Best Compact Base Station Ham Radio: Retevis RT95 Wins

The best compact base station ham radio for most operators is the Retevis RT95, a 1.42 lb dual-band 2m/70cm mobile that drops onto a desk shelf and still gives you VFO tuning and a rotatable display. If you need HF and 50 MHz instead of VHF and UHF, the Yaesu FT-891 is the better buy, a 100-watt all-mode transceiver in an 8.27 x 6.1 x 2.05 in chassis with a 3-year warranty.

Who this is not for: if you want a shack-grade HF rig with a large touchscreen, an internal tuner and a built-in power supply, none of these are it. Go look at a full-size desktop transceiver from a specialist retailer, budget for the tuner and the 13.8V supply, and expect a footprint that will not disappear behind a monitor. The five picks below are compact mobiles pressed into base-station service, plus one reference-card set. That trade is the whole story: you gain a tiny chassis and lose the desk features. If that trade fits, keep reading.

Best compact base station ham radio at a glance

How I cut the shortlist down to five

I started with the deciding criteria and worked backward. Compact means it fits on a shelf next to a monitor, so anything over 10 in on the long axis got cut. Base station use means you value warranty and mode coverage over vehicle-specific hardware. And "ham radio" narrows the field to amateur transceivers, which is where the keyword needs a warning: Amazon's search for this phrase returns a mix of amateur transceivers, CB fixed-mount radios and accessory items. You should judge each listing yourself against your license class and the bands you actually work.

Three criteria carried real weight:

1. Chassis size and weight, drawn from published dimensions rather than category badges.
2. Mode and band coverage, taken from the manufacturer's own claims, since amateur allocations do not translate cleanly across the picks.
3. Warranty length, which separates the 90-day listings from the multi-year ones.

Cut for the same reasons: bulky HF desktops that dwarf a monitor, handhelds that are not base stations in any sense, and anything whose listing did not publish enough to compare. What survived is five picks that each answer a different question a compact-shack buyer asks.

What compact really means at a desk

Compact is a promise the listings back with different figures, so measure before you clear space.

The Retevis RT95 is the smallest at 6.42 x 1.54 x 4.88 in and 1.42 lb, which is roughly a paperback on its side. It slides under a monitor arm without argument. The Yaesu FT-891 is a step up at 8.27 x 6.1 x 2.05 in and 8.35 lb, and that weight matters because it means a solid chassis with real heat sinking, not just a plastic shell. The Retevis Ailunce HS4 is the odd shape at 2.36 x 11 x 7.87 in and 3.31 lb, longer than the others and thinner, which suits a shelf but not a stack.

HESENATE does not publish dimensions or weight for the AT-778UV II, which is the single largest gap in this set. If desk fit is your first constraint, that alone is a reason to pick another radio. In practice, VHF and UHF mobiles run in a fairly tight size band, so it is likely small, but "likely" is not what you measure a shelf with.

Which bands does each pick actually cover?

Which bands does each pick cover is the question that decides which radio you buy, and the answers do not overlap.

• Retevis RT95: 2 meter and 70cm, dual-band FM. This is VHF and UHF, the local repeater and simplex territory.
• Yaesu FT-891: HF plus 50 MHz, all-mode AM, FM, USB, LSB and CW. This is the long-distance band set, from 160m up through 6m.
• HESENATE AT-778UV II: dual band, described by HESENATE as amateur and professional modes with 25W, 15W and 5W output settings.
• Retevis Ailunce HS4: 10 meter only, with SSB (USB and LSB), CW, AM, FM and PA modes per Retevis's listing.
• Aulraz Frequency Chart: not a radio, a four-card reference set covering band plan, Q codes, FT8 and the phonetic alphabet.

Two takeaways. First, only the Yaesu covers HF in this set, so if you want to work DX on 20m or 40m from home, your shortlist is a shortlist of one. Second, the RT95 and the HS4 are not substitutes: 2m/70cm and 10m are different worlds with different antennas, propagation and licenses required.

Do you need 100 watts at home?

The Yaesu FT-891 is the only pick with a 100-watt output figure in its listing, and 100 watts is the standard HF output at a home station. The others sit lower: HESENATE lists 25W, 15W and 5W settings for the AT-778UV II, and the Retevis mobiles are VHF/UHF where 25 to 50 watts is typical.

