Have you ever wondered if your VHF radio is reaching other boats and the Coast Guard as far as possible?

The terrain is the most significant factor determining a two-way radio’s range. Even in a flat field, the earth’s curvature cuts off straight-lined radio waves at about 6.5 miles.

Monitor Your Signal

VHF Radios allow communication with other vessels, marinas, Coast Guard stations, and bridges. They work on frequencies or channels (similar to a party line) monitored worldwide by all marine radios.

While no single factor will give you unlimited range, a few simple tips can help increase your VHF radio’s performance. The main factors are signal type, antenna height and strength, obstructions, and radio power.

Generally speaking, a handheld VHF radio with a standard antenna will have a maximum range of about 20km (13 miles) unless it is on a very tall ship or hill and the antenna is in a vertical position. Mobile radios mounted in a vehicle and with a high-gain antenna can have 3 to 4 times the range of a handheld. Similarly, a single-sideband (SSB) radio in the medium-frequency (MF) and high-frequency (HF) bands can reach up to 25 miles or more with a clear line of sight.

Know Your Terrain

VHF is a line of sight communication, and the radio waves cannot bounce off the ionosphere like UHF. This means that trees, hills, and mountains can block the radio waves, and even the earth’s curvature cuts off the straight-lined waves at about 6.5 miles.

VHF is the way to go if you plan on using your radio in open spaces without many obstructions. However, suppose you plan on communicating with other boats in urban or heavily wooded areas. In that case, a UHF radio is better because its signals navigate around structures and obstacles much more quickly than VHF.

To determine the maximum range of your VHF antenna, you can use a few formulas. The simplest is a horizon in kilometers at ground level (in meters) = 3.569 times the square root of the height of your antenna in meters. The higher your antenna is, the farther the horizon.

Use High Power Mode

A marine radio is a primary safety device that can differentiate between life and death in an emergency. Many manufacturers claim that communication ranges up to 36 nautical miles (100 km/62 miles). However, the real-world communication range is often much lower due to several factors, including line-of-sight, antenna height, and transmitter power.

VHF radio waves travel by line of sight and are blocked by obstacles such as mountains, trees, and hills. They also do not penetrate as well through metal or other objects. High-quality marine VHF radios with a receiver sensitivity specification of 0.25 microvolts per uV and a 75 dB or higher selectivity figure can help extend the radio’s maximum range.

Install a tall, high-quality antenna and use the high-power mode. Then, you can communicate with other boats up to the maximum VHF radio horizon under optimal conditions and weather.

Elevate Your Antenna

Nothing affects radio range more than antenna height. VHF waves travel in a straight line and lose strength over distance, limiting the bending they can achieve around obstructions.

For example, if your buddy has an 8-foot antenna mounted on his yacht at sea level, you can communicate about 6.7 miles over open water with him. However, if his antenna is mounted atop a tall cruiser or Coast Guard vessel about 18 feet above sea level, you can communicate with him over 13 miles.

There are a variety of formulas that can determine how far you can communicate based on the terrain and antenna height. For instance, VHF has a more excellent range over wide-open spaces, while UHF can navigate better in and around buildings and wooded areas. The best thing you can do to increase your radio’s range is to get it higher up. This is why most sailors mount their antennas as high as possible on a tall mast.

Jane