From which watt range do mobile radios' transmitter output power typically span?

• A. From 5 to 50 watts
• B. From 1 to 10 watts
• C. From 50 to 100 watts
• D. From 0.5 to 5 watts

Answer: (A)

Mobile radios in vehicles are designed with adjustable transmitter power to balance distance, terrain, and power use. In practice, the power range for these mobile units typically spans from about 5 watts up to about 50 watts. This allows a operator to use lower power for nearby conversations and conserve energy, or switch to higher power to reach units at longer distances or through obstacles.

Other ranges don’t match typical mobile equipment: 1 to 10 watts is more like handheld devices; 50 to 100 watts isn’t standard for most mobiles (though some models can push higher); and 0.5 to 5 watts is generally associated with handhelds rather than vehicle-mounted radios.