In ARC Raiders, the Broken Handheld Radio is a common loot item that often raises questions about its usefulness. While it’s classified as junk, it actually has practical value if managed correctly.
How to Use the Broken Handheld Radio
Players have two optimal choices for handling this item:
Recycle It
Scrapping a Broken Handheld Radio yields 3 Sensors and 2 Wires, both essential components for crafting weapons, ammunition, and base upgrades. For example, crafting a turret module can consume up to 8 Sensors and 5 Wires, so collecting a few radios per session can cover a large portion of your crafting needs. Experienced players report that recycling just 10–12 radios in a play session is enough to maintain mid-tier crafting projects efficiently. This makes it a consistent, low-cost way to stockpile resources — essentially a U4N, cheap arc raiders items strategy for new and veteran players alike.
Sell It
If your crafting storage is full, you can sell the radio to traders. Each unit provides a modest coin payout, helping you fund higher-tier equipment or other critical crafting components. Selling also helps keep inventory space open, so you can prioritize rarer items during raids. Where to Find Broken Handheld Radios
Broken Handheld Radios spawn as Rare-tier recyclable items, primarily found in containers within Security zones or minor outposts. Hotspots include areas around Stella Montis, where metal crates, lockers, and toolboxes consistently yield radios. On average, players can expect 1–3 radios per run, making them reliable for early- to mid-game component farming.
Practical Takeaways
Even though the radio is labeled “broken,” its component yield makes it valuable for crafting efficiency. Recycling 5 radios can supply enough Sensors and Wires for multiple turret or trap upgrades, which is a significant boost for solo players or small squads focused on fast progression. Integrating radios into your routine ensures a steady resource flow without cluttering inventory, while also supporting a U4N, cheap arc raiders items approach that minimizes resource waste.