Does anyone still do phone patches?

[k7mh]

I used to hear a fair amount of them back in the early seventies when I was first a ham. A lot of patches for overseas people. I used to think that was so cool to be able to do that. It doesn't take any expensive equipment to do it either. I know the bands are not very good for that sort of thing currently but wondered if during the last sunspot go-around there was much phone patch activity as I wasn't on the radio much then. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[AG3Y]

I used to run phone patches for Missionaries down in South America on an almost daily basis during the last SS cycle peak. 15 meters was buzzing with activity at that time, and regular nets were established just for the purpose of tying ham radio stations that had phone patch equipment together.

There are a couple of reasons that they are not common any more.

One, the bands have been very poor for probably the last 4 or so years. This is due, of course, to the lull in the Sunspot Cycle, and is just a normal part of Nature's timetable. It is hard to keep phonepatch schedules when you don't hear a DX station for days at a time!

Two, Satellite telephones, the Internet, and other means of communications have fairly much eliminated the need for ham radio to provide a way of providing an international link for families wishing to keep in touch.

Right now, our Church is keeping in touch with some Nationals in Uganda. Even in a country as poor as Uganda, there are ways to send messages, pictures, etc. back and forth using services that would have been unknown just a few years ago! The ability to communicate with the built-up infrastructure is far superior to that which could be done only with ham radio not that many years ago.

I still have my Heathkit Hybred Phonepatch, but seriously doubt that I would ever hook it up to my radio, again!

Hope that answers your question! 73, Jim

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif There is one on the 146.960 repeater near Moulton, Alabama ... 4 digit access code...local calls only...works great.

Of course you know that the normal cellular telephone will cover a wider range of numbers than this system.

Ours rarely gives problems of any type.

It has excellent audio.

To my knowledge it has worked without fail since before 1991. I got my license in May of 1991 and it aint failed since then.

* dern he butchered the english language with those words " aint failed ", but at least he spelled it correctly *

[KC5SAS]

Repeaters with phone patch are few and far between now. I havn't made a patch in about 3 years, if not longer. Most of the clubs around here have dropped the feature to save the bucks.

[AG3Y]

Just a clarification on what I said earlier, and comments on some of the further responses to the original question.

We are talking about two different kinds of phone patches, here, but I believe the demise of both of them has pretty much to do with the technological infrastructure that has taken over the mobile telephoning that was once a fairly exclusive technology. Only the very rich, or those who had access to a special class of license ( ham radio operators ) could really use the devices.

International phone patches were a very important aspect of ham radio, and the Military Affiliated Radio Service, too, as I remember.

VHF/UHF phone patches were a neat way to have communications with other members of the family even while you were tooling around in your car to and from work, or just out for a pleasure cruise!

Satellite telephones, and Cell Phones have just about eliminated both devices and relegated them to the history books along with many other aspects of the service.

73, Jim

[W4INF]

Phone patches are STILL needed in many applications.

When I go to deep Craig County in VA, I loose ALL cell phone service, but still get a Q5 off W4CA repeater.

I need to join the club so I can get patch access.

[VO1GXG]

VO1AAA repeater has a Autopatch system.

I have the Heathkit phone-patch for the HW-101 (have that too )

My question is , How does the phonepatch work ? i have seen it done on TV but you can't trust TV!

[N2RJ]

Here in the NYC metro area and Northern NJ, I believe there are still a few repeaters with autopatches.

However, with cell phones being extremely common, they are rarely used.

HF phone patches I believe are still commonly used among boaters.

However, VoIP and cheap phone rates has made the HF phone patch quaint and somewhat obsolete. I can call Europe for less than what it calls to make a phone call in the US using my VoIP phone. I can go PC to PC for free.

[WS2L]

Back in the 1980's there were numerous repeaters in my area that had autopatch features. I had access to 2 different repeaters, one on 2 meters and the other on 70cm. They were great at the time to be able to make a short phone call but I have run into my share of problems. A few times before I could key up to tell the person on the line that I was using a radio autopatch without fail the 4 letter word would be out.

Now I frequent a number of 2 meter and 70cm repeaters in my area and every single one that had autopatches in the past have all long taken the feature off their repeaters. These days everyone has a cellphone and it is much more reliable than an autopatch. The other good thing is of course that no one can hear your conversation on a cellphone unlike on the repeaters where they could all be heard.

