Most new operators live on VHF/UHF FM through repeaters. There is a great deal more up there.
Simplex
Direct radio to radio, no repeater. The national 2 m FM simplex calling frequency is 146.520 MHz — call there, then move off it to talk. Simplex range with handhelds is a few miles; with a mobile and an outdoor antenna, often 20 or more.
Weak-signal SSB and CW
The bottom of each VHF band (144.200 MHz on 2 m) is SSB territory, worked with horizontal Yagis. Contacts of several hundred miles are normal, and thousands during openings.
Propagation modes worth knowing
- Tropospheric ducting — weather-driven, extends VHF hundreds of miles, often overnight.
- Sporadic E — intense summer ionisation that opens 6 m and occasionally 2 m across continents.
- Meteor scatter — brief reflections off meteor trails, worked with digital modes.
- EME (moonbounce) — bouncing signals off the moon; specialised, and no longer requires a huge
station thanks to digital modes.
Activity nights and contests
Many regions run weekly VHF activity nights on SSB. VHF contests in January, June and September fill otherwise-quiet bands and are an easy way to find out what your station can really do.
Antennas
Height wins. A modest antenna on a roof outperforms a superb one indoors. Vertical polarisation for FM and repeaters, horizontal for SSB/CW weak-signal work — mixing them costs about 20 dB.