Industry Guide
Stay Connected Anywhere: The Ultimate Guide to LRDR, UHF & VHF Radios
Your guide to choosing the right two-way radio system
Whether you're deep in the bush, offshore, in a warehouse, or on a high-rise site—when mobile networks drop out, two-way radios keep teams connected. VHF and UHF systems cover short to mid-range line-of-sight (LOS) needs. For beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) coverage—across terrain, distance, or infrastructure—digitally enhanced HF systems like our Long Range Digital Radio (LRDR) go the distance.
This guide breaks down how each system works, when to use it, and how to choose the right setup for your team.
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At a Glance: LRDR, VHF & UHF Radios
Choosing the right radio starts with where you work, how far you need to talk, and what’s in the way.
LRDR (HF)
Frequency Range:
3-30 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
BLOS – Ionosphere bounce
Key Benefits:
Works off-grid, huge range, repeater infrastructure not required
Gear Type:
Base kits, vehicles kits, manpacks
VHF
Frequency Range:
118-174 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
LOS – Clear open paths
Key Benefits:
Long battery life, good for open areas
Gear Type:
Handhelds, mobile, base radios, repeaters
UHF
Frequency Range:
400-520 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
LOS – Great indoors
Key Benefits:
Strong signal through buildings, more channels
Gear Type:
Handhelds, mobile, base radios, repeaters
At a Glance: LRDR, VHF & UHF Radios
Choosing the right radio starts with where you work, how far you need to talk, and what’s in the way.
LRDR (HF)
Frequency Range:
3-30 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
BLOS – Ionosphere bounce
Key Benefits:
Works off-grid, huge range, repeater infrastructure not required
Gear Type:
Base kits, vehicles kits, manpacks
VHF
Frequency Range:
118-174 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
LOS – Clear open paths
Key Benefits:
Long battery life, good for open areas
Gear Type:
Handhelds, mobile, base radios, repeaters
UHF
Frequency Range:
400-520 megahertz (MHz)
Best For:
Range & Signal:
LOS – Great indoors
Key Benefits:
Strong signal through buildings, more channels
Gear Type:
Handhelds, mobile, base radios, repeaters
Industry and Application Guide
Not all radios are built for the same job. Your worksite—whether it's a wide-open farm, a high-rise construction zone,
or a remote clinic—will determine whether UHF, VHF, or HF (LRDR) is the right fit.
Which radio is right for your industry?
Defence & Emergency Services
Best Fit: VHF/UHF, LRDR, Nexion
Recommended Gear: We build systems that combine Motorola, Tait, Icom and Codan solutions to ensure seamless switching between different networks, technologies or backups in remote location.
Great for those in critical communications - Police, Fire, Ambulance, SES, Defence Force.
Health Care & Hospitals
Best Fit: UHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: In busy hospitals filled with shielding, UHF gives clear, room-to-room voice coverage. No mobile dead spots. No dropped calls. In remote clinics, Codan LRDR links isolated locations back to major centres. It’s how we’ve helped teams stay connected without relying on mobile coverage.
Remote operations? We’ve used Codan LRDR (HF) to link remote PNG clinics and central hospitals. Read the case study.
Mining Operations
Best Fit: LRDR (HF) + UHF + VHF
Recommended Gear: Codan HF radios, Tait and Motorola UHF/VHF systems, Nexion integrated platforms
From underground shafts to remote camps, mining operations need all three. LRDR for remote base camp links, VHF for open-pit field teams, and UHF for internal crew comms. We integrate them into one seamless system.
Maritime & Offshore
Best Fit: VHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: Icom VHF marine radios, Codan LRDR
VHF is the standard for on-water comms—short-range, reliable, and compliant with marine safety rules. For open-sea or cross-island links, LRDR fills the gaps and ensures emergency contact is always on tap.
Building & Urban Construction
Best Fit: UHF handhelds or mobile radios
Recommended Gear: GME UHF handhelds, Motorola digital trunking systems
Urban sites are full of steel and signal-blockers. UHF radios cut through that clutter, keeping crane operators, ground crews, and site managers in sync. Motorola’s digital networks scale across larger developments for site-wide coordination.
Agriculture & Farming
Best Fit: VHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola, Tait or Icom licenced VHF solution
VHF is ideal for wide, open landscapes—covering paddocks, hills, and back blocks with fewer black spots. Use mobile radios around sheds, vehicles, and equipment in closer quarters.
Add a VHF repeater and you can extend coverage across larger properties or neighbouring stations.
