220Mhz? 900Mhz??

[va3css]

So who here is equipped with either or both?

I know what you're thinking: there's nobody there. So why would I want to be on 220Mhz or 900Mhz anyways?

Well... isn't that the point?? Nobody's there.

We all the know the adage: Use it or lose it. And we did. Shipping companies approached the FCC and asked for some radio space in 220Mhz area. As a result, vendors barely supported the band, and neither did most of us.

And then they decided to go with other radio technologies.

Go see what Brad Hughes and his Rush Network company are doing with 220Mhz now: www.rushnetwork.com/index.html

We turned our back on it, yet the characteristics of 220Mhz are very much like 2M. One difference that is an obvious advantage is that a 5/8 Wave 220Mhz antenna is shorter than a 5/8 Wave 2M antenna. Those of you who park in a parking garage (as I did before) would appreciate that even more. It has virtually the same range and everything.

A 220Mhz J-pole is just as easy to make as a 2M / 440Mhz one, and slightly shorter. Ditto for a Yagi.

I just got equipped for both, myself. My mobile now has all band / all mode up to 70cm (aka 440Mhz), as well as 220Mhz and 900Mhz FM-only. Also have the equipment at home to hook up same, with the advantage being the 900Mhz at home is a Yagi.

There's even a 900Mhz repeater in my area linked to a 220Mhz repeater.

It'll come in handy soon, as we do our yearly Hallowe'en Patrol. I have HTs for both these bands also, and the Patrol will be using a combination of 11-meter operators and 2M simplex in mobiles. I can talk car-to-person on one of the other bands, so as to prevent any interference.

I've already had one other ham ask me to let him know if another 220Mhz rig becomes available. He wants to join my experiment.

Just what I intended...

Anybody else??

[n8fzt]

The 33cm FM or 900mHz is an old band which has just become more interesting to the hams because now equipment for this band has become more readily available. As some cities are switching over to the 700mHz band, they are leaving the 896-941 band. Basically that is the Public Safety 900 band. The band actually goes from 896mHz to 901mHz and 929 to 941mHz. It totally skips over the entire amateur band which is 902-928Mhz. I have a 30 watt Motorola Spectra mobile and a couple of different 900mHz HT's. In the Detroit area, there are 2 major 33cm FM repeaters. One in downtown Detroit, whose callsign is KE8HR on 927.6625 with 131.8Hz tone squelch and one in Riverview,with the callsign of KC8LTS on 927.4875mHz also with a 131.8Hz tone squelch,which is also linked to a repeater on 224.36 w/103.5 tone. Later this summer there will be another repeater on 927.6875 with a 131.8Hz tone squelch going up in the Dearborn area. Also there is a 900 repeater in Ann Arbor at 927.9875 w/131.8Hz tone squelch and another one on 927.4875 with a 131.8Hz tone squelch, in Milan. It is linked to the 444.100 machine there in Milan and also it is linked to the Ann Arbor 927.9875 repeater. All of these three repeaters: 927.9875+, 927.4875+ and 444.100+ w/82.5Hz tone are linked and have IRLP on them. They all bear the callsign of W2PUT. And last but not least, I will have a crossband repeater set up on a 900 frequency and a 440 frequency. Actual frequencies TBA at a later date. Am still in the testing phases.

Chris - N8FZT

[kd8eyf]

Is the 927.6625 moved to its elevated position yet? i have a motorola in the car and can hit it from downtown but it quickly cuts out as I drive away.

[kd8eyf]

is 6625 is elevated yet? whats the deal?

[va3css]

Not yet. Still waiting with baited breath.

Although I understand a $20 bill goes a long way toward speeding up the process...