[W5HTW]

A matter of terminology, partly.

Phone patches. That term was used for the long haul connections on HF radio, usually from overseas or ships at sea. Repeaters are not involved. They are direct communications, placed by one ham in a foreign or distant location, via another ham in the desired area, to a phone number. For example, a ham in Germany might call a ham in Richmond, to have that ham call a relative near Richmond.

Autopatches. That is the phone connection to a repeater. Most autopatches do not permit long distance calls. The term autopatch pretty much says it all - a phone patch from an auto. They use repeaters. Autopatches are from a ham, usually mobile, through a repeater, and often to a non-ham.

Autopatches are still used around here, though not very much. Most people desiring to make a phone call, well, they actually make a PHONE call! On a cell phone. Because we have some linked repeater systems that permit autopatch over areas that would be a toll call from a land line phone, the way to do it free is by cell phone or by autopatch. So we do hear an autopatch call now and then, but they are pretty rare.

Phone patches are almost non-existent. The only cases I know of in which phone patches are still occasionally run are from boats at sea. (Hams, of course.) They check into one of the maritime nets and request a patch back to their home, for example. I hear these now and then. They are not common.

The phone patch pretty much went away with the arrival of the internet. Most GIs overseas have access to email, as well as video phone, and other instant communications. I don't believe MARS handles phone patches anymore, either.

It isn't so much that phone patches are "old school." Rather it is they have been obsoleted by other, more convenient, non-ham, means of communication.

Ed

[ky5u]

Hey Jim, send me your phone patch and I'll use it. LOL!

[n2cfj]

Back in the 60's patch requests were quite common and the op had to be careful regarding third party treaties. I remember a time prior to fleet week in NYC when my father was running one patch after another for sailors to contact families etc. as their ship was approaching NYC. We were told that there was a line outside the radio room of guys waiting their chance. Now a sailor would fire up one of the computers on board and send email to his loved ones to meet him at the docks.

[AG3Y]

Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ Aug. 30 2007,11:08)]Hey Jim, send me your phone patch and I'll use it. LOL!
Well, Charlie, I would, but I modified it with an "Icom" clone of the preamplifier that is built into their microphones so I could use it specifically with the Icom radios.

If you have an Icom, we might be able to work something out! PM me if you are serious!

73, Jim

[AG3Y]

Quote[/b] (n2cfj @ Aug. 30 2007,11:42)]Back in the 60's patch requests were quite common and the op had to be careful regarding third party treaties. I remember a time prior to fleet week in NYC when my father was running one patch after another for sailors to contact families etc. as their ship was approaching NYC. We were told that there was a line outside the radio room of guys waiting their chance. Now a sailor would fire up one of the computers on board and send email to his loved ones to meet him at the docks.
One of the most heart-rending phone patches I ever heard ( I did not actually do the patching ) involved a project leader of a military mission wintering over in Antarctica. This "Man's Man" was in tears ( you could hear it in his voice ) as he talked to his family!

That was years ago, but I have never forgotten the sound of that exchange!


Those were the days ! 73, Jim

[w7lpn]

We've had one here in Boise for a long time. I thought most repeaters had them. :rock:

[wa9cwx]

Didn't see any mention of the old laws from the 'Ma Bell' days.

Ma Bell did not want ANY non-Bell (Western Electric, I think) gear of ANY kind hooked to phone lines, including Ham radio 'Patches".

However, they conveniently overlooked ham radio, since overseas patches were so popular with the military.

At least that is how I remember it !

Frank

[w4nti]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Aug. 29 2007,21:08)]http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # There is one on the 146.960 repeater near Moulton, Alabama ... 4 digit access code...local calls only...works great.

Of course you know that the normal cellular telephone will cover a wider range of numbers than this system.

Ours rarely gives problems of any type.

It has excellent audio.

To my knowledge it has worked without fail since before 1991. I got my license in May of 1991 and it aint failed since then.

#* dern he butchered the english language with those words #" aint failed ", but at least he spelled it correctly *
That's not what he is talking about. You are talking about a AutoPatch. He is talking about a phone patch as in HF.

Dan/W4NTI

[w4nti]

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ Aug. 30 2007,06:27)]VO1AAA repeater has a Autopatch system.

