VHF radio waves propagate mainly by line-of-sight , so they are blocked by hills and mountains, although due to refraction they can travel somewhat beyond the visual horizon out to about 160 km (100 miles).
Read moreHow do VHF radios transmit?
To use your VHF, turn it on and pick a channel, set the squelch to the point where you don’t hear any white noise, and begin talking . Things to remember when you are on the radio: Monitor channel 16 when you are not actively in conversation with someone else.
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