Amateur (HAM) Radios UK – Programmable Two-Way Radios

Yes. To transmit on amateur radio frequencies in the UK, you must hold a valid UK Amateur Radio Licence issued by Ofcom — either Foundation, Intermediate, or Full level. Receiving (listening) is legal without a licence. The Foundation licence is the easiest entry point and can be obtained by passing an online exam. Read our UK Ham Radio Licence guide for step-by-step guidance on how to apply.

Yes. Baofeng radios are among the most popular amateur handheld transceivers in the UK and worldwide, particularly for Foundation and Intermediate licence holders. They offer outstanding value, wide frequency coverage, full CHIRP compatibility, and a large community of UK users for support. While dedicated amateur radio brands offer more advanced features for serious DX or contest operation, Baofeng radios are the go-to choice for everyday repeater use, SOTA activations, field days, RAYNET, and emergency communications.

For UK Foundation licence holders, we recommend starting with the Baofeng UV-5R (5W, dual band) as the most affordable and widely supported entry-level option. For more power and features, the UV-5RH (10W, multi-band, airband RX) is an excellent step up. Both are fully CHIRP compatible and have extensive UK community support for programming help and frequency lists.

CHIRP is a free, open-source radio programming software that allows you to manage channels, frequencies, CTCSS/DCS tones, and settings on your Baofeng radio from a PC or laptop. While you can programme your radio manually via the keypad, CHIRP makes it significantly easier — especially for loading full repeater frequency lists, setting up multiple channels quickly, and backing up your configuration. A USB programming cable is required to connect your radio to your computer. Download CHIRP free from chirpmyradio.com.

Analogue radios (UV-5R, UV-82, UV-5RH etc.) transmit voice as a continuous FM signal — simple, widely compatible, and ideal for most UK amateur radio use including repeaters, simplex, and SOTA. Digital DMR radios (DM-32, DM-1701) transmit voice as digital data, offering clearer audio, longer battery life, encrypted channels, and compatibility with digital repeater networks (Brandmeister, DMR-UK). DMR is increasingly popular in the UK amateur radio community. If you are new to amateur radio, start with analogue and consider upgrading to DMR once you are familiar with the hobby.

Yes. All Baofeng dual-band, tri-band, and multi-band amateur radios can access UK VHF and UHF repeaters. Simply programme your radio with the repeater's input and output frequencies, CTCSS tone, and offset using CHIRP or the keypad. The UK repeater network directory is available from the UK Repeater Network. Note that a valid UK Amateur Radio Licence is required to use repeaters.

Airband reception means the radio can receive aviation frequencies between 108-136MHz in AM mode, allowing you to listen to ATC communications at UK airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, etc.). This is a receive-only feature — transmitting on airband frequencies is strictly illegal in the UK under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006. Models with airband RX include the UV-5RH, UV-5RH Pro GPS, UV-5RM Plus, UV-K5 Plus, UV-K6, UV-17 PRO, UV-28 PRO, UV-32 GPS, AR-152 Pro GPS, and DM-32.

SOTA (Summits On The Air) is a popular amateur radio activity where licensed operators activate radio equipment from designated hilltops and mountain summits across the UK. Ideal SOTA radios are lightweight, have good battery life, and cover VHF/UHF bands for accessing UK repeaters and simplex contacts from elevated positions. We recommend the UV-5R Mini (ultralight, multi-band), the UV-5R (proven and affordable), and the UV-K5 Plus (10W, wide coverage) for SOTA activations across the UK.