Dayton Hamvention® is the world’s largest gathering of amateur-radio enthusiasts, held May 16–18, 2025 at the Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Each year manufacturers use Hamvention to unveil—or at least preview—their latest transceivers, accessories, and concepts. Here’s a look at the most anticipated new radios you’ll be able to see on the show floor, based on confirmed dealer listings and official previews. Hamvention 2025!

Yaesu FTX-1F: The Next-Gen SDR Portable

Late-spring 2025 will see Yaesu’s long-rumored FTX-1F finally reach dealers, and Hamvention promises to be its first big U.S. outing. Key highlights:

• Multi-band Coverage: HF (80 m–10 m), 6 m, 2 m and 70 cm in one handheld ARRLLog in or sign up to view.
• Output Power: 6 W internal battery; up to 10 W on external DC.
• Display & Scope: 4.3″ color TFT touchscreen with Yaesu’s new 3DSS real-time waterfall.
• Battery Life: 5,670 mAh delivers roughly 9 hours on SSB, 8 hours on FM at typical duty cycles.
• Price & Availability: UK dealers list it at £1,399 ex-VAT (≈ $1,650 USD), with U.S. MSRP expected around $1,500–$1,700 and shipping starting April 2025 Log in or sign up to view.

Stop by Yaesu booth 2206 to handle the prototype, watch live demos of dual-watch HF + V/U FM and sign up for release alerts.

Kenwood TM-D750A: A Tri-Band APRS/D-STAR Powerhouse

Kenwood has teased the TM-D750A at recent spring hamfests, and at Hamvention you’ll finally see working units on display:

• Bands & Modes: 144–148 MHz, 222–225 MHz and 430–450 MHz; FM analog, D-STAR DV and APRS packet HIGGINSREPORT – Ham Radio today.
• Built-in Wi-Fi & GPS: Operate as an APRS iGate/digipeater and access D-STAR reflectors without a separate hotspot.
• TNC & Antenna: Internal KISS TNC supports 1200/9600 bps APRS; integrated GPS with patch antenna.
• Power & Display: Up to 50 W output (rear deck), 5 W/10 W mobile; 3.45″ color TFT remote head.
• Street Price: Pre-orders suggest $1,100–$1,300 USD, with first shipments due summer 2025 HIGGINSREPORT – Ham Radio today.

Kenwood’s booth 2104 will likely have prototype rigs on the bench—perfect for comparing firmware features and touchscreen responsiveness.

Elecraft K4/K4HD Firmware & Remote-Head Updates

While Elecraft didn’t introduce a brand-new model at Hamcation 2025, they unveiled significant firmware upgrades and a detachable remote-head option for the flagship K4HD YouTube. Expect to see:

• FLEX-Control Integration: Expanded LAN control with built-in waterfall streaming.
• New Filter Profiles: User-selectable filter shapes for CW, SSB and digital modes.
• Remote-Head Demo: A preview unit that separates the front panel from the RF deck for compact installations.

Elecraft’s booth 2402 will showcase these enhancements on their fully SDR-integrated base-station radios.

“Under the Radar” Booths & Sidewalk Flea Finds

• Radioddity & TYT: Look for advanced VHF/UHF DMR/FM hybrids (e.g., Radioddity GD-77 V2), priced $80–$150 and often bundled with programming cables.
• Wouxun & Puxing: Expect splash-proof chase-car HTs with built-in APRS/DMR that undercut mainstream brands by 30–50%.
• Home-brew & Kit Builders: QRPARCI, TAPR and various indie vendors will show off new SDR-based transceiver kits and digital-mode interfaces.

Why Hamvention Matters for New Gear

• Hands-On Demos: Feel the tuning knobs, test audio clarity and compare menus side-by-side.
• Firmware Insights: Developers often gather live feedback to refine upcoming releases.
• Pre-Order Perks: Many dealers honor Hamvention–only coupons, extended rebates or tool-bundle discounts.

Even if you’re not buying on the spot, you’ll leave with real-world impressions you can’t get from online videos alone.

What Would You Like to See?

Which upcoming radio are you most excited to explore at Dayton? Leave a comment below and let us know what new gear you hope to see revealed this May!

Sources:

• Hamvention 2025 official site Dayton Hamvention
• Yaesu FTX-1F Preview articles ARRLLog in or sign up to view
• Kenwood TM-D750A Preview: Higginsreport.com HIGGINSREPORT – Ham Radio today
• Elecraft K4HD Hamcation update video YouTube
• Image by: Logan Rickert