Choosing between ham radio transceivers comes down to matching the radio to your intended bands and budget. The Yaesu FT-890 is the lower-priced HF-focused choice, while the Icom IC-706 costs more but explicitly identifies HF/VHF operation. Here is the practical split for choosing between them.
Quick verdict
Pick the Yaesu FT-890 if you want an HF transceiver with a mic, DC cable, and tested-working wording at the lower listed price. Choose the Icom IC-706 if explicitly named HF/VHF coverage and an LCD screen matter more than the price gap. Both radios are marked used, so condition does not separate them.
Compact comparison
| Detail | Yaesu FT-890 | Icom IC-706 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 450.00 | USD 490.00 |
| Band wording | HF | HF/VHF |
| Included or identified items | Mic, DC cable, tested working | Mic, LCD screen |
| Condition | Used | Used |
Where each product wins
Yaesu FT-890: lower-cost HF focus
The Yaesu wins for shoppers who want to keep the listed price at USD 450 and are specifically shopping for an HF ham radio. Its title also names a DC cable alongside the mic, making the package wording more useful for a buyer who wants those listed accessories together. The tested-working wording is another concrete reason to put it first when an HF-centered setup is the goal.
Icom IC-706: explicitly named HF/VHF coverage
The Icom wins when the deciding requirement is an explicitly named HF/VHF transceiver rather than an HF-only description. Its LCD screen gives it a clear control-related point of difference, and its compatibility wording is aimed at other Icom products. That makes it the more direct fit for shoppers whose existing radio setup already centers on Icom equipment.
Product notes
Yaesu FT-890
At USD 450, the Yaesu FT-890 gives HF shoppers a clear lower-price route, and it is identified with a mic and DC cable. It is also described as tested working, which supplies a concrete reason to choose it for someone prioritizing a straightforward HF setup. The limitation is scope clarity: the radio is identified as HF, but VHF is not named in its product wording, so it is not the clearest match for a buyer specifically seeking that band. It is marked used as well. Choose it when HF is the target and the tested-working wording plus cable are more useful than an LCD screen.
Icom IC-706
The Icom IC-706 is the more natural choice when HF/VHF coverage is the deciding detail. It includes an LCD screen and is marked compatible with other Icom products, giving shoppers two concrete reasons to consider it for a display-focused or Icom-centered setup. The limitation is price: at USD 490, it is USD 40 above the Yaesu FT-890. It is also marked used. If you want an explicitly named HF/VHF transceiver and an LCD, the Icom aligns more directly with that brief, provided those features justify the higher listed price for your setup.
Final choice by use case
For an HF-first ham radio transceiver with a mic, DC cable, and tested-working wording, choose the Yaesu FT-890. For a radio that explicitly names HF/VHF and includes an LCD screen, choose the Icom IC-706. The clearest dividing line is the USD 40 price difference: Yaesu is USD 450 and Icom is USD 490. Since both are marked used, the decision should rest on band focus, identified features, and the price you are comfortable paying.
