Used Ham Radio Buying Tips

You can buy a used ham radio from one of many sources.

I recommend that you look for what you want from the following sources, in that order.

1. A reputable merchant.
2. A ham radio operator you know.
3. A ham radio operator you do not know.

Each one has its own advantages and drawbacks. To help you weigh them carefully, here is some info.

In fact, be especially wary if they do not ask for proof that you are a licensed ham in good standing yourself!

Buying From A Merchant

Reputable merchants of ham radio equipment sometimes take radios as trade-ins, and offer them for sale.

You will pay a little more, of course, but here is why.

• They inspect and test the radio before they offer it for sale. Make sure they officially declare that they do!
• They will sell it to you with the original user manual (or a copy of it).

  There is nothing more frustrating than to realize, some months after the sale, that the manual is not the one that corresponds to the exact model of radio you bought. In such a case, some of the tuning and maintenance procedures may likely not be applicable to your unit!

• They will normally offer a guarantee and will perhaps have an established return policy. Make sure you understand and accept the terms before you buy.

Buying From A Ham You Know

If you do not know an amateur radio operator that has the used ham radio you want for sale, then the best place for real bargains is your local amateur radio club.

If one of the club members has the transceiver (or transmitter or power amplifier) you want for sale, arrange to test it.

Note: use a dummy load to test the transmitter!

The best testing procedure, and the only one I recommend, is to use the manual and run through the test procedure recommended by the manufacturer. This way, you will...

• ensure that the unit works on all bands,
• and that you have the right manual!;-)

How Much Should You Pay?

You should have a rough idea of what the unit should be worth before you buy.

One quick way is to do a Google search for the exact make & model you are planning to buy.

Prices will range widely (wildly!) depending on the condition of the units and the seller, his/her knowledge of the market, honesty or greed!

Buying From A Ham Unknown To You

If you are planning to buy a used ham radio from a licensed amateur radio operator you do not know, then you will have to take extra precautions to avoid being taken in.

This may sound harsh, but a ham license is not necessarily a guarantee of honesty. Humans ... are humans, after all.

Cannot find the used ham radio you want?
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