Manufacturing & Warehouses
Best Fit: UHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola or Tait licensed UHF, Icom or GME CB radios
Large buildings packed with machinery and shelving are UHF territory. Digital UHF radios provide crystal-clear comms with minimal dropouts, even through concrete and steel.
Great for forklift operators, pick-pack teams, and safety staff.
Schools & Education Facilities
Best Fit: UHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: Whether it's a preschool, school or university—UHF radios are great for short-range, building-to-building communication. They're perfect for day-to-day coordination across a campus or between nearby buildings. In remote or infrastructure-poor regions, such as PNG, Codan LRDR radios provide reliable, long-distance communication. They don't rely on mobile networks or towers, keeping even the most isolated schools connected to central hubs. Read the case study.
Zoos & Theme Parks
Best Fit: UHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola or Tait licensed UHF, Icom or GME CB radios
Large-scale events, festivals, and public venues like theme parks and zoos demand reliable, interference-resistant communication. UHF radios thrive in these environments—cutting through background noise and keeping teams synced across sprawling sites, indoors and out.
At Australia Zoo, we deployed a Hytera trunking system for instant, site-wide voice coverage across exhibits, guest services, and operations. Read the case study.
Defence & Emergency Services
Best Fit: VHF/UHF, LRDR, Nexion
Recommended Gear: We build systems that combine Motorola, Tait, Icom and Codan solutions to ensure seamless switching between different networks, technologies or backups in remote location.
Great for those in critical communications - Police, Fire, Ambulance, SES, Defence Force.
Health Care & Hospitals
Best Fit: UHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: In busy hospitals filled with shielding, UHF gives clear, room-to-room voice coverage. No mobile dead spots. No dropped calls. In remote clinics, Codan LRDR links isolated locations back to major centres. It’s how we’ve helped teams stay connected without relying on mobile coverage.
Remote operations? We’ve used Codan LRDR (HF) to link remote PNG clinics and central hospitals. Read the case study.
Mining Operations
Best Fit: LRDR (HF) + UHF + VHF
Recommended Gear: Codan HF radios, Tait and Motorola UHF/VHF systems, Nexion integrated platforms
From underground shafts to remote camps, mining operations need all three. LRDR for remote base camp links, VHF for open-pit field teams, and UHF for internal crew comms. We integrate them into one seamless system.
Maritime & Offshore
Best Fit: VHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: Icom VHF marine radios, Codan LRDR
VHF is the standard for on-water comms—short-range, reliable, and compliant with marine safety rules. For open-sea or cross-island links, LRDR fills the gaps and ensures emergency contact is always on tap.
Building & Urban Construction
Best Fit: UHF handhelds or mobile radios
Recommended Gear: GME UHF handhelds, Motorola digital trunking systems
Urban sites are full of steel and signal-blockers. UHF radios cut through that clutter, keeping crane operators, ground crews, and site managers in sync. Motorola’s digital networks scale across larger developments for site-wide coordination.
Agriculture & Farming
Best Fit: VHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola, Tait or Icom licenced VHF solution
VHF is ideal for wide, open landscapes—covering paddocks, hills, and back blocks with fewer black spots. Use mobile radios around sheds, vehicles, and equipment in closer quarters.
Add a VHF repeater and you can extend coverage across larger properties or neighbouring stations.
Manufacturing & Warehouses
Best Fit: UHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola or Tait licensed UHF, Icom or GME CB radios
Large buildings packed with machinery and shelving are UHF territory. Digital UHF radios provide crystal-clear comms with minimal dropouts, even through concrete and steel.
Great for forklift operators, pick-pack teams, and safety staff.
Schools & Education Facilities
Best Fit: UHF + LRDR (HF)
Recommended Gear: Whether it's a preschool, school or university—UHF radios are great for short-range, building-to-building communication. They're perfect for day-to-day coordination across a campus or between nearby buildings. In remote or infrastructure-poor regions, such as PNG, Codan LRDR radios provide reliable, long-distance communication. They don't rely on mobile networks or towers, keeping even the most isolated schools connected to central hubs. Read the case study.
Zoos & Theme Parks
Best Fit: UHF handhelds and mobile radios
Recommended Gear: Motorola or Tait licensed UHF, Icom or GME CB radios
Large-scale events, festivals, and public venues like theme parks and zoos demand reliable, interference-resistant communication. UHF radios thrive in these environments—cutting through background noise and keeping teams synced across sprawling sites, indoors and out.
At Australia Zoo, we deployed a Hytera trunking system for instant, site-wide voice coverage across exhibits, guest services, and operations. Read the case study.
Trusted Experts in LRDR, VHF, UHF
Stay connected, no matter where the job takes you.
