What Next: Handheld Problems

I’ve Got a Handheld – Why Can’t I Hear Anyone?

You’ve bought a 2m/70cm handheld, switched it on, scanned around the bands and… nothing.

Don’t assume there’s nobody out there – and don’t assume there’s anything wrong with your radio. This is a very common experience for newly-licensed amateurs.

How much you hear on VHF and UHF depends on several things, particularly your antenna, location, radio settings and when you’re listening.

1. Your handheld antenna has limitations

The small flexible antenna supplied with most handheld radios is convenient, but it’s a compromise. Used inside a house, its effective range may be surprisingly limited.

On VHF and UHF, height and location can make a huge difference.

Try taking the radio upstairs, standing near a window or, better still, taking it outside. If you can get to some higher ground with a reasonably clear view of the surrounding area, you may hear considerably more.

If that makes a big difference, you’ve already identified one of the main limitations – your antenna and location rather than the radio itself.

2. Check your radio settings

It’s worth checking the simple things:

• Volume – make sure it’s actually turned up!
• Squelch – if this is set too high, weaker signals may never open the squelch. Try reducing it.
• Frequency – make sure you’re listening in the appropriate part of the amateur band.
• Repeater settings – if you’re trying to transmit through a repeater, check the frequency, offset and CTCSS tone.

3. Try a local repeater

A local analogue repeater is often one of the best places to start with a handheld.

Repeaters are normally installed at good locations with effective antennas, allowing them to hear handheld and mobile stations over a much larger area.

Find a few nearby repeaters, programme them into your radio and leave the radio listening for a while. Some repeaters are busy; others may remain silent for long periods.

What Next: Getting Started with Repeaters ↗

4. Listen on the calling frequencies

For FM voice, two useful frequencies to monitor are:

• 145.500MHz – 2m FM calling frequency
• 433.500MHz – 70cm FM calling frequency

These are calling frequencies rather than general chat channels. Stations may call there and then move to another suitable simplex frequency to continue their conversation.

You can also scan the simplex voice parts of the bands for local activity.

5. Try listening at different times

VHF and UHF aren’t necessarily busy all day. You could listen for ten minutes, hear absolutely nothing and conclude that the band is dead – only to find the same frequency busy later that evening.

Try listening at different times and find out whether local clubs run scheduled nets. A net gives you a known frequency and time when other amateurs should be on air.

What Next: Finding and Joining Amateur Radio Nets ↗

6. Improve the antenna

If you want to get more from your handheld, improving the antenna can make a much bigger difference than simply buying a more expensive radio.

Options include:

• A better handheld antenna
• A temporary antenna positioned higher up
• A mag-mount antenna on a car
• A simple Slim Jim antenna
• An external VHF/UHF antenna mounted outside and as high as practical

A modest handheld connected to a good external antenna can perform very differently from the same radio using its supplied antenna indoors.

7. Try operating portable

If your home is surrounded by buildings or you’re in a low-lying area, you may simply have a poor VHF/UHF location.

Take your handheld somewhere higher and more open and try again. A local hill, open space or other elevated location can transform the range of a 5-watt handheld.

Still can’t hear anyone?

We’ve got a more detailed guide covering activity, frequencies, antennas, locations, radio settings and other ways of finding people on air:

Amateur Radio Activity – Where Is Everyone? ↗

If you can hear people but aren’t sure how to make a call yourself, see:

What Next: Making Your First Contact ↗

Was this helpful?

What Next? is still in beta. If you’ve got a handheld and are struggling to hear or contact anyone, we’d particularly like to hear what’s happening. Your feedback can help us improve this guide for other newly-licensed amateurs.