Mobile Ham Radio Comparison: Which Features Are Really Worth Paying For?
By ERIC HENDRICKSON
Shopping for a new VHF/UHF mobile radio should be pretty straightforward. After all, most of these rigs cover the same amateur bands, put out around 50 watts, and can access your local repeaters. That’s why I put together this mobile ham radio comparison to hopefully make it a little easier to find your perfect match.
I’ve selected seven popular mobile transceivers from Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and Alinco to illustrate just how much variety exists in this market and how features impact pricing.
If you’re looking for a straightforward analog FM radio, either the Icom IC-2730A or the Yaesu FTM-150RASP would be my first choices. I’ve had an Icom 2730 for years and I still love it for the big, easy-to-read display and symmetrical controls.
If digital voice and APRS are priorities, the choices get more interesting. And if packet radio is your thing, Kenwood’s new TM-D750A and Icom’s new ID-5200A bring some particularly impressive capabilities to the table.
The comparison below covers transmit power, independent receivers, digital modes, APRS, TNC capabilities, connectivity, and a noteworthy advantage or limitation of each radio.
One unusual entry deserves explanation: The Kenwood TM-D750A is actually a tri-band mobile, adding 1.25m (220 MHz) operation to the usual dual-band 2m and 70cm coverage.
Mobile Ham Radio Comparison
Scroll sideways to compare all features. Radio names link to DX Engineering.
| Radio | Price (USD) | Transmit Bands | Power¹ | Display | Dual RX | Digital Voice | Position Reporting | TNC / Packet | GPS | Cross-Band Repeat | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | Remote Head | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alinco DR-735T | $329.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 50 / 50 W | LCD; selectable backlight colors | Yes | FM Only | None | External; 1200 bps² | No | Yes | No | No | Yes² | Separate speaker outputs for the two receivers; independent controls |
| Icom IC-2730A | $339.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 50 / 50 W | White-backlit LCD | Yes | FM Only | None | External TNC | No | Yes (U.S.) | No | Optional UT-133/A | Yes³ | Separate tuning, volume, and squelch controls |
| Yaesu FTM-150RASP | $329.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 55 / 50 W | Dot-matrix LCD | Yes | FM Only | None | External; 1200/9600 | No | Yes | No | Optional BU-5 | Yes | Super-DX and analog audio processing; control-head speaker |
| Icom ID-5100A | $549.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 50 / 50 W | 5.5-inch monochrome touchscreen | Yes; DV/DV | D-STAR | D-PRS | External FM Packet Interface | Yes | Yes (U.S.)⁴ | No | Optional UT-133/A | Yes | Large touchscreen and simultaneous D-STAR DV/DV receive |
| Yaesu FTM-510DRASP | $519.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 55 / 50 W | 2.4-inch color touchscreen | Yes; Digital/Digital | C4FM / Fusion | FM APRS | APRS Modem; External TNC for Packet | Yes | Yes | No | Optional BU-5 | Yes | C4FM/Fusion plus standalone FM APRS; Super-DX and ASP |
| Kenwood TM-D750A | $1,199.95 | 2 m / 1.25 m / 70 cm | 50 / 50 W; 222: 20 W | 3.45-inch color LCD | Yes; DV/DV | D-STAR | Standalone FM APRS | KISS; 1200/9600; USB / BT | Yes | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Built In | Yes | USB/Bluetooth KISS, standalone APRS, and 1.25 m transmit |
| Icom ID-5200A | $999.95 | 2 m / 70 cm | 50 / 50 W | 4.3-inch color touchscreen | Yes; DV/DV | D-STAR | D-PRS; PC APRS; Standalone Planned⁵ | KISS; 1200/9600 | Yes | Unconfirmed | Yes | Built In | Yes | Built-in KISS, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and waterfall display |
Prices Checked: October 14, 2026, at DX Engineering. Prices are advertised U.S. dollar prices, including displayed sale prices, before tax and any shipping charges. Accessories cost extra unless included in the listed package. Prices can change.
- Power is listed as 2 m / 70 cm. The TM-D750A also transmits on 1.25 m at 20 W.
- DR-735T: 1200-bps packet with an external TNC; Alinco explicitly excludes 9600 bps. Remote mounting requires the optional EDS-30 kit.
- IC-2730A: controller mounting accessories are optional.
- ID-5100A: cross-band repeat depends on the regional model and operates in FM; check the U.S. manual.
- ID-5200A: PC-connected APRS uses its KISS TNC. Standalone FM APRS is still advertised as a future firmware feature; Icom’s September 18, 2026 version 1.10 notes do not announce its addition.
- ID-5100A price is for DX Engineering’s ID-5100A-D Deluxe package, which includes the MBA-2 controller bracket; the MBF-4 main-body bracket is optional.
Reading the Grid: Dual RX means simultaneous reception, not just two-band coverage. The DR-735T, IC-2730A, and FTM-150RASP support V/V, U/U, and V/U reception. All digital-voice models also support FM. D-PRS differs from FM APRS. External TNC includes suitable software modem/interface setups. Unconfirmed does not mean No. Accessory and repeater support vary by region.
Manufacturer References: Alinco DR-735T · Icom ID-5200A · Icom Firmware History · Kenwood Support · Kenwood TM-D750.
Affiliate Disclosure: W6HS.net may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through DX Engineering links, at no additional cost to you.
