Amatuer radio questions

[Lightspeed]

You're right NR 05w isn't going to get you the 20 mile range that you're looking for. Not unless can get your transmitter and antenna very high above the ground that is.

70cm repeaters can be reliably accessed from 15 to 20miles away using 0.5w provided there is a clearish line of sight between repeater and transmitter, so its not just the power that is the issue.

I'm hard pressed to think of any license free hand held radio that will reliably perform this task fron a normal ground level operating position using its stock antenna.

A line of sight calculator indicates that both transmitter and receiving antenna need to be at least 50ft above ground level to have any hope of achieving contact. see http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/java/horizon.htm

Maybe someone else can suggest something?

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There are some fanatical PMR446 operators who are achieving longer range contacts with their standard radios.

Look at the DX and DX weekend section of the web site http://www.delboys446.co.uk/