How Far Can a Police Radio Reach?
What Determines Police Radio Range?
Police departments typically use VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) two‑way radios. The distance that these radios can communicate depends on many factors: frequency, power, antenna height, terrain, and whether a repeater is used.
- VHF (30–300 MHz) is often used for outdoor operations.
- UHF (300 MHz–3 GHz) tends to do better in built-up areas, because its signal penetrates structures more effectively.
- Transmitter power, both on the portable radio and on the repeater or base station, is critical.
Typical Range Without a Repeater
When police officers use their handheld radios without a repeater (simplex mode), the range is limited by line-of-sight and typical power levels:
- In ideal open terrain (no buildings or heavy obstructions), a handheld police radio might reach 3–5 miles (4.8–8 km).
- In urban environments, where buildings block signal, the range can be much lower.
How Repeaters Extend the Range
Police systems almost always rely on repeaters to dramatically improve coverage. A repeater is a radio installed at a high location (like a tower) that receives weak signals and rebroadcasts them at higher power.
- A typical repeater’s coverage radius might be 20 miles (32 km) in many real-world settings.
- Under optimal conditions (high elevation repeater plus clear terrain), coverage can extend even further — some repeaters may provide 50+ miles (80+ km) of reach.
- The height of the repeater antenna is especially important: higher antennas = more line-of-sight, which means more coverage.
Other Propagation Factors
Beyond repeaters, there are additional propagation phenomena that sometimes come into play in radio communications:
- Tropospheric scatter: At UHF/Microwave frequencies, some signals can scatter off the troposphere, allowing communication beyond the normal horizon.
- Antenna configuration: Elevated or directional antennas significantly improve effective range.
Real‑World Examples from Users
- Some law‑enforcement handheld radios, under ideal conditions, have been reported to reach up to 10 miles or more when communicating to a repeater or between vehicles. (Reddit)
- In a test, one user said his handheld could hit a repeater 45 miles away when both were on elevated terrain.
Typical Public Safety Systems
- Many public safety (police, fire, EMS) systems in the U.S. use trunked radio systems in VHF or UHF bands.
- Trunking allows many users to share a limited number of channels efficiently, but doesn’t necessarily increase the range of individual radios — that’s still a function of repeater coverage, power, and terrain.
Bottom Line: So, How Far Can a Police Radio Really Reach?
- Handheld (simplex): Usually a few miles (3–5), depending heavily on environment.
- With a repeater: Coverage can increase dramatically — 20 miles is fairly common, and under ideal conditions, 50+ miles is possible.
- Maximum range: Limited more by infrastructure (repeater placement, antenna height) than by the power of the handheld radios alone.
Why This Matters for Two‑Way Radio Buyers
If you’re supplying or buying radios for public safety, here are a few take‑aways:
- Use repeaters: A well-placed repeater network is essential for wide-area coverage.
- Optimize antenna height: Whether on vehicles or towers, higher antennas = better reach.
- Choose the right band: VHF for long outdoor range; UHF for urban penetration.
- Plan for redundancy: Ensure coverage overlap and backup in case of site failure.
Looking to equip a public safety team, security force, or first-responder unit? We offer professional-grade police/tactical two-way radios, repeaters, antennas, and customized communications solutions.
Contact us now for a quote — we’ll help you design a radio system that meets your coverage and operational needs.
