverKenwood TS-590SG
- Launched
- 2014
- Power
- 100 W
- Features
- Built-in tuner
$2,400–$4,325 typical ask
Yaesu
HF transceiverYaesu FT-991A
- Launched
- 2016
- Power
- 100 W
- Features
- 2 m / 70 cm · Built-in tuner
$1,550–$1,675 typical ask
Heathkit
HF transceiverHeathkit HW-101
- Launched
- 1970
- Power
- 100 W
- Features
- Tubes
$210–$525 typical ask
Drake
ReceiverDrake R-4C
- Launched
- 1973
- Power
- Receive only
- Features
- Tubes
$320–$900 typical ask
From our latest eBay check
Hallicrafters HT-37Hallicrafters HT-37 Ham Radio HF Transmitter Vintage 1960s - POWERS UP
$229.98 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
Hallicrafters S-38EModel S-38E Hallicrafters Multi-Channel Shortwave Vacuum Tube Radio Works Read
$84.11 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
Drake L-4BDrake L4B HF Amateur Radio Amplifier With L4PS Power Supply 80-10 Meters Tested
$1,518.05 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
Drake TR-7Drake TR-7 HF Amateur Transceiver Ham Radio & PS-7 Power Supply.
$271.30 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
Buying guides
5 guidesQuestions buyers ask
FAQDo I need a license to buy a ham radio?
Not in the US. The FCC's rule, 47 CFR 97.5, requires a licensed operator in control before a station may transmit on amateur frequencies, so buying, owning and listening don't need one. To transmit, you need an FCC amateur license. A Technician license gets you everything above 30 MHz and small slices of HF. A General adds parts of every HF band. Some other countries require a license just to own a transceiver, so check before you buy one abroad.
What's a good first HF rig to buy used?
A 100-watt solid-state rig on 13.8 volts. The Icom IC-7300, Kenwood TS-590SG and Yaesu FT-450D cover HF and 6 meters and have a tuner inside. The FT-991A and TS-2000 add 2 meters and 70 centimeters, handy if you start as a Technician. The IC-718 is the simplest, HF only, with no tuner inside. Ask for a wattmeter reading into a dummy load on several bands before you pay.
Should I buy a kit-built Heathkit?
Yes, if you can see how it was built. Heathkit sold its ham gear as kits, and a careful builder could match factory quality. Heath's own HW-101 manual says wiring errors and poor soldering are the most common causes of trouble. Ask for photos under the chassis and look for neat, shiny joints. Expect a 50-year-old set to need its capacitors checked before regular use, and ask whether the matching power supply comes with it.
What power supply does a used ham radio need?
Most modern 100-watt rigs run on 13.8 volts DC and draw about 20 to 23 amps on transmit, so buy a supply rated a little above that. The IC-7300 is listed at 21 amps, the FT-991A at 23. Some rigs, like the FTDX-5000 and TS-940S, have an AC supply inside. Many tube rigs need a matching supply, such as Heath's HP-23 for the HW-101 or Drake's AC-4 for the T-4XC.
What does MARS mod mean in a listing?
It means someone widened the radio's transmit range past the ham bands. On the FT-857D, for example, soldering four jumpers opens transmit across 1.8 to 56 MHz and parts of VHF and UHF. Army MARS lets its members modify their own radios for government frequencies while in MARS service. A ham license only covers the amateur bands, so ask what was changed and keep your transmissions inside your license.
Do you make money from these links?
No. We earn nothing when you click or buy. We don't use tracking links, so every link goes straight to the eBay listing. There are no analytics or tracking cookies on this site. You buy from the seller on eBay, at the price they list. We only recommend radios we'd buy ourselves, and we'd rather you buy used.
Sell to us
Got a rig gathering dust in the shack?
Tell us what you have, with photos of the front panel and the inside, whether it makes full power into a dummy load, what filters and options are fitted, what comes with it and your price. Our ham radio expert will get back to you quickly with a cash offer if it’s a fit. No listing to write, no fees.