VHF · UHF · SHF — Local to Microwave
From 2-meter FM nets in Las Vegas to 10 GHz microwave contacts — these bands are where you meet your neighbors, link across continents via the internet, and push into territory most people don't know exists.
Repeaters — How They Work
A repeater is a radio on a hill (or tall building) that listens on one frequency and retransmits on another. Your handheld might only reach a few miles — but through a repeater on Mount Potosi or Frenchman Mountain, you can cover the entire Las Vegas valley and beyond.
Why Repeaters Matter
- Extended range — Talk across a metro area with a 5-watt handheld
- Nets — Scheduled on-air meetings for clubs, emergency groups, and special interests
- Emergency comms — When phones fail, repeaters often keep working
- Gateway to digital — Many repeaters carry D-STAR, DMR, or Fusion
In Las Vegas, popular 2m repeaters include club systems across the valley. Check RepeaterBook for current frequencies, tones, and coverage maps.
IRLP & EchoLink — Voice Over the Internet
These systems bridge radio and the internet, letting you talk to hams worldwide from your local repeater or handheld.
IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project)
Uses Voice over IP to connect repeaters and simplex nodes. Dial a 4-digit node number on DTMF tones and you're linked to Australia, Japan, or a remote Alaskan village. Requires a radio — no computer needed at the user end.
Over 1,500 nodes worldwide. Many repeaters in Nevada and across the US support IRLP.
EchoLink
Similar concept, larger user base. Connect via a repeater with DTMF, or use the EchoLink app on your phone or computer (requires valid ham license verification). Great for checking into nets when you're traveling without a radio.
Other Linking Systems
- AllStar — Open-source linking using Asterisk PBX. Popular for club repeaters.
- Wires-X / D-STAR / DMR networks — Digital linking covered on our Digital page.
- Hamshack Hotline — Free SIP phone network for hams.
Analog Modes on VHF/UHF
FM Voice
The bread and butter. Simplex (radio-to-radio) on 146.520 MHz (2m calling) or 446.000 MHz (70cm calling), or through repeaters. Nets, ragchews, emergency drills.
APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System)
Send your GPS position, weather data, and short messages over radio. Visible on aprs.fi maps in real time. Great for tracking hikers, bike events, or balloon launches.
Packet & SSTV
Old-school data modes still used by enthusiasts. Slow-scan TV (SSTV) sends pictures over voice channels — popular on ISS passes.
Microwave & SHF — Above 1 GHz
This is where ham radio gets seriously cool. Bands at 1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.6 GHz, 10 GHz, and higher enable line-of-sight contacts over surprising distances — and feed into moonbounce (EME) and satellite work.
Microwave operation requires precise frequency stability (GPS-disciplined oscillators), low-loss feedlines, and often dish or parabolic antennas. It's challenging but incredibly rewarding — and the gear is getting more accessible.
Icom IC-905 — The Microwave Flagship
Icom's IC-905 is the industry's first all-mode transceiver covering 144 MHz through 10 GHz in one modular system. It's a game-changer for VHF/UHF/SHF enthusiasts.
- Coverage: 144, 430, 1200, 2400, 5600 MHz native — plus 10 GHz with optional CX-10G transverter
- Modes: SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY, D-STAR (DV/DD), ATV
- Power: 10W on 144/430/1200 MHz, 2W on 2.4/5.6 GHz, 0.5W on 10 GHz
- Design: Separate controller and RF unit — mount the RF unit at the antenna to minimize cable loss
- Display: 4.3" color touchscreen with spectrum scope and waterfall
- Stability: GPS-disciplined OCXO for microwave-grade frequency accuracy
Firmware v1.20 and CS-905 programming software updated October 2025. Also check out the new ID-5200 for VHF/UHF mobile digital — our Innovation Corner has the latest.