Is the UV5R better than the UV5? The more initials the better? LOL What would be best for a 60 mile range/reach? Is that possible with handheld?
Ed has the UV6D V2 on sale.
http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?item_id=307&category_id=66
I have the 2D I take with me on the motorcycles I mentioned on the other thread.
I mean the Wouxun.
Pretty much the same thing. They have a new one out with even more initials; Not much functional difference.
You might get 60 miles from mountain top to mountain top 'if the wind is blowing in the right direction'. Pretty much need to have base station antenna to do it reliably, and even then terrain is the key.
You might be surprised how much of the nation is covered with repeaters though, which if you know how to work them, (I don't) you can talk a LONG ways.
No. 60 miles with a handheld would be impossible UNLESS you're flying in an airplane. I've flown with my HT and reached 100 miles plus, but then again I was at 20,000 feet so it was easy to do. On the ground, no way. I was really pushing it just being able to key my own repeater from the distance I did. Likely any audio I'd have tried sending would've been unintelligible.
I can easily get 60-90 miles on my 2Meter rig using my beam. My vertial (omnidirectional) I've managed to get as far as 150 miles, but that was with a good amount of ducting going on.
I don't see the UV5R being markedly better than the UV5. Might have a few bug fixes here and there, otherwise same functionality.