The price can vary a great deal. As with other things, a lot depends on how many fancy options you want to have. Some radios are all band, all mode, so, they cost more; other radios, say, with 3 bands and 2 modes, will be less. There are also single band, single mode radios too. These can be very inexpensive. There are also kits that one can buy; a lot is saved if one builds the radio, or, at least, assembles the parts.
The KX3 - the way I would want it set up - would more than 2000. This is considered the most modern and advanced radio in this class of ultra-portable HF transceivers.
The Yeasu 817 or 818, probably the best value for money given that is all bands, all modes, and proven to be robust. This is the most popular model given that it can do everything - morse code, FM, AM, all the digital modes (and these are very useful), USB, LSB. A new one is 900-1000 CAN; used ones, in good shape, will be 700 or so. The design has not changed for 15 years, for good reason. And there are loads of parts for repairing it too.
Chinese versions of this class of radio are cheaper:
https://www.amazon.com/Xiegu-X-108G-Tra ... B01IF13GZGhttps://www.amazon.com/Xiegu-0-5-30MHz- ... B0751BXG65Still, more than 400; I hear there are a lot of quality problems with these and almost little aftermarket service, but some people like them; less to buy, but they may not be good value for money.
Radios with less features, especially radios for only morse code, are way cheaper, smaller, lighter; or, radios with only 3 bands and 2 modes; this company's radios:
https://www.lnrprecision.com/store/MTR3 ... -p45010523Are very popular and have a good reputation. Far cheaper than an 817 or KX3.
Kits like this:
http://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx/Are the cheapest option if one can solder or connect up the tiny parts.
I have not used a KX3; so, I don't know if it is worth the money; but, on paper, the specs are top notch and it is a pound lighter than the 817.
The 817 is good value for money and I think a perfect radio for a canoe/bush radio, though I did buy an external amp to allow me to beef up the power. 5 watts will work, a bit too inconsistently for my tastes; sometimes 50 is required; so, the amp, which I can turn off and save power, is a nice addition. I don't think I would need 100 watts; but, I would not want to be without 50, even if I don't always need to use that much power.
It is nice to have a radio that can at least receive AM/FM/and the shortwave stations; for transmitting, 20m/40m/80m SSB (single side band - a type of AM mode) are the three most common.
80m is important for this is the band that will give you the ability to talk within relatively short ranges - province wide, for example, even across town. 40 metres can go short range or long range, depending on the antenna design and time of day. 40m will not usually go less distance than 80m though. 20 metres won't work well for short range at all; but, 20m signals go all over the world.
This is another model that can be had for less than 200:
https://qrpver.com/transceivers/qrpver_1_v_3.htmlBut, this is a mono-band radio.
I think 20/40/80 SSB and digital modes covers about 90% of my transmissions. But, 30m is being used for APRS - automatic packet reporting - for sending position beacons that will post your location to an online map.
If I could only choose one band, perhaps 40m would be the best all around mono-band - it will go +10000km or less than 100 (but not reliably), depending on the antenna design; and there is a 40m Ontario Network, the Trans-provincial net -
http://www.tpn7055.com/So, there is a way to get short range messages bounced around Ontario via this net on 40m.
For short ranges, 80m is the most reliable band.
I was once in the Bruce Peninsula park near Tobermory. My friend and camping buddy was in Owen Sound. On 40m, we could not hear each other; but, a guy in Northern Michigan could hear us both and he relayed a message to my friend. After this, we made antennas for 80m; and, now I can talk to my friend without any problems over such short distances at very low power levels. The first time I came to this website was to get info on the QE2. The first time I took a trip to the woods with an 80m antenna was to the QE2 - indeed, I made a special trip in there just to see if 80m would work for the short range to my friend (for 40m signals were bouncing overhead and he was in what is called the
Skip Zone). One can control the size and distance of the skip zone by carefully choosing the right antenna shape and transmit frequency; in this case, using a technique known as NVIS -
Near Vertical Incident Skywave and a dipole antenna set up like an upside down or inverted 'V'. I had no trouble talking to my friend in Owen Sound when I was just past Orillia using 80m NVIS and an inverted 'V'. See
https://youtu.be/UmBL5_-tQRQ?t=1m35s ; I bet a few people here will recognize this spot.
Anyway, a mono-band, 5 watt, 40m radio can be had for less than 250. So, that would be a good place to start if price was a big barrier to entry.
MT