Weak VHF

[hellosailor]

How big does an antenna have to be? Roughly one half meter or one meter in height. Either one is banned from carry-on luggage, since it can be used as a weapon. Although the TSA agents often ignore their own ban on sporting goods (including racquets) and similar items.

The difference in location is a straight difference in range. Your VHF range is roughyl line of sight. You take the range from xx height to horizon, once for your own antenna height, then again for the other party's antenna height, and add the two to get the combined range. From a six foot above sea level height, your range may be three miles. Up the mast, it may be 20. You can find the formulas on the web and run the actual numbers.