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Choosing an HF radio for your RV involves balancing size, power output, features, and price. This guide compares five HF radios available for less than $1,000 and explains which models are best for RV installations, portable operation, POTA, and beginners.
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Our Top Picks: Best HF Radios Under $1,000
1. Yaesu FT-891 — Best Overall
Best for: RV stations, mobile operation, and POTA.
The Yaesu FT-891 is our best overall choice for RVers who want a compact, full-power HF radio. It delivers up to 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, making it an excellent option for both portable and RV installations.
Advantages: 100-watt output, detachable control panel, compact design, and effective DSP filtering.
Disadvantages: No built-in antenna tuner or waterfall display.
Our Verdict: An excellent choice for RVers who want full transmitting power without taking up much space.
2. Xiegu G90 — Best Budget HF Radio
Best for: RVers wanting an affordable HF radio with a built-in antenna tuner.
The Xiegu G90 is a compact 20-watt HF radio covering 160 through 10 meters. Its strong built-in antenna tuner and color waterfall display make it a practical choice for portable and RV operation.
Advantages: Affordable, compact, built-in automatic antenna tuner, and color waterfall display.
Disadvantages: Only 20 watts of output and a smaller display and controls than full-size radios.
Our Verdict: A good budget choice for RVers who want an all-in-one HF radio and do not need 100 watts of transmitting power.
3. Xiegu X6100 — Best Portable Value
Best for: Portable operation, POTA, and RVers wanting an affordable battery-powered SDR radio.
The Xiegu X6100 is a compact HF and 6-meter SDR transceiver with a color display, spectrum waterfall, built-in automatic antenna tuner, and internal rechargeable battery. It produces up to 10 watts using external power or approximately 5 watts from its internal battery.
Advantages: Compact size, internal battery, built-in antenna tuner, color waterfall display, and easy portability.
Disadvantages: Lower transmit power than a 100-watt radio, small controls, and a less refined operating system than radios from Yaesu or Icom.
Our Verdict: A good lower-cost portable SDR for RV travel and POTA, especially when size and battery operation matter more than high power.
4. Xiegu G106 — Best Entry-Level Portable HF Radio
Best for: Beginners wanting an inexpensive, compact HF radio for RV travel and portable operation.
The Xiegu G106 is a compact 5-watt QRP transceiver covering several popular HF amateur bands. It supports SSB, CW, AM, and digital-mode operation when connected to a computer. Its small size makes it easy to carry and store in an RV.
Advantages: Affordable price, compact size, low power consumption, digital-mode capability, and easy portability.
Disadvantages: Only 5 watts of transmit power, no built-in automatic antenna tuner, and fewer features than the X6100 or X6200.
Our Verdict: A practical low-cost radio for learning HF and portable operation, but its 5-watt output requires an efficient antenna and favorable band conditions.
5. Xiegu X6200 — Best Portable HF Radio
Best for: RVers wanting a self-contained portable HF radio for campground and POTA operation.
The Xiegu X6200 is a compact HF and 6-meter SDR radio with up to 8 watts of output using external power. It includes a detachable battery, automatic antenna tuner, color display, and waterfall display.
Advantages: Highly portable, built-in battery, automatic antenna tuner, large color display, and waterfall display.
Disadvantages: Only 5 watts on battery power and up to 8 watts with external power, making contacts more challenging than with a 100-watt radio.
Our Verdict: A good portable choice for RVers who want to operate away from the trailer without carrying a separate battery, tuner, and display. It is currently listed below $1,000.
What to Consider Before Buying
Power Output: The Yaesu FT-891 provides 100 watts, giving it the best chance of making long-distance contacts. The Xiegu G90 provides 20 watts, while the X6100, G106, and X6200 are lower-power portable radios that require an efficient antenna and favorable band conditions.
Antenna Tuner: The Xiegu G90, X6100, and X6200 include built-in automatic antenna tuners. The Yaesu FT-891 and Xiegu G106 may require an external tuner, depending on the antenna.
Available Space: Compact radios are easier to install in an RV and can be moved between the trailer, tow vehicle, and picnic table.
Power Supply: The 100-watt Yaesu FT-891 needs a dependable 13.8-volt power source capable of supplying approximately 20 to 25 amps. The lower-power Xiegu radios require considerably less power.
Current Price: Radio prices and available discounts change frequently. Confirm that the current selling price is below $1,000 before purchasing.
Final Recommendations
For most RVers, the Yaesu FT-891 is our best overall choice because it provides 100 watts of output in a compact radio that is easy to install or carry.
Choose the Xiegu G90 if you want an affordable radio with more transmitting power and a built-in antenna tuner. Choose the Xiegu X6100 if you want a lower-cost portable SDR with an internal battery and color waterfall display.
The Xiegu G106 is the least-expensive entry-level choice, while the Xiegu X6200 is the best choice for RVers wanting a newer, self-contained portable radio for campground and POTA operation.
Prices change frequently, so compare current prices before purchasing.
