When it comes to 2 way radios,we often a very common question like "How far will they work?" . In fact,there are plenty of factors affecting the range of two way radios. Generally speaking,the factors include the transmit power,the efficiency of the two way radio antennas,and user height above ground and so on. As we all know,nowadays,hand portable type is the most popular 2 way radio system. Therefore,let us discuss first.
A good general guide is to expect a portable radio with 1 Watt transmit power on the flat to provide around 1 mile of coverage. Doubling the transmitter power increases the range by about 1/3. At 2 watts we should get about 1.3 miles. At 4 watts the range may be around 1.7 miles.
As can be seen above, the link between transmit power and range is not as we might expect. We have to quadruple transmit power to gain less than twice the range! Although, it restricts the use of the radio somewhat, mobile radios permanently installed into vehicles will perform better. As the general restriction in the UK is 25 watts for mobiles, we end up with around 3 to 4 miles range, dependent on the antenna. Again, this assumes a simplex system, talking directly from one mobile to another.
If a base station is used within the system, it's range is improved by the installation of an external antenna on the roof of the building. The higher the antenna, the better the range. Again, the rule of thumb is very similar to the above. Doubling the antenna height does not double the range! The range between mobiles is not affected unless the base station is a "repeater type" which enables mobile transmissions to "hop" between users. Listed above are some factors about affecting the 2 way radios.
These days,a growing number of people choose to buy the handheld 2 way radios on the Internet. I have to say that when you select the radios,you need to take these factors or relative accessories,such as the antennas,earpieces and so on into consideration. Even more,when you make your mind to buy the products in a store,you need to check out their companies by looking through their customers' review or their introduction about the products. If you need help or advice on planning your Two Way Radio system,or want to find out more about Two Way Radios,please visit chierda.
Related reading:High Gain Two Way Radio Antennas,Long Distance Two Way Radios,Cheap Two Way Radio Accessories