VHF/UHF Handheld

Overview

A handheld covers the 2 metre and 70 centimetre bands, where contacts are normally local and made through a repeater or directly between two stations in sight of each other. It is the radio most new operators buy first because it is inexpensive, self-contained and needs no antenna installation.

The limitation is physics rather than the radio. At these frequencies signals travel almost entirely by line of sight, so range depends far more on antenna height and the terrain between the two stations than on transmit power. A handheld on a rooftop antenna will routinely outperform the same handheld inside a building.

Bands and modes

Band coverage

Modes

Safety note

Using it well

• Programme repeater offsets and tones before you travel, not while driving.
• Charge Li-ion packs fully before storage and never store them flat.
• Fit a better antenna before buying a bigger battery — height and gain beat power.
• Use the lowest power setting that holds the contact to extend battery life.