limited range of handheld VHF radios while calling road Km's on RR roads

[X-it]

I have to take some math coarses I think

 

[JMCX]

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.

 

[FernieHawk]

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.

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.

 

[skegpro]

That is actually the reason I posted this thread.

When I heard the calls from 16 up and 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 I believe.

36 CM antenna makes all the difference in the world.

$8 USD
Free Shipping lol

 

[FernieHawk]

36 CM antenna makes all the difference in the world.

$8 USD
Free Shipping lol

$8 USD...I don't know about that, that's getting up there.

 

[skegpro]

$8 USD...I don't know about that, that's getting up there.

Look at me spending your money, lol.

 

[skegpro]

$8 USD...I don't know about that, that's getting up there.

Should tell your buddies to upgrade to an 8W...... spend some of their money.

 

[JMCX]

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.

I'm no expert but l bet the antenna being inside the metal cab is a big factor as well.

 

[FernieHawk]

I'm no expert but l bet the antenna being inside the metal cab is a big factor as well.

I would agree with that.

 

[X-it]

Well the 8 watt is really only 6.5 watt in the vhf range.

 

[Phat Cat]

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]

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]

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]

Well the 8 watt is really only 6.5 watt in the vhf range.

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]

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.

 

[skegpro]

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.

Problem with the GT-5TP is that you can only store 28 ish channels. Real good radio otherwise.

 

[X-it]

You would not want a handheld on the road I was on today.

 

[JMCX]

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]

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.

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]

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.

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.