Whether you need 100 watts is a question about propagation and antenna, not ego. On HF with a compromised antenna in a small yard, that headroom is what turns a marginal contact into a real one. On 2m FM through a nearby repeater, 25 watts and a decent antenna is more than enough, and running higher just heats the finals. Match the power to the band and the antenna, not to the number on the box.

Here's the trick with base-station power: your 13.8V supply has to deliver the current for the peak, not the average. A 100-watt HF radio in transmit wants 20 to 22 amps continuous headroom. A 25-watt VHF mobile wants around 8. Budget for the supply when you budget for the radio, because a compact chassis does nothing for you if the power brick is bigger than the transceiver.

1. Retevis RT95 Mobile Ham Radio — Best overall

The smallest, lightest transceiver in this set, and the one most likely to disappear onto a shelf without a redesign of your desk.

Best for: a licensed operator running 2m and 70cm from a small desk Skip it if: you need HF bands below 50 MHz

At 6.42 x 1.54 x 4.88 in and 1.42 lb, the RT95 is the compact base station ham radio choice by measurement, not by marketing. It's a dual-band 2m/70cm FM mobile that Retevis positions as a mobile radio, but the small footprint and 180-degree rotatable TFT LCD display make it just as happy on a shelf as under a dashboard. Retevis says the mic gain is upgradeable via firmware, that the display can be flipped for upside-down mounting, and that VFO mode lets you change most parameters without a computer. The 2-year radio warranty and 1-year accessory warranty is generous for this end of the market.

Against the rest of this set, the trade is clear. You give up HF entirely and you give up SSB, CW and AM modes. You gain a chassis so small that it does not push anything else off your desk, and a listing that publishes every dimension you would ask about.

Pros:

• Smallest chassis in the set at 6.42 x 1.54 x 4.88 in
• Lightest weight in the set at 1.42 lb
• 180-degree rotatable TFT LCD display
• VFO mode for on-radio parameter changes
• 2-year body warranty per Retevis

Cons:

• 2m and 70cm only, no HF coverage
• FM only, no SSB or CW
• Positioned as a mobile, so no internal speaker on the front face

2. Yaesu FT-891 — Best premium

The only HF and 50 MHz all-mode transceiver in this set, and the one to buy if you want to work beyond your local repeater.

Best for: HF operators who want 100 watts in a small chassis Skip it if: you only work local repeaters on VHF and UHF

The FT-891 is the pick that changes the conversation. Yaesu lists 100-watt output, all-mode operation covering AM, FM, USB, LSB and CW, and compatibility with the ATAS-120A automatic tune antenna. Dimensions are 8.27 x 6.1 x 2.05 in at 8.35 lb, which is bigger and heavier than the RT95 but still compact by HF standards, where full-size desktops routinely run twice this footprint. The 3-year warranty is the longest of any radio here.

The listing itself is thin on features beyond the three headlines, so I am not going to add specifications Yaesu did not publish in this data. What is there is the important part: HF plus 6m, all modes, 100 watts, small chassis, long warranty. That is the working definition of a compact HF base station. The loss versus the RT95 is size and simplicity: this radio expects a real 20A+ supply, a resonant antenna or a tuner, and an operator who understands modes. It is not a first-week purchase.

Pros:

• 100-watt output, the highest in this set
• HF plus 50 MHz coverage, the only pick with it
• All-mode: AM, FM, USB, LSB, CW
• 3-year warranty, the longest here
• Compact for an HF radio at 8.27 x 6.1 x 2.05 in

Cons:

• Heaviest at 8.35 lb by a wide margin
• Needs a 20A+ 13.8V supply you buy separately
• Listing publishes very few detail specifications
• The most expensive pick here

3. HESENATE AT-778UV II — Best for pros

A dual-band radio bundled with a 20 in magnetic-mount antenna, aimed at operators who want amateur and professional modes in one chassis.

