Also known as: TH-F6A, TH-F6
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The Kenwood TH-F6A is the little tri-bander that never got a successor for seven years: 5 W transmit on 144, 220 and 440 MHz, plus a dual-channel 0.1–1,300 MHz receiver that demodulates AM, SSB and CW — a wideband listening classic in a shirt-pocket radio.1 Kenwood discontinued it around 2017; today it lives on the used market at roughly $200–275, buoyed by the 220 MHz cult following.
Key takeaways Our pick for best used/classic handheld buy. Nothing else this small does 5 W on 220 MHz and all-mode wideband receive at this price — its niche was only re-filled by the $720 TH-D75A. FM transmit only: no digital modes, GPS or Bluetooth. Used-market realities: unknown battery health, worn plastics, no IP rating. The Amazon listing is third-party/ used and often unavailable — eBay and hamfests are the real market. Transmitting needs an FCC Technician license; listening needs none.
Overview
For a decade the TH-F6A was the answer to two different questions: “what handheld covers 220 MHz?” and “what handheld can hear everything?” Its receive side is the remarkable half — dual-channel coverage from 100 kHz to 1.3 GHz with AM, SSB and CW demodulation and a ferrite bar antenna for medium wave, in an era when SSB receive in an HT was unheard of. Add 435 memories, an internal battery meter, and a tough little chassis, and it earned the loyal following that keeps used prices firm.
Used-market viability is the question now, and it’s good with eyes open. Typical sold prices run ~$200–275 on eBay, hamfests and swap boards (observed asks: $215–$250+, clean boxed examples higher). Known failure points are age, not design: the PB-42L battery is a consumable (2,000 mAh clones are plentiful and cheap), belt clips break, front-panel plastics scratch, and the display is small and dim by modern standards. Every core part you actually need — battery, antenna, programming cable — is still easy to source. Buying used means unknown battery health, so price a replacement pack into your offer.
Modes & features
- TX: analog FM, 5 W on all of 144/220/440 MHz — still the only compact used HT that does 220 at full power.
- RX: 0.1–1,300 MHz dual-channel, AM/SSB/CW included; bar antenna for MW broadcast.
- No digital anything — no D-STAR/DMR/C4FM, GPS, Bluetooth or IP rating.
- PB-42L Li-ion (1,550 mAh stock; clone packs to 2,000 mAh); barrel-jack charging; 435 memories.
Programming
CHIRP supports it via the mature TH-F6/TH-F7 driver; Kenwood’s legacy MCP-F6F7 software and RT Systems’ KRS-F6 also work. Cables remain easy to find.
GopherTrunk alternative
Half the TH-F6A’s appeal is its receiver — and that half GopherTrunk can genuinely replace. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk covers the same VHF/UHF listening with a waterfall, decodes the digital modes the Kenwood never could (DMR, C4FM, D-STAR), and records and logs every transmission. What it can’t do is transmit — so the honest split is: buy the SDR for monitoring today (best SDR for GopherTrunk), and hunt a clean TH-F6A when you specifically want 220 MHz transmit in your pocket.
Who it’s for
- Buy a used TH-F6A if you want 220 MHz in a compact HT, love wideband all-mode listening, or want a classic that still earns its keep — check battery and plastics before paying. Check Amazon (used) →
- Buy the Kenwood TH-D75A new (~$720) for the modern version of this exact niche — tri-band with 220, plus D-STAR, APRS and SSB/CW receive.
- Skip it if 220 MHz means nothing to you — a new Yaesu FT-60R costs less than most clean TH-F6As. Full rankings: best handheld ham radios.
Buying note. The Amazon page above is a legacy listing — offers are third-party and used, and it frequently shows unavailable. The practical market for this radio is eBay, hamfests and the QRZ swapmeet; accessories (batteries, cables, cases) are still actively sold on Amazon.
Sources
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Kenwood TH-F6A at DX Engineering and The versatile Kenwood TH-F6A — The SWLing Post — on tri-band 5 W transmit, 0.1–1,300 MHz AM/SSB/CW receive, discontinuation timing, and the radio’s listening pedigree. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kenwood TH-F6A still worth buying used?
Yes, for the right buyer. Nothing else that small does 5 W on 220 MHz plus 0.1–1,300 MHz all-mode receive at a $200–275 used price. If you don’t care about 220 MHz or SSB receive, a new radio serves you better.
When was the TH-F6A discontinued?
Kenwood ended production circa 2016–2017 (one dealer note dates it to May 2017). Its tri-band niche went unfilled until Kenwood’s own TH-D75A arrived in 2024.
What should I check when buying a used TH-F6A?
Battery health first — the PB-42L pack is a consumable now, though 2,000 mAh clones are plentiful and cheap. Also check belt clip and case plastics for wear, and confirm the seller includes a charger; it charges via barrel jack.
Does the TH-F6A do any digital modes?
No — FM transmit only, no D-STAR, DMR, C4FM, GPS or Bluetooth. Its party trick is on the receive side: AM, SSB and CW across 0.1–1,300 MHz.
Do I need a license to use a TH-F6A?
Transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Technician class minimum). Listening requires none — and as a wideband all-mode listening radio it remains a classic.