Pick a radio and see what it actually sells for on eBay, where estate sales and licence upgrades keep good gear circulating for decades. Prices are pulled live, so what you see is what sellers are asking this minute, not catalogue price.
Live from eBayCheck the finals transistors first. The power amplifier output stage runs hot and fails from age, hard use, or lightning strikes. A listing mentioning the rig is still in original condition or has never been opened is a good sign. Photos of a dark or discolored final heatsink indicate the radio has been run hard, often at high power for long hours. A seller mentioning HF operation at or above legal limit without a proper station ground or dummy load is a red flag.
Watch for modifications and out-of-band tampering. Look for sellers who mention the rig has been modified or opened for service. Many older transceivers can be tweaked to transmit outside their licensed bands, and while the modification may not break the radio immediately, it often indicates hard use or neglect. Ask the seller directly if the radio has been modified and request photos of the interior if possible.
Backlight and display failures plague older rigs. HF radios from the 1990s and early 2000s often fail in the display panel due to heat stress and age. Ask the seller to confirm all segments of the display light up and respond correctly. If the seller says the display works most of the time or omits mention of it entirely, dig deeper before buying. Mobile VHF rigs handle this better but still succumb.
Missing microphone and bracket cost more than you expect. A rig without its original microphone and mounting hardware looks cheap until you price replacements. Original Icom and Yaesu mics run 40 to 80 dollars, and mobile brackets can be another 30 to 50. Confirm the listing includes both before bid.
Environmental damage from smoke and salt spray is nearly irreversible. A rig from a smoker accumulates tar residue on circuit boards and potentiometers, causing crackling audio and intermittent failures months into ownership. A rig from a coastal shack or marine use corrodes connectors and internal traces. A seller in a fishing port or retirement community warrants a closer look at photos of the connectors and back panel.
Verify parts and firmware support before buying vintage. Older models like the Yaesu FT-990 or Kenwood TS-2000 still work well but may be out of production for replacement finals and filter modules. Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood all maintain parts lists for many older models, but TenTec and smaller makers do not. Check the manufacturer website or email support before committing to a 20-year-old rig.
Entry-level handhelds like the Baofeng UV-5R routinely sell for 20 to 40 dollars. Mobile VHF rigs run 100 to 250 dollars depending on condition and age. HF all-mode rigs such as the Icom IC-7300 or Yaesu FT-891 typically go for 500 to 800 dollars if they work. Prices reflect cosmetics, documentation, and whether the finals and display are known good.
Yes. It is the single most expensive repair on any rig and often costs more than the radio is worth. Request photos of the heatsink and ask the seller specifically whether the rig has been used for SSB or CW at high power. A rig run at 5 watts on FM for local repeater use is far safer than one that has been on the air for 20 years on 80 meters.
Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood continue to offer parts and software updates for rigs up to 15 to 20 years old. Always verify with the manufacturer before buying a vintage rig. Chinese handhelds like Baofeng rarely receive updates, but firmware mods are available from the ham radio community. Obscure brands or discontinued lines may have no path to repair.
Budget 40 to 100 dollars for an original replacement mic and another 30 to 50 for a mobile bracket if needed. Some aftermarket mics are cheaper but may not have all the features such as up-down buttons. Check eBay listings and the manufacturer site before committing to a rig listed without these accessories.
Request a transmit and receive test. Ask the seller to key up on a local repeater or simplex frequency and hold the microphone near their phone speaker so you can hear it transmit. Ask them to confirm the display and all buttons respond correctly. For mobile rigs, ask about battery voltage and whether the power cable is included. For HF rigs, ask the seller to demonstrate that it receives on multiple bands.
A daily snapshot of the lowest genuine eBay price for every model we track, and how good that price is right now versus its usual level, updated automatically. Prices last refreshed 7 August 2026 . Tap a price to see that model's cheapest listings on eBay, or tap a model name for the full live list here.
