How far can a ham radio reach without a repeater?

What are Ham radio repeaters? Even though Ham radio has more inherent range than other options like the FRS walkie talkies, the popular 2m and 70 cm bands available to Technician-level Hams are generally limited to line-of-horizon or line-of-sight range. If you're using a handheld unit, you may only get 1-2 miles.

How far can you reach with ham radio?

The absolute maximum distance that you can talk over with a ham radio is around 4000 miles (6400 km). This would only be possible during something like an emergency if both antennas were high enough, such as up on top of mountain peaks or skyscrapers.

What ham radio has the longest range?

UHF or Ultra High-Frequency Ham Bands is also known for its shorter wavelengths. Most of the time, it can communicate over 30 miles of distance. These kinds of frequencies work better indoors since their wavelengths are more concise. Also, they can easily penetrate concrete walls, as well as steels.

How far will a 50 watt ham radio transmit?

They assume a 5 watt handheld, 50 watt mobile, 5/8 wave mobile antenna with 6 dB gain and 5/8 wave, 6dB gain omnidirectional base antenna at 50′. Urban Environment – Around 1/2 – 1 mile from handheld to handheld, up to 2 miles mobile to handheld, and up to 5 miles or more, base to mobile, with base antenna at 50′.

How do I increase the range of my ham radio?

Why are the repeaters so quiet? - Ham Radio Q

How far can a 5w ham radio transmit?

The 5 watt radio can reach up to 12 miles or more. Some handheld radios have 6 watts which can reach up to 20 miles in the right conditions.

How far can 900 MHz travel?

The lower frequency radio waves of 900 MHz radios provide greater penetration through walls, trees and other obstacles, making it optimal for most non-line-of-sight applications. A typical AW900xTR Radio using high powered AW-15 15dbi antenna can go distances of up to 1500 feet with buildings and/or trees in the way.

How far can a 100 watt radio transmit?

If an ERP of 100 Watt is used, it is very likely that 20 kilometers of range will be reached because a 100 Watt ERP is able to propagate a strong signal as far as 20 kilometers. If an ERP of 1000 Watt is used, it is very probable that the signal will reach 20 kilometers, and it will also penetrate eventual obstacles.

What 2 Way Radio has the longest range?

How far can 400 MHz reach?

Thus the typical ranges with around 400 MHz frequency range with 1 W transmitter power are up to ~30 kilometers and up to ~80 kilometers with 10 W transmitter power.

Can ham radio talk across the country?

Yes — if you want to transmit over the Ham radio frequencies. Anyone can buy Ham radio equipment and listen to whatever signals they can receive.

How far will a 4 watt CB transmit?

Transmitter power is limited to 4 watts in the US and the EU. CB radios have a range of about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 20 miles (32 km) depending on terrain, for line of sight communication; however, various radio propagation conditions may intermittently allow communication over much greater distances.

How far can you talk on 2 meters?

On VHF frequencies such as 2-meters, antenna height greatly influences how far one can talk. Typical reliable repeater range is about 25 miles (40 km). Some repeaters in unusually high locations, such as skyscrapers or mountain tops, can be usable as far out as 75 miles (121 km).

How far can VHF transmit?

A typical VHF station operates at about 100,000 watts and has a coverage radius range of about 60 miles.

Is there a walkie talkie that can reach 100 miles?

Motorola Talkabout T465 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio Bundle (Green)

Can you use a ham radio as a walkie talkie?

And the answer to that is: Yes, you can. Ham radios have various handheld models, popularly known as handy-talkies in the Ham radio community. These devices allow Ham radios to double as walkie-talkies and enable you to communicate with other Hams even when you are on the go.

Which frequency is best for long range?

VHF and UHF Radios Compared - Which Is Best? VHF (136 - 174MHz) signals generally work best outdoors, giving a somewhat longer range for the same power output than UHF (400 - 470MHz).

How far can you transmit FM legally?

What is the maximum distance an FM transmitter can broadcast without a license? The quick answer is approximately 200 feet for an FM Transmitter covered under Part 15 (Read FCC Public Notice dated July 24, 1991). The full answer is much more complicated than that: 250 µV/meter @ 3 meters (also measured as 48 dBuV/m).

How high does a ham radio antenna need to be?

The height of your Antenna is important for ham radio contact, so if your ham radio antenna is low to the ground then it will have less ham radio signal. The best height for a ham radio antenna is between 10ft – 15ft off the ground.

Which is better 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz?

Higher frequencies can use less power, but will reflect off of dense surfaces. The 900MHz radio system is at a lower frequency and will penetrate surfaces more easily. Tempest 2.4GHz systems are more reflective and tend to be affected more by bodies, foliage, or moisture that can attenuate the signal.

How far can 915 MHz go?

915 MHz is the center frequency of the band bounded by 902 and 928 MHz. Within this band, FCC regulations allow 50 mV/m electrical field strength, at a distance of 3 meters from the transmitting antenna.

How far can a shortwave radio reach?

Shortwave radio travels much farther than broadcast FM (88–108 MHz). Shortwave broadcasts can be easily transmitted over a distance of several thousand miles, including from one continent to another.

How far will 25 watts transmit?

For example, a 25 watt marine radio will roughly have a maximum range of 60 nautical miles (111 km) between antennas mounted on tall ships, but that same radio will only have a range of 5 nautical miles (9 km) between antennas mounted on small boats at sea level.

What is the most popular ham band?

20 metres – 14.0–14.35 MHz – Considered the most popular DX band; usually most popular during daytime.

How far can you talk on a repeater?

A repeater station located in the mountains, for example, may have a range of hundreds of miles, while a repeater located where the terrain is relatively flat, such as here in Southeast Michigan, the range will be more like 50 miles or less.