Handhelds, mobiles and base radios: power, receivers and what’s actually certified.
In one line
Pick by where the radio lives. Handhelds suit hiking and camp. Mobiles can legally run up to 50 W on the main channels, which is what trail convoys usually need.
No radio or antenna has been tested yet. These slots fill in when real measurements exist.
W
Conducted power into a calibrated attenuator and wattmeter on every channel group, with a full battery and a low battery.
Rated power and delivered power differ, and the rules cap some channels at 5 W or 0.5 W ERP.
Read the protocolµV (12 dB SINAD)
Signal generator into the antenna port, stepped down until audio hits 12 dB SINAD.
Hearing weak stations matters as much as transmit power.
Read the protocoldB(A) @ 1 m
A-weighted level at 1 m from a standard tone at full volume, plus clarity notes taken in a moving vehicle.
In a rig on washboard road, loud and clear beats every other spec.
Read the protocolGuides for this section are in research. [TO FILL]