Under each model is the actual listing that price came from, so you can see whether it is the thing you want or a bundle, a variant, or an accessory that happens to share the name.
| Model | Cheapest now | vs typical | This week |
|---|---|---|---|
Baofeng BF-F8HP BaoFeng Stubby UHF Antenna 400-470MHz BF-F8HP UV-5R UV-32 BF-888S(2 Pack) | $23 | – | ▲ 4% |
Baofeng UV-5R Baofeng TP5 (Upgraded UV-5R) 8W VHF UHF FM Ham Radio Walkie Talkie Transceiver | $24 | – | steady |
Baofeng GT-3WP FTDI USB Programming cable Baofeng BF-A58 GT-3WP UV-5RWP UV-5S UV-9R | $40 | – | steady |
Motorola Maratrac Motorola T73XTA7TA7BK Maratrac VHF 144-174 MHz Mobile | $40 | – | steady |
Alinco DJ-500T Alinco ERW-15 Programming Cable DJ-500T DJ-G7T DR-735T DR-B185T DR-135T | $45 | – | steady |
Wouxun KG-UV920P Wouxun KG-UV920P 920R UV950P KG-UV980P Head And Mic Holder Cup Holder Mount | $45 | – | new |
Vertex VX-160 Vertex VX-160 VX-180 Series Programming Cable & Software CE-44 | $50 | – | steady |
Icom IC-V86 Icom IC-V86 VHF 2M (144-148 MHz) FM Portable HT Handheld Amateur Radio | $149 | – | steady |
Icom IC-2300H IC-2300H ICOM FM Transceiver VHF Marine RADIO Mobile Car VHF Maritime Radio US | $170 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-2900R 75 Watt Yaesu FT-2900R/E Mobile Radio Station 136-174MHz VHF FM CAR Transceiv… | $188 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-990 Yaesu FT-990 internal AC Power supply in Excellent shape and complete | $200 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-7900R Vehicle radio, professional vhf/uhf mobile car radio YAESU FT-7900R RADIO | $224 | – | steady |
Icom IC-706MKIIG ICOM IC-706MKIIG PA Unit B5211Q VERY LATE SN 151XXXXX working as it should | $250 | – | steady |
Kenwood TS-480HX KENWOOD TS-480HX FINAL UNIT X45-3660-00 | $300 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-857D Yaesu ATAS-120A Radio Auto Active Tuning Antenna System FT-897D FT-857D series | $383 | – | steady |
Kenwood TM-V71A Kenwood TM-V71A Dual Band VHF/UHF Ham Radio Transceiver 50W Power Supply Mic… | $390 | – | ▼ 25% |
Yaesu FT-897D Yaesu ATAS-120A Radio Auto Active Tuning Antenna System FT-897D FT-857D series | $430 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-8900R Yaesu FT-8900R Quad-Band (10m, 6m, 2m & 70cm) FM mobile, low hours, with extr… | $475 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-891 YAESU FT-891 WITH MARS MOD EXCELLENT CONDITION | $615 | – | steady |
Kenwood TS-2000 Kenwood TS-2000 HF/VHF/UHF Multi-Band All-Mode Ham Transceiver w/ DSP | $720 | – | steady |
Yaesu FT-950 Yaesu FT-950 HF 50 MHz All Mode Transceiver Ham Radio 8 Pin Microphone | $766 | – | steady |
Icom IC-7300 Icom IC-7300 HF/50MHz Multi-Band 100W LCD 101CH AM FM SSB CW RTTY Black | $790 | – | steady |
Icom IC-7000 Icom IC-7000 All Mode Transceiver HF/VHF/UHF 50/144/430MHZ 100W (HPB031404) | $969 | – | ▼ 13% |
Elecraft K3 Elecraft K3/100 High Perf 160-6m Transceiver KPA3 2.7 # 443 100 W TUNER CA | $1,500 | – | steady |
Icom IC-7610 Icom IC-7610 HF/50MHz Dual Band Ham Radio Transceiver 100W LCD Tuner Black | $2,800 | – | steady |