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Calcimator

Military Radio Range Calculator

Calculate effective communication range from transmitter power, antenna specifications, frequency, and terrain for tactical radio planning.

Inputs

dBm
dBi
dBm
MHz
ft
ft

Results

Effective Range

6.99 km

≈ 21 Eiffel Towers

Effective Range4.34 mi
Line-of-Sight Range11.65 km
Free Space Range4,486.51 km
Link Budget149 dB
Link Margin56.1 dB
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter transmitter power (watts) and antenna gain (dBi) for the radio being used.
  2. Set receiver sensitivity (dBm) from the radio specification sheet.
  3. Enter frequency (MHz) and antenna heights for both stations.
  4. Select terrain type to apply propagation loss adjustments.
  5. Review the calculated radio range (km) to plan radio relay positions and communications architecture.

How the result changes with Antenna Height 1

Antenna Height 1Effective Range
1011.31 km
3518.12 km
6523.43 km
9026.95 km

What each input means

Transmitter Power
Transmitter output power (e.g., 5W = 37 dBm).
Antenna Gain
Antenna gain in dBi (whip ≈ 2, Yagi ≈ 10).
Receiver Sensitivity
Minimum signal level for reliable reception.
Frequency
Operating frequency in MHz (VHF: 30-300, UHF: 300-3000).
Antenna Height 1
Height of the transmitting antenna above ground.
Antenna Height 2
Height of the receiving antenna above ground.
Terrain Type
General terrain description affecting signal propagation.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Transmitter Power = 37, Antenna Gain = 2, Receiver Sensitivity = -110, Frequency = 150 = 7 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Effective Range
    Effective Range
    6.99 = 6.99
  3. Calculate Effective Range
    Effective Range
    4.34 = 4.34
  4. Calculate Line-of-Sight Range
    Line-of-Sight Range
    11.65 = 11.65

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