How far can a ham radio reach?

May be an image of map and text that says 'How Far Can a Ham Radio Really Reach? 1 Handheld to Handheld Handheld (Better Height) (Line of Sight) 2 (e.g. on hill/mountain) 3 1-5 km Mobile or Base Station (Higher power & antenna) 4 5-15km km Via Repeater (On a atalltower) tall tower) 5 10- 0-50+ km HF / Skywave (Via ionosphere) lonosphere 6 20-100+ 100+ km Satellite (Amateur radio satellites) 100s to 1000s km Very long range Global RANGE DEPENDS ON: W Frequency band (VHF, UHF, HF, etc.) Antenna (type & gain) O00 Height (above ground) Transmit power (watts) Environment (terrain, weather, solar activity, etc.)'

There is no single fixed answer because range depends on the frequency band, antenna, height, transmit power, terrain, and propagation conditions.
Two handheld radios at ground level may typically communicate only a few kilometers because buildings, hills, and trees block VHF and UHF signals. Moving to a higher location can greatly improve line-of-sight and increase the range. A mobile or base station with a better antenna and higher power can often cover tens of kilometers. A repeater placed on a tall tower or hill can extend communication much farther by receiving a weak signal and retransmitting it over a larger area. HF radio works differently. Its signals can interact with the ionosphere and return to Earth hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away.
Amateur radio satellites can also connect stations across very large distances.
This is why ham radio can be used for everything from local handheld communication to worldwide contacts.