Environmental Overview:
Beijing South, 5-story building with windows facing north, no security mesh or outdoor balcony, cannot install rooftop antennas due to the presence of a special unit directly across the street, and the roof slope does not extend to the top floor.
Considering factors such as cameras, drones, and camping equipment, which would add to the weight, I am not currently considering upgrading from an A license to a B license for shortwave radio.
As a result, I discovered that VHF in the 2-meter band could also achieve long-range communication, so I decided to try it out.
Currently available V-segment devices:
500DR with CAT283, antenna SG7900 & A144S5R2
The antenna could also be upgraded with an NR22LH.
The radio could consider using the IC9700 with the CAT273.
Question:
1. What is the activity level in the 1-2 meter VHF frequency band? What is the communication range? Is there a significant directional characteristic?
2. Is a 2-meter VHF suitable for long-distance communication? Is FM sufficient, or is an IC9700 necessary for SSB or CW operation?