Best for: operators who want amateur and professional modes in one radio Skip it if: you want more than 90 days of warranty coverage

HESENATE lists the AT-778UV II with 25W, 15W and 5W output settings, 200 memory channels, VOX, a 180-degree rotatable TFT LCD, built-in cooling fan, and separate bandwidth settings per channel. The listing describes an amateur mode and a professional mode with single call, group call, selective call and emergency call, and it ships with a microphone, power cable with fuse holder, mounting brackets and screws. Programming software is described as a free download from AnyTone; the kit does not include a USB programming cable.

Here is where the trade shows up. HESENATE does not publish dimensions or weight, and the warranty is 90 days. Compared to the Retevis picks at 2 years, that is the shortest coverage in the set by a wide margin. What you get in exchange is a broader feature list on paper and a bundled antenna, which is why this reads as the pro-flavoured pick rather than the everyday one. If you already run other AnyTone-family gear and want programmable call types, this is where to look. If you want a radio and a warranty that reads like a home appliance, look at the RT95 instead.

Pros:

• Three power settings, 25W, 15W and 5W
• 200 memory channels per the listing
• Amateur and professional modes described
• Includes 20 in magnetic-mount antenna and mounting kit
• Built-in cooling fan

Cons:

• 90-day warranty, the shortest in this set
• No dimensions or weight published
• USB programming cable not included
• Only one seller lists it

4. Retevis Ailunce HS4 — Best minimal setup

A 10-meter-only radio with SSB, CW, AM and FM in a thin chassis, for operators who know exactly which band they want.

Best for: 10-meter operators who want SSB, CW, AM and FM in one slim box Skip it if: you need 2m or 70cm for repeater work

The HS4 is the specialist. At 2.36 x 11 x 7.87 in and 3.31 lb, it is the second-thinnest chassis here on one axis and the longest on another, which suits a shelf better than a stack. Retevis says it covers CW, SSB (USB and LSB), FM, AM and PA modes, with a dual-watch function for monitoring two channels, adjustable RF gain, ASQ auto squelch, and SWR protection with 13.8 to 15.9V voltage protection. The warranty matches the RT95 at 2 years on the body and 1 year on accessories.

10 meters is a band with a personality: when the sun cooperates, it opens up long distances at low power, and when it doesn't, it goes quiet. A 10m radio at a base station is a considered choice, not a starter one. Against the FT-891, the HS4 gives up every other HF band. Against the RT95, it gives up VHF and UHF. What it delivers is a focused, mode-rich single-band setup for operators who want SSB and CW without the complexity or size of a full HF rig. It is the second-most expensive pick in this set, which is worth noting given the narrow band coverage.

Pros:

• SSB, CW, AM and FM modes on 10m
• Dual watch for two-channel monitoring
• SWR and voltage protection per Retevis
• 2-year body warranty
• Thin 2.36 in chassis suits a shelf

Cons:

• 10 meter band only, no VHF or UHF
• Second-most expensive pick here
• Longer footprint at 11 in than the RT95
• Niche use case for most new operators

5. Aulraz Ham Radio Frequency Chart — Best budget pick

Not a radio, a four-card waterproof reference set, and the cheapest thing on this list by a distance.

Best for: new licensees who need band plans and Q codes at the desk Skip it if: you were shopping for a transceiver, not a reference card

Aulraz's listing describes 4 waterproof PVC cards with 8 pages of band plan data, Q codes, FT8 information and the phonetic alphabet, aimed at POTA, SOTA and Field Day operators as well as new licensees still learning band privileges. The warranty is listed as 4 years, which is longer than any transceiver here, though for a piece of PVC that reads more as a return policy than a workshop guarantee.

I'm including this because a compact base station is not just the radio: it is the shelf, the log, the mic and the reference you reach for mid-QSO. If you are the operator who keeps opening a browser tab for the 40m band plan, one of these cards next to the radio ends that habit. The trade against the transceivers is obvious and total, so treat this as a companion, not an alternative. The cheapest of the five, and the smallest thing that still earns its space next to a radio.

Pros:

• Cheapest pick in this set
• Waterproof PVC construction per Aulraz
• Covers band plan, Q codes, FT8 and phonetic alphabet
• 4 cards with 8 pages of data
• 4-year warranty per the listing

Cons:

• Not a transceiver, so does not answer the core question
• No use if you already know your band plan cold
• Pocket format, not a wall chart for shared shacks

What the listings do not tell you

Three things this data does not carry, and you should factor them in before buying.