We design, install and support LRDR (HF), VHF, and UHF radio systems for:
- Mining & remote industrial ops
- Construction & warehousing
- Agriculture & rural work
- Emergency services & Defence
- Maritime, aviation & transport
- Events, zoos & public spaces
More than just radios
Having the right gear is one thing. Having the right partner is what makes it work.
We’re proud to be the only Codan-authorised service centre in the region. That means:
- Certified installation
- Ongoing support
- Licensing advice
- Real-world expertise
What you get:
- ️Technical Advice – Choose the right system
- Diagnostics & Testing – Find faults fast
- Repairs & Maintenance – Done right, backed by Codan
What is LRDR?
LRDR (Long Range Digital Radio) is the modern digital evolution of HF (High Frequency) radio.
- Frequency Range: 3-30 megahertz (MHz)
- Best For: Remote ops, disaster response, offshore clinics, defence ops
LRDR uses the same long-range HF frequencies but adds digital voice tech. That means clearer, faster, and more secure comms especially when towers are down or there’s no infrastructure at all. It works by bouncing signals off the ionosphere, so it keeps talking across mountains, oceans, and blackouts.
Handheld LRDR
You won’t find HF in your back pocket—but portable kits do exist. These typically include:
- A compact (but bulky) transceiver
- External antenna
- Battery pack or solar rig
Used by: Defence units, mobile clinics, emergency responders.
Fixed LRDR
- Installed in vehicles, aircraft, or remote bases
- Runs on mains, solar, or vehicle power
- Often includes GPS and digital voice
- Models like the Codan Envoy X2 offer secure, off-grid voice and data links
Off-grid. Still online.
HF Bridging the Gap:
When LOS breaks down, LRDR (HF) kicks in. This visual shows how LRDR uses the ionosphere to jump terrain. Remote health post? Mobile crew in the hills? You’re still connected.
What is VHF?
VHF stands for Very High Frequency.
- Frequency Range: 118-174 megahertz (MHz)
- Best For: Farms, marine, aviation, remote industrial sites
They use less power than UHF and work well in over flat or open terrain. VHF relies on LOS (Line of Sight), so their performance drops in hilly or built-up environments. VHF performs better over rugged terrain with lots of vegetation.
Handheld VHF Radios
- Portable, battery-powered
- 5W of transmit power
- Easy to use with emergency functions and GPS
Fixed VHF Radios
- Permanently installed so requires a hardwired power source
- They have 5x more power output (typically) than a handheld
- Range of mounting options for vehicles including remote mount
Across vast open terrains. Reliable reach.
VHF in action:
Used on land and sea, VHF radios connect ships, trucks, and command centres—if they’ve got line of sight. But throw in a mountain, and you’ll hit BLOS limits unless you’ve got a repeater. A repeater acts as a middle man allowing you to transmit over greater distances.
What is UHF?
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) thrives where other radios choke—inside buildings or busy sites.
- Frequency Range: 400-520 megahertz (MHz)
- Best For: Construction, warehouses, hospitals, events
UHF penetrates through concrete, metal, and walls better than VHF. Great for short-range clarity, especially in cluttered or urban zones.
Handheld UHF CB Radios
- Battery-powered and clip-on ready
- Small and compact devices
- Perfect for mobile teams and foot patrols
Fixed UHF CB Radios
- Installed in vehicles or machinery
- Small, rugged, and easy to operate via mic
- Ideal for tight spaces or fleet setup
Short range. Sharp clarity. Site wide control.
UHF at work:
Inside a warehouse near a regional depot, UHF radios keep teams tight—linking admin, vehicles, and gate security. Clear paths mean clear comms.
Frequently asked questions
UHF is ideal for indoor or built-up environments—perfect for warehouses, hospitals, and construction sites. VHF performs best in wide-open areas like farms, oceans, and airspace. Choosing the right radio depends on your location and how you work.
CB UHF radios (like GME) are licence-free and great for short-range use. Commercial UHF and VHF radios (Motorola, Tait, Hytera) may require an ACMA licence. Marine and aviation VHF radios also need a licence or operator certificate for safety and compliance.
Not natively, but with our systems—yes. SmartPatch bridges them. We provide Radio over IP (RoIP) and interoperability solutions, seamlessly integrating UHF and VHF systems using SmartPatch gateways and other advanced technologies. This allows teams using different radio bands — or even different brands — to communicate clearly and reliably.
In Australia, marine and aviation VHF radios generally require an operator certificate (like the MROVCP) for legal and safety compliance. It's a quick course and often a legal must-have for skippers and pilots.