I have the Heathkit phone-patch for the HW-101 (have that too )

My question is , How does the phonepatch work ? i have seen it done on TV but you can't trust TV!
A phone patch is basically a matching device between the phone lines and your ham rig. Done mostly with audio transformers for proper isolation.

Your receiver audio is coupled into the phone line when in receive mode, and when in transmit mode the patch is connected to the microphone stage.

All adjustable level's of course.

The operator actually does the switching from RX to TX, thus it is a 3rd party situation.

Dan/W4NTI

[w4nti]

Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Aug. 30 2007,08:02)]Quote[/b] (n2cfj @ Aug. 30 2007,11:42)]Back in the 60's patch requests were quite common and the op had to be careful regarding third party treaties. #I remember a time prior to fleet week in NYC when my father was running one patch after another for sailors to contact families etc. as their ship was approaching NYC. #We were told that there was a line outside the radio room of guys waiting their chance. #Now a sailor would fire up one of the computers on board and send email to his loved ones to meet him at the docks.
One of the most heart-rending phone patches I ever heard ( I did not actually do the patching ) involved a project leader of a military mission wintering over in Antarctica. #This "Man's Man" was in tears ( you could hear it in his voice ) as he talked to his family!

That was years ago, but I have never forgotten the sound of that exchange! #


Those were the days ! #73, Jim
During my military time I volunteered as a op at the MARS stations whenever possible.

I have run many of those types of patches. And they do stay with you.

Those of us that have run a patch for a lonely GI can be proud.

Dan/W4NTI

[w4nti]

Quote[/b] (k7mh @ Aug. 29 2007,20:49)]I used to hear a fair amount of them back in the early seventies when I was first a ham. A lot of patches for overseas people. I used to think that was so cool to be able to do that. It doesn't take any expensive equipment to do it either. I know the bands are not very good for that sort of thing currently but wondered if during the last sunspot go-around there was much phone patch activity as I wasn't on the radio much then. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
For the most part HF Phone Patching has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

The last patch I have ran was during Katrina, from a fellow on a sail boat to his wife in the Northern USA.

But I still have one ready to go, if ever needed.

Dan/W4NTI

[ky5u]

Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Aug. 30 2007,07:58)]Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ Aug. 30 2007,11:08)]Hey Jim, send me your phone patch and I'll use it. LOL!
Well, Charlie, I would, but I modified it with an "Icom" clone of the preamplifier that is built into their microphones so I could use it specifically with the Icom radios.

If you have an Icom, we might be able to work something out! PM me if you are serious!

73, Jim
Just joshing, Jim.

[AG3Y]

That's OK, Charlie, I understand ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[WA7KKP]

Phone patches were popular when the LD rates charged by Ma Bell (the new and old AT&T) were horrendously high -- like around $10-50 for a single call. We hams simply provided a FREE service that essentially was an end run around high tariffs.

Now that LD telephony is dirt cheap, pennies a minute, there is no need for phone patches. Satellite phones are still pretty expensive, but they are usually for people who MUST be in contact 24/7 anywhere in the world, and some of those areas don't have reliable, if any, telephone service.

Same reason for autopatches dissapearing from the ham scene. Everyone and their mother-in-law has a cell phone now, and . . . you can transact business on a cellphone. Which is why most people wanted mobile telephone service in the first place.

Gary WA7KKP

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (WA7KKP @ Aug. 31 2007,18:31)]you can transact business on a cellphone. #Which is why most people wanted mobile telephone service in the first place.
I wonder if the, "is it legal to order a pizza using a autopatch" question is still in the test pool?


Tom kcØw

[n2cfj]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 31 2007,11:41)]Quote[/b] (WA7KKP @ Aug. 31 2007,18:31)]you can transact business on a cellphone. #Which is why most people wanted mobile telephone service in the first place.
I wonder if the, "is it legal to order a pizza using a autopatch" question is still in the test pool?


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tom kcØw
Although I can now order a pizza using the autopatch, do I really want everyone else on the machine to know how I like my pizza? (peanut butter & bananas http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif )

Still can't call into my office.

[w4nti]

Quote[/b] (WA7KKP @ Aug. 31 2007,11:31)]Phone patches were popular when the LD rates charged by Ma Bell (the new and old AT&T) were horrendously high -- like around $10-50 for a single call. #We hams simply provided a FREE service that essentially was an end run around high tariffs.

