UHF and VHF Communication range?

[MidKnight123]

in the new couple of months i'm thinking about getting into VHF with some mates. I'd like to know from anyone that has done some tests with there UHF and VHF units on how far out they have been able to get out, "without a repeater", just using simplex. Im trying to decide whether it would be worth getting into vhf or not.

thanks to anyone that can give me some guide to which path to take, so any postive/negative on both frequencys would be great to hear your feedback.

also with VHF being 136-174 MHz, how does that work with channels like UHF CB has 40 channels in the 476 to 477 range, while the rest are for commercial use 450-520 MHz. if someone could explain how the frequency ranges work in VHF would be great.

thanks

[vk6hgr]

in the new couple of months i'm thinking about getting into VHF with some mates. I'd like to know from anyone that has done some tests with there UHF and VHF units on how far out they have been able to get out, "without a repeater", just using simplex. Im trying to decide whether it would be worth getting into vhf or not.

Amateur radio has two VHF bands, 6m which is 50-54Mhz and 2m with is 144-148Mhz. Various commercial users are slotted in as well, including TV, pagers etc.

Using SSB mode and high outdoor antennas, communication over thousands of Kms have been achieved

Using FM the range is much better than UHF CB (since amateurs have higher power limits and the lower frequency helps) but to guess the actual range you'd have to know the sort of antennas etc are involved.

also with VHF being 136-174 MHz, how does that work with channels like UHF CB has 40 channels in the 476 to 477 range, while the rest are for commercial use 450-520 MHz. if someone could explain how the frequency ranges work in VHF would be great.

The VHF spectrum is split into various bands and are allocated according to licensing. For commercial bands, you would license a frequency from the ACMA and you can number that channel on your radio however you like. Amateurs generally don't use channel numbers and prefer to use the frequency instead.

From your question, it sounds like you want to move away from UHF CB, and perhaps get a commercial frequency...?

[MidKnight123]

well im not sure yet? UHF CB does what i want, except range. With only the one repeater in wannaro area Chan1, its not usuable 1/2 the time because of the fuckwits on it, and my wife wont turn it on because im sure you can image what sort of comments are made when a female is on there. now i know with ham is much better.

if i go into the VHF way the first radio ill be looking at is a handheld icom 4063 and a similar modile unit, one for the car and one at home (the handheld would be used from other places).

with the repeater side of things how many are around perth? and what sorta coverage?

also with the VHF i know u can talk to other countrys, so what about from perth to NSW, what type of link is involved here,if this is at all possible?

and when you say

2m with is 144-148Mhz.[

does that mean there is only 4 differant frequencys that i could choose to talk on?

sorry if some of the questions seem stupid, but im not familiar with the way VHF works, and would like to know so i know if thats the better way for me to go or not

[vk6hgr]

if i go into the VHF way the first radio ill be looking at is a handheld icom 4063 and a similar modile unit, one for the car and one at home (the handheld would be used from other places).

It's worth mentioning at this point that you and your wife would need to study for your amateur radio license to use amateur frequencies.

There are other frequencies in the VHF band that are commercial use. To use those you will have to lease a frequency from the ACMA.

There are about a dozen amateur VHF repeaters in the Perth metro area and their coverage is roughly metro-wide... but some can get busy at times.

[vk6hgr]

also with the VHF i know u can talk to other countrys, so what about from perth to NSW, what type of link is involved here,if this is at all possible?

There are Internet to radio gateways around the place that will take your audio from the repeater and send it to another repeater anywhere else in the world on the same system. There are two main systems, IRLP and Echolink.

[MidKnight123]

yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?

[vk6hgr]

yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?

A commercial frequency...?

I think we're talking cross-purposes here

If you get an amateur license and use amateur frequencies, then all the resources that are publicly available for amateurs are free for you to use (although joining the sponsoring club is always a good idea).

If you want a private, private frequency that's exclusively for your use, then you'll have to rent a frequency from a commercial comms company.

[MidKnight123]

yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?

A commercial frequency...?

ya i think so?

[vk6hgr]

yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?

A commercial frequency...?

ya i think so?

It's come up once before and I think you're looking at a ballpark figure of around $1500 or so a year for a private slot on a shared commercial repeater.

[MidKnight123]

ya far too expensive for a small group of friends for chit chat lol..

[vk6hgr]

ya far too expensive for a small group of friends for chit chat lol..

hehe. Although the range isn't fantastic at night, you could always use the old school 27Mhz CB. Far less people on it these days

[Night_Ryder]

What I think may happen is the government will allocate more channels. Last time the channels started to become grid locked the govt. increase the ammount of channels.