Marine Dictionary & Glossary of Boating Terms

VHF

Acronym for Very High Frequency radio waves; a bandwidth frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, its is commonly used by marine radios, it can be more easily blocked by land features than HF or lower frequencies. VHF Radio waves are ideal for short-distance communication, with a range somewhat farther than line-of-sight from the transmitter.

Unlike high frequencies (HF), the ionosphere does not usually reflect VHF radio and thus transmissions are restricted to the local area. VHF is also less affected by atmospheric noise and interference from electrical equipment than lower frequencies.