Handheld radios
12-17-2018, 04:01 PM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On an Island in Vermont
Posts: 22,605
I have used many of the hand held radios from Midland and Motorola. I have yet to get even close to the range they advertise. Short range they work pretty good but if you get more than a couple miles out especially in hilly terrain they don't work that well.
12-17-2018, 04:06 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Germany/Calif.
Posts: 2,664
The basics are HF (high frequency), VHF (very high frequency), UHF (ultra high frequency); HF propagates the best in the hills for unlicensed hand held units, a better chance of getting bounce or skip, though the power output is usually low, 4 watts. All may have problems, VHF may work better in the woods because it penetrates better, but won't penetrate a mountain or bounce or skip. The longer the antenna the better a radio will work in the hills, which causes issues with a hand held. All of the advertised distances for hand held units are under optimal conditions.
HF can have a lot of radio traffic. Many of the VHF and UHF units are more private.
I have a HF unit that has a 500 watt booster and there are canyons around that kill the signal. One in particular, that must be iron ore, that is basically a total dead spot.
Your conundrum has been around as long as radio has. I wouldn't count on any to work flawlessly in all terrain.
A story about this; I came across a guy who had rolled his Jeep and broken his back in the mountains. I radio'd out and got an answer 50 miles away, bounce/skip. Tried to get a helicopter, but they weren't sending one on my say so. Finally sent my brother out in a high speed buggy. He came back hours later with an ambulance that had traveled ten miles of bucking bronco dirt road to get there. I didn't stick around for the climax, I sure hope they didn't try to drive this poor guy out in that ambulance. There was the tallest mountain around between me and the guy I'd raised on the radio. I could talk to him but to nobody closer. Radio waves can be unpredictable.
HF can have a lot of radio traffic. Many of the VHF and UHF units are more private.
I have a HF unit that has a 500 watt booster and there are canyons around that kill the signal. One in particular, that must be iron ore, that is basically a total dead spot.
Your conundrum has been around as long as radio has. I wouldn't count on any to work flawlessly in all terrain.
A story about this; I came across a guy who had rolled his Jeep and broken his back in the mountains. I radio'd out and got an answer 50 miles away, bounce/skip. Tried to get a helicopter, but they weren't sending one on my say so. Finally sent my brother out in a high speed buggy. He came back hours later with an ambulance that had traveled ten miles of bucking bronco dirt road to get there. I didn't stick around for the climax, I sure hope they didn't try to drive this poor guy out in that ambulance. There was the tallest mountain around between me and the guy I'd raised on the radio. I could talk to him but to nobody closer. Radio waves can be unpredictable.
Last edited by MudderChuck; 12-17-2018 at 04:46 PM.
12-18-2018, 10:14 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: West Central Illinois
Posts: 1,099
Great information from Mudderchuck. You will likely receive even more information by calling Motorola or another manufacturer directly.
It has been a while since I used radios. I used both Midland and Motorola. I remember calling Motorola for advice. Ended up using their recommendation and was pleased.
It has been a while since I used radios. I used both Midland and Motorola. I remember calling Motorola for advice. Ended up using their recommendation and was pleased.
