Our fixed-course range protocol. Results appear only when we’ve actually run it.
In one line
Squelch Lab hasn’t run a range test yet. These are the courses and measurements we’ll use, published before the first result.
No radio or antenna has been tested yet. These slots fill in when real measurements exist.
miles
Same two points each time: a forest trail, a canyon, and a suburban grid. We check whether a message gets through, then read back five standard phrases at each marker.
“Up to 35 miles” on the box assumes mountaintop to mountaintop. You need a number for your terrain.
Read the protocolW
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 protocolSWR
Vector network analyzer sweep from 462 to 468 MHz, on the vehicle and on a ground plane.
A mistuned mobile antenna wastes power on exactly the repeater inputs you need.
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 protocol