• Antenna requirements. None of these listings publish the connector type or specify what antenna you need. HF needs a resonant wire, a vertical or a tuner. VHF/UHF wants a dual-band vertical or a compact mag-mount indoors. Budget for the antenna at the same time you budget for the radio.
• Power supply. None of the transceivers here ship with a 13.8V shack supply. The Yaesu wants 20A+ headroom; the VHF/UHF mobiles want closer to 10A. A cheap switching supply can add RF noise on HF, and that noise is what stops you hearing weak signals.
• License class. The Yaesu FT-891 gives you HF privileges only if your license class allows them. In the US that means General or Extra for most useful HF work. Check what your ticket covers before you buy an HF radio to run at home.

The verdict

If you want one compact base station ham radio and you are running 2m and 70cm, the Retevis RT95 is the pick. It is the smallest at 6.42 x 1.54 x 4.88 in, the lightest at 1.42 lb, and it publishes a 2-year body warranty. If you are chasing HF and 6m instead, the Yaesu FT-891 is the answer without argument: 100-watt output, all-mode AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW, a 3-year warranty, and a chassis at 8.27 x 6.1 x 2.05 in that still qualifies as compact by HF standards.

The cutoff is the band you want to work. Below 30 MHz, buy the Yaesu. Above 144 MHz, buy the Retevis. On 10m specifically, the Retevis Ailunce HS4 exists for operators who know that is the band they want and who value SSB and CW over a wider band spread. The HESENATE AT-778UV II covers dual-band ground the RT95 already covers, with a shorter 90-day warranty and no published dimensions, so it is the harder pick to recommend blind. The Aulraz cards are a companion buy, not an alternative to any of them.

FAQ

Is a mobile radio okay as a compact base station ham radio?

Yes, a mobile radio works as a compact base station when paired with a 13.8V shack supply and a fixed antenna. The RT95 and FT-891 in this list are both listed as mobile transceivers, and both suit desk use because the chassis size and heat handling that make them mobile-friendly also make them shelf-friendly. Budget for the supply and antenna separately.

Is the Yaesu FT-891 worth the price over the Retevis RT95?

The Yaesu FT-891 is worth the price if you want HF, 50 MHz and all-mode operation with 100 watts. The RT95 does not cover HF at all: it is 2m and 70cm FM only. These radios answer different questions, so the price comparison only makes sense once you have decided which bands and modes you actually plan to operate.

What warranty covers each pick in this compact base station ham radio set?

Warranty coverage in this compact base station ham radio set varies widely. Yaesu lists 3 years on the FT-891. Retevis lists 2 years on the radio body and 1 year on accessories for both the RT95 and the Ailunce HS4. HESENATE lists 90 days for the AT-778UV II. Aulraz lists 4 years on the frequency card set. Longer coverage matters more on higher-priced radios.

RT95 vs Ailunce HS4: which compact ham radio should I pick?

RT95 vs Ailunce HS4 comes down to bands and modes, not size. The RT95 covers 2m and 70cm FM for repeater and local simplex work. The HS4 covers 10 meters only, with SSB, CW, AM and FM. Pick the RT95 if you talk to nearby operators through repeaters. Pick the HS4 if you want mode variety on a single HF band.

What do I need beyond the radio itself for a compact base station?

Beyond the radio itself, a compact base station needs three things: a 13.8V DC power supply sized to the radio's peak current draw, an antenna appropriate to the bands you plan to work, and coax to connect them. HF radios like the FT-891 want 20A+ headroom. VHF/UHF mobiles want around 10A. None of these listings include a shack supply.

Small radios reward operators who match the box to the band. The Retevis RT95 is the default answer because it is the smallest, lightest and most band-appropriate for the local traffic most licensees actually run, and its warranty backs that up. Before you buy, spend an evening deciding which bands you will use in the first six months and which antenna you can put up where you live. That decision, more than the radio itself, is what turns a purchase into contacts. Once you have those two answers, the pick above with the matching band coverage is the one to click.

Last updated: September 7, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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