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Set up VHF/UHF amateur radio for the region

VHF and UHF (for example the 2 m and 70 cm amateur bands) carry clear voice over line of sight and through repeaters, typically across a district.

How

1. Start with a dual-band handheld for 2 m (144 to 148 MHz in the US) and 70 cm (420 to 450 MHz in the US); band edges differ by country.
2. Add a base or vehicle radio with an outdoor antenna mounted as high as safely possible. Height matters most at these frequencies; use the radio-horizon calculator to compare mast heights.
3. Program local repeaters and simplex frequencies. Expect repeaters to go quiet when their own backup power runs out in a long blackout, so plan simplex contacts with neighbours too.
4. Run the base radio from the comms battery (comms-16), not the house inverter, so it keeps working when other loads are shed.
5. Log every contact and test in the logbook (see living-18).

Do these first

• comms-11

Sources

1. US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations. ARRL, accessed 2026-11
2. Radio horizon range (RHR). ATIS Telecom Glossary, accessed 2026-11
3. Getting Your Technician License. ARRL, the US national association for amateur radio, accessed 2026-11

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