UHF or VHF Distance: What Does it Mean?
UHF or VHF that is the question! But there is logic behind making a choice of either of these two frequencies in the radio spectrum and they can affect the range of the wireless two way radios or walkie talkies that you use! So let's examine the reasons why these two allocated frequencies for the UK matter.
While the name VHF or UHF has been heard of by most people, often they will cite a local radio station or something similar - and that's just about the extent they often understand. But let's consider each frequency range and then summaries the information.
The entire range of UHF in the UK is 400 MHz to 470 MHz, and two way radios and walkie talkies are allocated just parts of that band. For example for licence free equipment operation in the UK (PMR446) the UHF frequency is 446MHz with a number of channels involved - and these have a 12.5 KHz channel space as follows:
- Channel 1: 446.00625
- Channel 2: 446.01875
- Channel 3: 446.03125
- Channel 4: 446.04375
- Channel 5: 446.05625
- Channel 6: 446.06875
- Channel 7: 446.08125
- Channel 8: 446.09375
There are also simple site licences from OFCOM for either VHF or UHF. The VHF two way radio frequencies are between 136MHz to 174 MHz and there are some other lower VHF frequency allocations, but for a UK 'simple site licence' for VHF they range as follows:
- 164.0500
- 164.0625
- 169.0875
- 169.3125
- 173.0500
- 173.0625
- 173.0875
For UHF hand sets in the UK the frequency used for business two way radios is 400 MHz to 470 MHz and for the OFCOM 'simple site licence' exact frequencies are as follows:
- 449.3125
- 449.4000
- 449.4750
- 458.7875
- 458.8000
- 458.8125
- 458.8250
So having seen the above tables there are a number of things that can and will affect the signal for VHF as compared to UHF based equipment overall.
VHF and UHF - what affects the distance?
The things that can affect VHF two way radios or walkie talkies quality of signal and range:
- Using a wireless two way radio in any building with thick walls will reduce the signal range and/or quality.
- If the surrounding area has many trees then signal will be reduced similarly
- In a city, expect the range and quality to be affected by the buildings
- If there are high hills surrounding the transmitting area these too will reduce the range sometimes dramatically
- Weather can affect the signal quality and range detrimentally
And of course if you operate the walkie talkie or two way radio over distance that is flat and free from the sort of obstacles mentioned above the range and quality will be improved.
For UHF transmissions, the resultant range and quality of the signal is improved, firstly because the UHF signal can travel through those various obstacles more easily. But remember that while the UHF based radios are improved over VHF the above list will still affect the transmissions in similar ways by not quite as bad as VHF.
VHF or UHF two way radios available
So as a recommendation (unless you have to use VHF for compatibility) the UHF based two way radios are a better option for business use. And whether VHF or UHF remember that there are some things that can be supplied as accessories that can extend the range of either VHF or UHF, such as repeaters but the simplest improvement might be a simple antenna change!
This article is not intended to go in to any great depth about frequencies but is a basic introduction to the issues that VHF and UHF (often hand held) devices may have through choice of frequency.
Other articles for walkie talkie and two way radios
Two Way Radios vs. Walkie-Talkie: Is There a Difference?
How far do Walkie Talkies Reach?
This article was created by A B Mckenzie 2024. All Rights Reserved.