What if I need to talk over a greater range?

A. How much greater range do you really need? It may be possible to use a telescoping antenna on a VHF handheld radio, greatly increasing your usable range versus that provided with the short flexible antenna typical of most handhelds. You may also have the option of installing an outside antenna at one end of the link. Depending on your desired coverage area, you might see a 2 to 5 mile range - or more if one end is high above the other and clear of obstacles. If you still need longer range, you should consider using a "repeater". A repeater is a specially built receiver and transmitter pair that receives signals from low power handheld or mobile radios and retransmits them using a better antenna and more transmitter power. Consequently, the repeater can extend the range of a typical handheld by great distances. The actual distance depends on the system design and location. Where a repeater is located high atop a mountain, it may be possible to communicate to another station 100 miles away. For commercial users, you can rent use of an existing, shared repeater system. You can also enquire about using Specialized Mobile Radio Service (or SMR) systems that operate similar to the basic repeater and provide coverage over wide areas. Look under "Radio, 2-way" in your telephone directory.