Thread: hiring vhf/uhf radios

If you 'need' a radio, a 5W UHF handheld is the way to, but as previously mentioned your performance will vary due to the topography and forest density. It will largely be 'line of sight' as there are no repeaters available on the island.

VHF are available for purchase 'off the shelf' for marine application but an MVOC licence is needed to transmit (though the vast amount of recreational operators on our waters don't hold one), and other bands on the VHF spectrum are restricted to licenced operators (commercial and amateur bands). VHF tends to function better in the bush (forestry, DOC, SAR etc use an assortment of fixed and portable VHF radios) These bands are usually unable to be purchased off the shelf without a licence, but as mentioned above, there are no off the shelf solutions for unlicenced operators (unless someone was to use marine band VHF ensuring that they are not operating on any channels that are port/shipping/designated safety channel).

If you NEED comms between party members with more assurance of reliability, maybe see if there are InReach products available for rent? Otherwise nothing a good gps or offline gps app can't sort.

*edit - spelling, some grammar