Interesting blog by David, WK4DS on a topic that also plays a role in SOTA:
73!
Peter DL3NAA
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I don’t have an answer to that, but an alarming number of shortwave radios:
Elecraft K3 and KX3, MTR-3B, QMX (60-15), QCX-mini (20) and a pile of Rockmites and KD1JV direct conversion radios 
(Just recently sold my Ten-Tec Omni VI, though)
73, Roman
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I’m down to 9x HF radios (3 used in the last week), 2x VHF handies (1 used in the last week), 1x VHF/UHF handy, 1x VHF/UHF/SHF handy, 1 VHF mobile and 5 uwave transverters (1 used in last week).
I sold 3x HF radios in 2024 so the shack feels quite bare at present 
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I have far too many rigs, but most of them have been built or worked on by me. I feel invested in my radios.
Just recently I came to the conclusion that I had too many radios and I need to thin the herd, but deciding which rigs to let go is hard. A lot of my stuff is home brew, so I guess practically worthless. Other radios have different values attached, like the QCX mini 20 I built entirely on the summit of Great Whernside or the RockMite 20 that I built on Whernside and used to qualify to earn my Mountain Goat award. There’s the irreplaceable Mountain Toppers, which were rare in the first place and damn near unobtanium now (I have 3 built by myself and 2 LNR built ones.)
I haven’t counted my rigs but I wouldn’t be surprised if the number was around 50 or so. I have about 20 RockMites for starters. Then there’s about 7 or 8 QCXs.
I have the disease badly.
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As soon as I saw the title of this post I thought of you Colin 
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“Why do I want to buy so many ham radios?”
because I can
I’m still waiting for my dream radio to show up, KH2(KH1+12/10m)?
- How many radios do I need?
- Correct! One more!
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Don’t agree with that last one. I need all of them. Just sometimes it’s for scenarios in my head that never materialise.
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I don’t need it…
I don’t know what I’m going to use it for…
But I want it…
And I want it NOW !
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Colin, you have one huge advantage over most of the rest of us - if they are anything like the size of the QCX your 50 rigs probably take up less space than the three largest of mine once the linear PSUs are included. 
The count has reached 11 so far - and I have sold six that I can think of - not including the old HHs. Then there are the transverters, RF amplifiers and rigs that are broken or incomplete.
73, Rod
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So true. I have a penchant for old Ten-Tec gear. I have… quite a few of them 
I keep seeing the prices on eBay and thinking that if I was smart I would sell them all now! I have avoided buying any new ones for quite some time… I guess I’m in recovery.
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Didn’t think I would ever have more than a ‘default trio’ - an HT, a QRO and QRP. My main radios are an FT-65, an FT-891 and a KX2.
Since then I’ve added 2 Quanshengs - and modified them, a Tidradio H3 and H8, an FT-60E, SW-3B, a QMX and an FT-290R+FL-2010 and still can’t help having a look at any and all radios as despite doing pretty much the same job as any other radio of its ilk, they are all so quirky and interesting at the same time and fun to learn and use.
I also enjoy SWL so have an ICF-SW11, PL-330 and an Eton Executive as well as a pocket XHDATA which is amazing value for less than a tenner - honestly, go try one, they are excellent, and even better clipped to a random long wire.
As for CW keys, that’s another area I love and the history of keys and radios (both SWL and TX) are super interesting to learn about, to me at least.
Expensive hobby though, so I exercise at least some level of restraint (until this reflector forced me 
to buy a P1S anyway! 
).
The main thing is, no matter if you have one radio or a jillion radios, just make sure to use them and enjoy them. Share the hobby, enthusiasm and knowledge too - particularly with younger folks so that they can learn too and perhaps be inspired in to taking up the hobby.
Now please excuse me while I go looking at photos of 2m all mode radios. Sometimes I wonder if Practical Wireless was ever published by Paul Raymond!
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Gear Acquisition Syndrome. If 10 years ago you had told me I would promptly and swiftly decide to spend silly amounts of money on equipment I didn’t need I wouldn’t have believed you.
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Only the KX2 is worth keeping out of those three.
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What have you got against the FT-891? It is quite a capable little radio!
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It’s not a keeper the way many radios are. It has a receiver that doesn’t score very highly. It shows it’s an old design compared with more modern radios. And unless space is an absolute premium for not much more you can pick up an IC-7300 second-hand which has significantly better UX and performance. Or you can buy a really serious radio like an FT-710. A 710 new is only £250-£340 more than an 891 new and does everything so very, very much better.
So yes it works and you can find them for not too much money used. But you wouldn’t be buying one for home use only and intending keeping it for 10+ years as a main shack radio when there’s so many better radios on sale.
And… as there is a KX2 in the stable, buying an MX-P50 amp gives a somewhat QRO setup for SOTA/POTA. Let’s be honest, you would be hard pushed to spot the 3dB penalty over 100W in the field and a KX2+MX-P50 weighs less.
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You aren’t comparing like with like, Andy. In fact the only comparison is with the FT-857, which it somewhat outperforms at the cost of not having 2/70 - it is 200g lighter, too, and has better DNR. I decided against getting one because of lack of 2/70 and that stupid band change. The 710 may be a better rig but it is twice the weight and too big to go in a rucsac, the 7100 is also twice the weight and God knows how you would use it portable! The same goes for the 7300 - tho’ I rather fancy a 7200! As for the KX2, its a really neat toy but lacks a few bands and won’t deliver 100 watts on demand, so it fits a different need.
Incidentally, the 891 really holds its value second hand, which tells its own story!
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That’s as maybe, but it has the best screen font of any radio I’ve come across. Worth it for that alone.
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Perhaps read what I wrote Brian to see the important proviso. 
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