The Frequency of Friendship | Free Radio for Your Friend 2026

Free Radio for Your Friend: The Frequency of Friendship, with a collage of radio recipients, friends, and families.

Free Radio for Your Friend 2026

A story worth sharing

For most of us, amateur radio is more than just making contacts—it’s a hobby we pass down. Whether you're teaching a grandchild how to tune into shortwave, outfitting the family for a camping trip, or helping a buddy study for their ticket, radio is meant to be shared.

Our annual giveaway is back for 2026. Tell us about someone you want to bring into the hobby, or an "Elmer" who helped you get started. We read every entry, and we want to know why a new radio would make a difference for them right now.

Nominate a friend

From our community

A tradition worth revisiting

Every year, we hear incredible stories from the community about how radio brings people together. Take a look at some of our past winners to see what this event is all about.

A radio for their kind of connection

Pick the radio that best fits your nominee's experience level, then tell us your story.

  • Raddy RF750 Plus portable shortwave radio.

    For the curious listener

    Raddy RF750 Plus

    1 radio

    A great entry point for family members who are curious about the airwaves but aren't ready to transmit. It's a solid, portable receiver for tuning into AM/FM, shortwave, and weather bands.

    Features 297 memory channels and app control for easy frequency surfing.

  • Alervites AT2 smart UHF radio.

    For your off-grid companion

    Alervites AT2

    2-pack

    Built for family members and friends who spend time off the grid. It pairs standard UHF voice with an app that handles text and image messaging when there is no cell service.

    Check your local licensing requirements before transmitting.

  • Blue Radioddity FS-T8/PR-T8 family radio.

    For little explorers and family adventures

    Radioddity FS-T8/PR-T8

    US 4-pack / EU 3-pack

    The perfect license-free setup for getting kids or grandchildren used to basic radio operation on camping trips and backyard hikes.

    We ship the 4-pack FRS version for US addresses, and the 3-pack PMR version for Europe.

  • Baofeng UV-5R 25th Anniversary Edition handheld radio.

    For the ham who inspires you

    Baofeng UV-5R 25th Anniversary Edition

    1 radio

    The UV-5R is the classic first radio for a reason. It’s the ideal gift for someone who just passed their Technician exam, or a great way to thank the Elmer who helped you get your ticket.

    This dual-band HT features convenient USB-C charging. (Amateur radio license required to transmit.)

We assign colors randomly for the T8 and UV-5R 25th Anniversary Edition. The exact version we ship depends on the recipient's shipping address and local radio regulations.

Winning a radio does not exempt the user from local licensing laws. Make sure the recipient has the appropriate authorization to transmit.

How to share your story

  1. 01 / Think of someone

    Think of a friend, family member, or mentor. Who do you want to get into the hobby, or who do you want to thank?

  2. 02 / Tell us why they came to mind

    Tell us about them. Let us know why you picked the specific radio and how they'll use it.

  3. 03 / Choose how the gift arrives

    If your story is selected, we can ship the radio straight to them, or send it to you so you can set it up and hand it over in person.

Send it to my friend

We'll box it up and ship it straight to their door.

Send it to me to give

We'll send it to you so you can program it with CHIRP or hand it over yourself.

Open the nomination form in a new tab

Before you nominate someone

  1. No purchase necessary. We don't use a random lottery—we read the submissions and pick the stories that stand out.
  2. Nominate a friend or family member and explain why the radio fits their needs. Pack sizes simply describe what comes in the box.
  3. For the T8, US addresses receive the FRS 4-pack, while European addresses receive the PMR 3-pack.
  4. Transmission on the AT2 and UV-5R requires appropriate licensing. Always follow local regulations.
  5. Please don't post private contact details in public forums, and make sure your nominee is okay with you sharing their story.
Does my friend have to be a ham radio operator?

Not at all. The RF750 Plus is receive-only, and the T8 operates on license-free bands. The UV-5R and AT2 do require appropriate licensing to transmit, so keep that in mind when choosing.

Can I choose the prize and its color?

You pick the prize model on the form. For the T8 and UV-5R, colors are shipped at random. Regional versions (like FRS vs PMR) are based on the shipping address.

Will I be able to give the prize in person?

Yes. Just select the option to have the prize shipped to your address instead of directly to your friend.

When can I submit a nomination, and when will winners be announced?

Nominations are open November 2–15, 2026. Winners will be announced November 18, 2026.

Event updates & results

Check back here for event updates and the final list of winners as the giveaway unfolds.

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