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Range - UHF vs. VHF
- Thread starter gman4661
- Start date
There are many technological reasons but plain English answer is.
VHF works better outside line of site.
UHF works better in towns when you have obstructions and need coverage in buildings.
VHF works better outside line of site.
UHF works better in towns when you have obstructions and need coverage in buildings.
What is the intended use?
Farming?
Hobby?
Farming?
Hobby?
nd5y
Member
"Outdoors" is meaningless. You need to consider terrain, buildings and vegetation between the two HTs and the type of antenna used. Depending on that VHF and UHF can behave differently.
1.378 miles.
AB5ID
Member
Only mountain top to mountain top.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
There are Friis calculators on line that can help you determine the signal loss in free space based on frequency.
Keep in mind, that's in -free space-. Topology around you will not be included in that calculation.
I think the difference between 2 meters and 70cm is around 10dB, if I recall correctly, with 70cm taking the hit on range.
But, variables, and more variables...
The antenna on your hand held will absolutely play into this. Most dual band antennas are more efficient on UHF than VHF, so the UHF side of your radio may work better than the VHF side. Double that if the radio/antenna on each end is the same.
The body of the radio acts as the counterpoise, and holding the radio in your hand provides some capacitive coupling through your body. Cheap plastic radios don't do this well. Larger, better designed radios with a metal chassis/case are better.
The sensitivity of the VHF side versus the UHF side will matter, after all, there's two radios (at least) involved here.
Power output, and ERP, are something to consider, goes back to the antenna efficiency above.
In my particular applications, in my particular topology, and my particular radios being held in my particular hand, I haven't noticed a huge difference between VHF and UHF. But it's something that's worth experimenting with. Trouble with overly generalized questions like this is that it does not take into account all the particular variables involved that we know nothing about. But, like I mentioned above, if you are the other user are floating in the atmosphere a few miles up with nothing around you, the VHF should have a bit of an edge.
K6GBW
Member
I think the old rule about VHF being better outdoors is probably true when talking about mobile radios. But when you use hand held radios the antennas for UHF are more efficient and they just tend to work better. Also, if you use the radios between cars on the way to whatever outdoor activity you’re doing you’ll find that UHF works better. The VHF wave is just over 6 feet tall and the top and bottom of the car blocks it. The UHF is about 3 feet tall and gets out the windows better. So for me, in my experience, I prefer UHF radios. I use them a lot when backpacking and caravan in to and from the trailhead. The difference out in back country is pretty minor and not really noticeable. The only exception to this seems to be if you are in a pine forest or really really thick vegetation, then the VHF does work better. For normal Eastern Sierra backpacking the UHF just works better.
An important consideration is which service you plan to use and the power/watts allowed, as well as if one can use an external/detachable antenna. Since the OP posted here and presuming they’re in the U.S.A., with MURS (VHF) the max is 2W and GMRS (UHF) could be 5W as the OP noted handheld use. FRS (UHF) has more limitations. The following should provide guidance. All factors are NOT the same.
FRS = Max 0.5W or 2W depending on freq, no external/detachable antennas and licensed by rule means no fee and most anyone can use
GMRS = Max 0.5, 5W, or 50W depending on freq. used. External/detachable antenna allowed, $35 no test license, plus allows repeater use. License covers yourself and immediate family plus licensed callsign must be used.
MURS = Max 2W and external/detachable antenna okay. This service is licensed by rule as well and most anyone can use.
FRS = Max 0.5W or 2W depending on freq, no external/detachable antennas and licensed by rule means no fee and most anyone can use
GMRS = Max 0.5, 5W, or 50W depending on freq. used. External/detachable antenna allowed, $35 no test license, plus allows repeater use. License covers yourself and immediate family plus licensed callsign must be used.
MURS = Max 2W and external/detachable antenna okay. This service is licensed by rule as well and most anyone can use.
The ‘Fun Field Test’ would be to compare range between pairs of 2w FRS vs. 2w MURS H/T from the same manufacturer equipped with their OEM “rubber duck” antennas.
I've actually done this with my Baofeng 5rm radios. FRS on low power v. MURS on low. Did a signal strength comparison at approx. 1.5 miles. MURS out performed GMRS here at home. Not surprising since I live in the Big Thicket. I would expect UHF performance to be better in the open areas around D/FW, I'll have to check that when I move there after the first of the year.
In a built up area the biggest issue you'll likely have more issues with a high noise floor / RFI than anything else. Where I live (in a big city), VHF has a noise floor about 10-20db higher than on UHF, reducing the range quite a bit. Also a lot of electronics spew noise in the VHF spectrum, making it worse than UHF.
K6GBW
Member
Many years ago...like 35 years ago, I was on a search and rescue team and we used 2 watt VHF hand helds. They actually worked pretty well for intra team stuff. We'd have to climb up onto a ridge line to reach our dispatch and we used relays to get messages back to our CP. These days I use UHF hand helds, mostly at 2 watts. I've used them all over the Eastern Sierra mountains, Local SoCal hiking, and backpacking through the Grand Canyon. The UHF 2 watt radios worked really well. I think the environment you use them in should dictate. Use VHF if you are in really thick vegetation and UHF for rocky or barren places. Honestly, either will get the job done as long as you have reasonable expectations.
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