Long Range Radio

I see people do a lot search about long range radio communication. Maybe they want to buy two way radio communication and make their own research before they buy the radio. But are they now, how long a communication radio can establish is depend several things?

Sure the most important thing is the radio capabilities itself. The two way radio equipped with high power transmission is had better opportunity of long range radio communication. But sometime this factor is not the key. Lower power two way radio communication in some condition possible to make longer range two way radio communication.

Second factor is the antenna used. A directional and higher gain antenna commonly will result longer range radio communication rather than non directional antenna. But higher gain also mean higher noise you will create and higher noise you will get also on your radio receiver unit.

Third is the antenna position. The success key is "higher is better". On VHF and above bands, when a pair communication radio must can "see" each other, place the antenna on high level will give best two way communication radio result. But please be careful if you place an non-directional antenna at hill top or mountain top, your transmission can spread very wide to whole area. It's possible to add unnecessary noise to other radio communicatio service. So it's best to place a direction antenna system on a high place.

Icom IC-2200H VHF Radio

I have a good memory about this Icom IC-2200H VHF radio unforgetable, this is my first buy-from-new radio. I bought my IC-2200H at year of 2002. First, I'm very happy and enjoy. Then suddenly turning into dizzy and cry after one week. Why? I will tell you the story on the end of the post.

Basically, Icom IC-2200 is nice vhf radio. It's simple and easy to use. The metal body is carefully casted so give strong impression and rugged. Choice of LCD light colors add more impressions. Function buttons also carefully programmed to make easy during this vhf radio operations. Icom IC-2200 give high 65 watts of RF power output, an adequate power to establish two way radio communications for up to 80 km on normal rural circumstances. But the most favorite feature I like is Icom IC-2200 also capable to receive vhf air band operation with is wide receiver coverage. I like to listen air band traffic. And Icom IC-2200 is equipped with 118-174 MHz vhf receiver coverage and AM mode.

Icom IC-2200 vhf also ready to D-STAR internet operation. But this feature need UT-118 module installed before you go to D-STAR. UT-118 module is needed to provide digital voice and data communication at 4800 bps speed.

The bad thing about Icom IC-2200H vhf radio is usage of RF final module that very easy to broke. Not broke the mosfet, but the base ceramic where all the modul components placed. When the ceramic broken, it will disconnect the connection strip. And the result is no RF output from your vhf radio. I experienced this one week after purchase IC-2200. So I open the radio case (and broke the warranty), open the final module and resolder it.

I always use high power during my operations. Unfortunately heat created is hotter than ceramic can handle. So it broke. Then I sold my Icom IC-2200 one week later after I fix it.