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
UHF and VHF Communication range?
Moderator: VK6ZMS
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
Re: UHF and VHF Communication range?
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.MidKnight123 wrote: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.
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.
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.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.
From your question, it sounds like you want to move away from UHF CB, and perhaps get a commercial frequency...?
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:23 am
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
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
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
does that mean there is only 4 differant frequencys that i could choose to talk on?2m with is 144-148Mhz.[
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
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
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.MidKnight123 wrote: 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).
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.
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
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 wrote: 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?
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:23 am
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
A commercial frequency...?MidKnight123 wrote:yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?
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.
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:23 am
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
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 wrote:ya i think so?vk6hgr wrote:A commercial frequency...?MidKnight123 wrote:yep i know about the lic. do you know what kinda of cost it is to rent a frequency? are the repeaters linked?
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:23 am
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
hehe. Although the range isn't fantastic at night, you could always use the old school 27Mhz CB. Far less people on it these daysMidKnight123 wrote:ya far too expensive for a small group of friends for chit chat lol..
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- 150+ posts
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: Perth, WA