Walkie talkies allow a person to speak to other peoples over the radio frequencys. However, a walkie talkie’s range depend on several factor. The range listed on an box for the walkie talkie isnt accurate when used in the real world.
To find the best walkie talkie for your use case, a person must understand how each of the factors that influence a walkie talkie’s range. A range chart will provide valuable informations about how each of these factors will impact the range of the walkie talkie. Walkie talkies use several radio frequency bands.
What Affects Walkie Talkie Range
Many walkie talkies use specific frequency that dont require a license to use. These license free walkie talkies are useful for people who want to use the device for more casual use. However, there are also walkie talkies that use different frequencies that requires a license to use.
These licensed walkie talkies offer more power to the walkie talkie signal, giving it a greaterer range. Some walkie talkies use the Very High Frequency band, or VHF. The VHF radio signal penetrates trees and foliage more better than other walkie talkie frequencies.
Other walkie talkies use the Ultra High Frequency band, or UHF. However, the UHF signal struggle to penetrate heavy vegetation. The terrain where a person uses a walkie talkie will significant impact the range of that device.
In an open area, such as a beach or desert, a walkie talkie will reach the maximum range that the walkie talkie is rated for. In a wooded area with many trees, the foliage will absorb the radio signal from the walkie talkie and significant reduce the range of the walkie talkie. In an urban area with many building, these buildings will block the signals from the walkie talkie.
A range chart can show how different terrain will impact the range of walkie talkie signals. Another factor that will impact the range of the signals from a walkie talkie is the power output of that device. Walkie talkie signals has a lower range if they have a low wattage output.
Half-a-watt walkie talkie signals have a limited range and can only be heard over short distance. Using a walkie talkie with a higher wattage output will allow its signal to travel further. Walkie talkie signals used in mobile vehicle have high power outputs as they can use the power source from the vehicle.
However, using signals with high power output is subject to regulation so that users must ensure that there walkie talkie follows the laws regarding power output. Many walkie talkie model include additional features to add utility to the user. However, these features will not impact the range of the walkie talkie signal.
Some models has built-in privacy codes that allow a group of walkie talkie users to communicate without other individual using the same walkie talkie channel. Some walkie talkies have built-in weather alert feature to alert users of weather-related information. Some walkie talkies use batteries with different chemical composition.
For instance, using a walkie talkie with a lithium battery is useful in cold weather because these batteries maintains their performance in cold temperatures. Users must choose the correct battery for their walkie talkie to ensure it maintains it’s range during their intended use. When purchasing a walkie talkie, people should consider their specific use case.
For instance, if they are looking for a walkie talkie to use for casual communication with friends, they can purchase a model that do not require a license. Hunters use walkie talkies with VHF frequencies as they can penetrate foliage to find game. If an individual is a water sports enthusiast, they may need a model with a waterproof rating so that their walkie talkie will not break if they are using it in or near the water.
People should also avoid the mistake of believing the range specify by each walkie talkie manufacturer. The best way to test a walkie talkie is to use it in the terrain in which they will be in range of others using walkie talkies.
