This question relates the same world discussed in this post: Horseback Travel in an Unpopulated Pacific Northwest
Two mounted patrolmen are tasked with navigating and policing a reimagined Coastal PNW, the geography of this area is incredibly vertical and heavily forested. I understand this would naturally be unforgiving to signal transmission. That said, one of the patrolmen is a Field Radio Operator, he wears a pack much like the US Army had in the 80s and is able to send and receive transmissions from their support Airship, his partner, however, only has a very short-range communicator, (1-2 miles) only able to basically "walkie talkie" with his partner.
This short range communicator is written to where it cannot reach the airship due to its power, but the serviceman with the full pack is able to pass on the transmissions from the airship through the walkie talkie to his partner, is this realistic? Would this make sense given the physical setting and technological limitations of the universe? (No satellites, no well established supertall radio masts in the region, no smart tech) I understand that the Airship would act as an excellent semi-permanent radio transmitter/ signal repeater, but I am having trouble figuring out how to limit one of the servicemen's radio capability realistically.
As they move through the region, North from Vancouver Island towards Sitka, AK, they have semi-mobile radio towers airdropped to them, these cement a radio footprint and set up an emergency frequency for the denizens of the region to call for help. Please someone with radio transmitting knowledge help me out here.