What is the range of a typical 5 watt handheld vhf radio?

Question

I'm wondering how far off shore I can go in my boat and still be able to talk to someone on land using a 5 watt handheld vhf radio. All the ones I'm looking to buy have no indication of this. Thanks for any input....

Answer 1

We have a vintage Sitex HH-300 handheld aboard our vessel at all times, as well as our base-mounted Uniden. The Sitex does extremely well using the "rubber-ducky" antenna to a distance of about 5 to 7 miles over open water talking to other sailboats and marinas.

If you're communicating handheld-to-handheld, about three miles is the the range you can expect.

I echo the opinions above, I wouldn't depend on  a handheld as our sole means of radio communication.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

i wouldnt trust a handheld any farther than your willing to swim. you can get a proper mounted setup for around the same price as a handheld.

Answer 3

the technical answer is :  a vhf marine radio transmits on what is called line of sight .... meaning as the earth curves the radio wave still transmits straight.... wattage is important to some degree but you can talk to someone on the moon with 5 watts of power.....   i would say that a handheld using 5 watts is only good for about 2-5 miles at best.... at my base station i broadcast at 25 watts with an antenna that is 60 feet in the air and i can talk approx 30 miles out to sea but about 15 miles inland .......

Answer 4

You can expect 10 miles on a perfect day with perfect conditions. You could be 10 miles out and 20 miles from the nearest radio!

Answer 5

Depends on height of antenna. Standing in a small boat, probably, 5-10 miles. Only works, "line of sight", radio to radio.

Answer 6

For all practical purposes, about 10 feet. Ever hear of Murphy? How about O'Toole's Corollary? (Murphy is an optimist!)

If you want to communicate off-shore, then get a REAL radio with a REAL antenna, one that might save your live one day, not a toy.

Regards,

Dan