Manufacturers power and range claims exposed!

[Mike_Shearer]

@jwilkers

Back then they were advertised as “18 mile” radios. The new 850s have a lower power output but have a greater advertised range.

Are you 100% sure that no improvements and or changes were made to the newer receiver circuity?

Are you assuming that both receivers are IDENTICAL?

We can not assume that range between any two units is based only on the transmitters effective power output unless receive circuits ARE identical.

How much range could one expect with a 50 watt transmitter and a crystal set type receive circuit?

@Mike_Shearer

As the technology improves the receivers capture and signal to noise ratio also improves. It is far less expensive and more cost effective from a manufactures point to build a better receiver into the newer units employing higher gain and/or lower noise figures then to implement much more expensive power output devises that will suck up more power while lower the battery operating life attribute.

The most important point about UHF radio range is that ANTENNA HEIGHT is more important than the output power of the device.

@Mike_Shearer

If the antenna height is tripled then you have the potential to double your range at no additional cost. Employing a FRS/GMRS combination unit ~~~~

–mike shearer–