Long Range Radio

MF/HF Long Range Radio

Initial calls on a MF/HF Long Range radio are not quite as straight forward as VHF calls although the principles remain the same. After making contact using one of the distress or first contact frequencies the stations are required to move to any one of a number of "working frequencies".

When choosing the correct frequency the radio operator must consider the time of day and the transmission distance to the receiving station. The general rule of thumb is "the higher the sun the higher the frequency" and "the greater the distance the higher the frequency". There are no hard and fast rules for this as it is a matter of experience of the operator.

The operator must also choose a frequency that is likely to be monitored and one that has the lowest effective frequency.