It’s always a nice surprise when I open a gift and find out that it’s something to do with my beloved ham radio hobby. It is super thoughtful when friends or family take the risk and buy something they may not know anything about just because it’s something they think I might enjoy. That’s why I made this list of 10 ham radio gift ideas that will please just about anyone. This post contains affiliate links.
If there’s one thing us hams have in common, it’s our love of gadgets. We can never have enough of the things, which should be a relief for anyone shopping for a ham radio enthusiast this holiday season. Just buy a gadget of some sort and you’ll be good. Which leads us to the list.
I’ve put together 10 ham radio gift ideas that will be appreciated by hams of all ages and skill levels. The prices range from under $10 to about $100. These picks are practical, fun, and sure to spark joy in whomever is lucky enough to receive them. I tried to keep them universal, such that they can be used and enjoyed by someone regardless of what type of radio or antenna equipment they may already own.
Ham Radio Gift Ideas for the Holidays
Ham Radio Gift Idea #1
Yaesu FT-65R
What better gift for a new ham radio operator than a new ham radio? The Yaesu FT-65R is an excellent entry-level FCC-certified full power HT that any newly-minted ham would love to receive this holiday season. This is a solid radio from a reliable brand. Easy setup and operation make this a great radio for a first-time user.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #2
Amateur Radio Station Log Book
This is an absolutes safe bet for anyone wishing to buy a gift for an amateur radio operator. It’s just a few bucks and a log book is always useful and appreciated.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #3
Surecom SWR/Power Meter
This is a slick little SWR meter that any ham would appreciate having. Small, compact, rechargeable, it checks a lot of boxes. It has a big, easy-to-read display with backlight. I have two of these in my arsenal. One sits inline with my dual-band base station all the time. The other travels in my go-kit. Can be used with handheld radios using appropriate adapters.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #4
LiFePO4 Battery with Charger
This little battery is a serious workhorse! I’ve used it to power my dual-band mobile rig at full 50 watts with no problem whatsoever. In fact, it can handle a 30-amp surge! For someone who likes to do POTA or SOTA, this battery’s compact size and powerful punch makes it a great gift idea. It’s lightweight, holds 192 watthours of energy, and comes with an intelligent LiFePO4 battery charger.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #5
300-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Forever useful, a small inverter like this one provides enough emergency AC power to do a lot of useful things, like charging a laptop, running a small refrigerator, keeping the lights on, and other vital tasks. Packs a good amount of power in a small space and does it with style. Convenient 12-volt accessory outlet (cigarette lighter) plug works in any vehicle.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #6
Iambic Paddle for Morse Code
If your favorite ham is learning Morse Code, nothing says I love you like a nice iambic paddle. Compatible with nearly all radios, this paddle represents the latest way to minimize repetitive stress while maintaining fast code. This is the most reviewed and highest rated paddle on Amazon.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #7
Vector Network Analyzer
A vector network analyzer allows for advanced testing and evaluation of electrical circuits, coax, and antenna systems. Think of it as an SWR meter that can plot your match on a graph across a range of frequencies. It can also measure other aspects of an a radio frequency circuit, making a valuable tool in the ham’s arsenal.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #8
ARRL Handbook 101st Edition
It’s amazing that the ARRL has published an annual revision of it’s guide for 101 years! The handbook is a ham’s guide to everything about radio. You can find all the information you need to build a radio from scratch inside the covers of these volumes. Detailed information on how to build, tune, and connect an antenna. The ARRL Handbook is a long-term investment for your favorite ham and will be a much-used reference.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #9
RTL-SDR USB Radio Dongle
Hams can explore the radio spectrum with a versatile RTL-SDR USB radio dongle, by listening to everything from AM and FM commercial broadcasts to air traffic, satellite communications, public service, and of course ham bands—all from a computer. Compact, affordable, and perfect for beginners and experts alike, this powerful tool brings cutting-edge software-defined radio technology to your fingertips, and is sure to provide endless hours of entertainment for your favorite radio enthusiast.
Ham Radio Gift Idea #10
#10 – Inline Power Meter and Analyzer
Knowing your state-of-charge is vital to uninterrupted communications. This inline power meter shows battery voltage, current draw, peak volts, amps, and watts, and well as total amp hours and watt hours consumed. This is a great deal on a pair of inline meters. They only work in one direction so if you need to monitor power in and out, you will need two, making this two-pack an ideal gift.
Final Thoughts for Ham Radio Gift Shoppers
There you have it. I tried to find 10 things that have universal appeal and that would be appreciated by any ham radio operator. Prices of items in this range from less than $10 for the logbook to over $100 for the Yaesu two-way radio. I hope you found something interesting. Cheers and 73, Eric, W6HS.