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VHF/UHF mobile and base radios
Higher power and better antennas than an HT.
Higher power and better antennas than an HT.
A VHF/UHF mobile or base radio is a 13.8 V transceiver for 2 m and 70 cm, built for a vehicle or desk and meant to connect to a real antenna. It does the same job as an HT with more power, a better antenna and a larger, easier-to-use body. Most are FM; some "all-mode" base rigs add SSB and CW for weak-signal VHF work and satellites.
Power matters, but less than people expect. Ten times the power is only 10 dB, about 1.7 S-units. Antenna height and efficiency often matter more, because VHF and UHF travel roughly in straight lines and a taller antenna sees farther. A roof-mounted antenna on a car or a mast above the house adds height, a proper ground plane, and often some gain (see Mobile whips and loading coils and 5/8-wave and colinear antennas).
The feed line counts too. Coax loses more at 440 MHz than at 146 MHz, so long runs need low-loss cable; see Feed line loss and velocity factor.
A base station needs a power supply sized for the radio's full transmit current; see Shack power supplies. Put the antenna as high as practical, away from metal, with short, low-loss coax, and protect it against lightning; see Lightning protection and grounding.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Adjustable power | Low power for local chat, high power when you need it |
| Dual receive | Monitor two frequencies at once |
| Detachable face | Lets the radio body hide under a seat |
| Tones and memories | See Squelch, CTCSS and DCS and Memories and scanning |
| Digital or APRS | Built-in modes you may want later |
| All-mode capability | Needed for SSB, CW and satellites |