X-it
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I have to take some math coarses I think
limited range of handheld VHF radios while calling road Km's on RR roads
- Thread starter FernieHawk
- Start date
With good line of sight my Baofeng picks up surprisingly far. I often leave Ladd1 on the second channel and will heag truckers chattering while way back in the riding areas. It has to be 15km or more. I haven't tried calling back. This is with the long antenna.
- Thread starter
- #23
FernieHawk
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That is actually the reason I posted this thread.
When I heard the calls from 20 up Lodgepole road I was at least 15 km away line of sight just as I was coming into Fernie...at Km 22, my friends were less than 2 km away by road and they did not hear the Km calls. I have a Baofeng UV-5R and my friend has a Kenwood.
Sometimes you hear transmissions from a long distance and it gives a person a bit of a false sense of security of how well your radio works.
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skegpro
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- Thread starter
- #25
FernieHawk
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skegpro
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Look at me spending your money, lol.
skegpro
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Should tell your buddies to upgrade to an 8W...... spend some of their money.
I'm no expert but l bet the antenna being inside the metal cab is a big factor as well.
- Thread starter
- #29
FernieHawk
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X-it
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Well the 8 watt is really only 6.5 watt in the vhf range.
Phat Cat
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About the same price as one of those BC link radios. This would be my choice if I didnt already have a mobile radio in my truck. https://baofengtech.com/uv-50x2
Got boost want snow
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Each radio's squelch could be set differently which does increase or decrease you range, the external antenna is a must if using a handheld. Your radio is only as good as the receiver in it. It does no good to transmitt fifty miles if you cannot recieve 5 miles away. JS
X-it
Active VIP Member
After experimenting with about 20 different handhelds, some do receive better than others for sure. Baofeng does a pretty good job of receiving considering their low power. A roof antenna or a j-nuoda will improve these radios. I do not usually use them on the bush roads, I like to hear the trucks lining up 20 miles back so I can plan the pull outs. But I have used them and understand their ranges, some models will give you less than 1k to 15k, where others it will be 3k to 25k.
skegpro
Active VIP Member
Agreed. Depends what frequency, Mikilor has the UV-82HP pegged at 7W in the 145-146mhz range. Still a whole watt to 1.5 watt short of advertised.
This GT-3TP is hitting a full 8 with the watt meter in this video.
https://youtu.be/Hr4PHyX_ZEg
X-it
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I do not have that tester, but i did field test the gt-3tp.. both models 2 and 3....not the 4 digital though. 3 the clearity is a bit better than the 2, I did preferred the gt-5tp in the end. But the gt-5tp does come in 3 different models believe it or not, you have the 8 watt the 5 watt and some weird one that will not program with chirp, that one works fantastic.
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skegpro
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Problem with the GT-5TP is that you can only store 28 ish channels. Real good radio otherwise.
X-it
Active VIP Member
You would not want a handheld on the road I was on today.
So yesterday I was riding West of Parson's (South of Golden, not Silent Pass) and was picking up the truckers bellyaching about Hwy1 being closed for an accident or something. Today I looked on GE and, as the crow flies, I was 30km from Hwy 95 and at least 40km from Golden (with 3 mountain ranges in between). I doubt they were on 95 as there's not much big rig traffic on there. Probably they wouldn't have heard me if I tried to raise them but I'm still amazed at the range.
Lund
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I can monitor and communicate with Silverstar ski hill here in Vernon from my house with perfect reception. I live nearly 50miles (80k) away on lake Okanagan half way to Kelowna. Using my VHF Marine radio. That is what we use for sledding.
Catrider16
Active member
Hahaha, I remember having a conversation with you at Boulder. I was at the truck in the parking lot and you and KB were sitting at the Boulder cabin.
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