How we score radios
Every HamPost review rates a radio from 1 to 100 in five categories. Here is what each category covers and how the overall score is built, so you can weigh the numbers against what matters to your own operating.
The five categories
Build
Chassis, controls and connectors, cooling and fan noise, heat under long transmit periods, and how the radio holds up to daily handling.
Performance
What you hear and what you send: receiver behaviour on crowded bands, filtering and noise reduction, transmit audio reports, and how the radio copes with strong nearby signals.
Features
Bands and modes, spectrum scope and display, built-in tuner, digital-mode and computer connectivity, remote operation and what you have to buy separately.
Ergonomics
Front-panel layout, menu depth, how quickly common tasks get done, and how comfortable the radio is over a long session, a contest or a field activation.
Value
What the radio delivers for its street price compared with the alternatives at the time of the review, including the accessories most owners end up adding.
The overall score
The overall score is the average of the five category scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. No category is weighted more than another, which is why a radio with superb performance but a high price or awkward menus can sit below a cheaper, easier radio.
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | Outstanding — sets the standard for its class. |
| 80–89 | Excellent — an easy recommendation for the operators it targets. |
| 70–79 | Good — clear strengths with trade-offs you should know about. |
| 60–69 | Fair — fits a narrow use case or a tight budget. |
| Below 60 | Hard to recommend over the alternatives. |
Independence
Scores are our team's own assessment. We do not accept payment, free product or any other consideration in exchange for a favourable review or a specific score. Read more in our editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions
How is the overall score calculated?
The overall score is the average of the five category scores — Build, Performance, Features, Ergonomics and Value — rounded to the nearest whole number.
Can I compare scores between different kinds of radios?
Scores compare a radio with others built for the same job. A 10-watt portable and a 100-watt contest station can both score in the 80s for very different reasons, so read the category scores and the "best for" notes alongside the overall number.
Do scores change after publication?
Prices and firmware change. When an update materially changes how a radio behaves or how it compares on value, we revise the review and its scores and show the updated date on the page.