How Far Can a Ham Radio Reach?

Living in modern society, we take for granted how easy it is to communicate. That is, until a natural disaster or grid failure removes access to cell communication.

Ham radios offer an alternative. When power lines are gone, you don’t have to be at the mercy of mother nature. They enable reliable communication so you can talk with others. They offer practical advantages for communicating with loved ones and receiving emergency notifications.

Ham radios offer more power than other radios, which can get overcrowded. They can tap into high-frequency bands, which have a more extended range.

But the question is, how far can a ham radio reach?

Your ham radio range starts as low as 5 miles or 2 kilometres with a handheld and extends overseas once you have the right equipment and license. The distance a signal can travel depends on many factors, such as the transmitter power, the type of antenna, and the environmental conditions. On average most ham radios on the market have a signal range between 25 miles to 300 miles.

This guide covers everything you need to know about how far a ham radio can reach and the factors influencing its range.

 

Factors That Influence the Range of a Ham Radio

Many factors affect how far your amateur radio can transmit signals, such as the power of the transmitter, obstructions, the type of antenna and signal, and the height of the antenna.

Power of the Transmitter

The transmitter’s power capacity is a critical factor that affects your ham radio’s range. While commercial radio stations typically broadcast between 50,000 to 100,000 watts, ham radios tend to have between 5 to 100 watts.

The greater the transmitter’s power and the higher the signal strength of the ham radio, the longer range it has. Even if you have optimal antenna placement and height, you’ll still need a powerful transmitter to have a long-distance output range. Still, the higher your antenna, normally the better radio transmission and reception you’ll receive. However, some antennas are designed to work better closure to the ground especially the ones without a built-in ground plane.

A high wattage ensures a stronger signal strength, which helps to withstand weakening when travelling through obstacles. Ofcom specifies the maximum wattage level for the ham radio, dependent on the type of licence.

Environmental Conditions

Objects or environmental conditions can block radio signals, which are dependent on your signal strength and type.

When setting up an antenna, it is best to factor in environmental conditions. For example, antennas mounted on top of hills get the maximum distance in mountainous or hilly areas.

Transmitting can also be tricky since metal interferes with radio waves. However, stone, rock, and brick tend to pose less threat to obstructing the ham radio range. Radio signals can travel through such obstacles, including water! Still, the more obstacles between the transmitter and receiver, the more the signal will begin to weaken.

Ultimately, the more obstructions your radio wave has to travel through, the more it can degrade the signal strength.

Type of Signal

The type of frequency you transmit on can dramatically affect how far the amateur radio waves reach. The most common frequency bands are:

• High-frequency bands (HF)
• Very high-frequency bands (VHF)
• Ultra high-frequency bands (UHF)

HF bands offer the most extensive long-range capacity of all the frequency band categories and amateur radio users can transmit on HF to communicate around the world. That’s because high frequencies bounce off of the ionosphere! You might not know this but HF bands transmit further at night than in the day because the ionosphere’s reflectivity reduces during sunlight. Also, when radio waves reflect off the ionosphere, they slowly lose their energy, and the signal becomes weaker.

VHF bands travel further and penetrate objects better than UHF bands. However, they are also more sensitive to reflections by obstructions such as vehicles and buildings. Thus, these frequencies are not ideal for cities where interference may be frequent. They are better for outdoor settings like forests

Meanwhile, UHF bands have the shortest range but are less susceptible to interference. They can better transmit signals in areas with many buildings over short distances. However, it’s crucial to remember that the farther signals reach, the weaker they become.

HF and VHF are great choices if you are in a barren area since they travel farther. However, around buildings or interference, you may want to choose UHF.

Height of the Antenna

Every transmission requires an antenna. The general rules are:

• UHF bands need the shortest antennas because their wavelengths are small
• HF bands require the largest antennas because their wavelengths are long
• The higher the antenna, the longer the range, factoring in any interferences due to obstructions.
• A whip antenna performs much better than a stubby antenna.

The basic rule is the longer the better and the higher the better. If you cannot find long antennas, install the antenna in a higher place. But, there are regulatory limitations to how high you can place the antenna to ensure you are compliant with Ofcom licence conditions.