It depends how remote you’re going—and how far you’ll be from help. Travelling solo or in a group? Need voice, GPS, or SOS?
Often, UHF radios are the go-to—especially for 4WD and out bush.
UHF CB – Great for convoy comms, campsites, and farm work. Best within 20km line-of-sight. No licence needed. Recommended by Bush Search and Rescue NSW and trusted by 4WD clubs. GME is a standout—rugged, reliable, and built for Aussie conditions.
LRDR (HF) – For serious remote travel and station use. Gives you voice comms when mobile and UHF drop out. No towers, no worries.
It depends on your setup. For many warehouses, UHF radios like the Motorola DLR1060, GME TX685, or Hytera PD462 offer great digital clarity, battery life, and indoor range.
But if your site is larger, multi-level, or needs integration with office systems, it’s worth looking at IP or cellular-based options too—especially if you're running Wi-Fi or have mobile data on site. In those cases, we’d suggest talking to us about a blended UHF + IP solution that fits how your team actually works.
Absolutely. We design, install, and support custom UHF, VHF, and HF radio systems across Australia, PNG, and the South Pacific. We also train your team so you’re ready from day one.
Yes—we’re the only Authorised Codan Service Centre in the region. That means:
- Certified diagnostics and repairs
- Genuine Codan parts
- Expert support for long-range HF and digital systems
Visit Our Service Centre
Every radio band has its strength. When you combine them right, you get coverage that doesn’t quit.
“It’s not which is better—it’s how they work together.”
At Mobile Communications, we build hybrid systems using UHF, VHF, LRDR (HF), LTE, and Satellite so your comms work anywhere. Creating integrated networks that let each frequency do what it does best.
With Nexion’s SmartPatch and Vehicle-as-a-Node (VaaN) tech, we deliver:
- Auto-switching radios—always on the strongest signal
- Cross-band coverage—HF, LTE, UHF, VHF, all talking together
- Peak performance—across terrain, gear, and teams
Smarter Together: Integrated Comms
Let’s talk frequency
We don’t use the whole spectrum, we use the part that works.
While VHF and UHF technically cover wide frequency ranges, our systems are tuned for the actual usable bands in field and emergency applications:
- LRDR (HF) (3-30 MHz) – Reliable long-range communication without repeater infrastructure
- VHF (118-174 MHz) – Great in open terrain like paddocks, airstrips, or bush
- UHF (400-520 MHz) – Reliable in built-up areas with sheds, walls, and gear in the way
These are the frequencies that are licensed, proven, and supported across government, council, and commercial deployments.
What is frequency?
It’s how radio waves move through the air. Measured in MHz (Megahertz), it tells you how often a wave oscillates per second.
1 Hz = 1 cycle/second
1 MHz = 1 million cycles/second
Higher frequency = shorter range, better penetration.
Lower frequency = longer range, less interference handling.
Why Frequency Choice Matters
When the grid’s down, radio keeps your team talking.
- Survives blackouts
- Works without tower
- Cuts through terrain
- Keeps people safe
The right frequency means the difference between crystal-clear comms and silence—whether you’re in the bush, offshore, or deep inside a building.
LOS vs BLOS: What’s blocking your signal?
Before choosing a radio, ask yourself:
How far does it need to talk—and what’s in the way?
Line of Sight (LOS) – Direct but Limited
LOS comms rely on a clear, unobstructed path between radios. Think open ground, flat terrain, or tall antennas. But hills, buildings, or thick bush? They’ll block your signal.
- Used By: UHF and VHF radios
- Range: 1–10 km (terrain, elevation, and gear depending)
- Best For: Vehicle convoys, site-wide teams, urban ops
Want to go further? Add a repeater.
You can extend LOS range using a repeater—a unit placed somewhere high (like a hill or tower). Each radio talks up to the repeater on one frequency, and it retransmits the message back down on another. That’s called duplex.
No repeater? You’re in simplex mode—radios talk directly, using the same frequency both ways. Great for short-range, quick comms.
Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) – Go the Distance
BLOS overcomes terrain blocks. HF radio—also called Long Range Digital Radio (LRDR)—uses the ionosphere to bounce signals across hundreds or thousands of kilometres. No towers. No repeaters.
- Used By: HF (LRDR) radios
- Range: Hundreds to thousands of km
- Best For: Remote ops, marine, aviation, anywhere off-grid
This is your lifeline when mobile coverage fails—or never existed to begin with. From coastlines to clinics in the bush, LRDR keeps you talking.
Contact us
Contact us today to discuss how we can solve your communication challenges. Let’s create a tailored system that keeps you connected and keeps your people safe—whenever and wherever they need it.