Ham radio: more power or external antenna?

[MossJenks]

Good to know, thanks.
Thankfully the FCC has bigger fish to fry.

Isn't that lovely....

 

[Ryan1975]

I'll play this game

Howe’re gonna do this? Of course you’d start this right after dropped off my truck with my son for a few weeks. That’s alright I’ll order something special in the meantime to blow the socks off this forum

 

[Discovery]

Bought 4 baofeng uv5r with bigger battery for me and fellow offroader. Dirt cheap.
Bought upgraded antenna for $1,50 more.

Tested it today, city alot of tree. I was talking from the inside of my truck to my step son inside my house 2km "crow flies" away. 10/10

 

[Bumbo]

Always antenna over power...

HF QRP dudes are talking to the other side of the world with 1/2 a watt...

You can talk to the international space station with 5 watts and a Yagi...

You can also be in a canyon with 100 watts behind you and nothing to show for it.

You will always get more gain from antenna optimizations and tuning than power.

 

[Discovery]

Btw, in the forest, do I want vhf or uhf?

 

[MeefZah]

Btw, in the forest, do I want vhf or uhf?

I think it's more what is in use in your area.

From a propagation standpoint, UHF is better in dense areas and VHF is better in open areas... but having a radio that transmits brilliantly is of no use if no one is one the other end.

 

[Bumbo]

Btw, in the forest, do I want vhf or uhf?

I actually think that is a really good question, because it does matter. Part of having different frequencies are to adress different challenges in commuinicaions.

The HF guys can bounce those radio waves off the atmosphere and get to the other side of the globe simplex (radio to radio) without the use of repeaters.

Considering the technician class licence covers both, I would get a radio that can cover at least VHF / UHF. 6 Meter (50 mhz) is pretty cool too.

VHF has a longer wave, seems to do better in wide open spaces. UHF seems to be the ticket in and around building.

In the forest a part of me feels UHF can be the ticket as well I don't have enough testing to prove it... in my mind I feel like UHF would move though trees coverage better when dealing with ground simplex.

Antenna design matters as well...

Open deserts and long distance you greatly benefit from a 5/8 wave vs a 1/4 wave antenna as the propagation is more towards the horizon where the 1/4 wave has a steeper "take-off" angle. 1/4 wave is my favorite in the city with taller buildings.

Going back to UHF and forest... I found so much value in having my Kenwood TM-V71 with me because I couldn't find a single VHF repeater.

I was able to find a UHF repeater and make a contact... that was my only source for emergency coms on that trip.

Needing a full 35 watts to get into it, I basically did crossband repeat from my handheld VHF to the truck, and UHF out.

Just can't discount the versatility and need for multiple bands.