VHF Band
Understanding VHF Band
VHF frequencies provide a good balance between range, antenna size, and bandwidth. VHF signals propagate primarily by line-of-sight with some terrain diffraction, providing reliable range to the radio horizon (30-100+ km for elevated antennas).
VHF Allocations
| Service | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Low-band TV (Ch 2-6) | 54-88 MHz |
| FM Radio | 88-108 MHz |
| Aviation | 118-137 MHz |
| Amateur (2m) | 144-148 MHz |
| Marine VHF | 156-174 MHz |
| High-band TV (Ch 7-13) | 174-216 MHz |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VHF?
VHF covers 30-300 MHz. Used for FM radio, TV, aviation, marine, and amateur radio. Propagation is line-of-sight with some diffraction. Antenna sizes: 0.5-5 meters. Range: typically 30-100+ km with elevated antennas.
How far does VHF propagate?
VHF is primarily line-of-sight. Range to the radio horizon: d(km) = 4.12 x sqrt(h(m)) for smooth earth. A 30 m antenna: 22 km to horizon. Elevated base station at 100 m: 40 km. Tropospheric ducting can extend range occasionally.
What is the difference between VHF and UHF?
VHF: 30-300 MHz, longer range, larger antennas, better building penetration at lower part, fewer available channels. UHF: 300-3000 MHz, more bandwidth, smaller antennas, better through-foliage performance, more channels. Modern cellular uses UHF and above.