Maximum watts on handheld/mobile?

[martyrs]

Hello everyone,
I am new to radio & ham hobby and i am doing some research on handheld radios and output power (watts) always differs from brand to brand or device to device.
Usually there are 0.5/1/2/4/5/7 watts on handheld radios.
So what's the maximum output power on handheld radio? Is there any handheld radio with 50watts output power?

Mobile radios are generally available up to 50/100 watts.
- May someone explain why there is a huge watts difference between handheld and mobile radios?
- Does it related with battery consumption and antenna?
- Why mobile radios are performs better? (Power & antenna combination?)

I have a Baofeng UV-5R at the moment, with stock antenna. It has 5W output. I am going to install Nagoya NA-771 antenna on it.
So let's say, is this possible get a better performance with 10W instead of 5W? (Assume, my device is able to output 10W)
And is there any suggestions to make my reception better? I usually monitor (UHF) 400.000-480.000 MHz.

And is there any resource for a total beginner like me? Any document, text, piece of information would be great to start.
Any explanation would be great.
Thank you all.

 

[rescue161]

Anything greater than 4-6 Watts on a handheld is not safe as the antenna is too close to the body and unsafe RF levels will do damage to tissue. If you have ever grabbed an antenna while it is being transmitted on, you'll know why they don't make 50 Watt handhelds.

If you were to mitigate the problem of dangerous RF levels, another problem would be battery life.

 

[martyrs]

Hello rescue161,
Thanks for the info.
What's optimal output for mobile (vehicle) radio?

 

[lep]

A Question for which there is no simple answer. On what frequencies? To achieve what purpose?
Located where? Part of a network?

I personally am aware of mobile stations that run Kilowatts to perform their mission objective and others that use microwatts, you have to be specific to get more than a vague answer.

 

[martyrs]

Hello lep,
To be more specific, i am monitoring 450.000-480.000 MHz. Just RX, no TX.

 

[jonwienke]

If you're not transmitting, then TX power rating is completely irrelevant. TX power has nothing to do with receiver performance.

 

[martyrs]

Hello jonwienke,
Yes i am aware of that but it was another thing that i wonder.
But i also want to TX on 450-800MHz range.
Do you recommend anything for better TX/RX performance? I prefer handheld radio all the time.
Thank you so much.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Hello jonwienke,
Yes i am aware of that but it was another thing that i wonder.
But i also want to TX on 450-800MHz range.
Do you recommend anything for better TX/RX performance? I prefer handheld radio all the time.
Thank you so much.

Please take a look at the licensing manual; put out by ARRL for the frequency ranges that your license allows. If your transmitting above 450 MHz, you're out of band until you hit 800 MHz. You'd need commercial equipment and the formal approval of the agency/business licensed to that frequency or pair.

 

[martyrs]

Hello Bruce,
I am living in Turkey. National band plan is different here.
Sorry for typo, it was 450-480 MHz

 

[rescue161]

I thought Turkey followed the European bandplan, which is in the 432 MHz range.

 

[martyrs]

It's really different with European

 

[jonwienke]

Hello jonwienke,
Do you recommend anything for better TX/RX performance? I prefer handheld radio all the time.

You can do a lot better than the stock Baofeng antenna:

Amazon.com : Genuine Nagoya NA-810 (NEW) SMA Female 2.5" Dual Band Whip Antenna (144/430Mhz) BaoFeng Tech - BaoFeng, Kenwood, Wouxun Compatible (including UV-82, UV-5R, BF-F8HP, GT-3, BF-F8+, 888s Series) : Car Electronics

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBZLOHC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

But other than that, there isn't much you can do. As has already been pointed out, once you go above 5 watts, you start running into RF exposure issues that make greater RF power levels unsuitable for anyone but suicide bombers on their final mission. Your only options are to improve antenna performance, or set up repeater(s) to handle higher-power RF transmissions safely.

 

[martyrs]

Hello jonwienke,
Thanks for the links.
I have ordered Nagoya NA-771, still waiting for it

 

[prcguy]

To answer the original question, battery life has been the major reason handheld radios max out in the 5w range for VHF/UHF and its a coincidence that RF exposure limits are around the same level. Exposure limits are a more recent factor and did not exist in the 60s and 70s when the typical 5w VHF and 4w UHF power levels became fairly standard.

I read several articles from that time that said a 2w radio was the best compromise for performance and battery life based on Ni-Cad batteries of the time. With today's battery chemistry and available RF power devices I suspect you could have a handheld of the typical size used in the 1970s (large) that would do 15 or 20w and have similar battery life of a 1970s radio. But then RF exposure limits would be a problem.
prcguy

 

[lep]

Hello Bruce,
I am living in Turkey. National band plan is different here.
Sorry for typo, it was 450-480 MHz

It has been several years since I was last in Turkey. But I spent many hours with officials of TRAC, the IARU member society for Turkey and helped dedicate the emergency operation center in Istanbul with the deputy mayor. TRAC had a full operating position next to the other emergency services and seemed fully integrated into the emergency planning. TRAC had several society owned vehicles with radios for both amateur and other services. Some of the radios "located like Motorola units" but were locally manufactured in Turkey under license. To the best of my knowledge you can get all the information you require from TRAC national office or from one of their affiliate local radio clubs.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Hello Bruce,
I am living in Turkey. National band plan is different here.
Sorry for typo, it was 450-480 MHz

Sorry for my mis-interpretation. I was unaware of your QTH.

 

[martyrs]

@lep: Thanks for the info. I was unable to find a club for beginners, however i have contacted to local TRAC members, and i'll meet them soon

@Bruce: No problem, sorry for my typo