Analog FM is still an excellent choice
It’s easy to get distracted by digital voice, networking, and colorful displays, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing a capable analog-only radio.
The Yaesu FTM-150RASP is particularly interesting because it concentrates on improving the analog FM experience. Its Super-DX feature is designed to increase sensitivity when receiving weak signals. Yaesu’s ASP (Audio Digital Signal Processor) works on received analog audio to reduce noise and improve intelligibility.
That doesn’t mean it can overcome every weak-signal problem. Antennas, feedline losses, interference, and operating conditions still matter. But it’s a worthwhile capability if much of your operating happens on analog repeaters or simplex.
The IC-2730A takes a different approach, favoring convenient controls and independent receivers. Neither requires you to commit to a particular digital voice ecosystem.
For operators primarily interested in local communication, these radios may deliver everything they need without paying for features they’ll rarely use.
Monitoring Two Channels with Dual Receive
All of the radios here can receive two frequencies at once, so the more useful question is how easy they make it to manage both. Can you adjust each side’s volume and squelch quickly? Is it obvious which frequency you’ll transmit on when you press the microphone’s PTT button?
Those details matter when you’re following a conversation on one channel and listening for a call on the other. I would pay close attention to the controls and display when choosing a radio you’ll use every day.
Choosing a digital voice system
Three radios in this comparison support D-STAR: the Icom ID-5100A, Icom ID-5200A, and Kenwood TM-D750A. The Yaesu FTM-510DRASP supports C4FM, commonly associated with Yaesu System Fusion.
These digital voice systems are not directly compatible over the air. A D-STAR radio cannot simply transmit in D-STAR mode and communicate with a Fusion repeater. Before choosing a digital-capable mobile, investigate which repeaters and systems are active in your area.
The FTM-510DRASP is especially appealing to operators already using Yaesu Fusion. Alongside digital voice, it provides integrated FM APRS and Yaesu’s weak-signal reception features.
Icom’s ID-5100A offers a large 5.5-inch monochrome touchscreen, while the newer ID-5200A moves to a smaller 4.3-inch color touchscreen with additional connectivity and display features.
The newer radio isn’t automatically the better purchase for everyone. Display preferences, operating habits, and the features you’ll actually use deserve consideration.
APRS, D-PRS, and Packet Radio are not Interchangeable
APRS is more than a way to broadcast your location. It can support position reporting, messaging, weather information, objects, and other packet-based communications.
Traditional FM APRS uses packet transmissions over ordinary analog radio channels. In North America, the commonly used terrestrial APRS frequency is 144.390 MHz. See my separate article on Using Pinpoint APRS with APRS-IS.
This is where a typical mobile ham radio comparison becomes confusing: D-PRS, used with D-STAR, carries position information through the D-STAR digital system. That information can reach APRS-related internet services through appropriate gateways, but D-PRS isn’t interchangeable with conventional FM APRS over the air.
The Yaesu FTM-510DRASP and Kenwood TM-D750A are the only two rigs in this comparison that provide true standalone FM APRS functionality.
Icom’s newer ID-5200A is a particularly interesting case. It already includes a KISS TNC for computer-connected packet operation, but Icom continues to describe standalone FM APRS as a planned firmware feature.
If Data’s your Thing, the TNC is a Big Deal
A Terminal Node Controller, or TNC, provides the interface between packet-radio software and the radio channel. Some transceivers provide a connection port for an external TNC. Others contain a modem dedicated to their built-in APRS functions, but a host-accessible KISS TNC opens up considerably more possibilities.
KISS allows compatible software on a computer to exchange packet frames with the radio’s TNC directly. Depending on the application, that can support AX.25 packet messaging, connected packet sessions, and other packet-radio experiments.
This is one area where the Kenwood TM-D750A stands out. It offers a built-in 1200/9600-bps KISS TNC accessible through USB or Bluetooth, alongside standalone APRS. That makes it especially attractive to operators interested in experimenting with packet communication without assembling a separate collection of modems and interfaces.
The Icom ID-5200A also deserves credit for including a KISS TNC. The Kenwood’s advantage is its broader combination of ready-to-use APRS, packet capabilities, and tri-band operation. Neither radio eliminates the need for suitable software when you’re exploring general-purpose packet applications.
Don’t overlook everyday usability
A radio can have an impressive feature list and still be frustrating to operate. Before buying, consider how you’ll actually use it. Will the control head fit your vehicle? Can you adjust volume and squelch without navigating a menu? Is the display readable in daylight? Does the radio require optional hardware for Bluetooth? Is it easy to program and manage channel memory?
Also consider your power supply, antenna, and feedline. A sophisticated 50-watt transceiver is of limited value if it’s connected to a poorly installed antenna system. For mobile installations, ergonomics and mounting arrangements can matter just as much as digital features.
‘Buy Once; Cry Once’ is a Real Thing
A popular phrase in the ham radio community is “buy once; cry once”. It’s an easy-to-understand concept but may not be so easy on the wallet. I’ve learned from personal experience over the years that it’s better to wait and save so I can get what I want, rather than compromise and then have to “fix” my decision later by spending even more money.
Selecting my first 50-watt mobile rig was a months-long strugge for me and I hope this information can help you come to a conclusion quicker than I found mine. I hope this mobile ham radio comparison has helped you find your next rig.
Cheers and 73, Eric W6HS.
