Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
Amateur Radio Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [vhf]

Very High Frequency is the frequency range 30-300 MHz.

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What's a cost-effective way to boost the range of my cheap 2m/70cm handheld?

I'm a very casual/beginner level ham and as such have mostly avoided committing too much in the way of financial resources - I have a UV-5R for a personal radio, anything else I do I've used others' radios. I don't mind the 5R's interface; I'm…
Amber
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Why do people say, "get a nickel," on repeaters?

Sometimes, I'll hear someone say "wait a moment, I'm getting a nickel," and then drop the carrier only to resume talking. Why?
webmarc
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What antenna on a BaoFeng UV-5R Pro will give me better reception?

I am happy with my BaoFeng UV-5R Pro but the local UHV VHF repeater and simplex reception is terrible, even for contacts less than 50 kilometers. I assume that it's because the rubber-ducky antenna on it is terrible. What can I replace it with that…
Warren VE3WPX
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Where are the baluns for VHF and higher? How can one be made?

In another question, commenters recommended that I look into adding a 1:1 balun to a dual-band dipole to eliminate the feedline as a radiator. As I understand it, a 1:1 balun also functions as a choke, but is more efficient because... reasons? When…
William
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Is packet radio possible on Baofeng UV-5R and similar HTs?

I am curious to know if it is possible to do packet radio on VHF/UHF using the UV-5R... I have seen some invasive hardware hacks, but without modifying the radio itself (firmware, hardware) it's my understanding that you can only toggle send/receive…
user400344
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What's wrong with 220MHz?

It seems like 220MHz is the bastard step-child of the amateur world. Every HT is either 2m or 2m/70cm. Some companies offer tri-banders, but they almost always add 6m (?!), not 220MHz. The only way to get this band easily is the Chinese radios. I…
WPrecht
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Is there an optimum Antenna Feedline Length for mobile installations?

I bought a ham radio antenna mounting kit for my car that includes ~16' of coax. One end has a trunk lip NMO antenna mount, the other end has a re-solderable PL-259. I asked the sales person if it is best to shorten the coax after installation to…
BenSwayne
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Why do satellites receive and transmit on different bands?

Most satellites I've found transmit on VHF and receive on UHF or vice versa. Why is this? I would think there's enough space on a single band.
Skyler 440
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How does VHF/UHF propagate beyond the expected (radio) horizon?

I am not asking about the fairly well-known effect of the earth "appearing less curved to radio waves" that are otherwise still essentially line-of-sight, but a deeper arcanum: In the ARRL Antenna Book, 17th edition (1994) there is a discussion of…
natevw - AF7TB
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Why do operators mention the band when calling CQ on phone?

I'm a new-ish ham, licenced for about one year now. Within that year I've heard a lot of CQ calls from other hams on phone (both HF and VHF), and it seems that a large portion of hams routinely mentions the band being called on within the call…
Ivan R2AZR
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APRS digi path for ISS digipeater?

So when I try to work the ISS digipeater, what should I set the digi path to be? My setup is a 5 W HT with a 2 m yagi connected to my phone with APRSDroid. I've tried the past few nights with ARISS R0ISS and WIDE2-2 and none seem to get picked up…
JW03
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Getting Started with Digital Modes on VHF on Linux

I am interested in learning about digital modes using 2m and Linux. I have a couple of older 2m rigs (HTX-212 and an old Yaesu) with no additional hardware, like a TNC. What current resources exist for hardware setup and software configuration for…
Rob Gibson
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Better explanation for beyond-line-of-sight VHF signal reach than "lower curvature to radio waves"

I am currently studying for the Technician Exam and have come across an answer to a question I think is ridiculous. The question is: Why do VHF/UHF signals usually travel somewhat farther than visual line-of-sight distance between two…
Dave G
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Moon->Earth 433MHz link achievable digital bandwidth

Let's assume we have the following situation: Transmitter on moon orbit (distance from earth ~400'000km), around 433Mhz. Transmitter power 1W, antenna gain 10dB, circular polarization. Steered to point to earth. Receiver is on Earth. Antenna is…
BarsMonster - R2AYN
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Marine VHF whip antennae - what are they?

For marine VHF (156~162 MHz), the most commonly used antenna is a 1/2-wave dipole or a collinear array in the form of a fibreglass rod. Collinear arrays are used to increase gain in some antennas. Dipoles/collinear arrays by their nature do not need…
user5314
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