Which statement about portable radios is true?

Which statement about portable radios is true?

• A. They have greater range than vehicle-mounted
• B. They require no power
• C. Handheld radios with very limited range unless used with a repeater
• D. They inherently support duplex

Answer: (C)

Portable handheld radios are designed for portability, so their power output is kept low and the antennas are small. That combination limits their practical range to mostly line-of-sight, especially in buildings or urban terrain. To reach farther distances, they rely on a repeater network: a handheld transmits to a nearby repeater, which is usually placed high and can transmit at higher power on a separate frequency, effectively extending coverage for all users in the area. That’s why handhelds have very limited range unless used with a repeater—the concept being tested is understanding how range is expanded via repeaters rather than by the handheld itself. The other statements don’t fit because handhelds do require power from a battery, so saying they require no power is incorrect. They typically don’t inherently support duplex operation; duplex use is achieved through repeater links or specialized equipment, not by the handheld alone. And handheld range is generally less than vehicle-mounted units due to lower power and smaller antennas, not greater.

Portable handheld radios are designed for portability, so their power output is kept low and the antennas are small. That combination limits their practical range to mostly line-of-sight, especially in buildings or urban terrain. To reach farther distances, they rely on a repeater network: a handheld transmits to a nearby repeater, which is usually placed high and can transmit at higher power on a separate frequency, effectively extending coverage for all users in the area. That’s why handhelds have very limited range unless used with a repeater—the concept being tested is understanding how range is expanded via repeaters rather than by the handheld itself.

The other statements don’t fit because handhelds do require power from a battery, so saying they require no power is incorrect. They typically don’t inherently support duplex operation; duplex use is achieved through repeater links or specialized equipment, not by the handheld alone. And handheld range is generally less than vehicle-mounted units due to lower power and smaller antennas, not greater.