Do You Know How to Differentiate A VHF from a UHF Antenna?

antenna signal

Have you been longing to switch your cable provider to another? Do you want to just cancel your membership and just terminate their services? Or perhaps, what you just really want is to just add a number of local TV stations to your current TV package — you can do so when you install a VHF or UHF antenna. 

Installing or putting up an antenna is not a complicated task but a cost-effective process that you can carry out on your own. It is not a difficult task. Besides, in the end, it is a very rewarding experience because, eventually, you will get access to free broadcast signals.

While the vast majority of business organizations depend on two-way radios to interact and communicate with each other, most of them find it disorienting what kind of radio they should be looking for and buy considering that they are a first-time customer.

Two Way Radios

One of the sticky situations that first-time users encounter when using 2-way radio communication is if they need to look for a UHF radio or a VHF radio.  The terms VHF and UHF have something to do with the kind of frequencies they transmit. These types of radio signals come with their own set of advantages, and if you want to know which of the two will work best for you, that will be determined by your unique circumstances.

The Benefits of UHF Radio

Generally speaking, UHF radios are superior if they are used indoors since they have shorter wavelengths and they can also penetrate concrete walls and steel. UHF radios can function at frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 3 GHz. 

In the case of VHF radio signals, their natural tendency is to degrade rather more quickly when compared to indoor UHF radio signals. Furthermore, UHF antenna radios come with much shorter antennas as opposed to what VHF radios have. This makes them ideal for unobtrusive radio devices and settings where longer antennae are impractical, such as crowded school halls.

The Benefits of VHF Radio

radio telescope

VHF radios work between 30 to 300 MHz frequencies. VHF radios are more advisable for outdoor use in areas with wide terrain or limited line of sight. If communication is required at a construction or work site, these are the types of radio signals to use. The exclusive use and application of VHF radios are commonplace in aviation and maritime communications.

Consider your individual needs when selecting a VHF or UHF radio and choose the one that best fits your scenario. Also, make careful decisions if you are opting for celebrated brands, as cut-rate products will often not function or perform as expected. 

Deciding how to pick between a VHF and a UHF antenna should always be based on the frequency where your equipment or device operates. This is particularly true with UHF antennas because they come with an extremely wide frequency range. It signifies that there are antennas that may not work the way they should with specific electronics, even when both are in the UHF band. 

When it comes to television sets, you can’t enjoy the liberty of selecting between the two, since both of them need to receive all the stations. Apart from picking the appropriate type of antenna, there are other variables to consider when mounting your antennae, such as location and height.

Is UHF Antenna a Better Choice than VHF?

Is UHF Antenna a Better Choice than VHF?

Knowing the differences between these two will help recognize the best signal frequency to use for a two-way radio. For example, a UHF antenna doesn’t travel as far as very high frequency, but it has a higher bandwidth.

Different wireless communications systems like two-way radios and cell phones operate operating frequency. It is the government that regulated the frequencies, as well as equipment that is used to communicate. It is a given that various kinds of radio signals, thus different wireless equipment is needed to satisfy the needs. Below are some more information you need to know about UHF and VHF.

VHF Antenna

VHF is often used for long-range communication, marine communication, long-range data communication, two-way land mobile radio system, and FM radio broadcast. It includes radio waves that are from 30Mhz-300Mhz.

VHF wave should not be over the local radio horizon to 100 miles. The frequencies are not likely to be disrupted by any issues with any electrical equipment, atmospheric noise, and other types of interferences. As it has a lot of different users, the low-band VHF is not very much recommended to be used for serious applications because of the level of radio noise that is present in these frequencies. In spite of the possibility of background noise, this remains a great choice because of being a low cost. Its transmission power is restricted to below 50mW, unless you will be functioning an assistive listening system that should be in 72-76MHz range. At the same time, a big antenna booster is needed, measuring as much as 3ft, thus limiting its portability.

UHF Antenna

Indoor UHF antenna radio waves are shorter when it comes to length compared to VHF, measuring at around 12-24 inches. This results in antenna length and radio range that is reduced. Anything from a human body to a building can disturb the transmission. Interferences and dropouts are more possible, but larger bandwidth occupation is allowed. This results in a broader frequency range and a wider scope of audio signals. Ut to 250mW is allowed, surpassing 50mW power restrictions.

In addition, UHF radio waves could only go as far as the line of sight. Anything that could get in the way of your eyesight would interfere with the frequency range, like tall trees, buildings, and other obstructions. For its transmission, it is high enough to be able to infiltrate through the walls of buildings, thus making the reception inside to be possible. The line of sight broadcast range is what makes the UHF incompatible in some cases. On the other hand, VHF offers a bigger broadcast range, the reason why it is preferred in some industries.UHF radio signals are utilized in many aspects of life including Wi-Fi, cellphones, cordless phones, walkie-talkies, television broadcasting, GPS, Bluetooth, and satellite communications. A large benefit of UHF transmission is its short wavelengths that are produced by high frequency. The radio wave size relates immediately to the transmission length and the reception antenna. Generally, UHF antennas are wide and short. Click this link to learn more about these two types of antennas.