Also it is important to note that some antennas are designed to work better close to the ground especially the ones without a built-in ground. So always read the manufacturer's mounting instructions and ask your dealer for advice.

Handheld Battery Life

A handheld radio’s signal range drops when the battery charge depletes. Ensure your ham radio hits its maximum range by monitoring and fully charging your batteries.

 

Potential Ranges of a Ham Radio

Every ham radio is unique in its capabilities. Their power output is a huge factor in how far the signal can ultimately reach.

Short-Range Communication within a Local Area

Short-range communication typically means you can speak to people within your area. That means you will be able to communicate with people within your city or town. The maximum power for short-range communication is typically 25 watts. Many short-range radios are handheld radios that are easy to carry and compact. /p>

Medium Range Radio

Medium-range radios can reach further allowing you to talk with residents in neighbouring cities, towns and countries. The maximum power needed for medium-range communication is usually 50 watts.

Long-Distance Communication

Long-distance radios can reach anywhere around the world, which lets you speak with people from different countries. The maximum power output for this range is limited to 400 watts under UK licensing regulations.

Long-distance communication with ham radios is also made possible with repeaters. These are radio stations positioned in various locations, which help to relay the message from one location to the next, thus increasing its range.

 

Ham Radio vs GMRS Range

In the United States, the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a radio service designed for short-distance two-way communication. It requires a license in the United States, but some GMRS compatible equipment can be used license-free in Canada.

GMRS is a UHF band service limited to 5 watts of power and only allows for short distance communication normally 5 to 50 kilometers (3 to 30 miles). While GMRS radios have more power than FRS or CB radios, they still pale compared to ham radios. GMRS has a very narrow frequency range between 462 to 467MHz.

Ham radios offer wider frequency range options and longer-distance communications. Please note that GMRS radios are illegal to use in the UK.

 

Ham Radio vs FRS Range

Family Radio Service (FRS) is another American radio service allowing two-way private communication for short distances. Like GMRS, FRS is also illegal to use in the UK.

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is an unlicenced 'walkie-talkie' radio system authorized in the United States since 1996. It is also used in Canada and Mexico. The FRS system is similar to PMR446 in the UK/Europe. Note that in the UK/Europe the FRS frequencies are allocated to the emergency services.

The FRS only features 2 watts of power, meaning you will quickly max out after a few kilometers or miles. Their low power levels make their range much shorter than ham radios.

These radios operate on 22 channels at around 462 Mhz. All 22 channels are shared with GMRS, and users of the two services may communicate with each other. With the exception of FRS channels 8 through 14.

Again, Ham radios offer wider frequency range options and longer-distance communications

Ham Radio vs CB Radio Range

Citizens Bands (CB) radio is a two-way radio communication system operating on 40 channels. CB is different from other radio services such as Amateur Radio/Ham Radio. In most countries you do not require a licence to operate a CB radio (unlike Amateur/Ham Radio). In the UK CB received exemption in 2006. CB Radio, can also be used for both business and personal communications.

CB radios enable short-range communication. Transmitter power is limited to 4 watts in the UK, US and the EU. CB radios have a range of about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 20 miles (32 km) depending on terrain and set-up.

Once again, Ham radios offer wider frequency range options and longer-distance communications.

 

Ham Radio Transmission Ranges

Your range on ham radio starts at a few kilometers/miles with a simple handheld and extends all the way around the world once you have the right license and equipment.

A ham radio with the right set up such as a powerful base station and hi-gain antenna can communicate for up to 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers).

But for most hobbyists, the distance will be between 25 and 300 miles and depend on several factors, such as your power output, antenna set-up, weather condition, terrain, and obstructions.

You could of course connect to your local repeater and then the world is your oyster.

 

About Moonraker

Moonraker is your trusted retailer, distributor, and wholesale for radio equipment. With a wide range of ham radios to choose from, you will find the best ham radios and accessories to fit your needs.

Browse online and filter by the manufacturer, price, and frequency band to narrow your selection. Every ham radio has different features, so please do not hesitate to contact us so you know exactly what you are getting.

At Moonraker, we are committed to delivering world-class products, customer service, and after-sales support to ensure a premium shopping experience.