[Duck Dodgers]

HF radios are a big thing with our Canadian brothers up in British Columbia. So, I was wondering if anyone here uses them and what do you use. VHF,UHF,HF? What are the differences? Which is best? Which is most common here in the States.

[mylt1]

i will assume your talking HAM radio which require a FCC license to operate. 2m seems to be the fave and requires the base license , which is very easy to get IF you actually get the book and read it.

[CMARJEEP]

VHF and UHF (2m, 70cm) are popular for short range communication, 2m being the most popular. Using a repeater you can reach out around 50-100 miles depending on terrain. They also require the lowest license to use.

HF is used for longer range communications like cross country and around the world. To use this you have to have a General or Extra class license (although small portions of HF are available to Technician class licenses).

It all depends on what you want to use the radio for. Personally I have a 2m/70cm radio in my Jeep and don't really have a use for HF. It is very useful if you are often out in the woods away from cell coverage and need to get a hold of help, etc.

There are a lot of websites (eham.net, arrl.org) that have tons of info for new people getting into the hobby.

[Duck Dodgers]

So what is the difference in UHF and VHF? I don't need to talk to some one in NY but would like a bit more coverage for the times we are out deep in the woods.

[Carl48]

The HF (high frequency) band is considered to be 3 to 30 megacycles, so technically, a CB radio is HF. VHF is 30 to 300 megacycles, UHF is 300 to 3000 megacycles. 2 meter HAM is VHF. Generally speaking, range on UHF is less than on VHF.

[dieth]

Originally Posted by Carl48

The HF (high frequency) band is considered to be 3 to 30 megacycles, so technically, a CB radio is HF. VHF is 30 to 300 megacycles, UHF is 300 to 3000 megacycles. 2 meter HAM is VHF. Generally speaking, range on UHF is less than on VHF.

You're dating yourself....megacycles????? And yes, I use the term too.

I also still like equipment that glows in the dark.

[Carl48]

Never did like the "hertz" terminology..."cycle" is so self-explanatory.

[XJ99]

Originally Posted by Duck Dodgers

So what is the difference in UHF and VHF? I don't need to talk to some one in NY but would like a bit more coverage for the times we are out deep in the woods.

Mobile radios (not HF) usually come as a
straight 2 meter radio such as this one
which covers the 144 MHz Amateur band. (VHF)

http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZYS-FT-1802M









Or you can can get a dualband radio which usually
covers the 440 MHz (70cm) part of the band, (UHF)
as well as 2 meters. (VHF)

This is the one I use in the Jeep..


http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZYS-FT-7800R












You can get a straight 440 (70 cm UHF) radio,
but they aren't as common. Looks like they have
quite a few repeaters in BC for 2 meters, and 440!

http://www.hamradio.bc.ca/index.html



Other sites you might want to check out that
have online practice tests, and other resources:

http://www.eham.net/

http://www.qrz.com/

http://aa9pw.com/

http://www.arrl.org/


Gino (KI4YXO)

[Jerry Bransford]

Think of VHF/UHF as short range (line of sight) communications which (in the US anyway) only require a simple ham radio test to get licensed for. There are gizmos called "repeaters" that relay your signal over a larger area allow communicating over larger areas but even they should be considered strictly local.

For HF, (roughly 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz) think of that as long-range communications which requires a harder (electronic theory and lots of regulations) ham radio test. It is the HF band where it is relatively easy to communicate around the world, often on very basic antennas and relatively low power.

The simple test in the US which gives you a Technician class license (again, a U.S. term) for primarily VHF/UHF bands also gives you a very small portion of the 10 meter HF band for long distance voice communications but the 10 meter band is very much hit or miss depending on atmospheric conditions. When good, you can communicate around the world on 10 meters. Otherwise the 10 meter band is more often than not often dead and communications are difficult at best during those times.

[RARECJ8]

I run a yaesu 8800 in both of my rigs and use a yaesu ft60 when outside the jeep using the cross band repeat feature. that is a really cool tool. Generally use the FT60 on 440 simplex to the rig radio that cross bands it to either a repeater or 520 simplex. We do a LOT of back country operations and most involves rough terrain.

one comment-- vhf offers longer distance-- from my shack i can work stations either simplex or thru distant repeaters, often times 125 to 150 miles away. Linked repeaters offer even greater range.

UHF is nice for close in communications. UHF will cut thru buildings, trees, obstacles easier than VHF, but surrenders distance for a better link, hence the cross band use. I like to sit by the camp fire w/ the ft 60, using a two inch stubby antenna and cross band to an IRLP machine, opening up the literal entire world all from a handy scratchy. Of course, gotta monitor battery charge. And all of this while many miles in the back country, beyond cell service and those 11M chicken bands don't even come close. I have demonstrated this to my jeep club and about 10 drivers were convinced amateur radio is the way to go and got their tickets.

Next w/e is field day and we'll be at rubicon springs. HF play time!

mb