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Reviews For: Radio Shack HTX-10

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Radio Shack HTX-10
Reviews: 138MSRP: 149.99
Description:
10M - 25W SSB, AM, FM
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.radioshack.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
251384.2
K6KWI Rating: 2023-02-12
HTX-10 Still Going Strong Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my HTX-10 for about then years now. I got it from an SK hams estate. It must have had very little use as it's like new. Since 10m is open again, I got it out today & had a lot of fun using portable with just a dipole. From CA I easily worked the east coast & Alaska. For what it is, it is a great little radio. It's a keeper.
KC3NHE Rating: 2022-11-15
Still a viable option Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Nobody has done a recent review of this unit so I figured I’d do one. Even in 2021 this is still a contender for 10m work. I’ve had mine about six weeks and am running it mobile. I got it in preparation for Cycle 25 as a inexpensive way to work mobile HF. I’ve already used it to check into a regional net and received Puerto Rico working mobile around Western Pennsylvania.

It’s paired with a repurposed Wilson 2000 antenna on a mag mount, which has received great reception reports so far out to 65 miles and it never gets hot. I paid $80 for mine which I considered a steal. If you can find one in working order around $100 go for it.

I had to come back and update this review. Since cycle 25 has taken off I have made multiple DX contacts mobile from this rig, most recently into western Canada and Mexico multiple times from Western PA. I can hear and have worked Europe and Central and South America, and have even heard Australia once.

This is a solid performer for the price point and has allowed me to experience mobile DX with very little into it. I have run radios from Baofeng up to Yaesu contest rigs and can safely say this little gem is a contender. If you are a technician looking for a simple and low budget option to get on the air and work the world this is it.
KT4WO Rating: 2022-04-09
NOT 5 stars! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Picked mine up on close-out from RS years ago for 49.99 and
at that price it's OK.
Anyone who gives this radio 5 stars has never used
a *real* radio. Any strong signals within ~20Khz would
blank the RX. 1,000's were sold at the $50 price yet
I still see them for over $100 from time to time?!?!
They are basically a CB on 10 meters(with FM).
Gave mine away years ago.
---Edit---
For $50 and if using it mobile, guess it's OK?
NB4M Rating: 2022-04-09
10 Meter, Simple and Fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ran across a very clean HTX-10 on the interweb and thought I would give it a home. I've owned several pieces of Rad-Shak gear over the years and found them all to be of good quality and quite durable. The HTX-10 isn't without the usual quirks, but once it's warmed up for a few minutes, it's quite impressive. Low noise and excellent receiver, and the audio reports are always good.
Next stop - it will be installed in cab of a tractor for some summer fun while clipping pastures.
KC2NGH Rating: 2020-03-19
Fantastic Radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this radio over 10 years ago from Ebay for $80. I've use it as a fixed station and more recently as mobile. I've made a lot of DX contacts when the band was open and more then a few QSO's locally on USB. The only complaint I have is the microphone. I think it's fantastic radio. I enjoy this radio and hope you do too. 73' God Bless and all the best.
From,KC2NGH
W4KVW Rating: 2017-05-02
Great 10 meter Only Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I must say the HTX-10 is a fine little radio.I own it as well as the HTX-100 & the President HR-2510 & all work very well on 10 meters but I'll take the HTX-10 hands down over the other two.The HTX-10 has the ability too work FM repeaters even though it does not have a tone board but it does allow split operation on those repeaters without a tone.Neither of the others can do that.The HTX-100 does not have AM or FM so it falls way behind & though it has CW & the HTX-10 does not I'm not a CW person so it's not an issue at all for me. The HR-2510 has all modes but it does not do split so no repeater use with it.I am making the HTX-10 my full time mobile & for those who say 10 meters is dead I must say it's open most every day here at my home in North Florida so I hate you live in a dead zone.Catch you on the bands if you can get some prop because even right now 10 meters is hopping as it has been most of the day & most every day in sunny Florida. {:>)
KM4AOO Rating: 2016-02-15
pretty good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
now most of you don't know BUT there is a sister radio called the HTX-100 that has CW its just like the 10 in looks but has a few extra things to it. also even though i am a tech i do like that.. how for a basic 10 meter it dose the 100Khz split needed for FM (29.610 to 29.690 repeaters) the way to overcome the CW issue by the way is to modulate it into the microphone jack of this radio OVERALL VIEWE>>>> i might get called a QRMer but the point is ive made several south american contacts from murphy north carolina as a base AND mobile
KG4VDZ Rating: 2015-07-06
awesome rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
5 star radio works great i have used mine and talk all over the world solid rig 25 watts out and stays on frequency just a great all around 10 meter rig
WA1UFO Rating: 2015-01-17
Fun! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I love this little rig. I bought mine brand new in the box for 85 bucks and have had a lot of fun with it. I have the mod and the parts for CW so I want to do that as CW is my favorite mode. I find AM up around 29 Mhz to be fun.I highly recommend this rig if you like 10 and can find one in good shape. I will never sell mine!
KK4CUL Rating: 2014-11-07
Really a 4.5, but for the used price it deserves a 5 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first HF radio was a Uniden HR-2600 10 meter all mode. I was a tech, and used this plus a 10 meter double bazooka to work the world. The first time I worked Japan, I had a huge adrenaline rush and couldn't believe that with $100 worth of second hand gear, I could talk to Japan, all over South America, Hawaii, Alaska, the entire west cost almost daily!

Well I sold it to fund an upgrade, and really started missing it a year or so ago. Luckily though, I was browsing the QRZ swapmeet page and found an HTX-10 listed for something like $50-75. I didn't need it, but I knew the radios are similar enough and it would be snatched up in a heartbeat if I didn't get it. So I did, then bought a Wilson Lil Wil antenna and tuned it for ~1.5:1 across 28.3 - 28.6 or so.

I used to commute 160 miles a day for about 1.5 years. This provided ample time to work Australia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Oregon, California, Washington state, etc all mobile. I also have worked HI, AK, and JA land with an end fed wire antenna sloped at 45 degrees. 25 watts is great!

Things I like -- NB actually does work pretty well to get rid of ignition coil, fuel pump, and door lock sounds. It marginally works on power line noise. The tone control -- if it is really loud in the car, using the higher frequency tone helps articulate a bit. If the band is noisy with QRM, QSB, etc, the low tone setting helps block some out. The lack of menus makes it a pretty simple radio to use! Every button is on the front panel, and there aren't many. But this is not a contest rig -- it is a mobile rig and does it's job just fine.

The downsides -- lack of real AGC. This is somewhat good, because unwanted noise doesn't get pumped up, but it also makes quiet signals hard to pull out when you are driving at highway speeds. The VFO step is also somewhat annoying and limited, but the RIT works OK enough. Neither of these have ever made me get upset at the radio though!

Overall, it is a perfect 10 meter rig for a tech to get a taste of HF, or for anyone to work HF mobile on a budget. It is amazing that with a $75 radio, I can talk to people all over the world while driving home from work. This radio is a keeper and I will probably never sell it. Maybe when my 10 week old grows up, I will hand it down to him!