VHF or UHF Two-Way Radio? Which is Best For You?

Released On 23rd Aug 2022

Understanding some of the key differences between VHF and UHF, and their optimum working conditions, will help you choose the best two-way radio for your needs.

A common pain-point for some customers when buying a radio is knowing whether to choose the VHF or UHF model. Of course, our friendly team here at RadioTrader is always ready to jump in and advise, but this simple guide will hopefully provide some useful information.

The basics

VHF stands for Very High Frequency, and UHF stands for Ultra High Frequency. 

In Ireland, the VHF and UHF radio frequency bands are regulated by ComReg . In the UK, the equivalent organisation is Ofcom. ComReg and Ofcom regulate who can operate within certain frequency ranges for both VHF and UHF, and who might have priority over other operators.

VHF frequencies in the UK

• VHF radio frequencies are between the range 30 MHz to 300 MHz
• Business users operate between the frequency range 136 MHz to 174 MHz
•  “Marine Band” radios (for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication) operate on the frequencies 156 MHz to 162 MHz.

UHF frequencies in the UK

• UHF radio frequencies are between the range 300 MHz to 3 GHz
• Business users operate between the range of 400MHz to 470 MHz
• Licence-free (PMR446) walkie-talkies are also in the UHF frequency band, using a range of channels in the 446 MHz frequency.

What’s the problem?

People use radios or walkie-talkies in lots of different environments: indoors, outdoors or at sea, from warehouses to building sites, mountains to shopping malls, farms, mines, ships and sports stadia. 

The main problem is that, for complicated reasons, VHF and UHF radios each tend to operate better in certain environments. Some of the examples above pose problems of sheer distance between users; others involve a rugged landscape or a built-up area with lots of obstacles. 

The good news is, either frequency band can work just fine if you don’t have a long range to cover. Where there may be issues, there’s usually an VHF or UHF radio solution for most environmental conditions. 

About VHF

Radios operating on VHF frequencies are very popular for professional applications. VHF radio is generally a line-of-sight form of communication, working better outdoors in open terrain. In the right conditions, VHF transmissions can travel much further than UHF for a similar power output. For this reason, VHF radios are used exclusively in marine communications and aviation environments.

It’s also why, in open countryside, a VHF radio is the ideal choice, allowing good communication over longer distances. 

Ideal uses for VHF radios

• Offshore or inland waterways
• Construction sites
• Golf courses
• Rural environments with fewer obstacles

However, VHF frequencies become weaker and aren’t as effective where there are lots of dense, solid objects between users, for example inside buildings. This might not be too much of an issue where the distance between users isn’t too great, and even then, external antennas or repeaters can help to eliminate some of the issues.

About UHF

UHF radio frequencies have less range than VHF, but they are still very popular with users in many operating conditions, in particular indoor environments, heavily wooded or hilly landscapes, or built-up urban areas. This is because UHF wavelengths can find their way more easily around dense objects and obstacles than VHF.

There's also a wider number of frequencies available to UHF, which means there’s less chance of interference from other systems. 

For users who want a radio that’s a good “all-rounder”, indoors and out, a UHF radio may come with some limitations, but it is generally a good choice.

Ideal uses for UHF radios

• Office blocks
• Warehouses
• University or medical campus
• Security in a built-up town or city environment

Typically, antennas on UHF radios are shorter than those on VHF radios, because they don’t need to facilitate transmission over such long distances.

Can UHF and VHF radios communicate?

Unfortunately, no; VHF and UHF radios can’t communicate with each other. You should keep this in mind if you are adding new two-way radios to an existing network of units.

Another option - PoC Radios

Technology marches on, and here at RadioTrader, it's no longer simply a question of UHF vs VHF when it comes to the right radio solution for a customer. Push-to-talk over cellular devices (PoC) don’t use radio waves at all. They operate using a broadband or 4G LTE cellular network, on devices that can look a lot like a two-way radio or a mobile phone. In fact some PoC platforms, like our own Connect Plus, can work via an app on your existing mobile device. 

Unlike mobile phones, which only support one-to-one calls, PoC devices support individual or group transmissions, as you’d expect from a two-way radio. They also include many of the same advanced radio features that enable you to enhance your team's safety and productivity.

The useful advantage of PoC systems over VHF and UHF devices is that they can communicate over any distance at all, and they aren’t affected by built-up areas or obstacles.

Need more infromation? Please get in touch with us for more advice about the best two-way radio system for your business.