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| howto:hambasics:sections:vhfops [2021/12/27 21:43] – ↷ Links adapted because of a move operation va7fi | howto:hambasics:sections:vhfops [2022/11/04 19:10] (current) – [Range] va7fi |
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| [[wp>Personal_radio_service |Personal radio services]] like CB or FRS require no license but have their power output regulated to a maximum of 4 Watts (for CB bands) and 2 Watts (for FRS bands). Ham radios, however, can be operated to hundreds of watts depending on the band, mode, and license type. This complicates the "range" question a bit. | [[wp>Personal_radio_service |Personal radio services]] like CB or FRS require no license but have their power output regulated to a maximum of 4 Watts (for CB bands) and 2 Watts (for FRS bands). Ham radios, however, can be operated to hundreds of watts depending on the band, mode, and license type. This complicates the "range" question a bit. |
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| For example, imagine that Anna and Bob can barely manage to hear each other at 5 W. What would happen if Anna cranks up her transmit (TX) power to 50 W? Would that help her hear Bob better? | For example, imagine that Alice and Bob can barely manage to hear each other at 5 W. What would happen if Alice cranks up her transmit (TX) power to 50 W? Would that help her hear Bob better? |
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| Increasing your own power is like speaking louder: it helps //others// hear you better, but it doesn't help you hear them better. As such, one of the rules in ham radio is to use the minimum power required to make the contact. It's like adjusting the volume of your voice to the setting around you. You wouldn't shout to the person sitting in front of you in a quiet restaurant, but you might in a loud pub. | Increasing your own power is like speaking louder: it helps //others// hear you better, but it doesn't help you hear them better. As such, one of the rules in ham radio is to use the minimum power required to make the contact. It's like adjusting the volume of your voice to the setting around you. You wouldn't shout to the person sitting in front of you in a quiet restaurant, but you might in a loud pub. |