Now that LD telephony is dirt cheap, pennies a minute, there is no need for phone patches. #Satellite phones are still pretty expensive, but they are usually for people who MUST be in contact 24/7 anywhere in the world, and some of those areas don't have reliable, if any, telephone service.

Same reason for autopatches dissapearing from the ham scene. #Everyone and their mother-in-law has a cell phone now, and . . . you can transact business on a cellphone. #Which is why most people wanted mobile telephone service in the first place.

Gary WA7KKP
That's right.....those long distance rates were really high out of the jungle in South Vietnam.

I remember all those troops complaining. #Yeah right!

IF there was a way to call, #which there was NOT, #they (and I) would have been happy to pay the price.

ALL that was available for most of us was the Phone Patch.

And MARS was operated for the most part by licensed hams. #Just didn't use the ham bands.

And how about the Ships/Boats at sea, they didn't have any access to anything back then.

I think your view is a bit narrow.

Dan/W4NTI

[VE7NOT]

Quote[/b] (WS2L @ Aug. 30 2007,05:41)]The other good thing is of course that no one can hear your conversation on a cellphone unlike on the repeaters where they could all be heard.
Really?

Newer scanners go up to 3Gigs often.

[n0iu]

I don't know how they do things in Canada, but scanners sold in the United States must have the cell phone frequencies blocked regardless of how high they go.

Scott NØIU

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ Aug. 30 2007,01:27)]My question is , How does the phonepatch work ? i have seen it done on TV but you can't trust TV!
But you trust what you read on the Internet??

Scott NØIU

[K8ERV]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Aug. 30 2007,06:57)]#
The term autopatch pretty much says it all - a #phone patch from an auto.
Well I'll be durn-- been a ham since year one, and I always thot the auto meant automatic, since the patch could work unattended. Oh well, I learn something new every decade or so---

Tom K8ERV Montrose Co.

[K8ERV]

dupe

[W0JBC]

Phone Patches and Auto Patches are NOT the same . In the seventies , I ran a few phone patches from " Little America" from the South Pole to family members in the US . It was , of course, HF . It worked very well as the sunspot cycle was up and available ..

If adjusted correctly, and good propagation, I could ( and did) use VOX . After a minutes training, the stateside contact would understand to say " OVER" for the other end to transmit .. Many times, I would just sit there as a third party control operator ... They might talk for over a half hour or more ( my ID for every ten ) and worked great .

Those were the days . Good prop and healthy signals . There were, of course, times when I had to intervene .. It really was IMPRESSIVE to run a patch on VOX though ...

Times have changed .. More technology ..


One contact was in July temperature in St.Louis was 103 F and the other end was - 103 f ( around - 77 C ).


It was all good .. I did call the family collect so it was on their bill .

If the family said NO then no patch .

I NEVER had a NO though ...

The process still exists as it did 30 years ago .. Technology changed ...

I was proud to do the service ...


JB

WØJBC

Edited to add:
Jim, you might have heard one of my patches .. Also it is "HYBRID" ...

AR

[ve2nsm]

Quote[/b] (VE7NOT @ Aug. 31 2007,18:32)]Quote[/b] (WS2L @ Aug. 30 2007,05:41)]The other good thing is of course that no one can hear your conversation on a cellphone unlike on the repeaters where they could all be heard.
Really?

Newer scanners go up to 3Gigs often.
You still have analog phones up there http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif ?!

[AG3Y]

"Edited to add:
Jim, you might have heard one of my patches .. Also it is "HYBRID" ...

AR "

Darn, ya gotta just KNOW that a spelling error is bound to get through sometimes !

Yup, the situation was much the same for those Missionaries down in South America. Nearest telephone service might have been a hundred miles away !

I was mighty proud to offer the service, too !

73, Jim

[W0JBC]

NSM:

Don't get all " NOT" ted up...

Read his other posts ...

Enough said ..


JB

[K9STH]

There is a discussion going on right now on one of the E-Mail reflectors about modifying phone patches (i.e. Heath HD-15) to use as interface units between amateur radio equipment and computers.

Since most phone patches go for well under $20 these days you can't buy the parts necessary for a decent interface for that.

Glen, K9STH

[W5HTW]

Tom, doggone it, you are probably right! I must be getting older than I thought.

I think in all my years in ham radio, I made two autpatch calls, back in the mid 1970s. I don't remember now, but I probably did it just for the novelty of it. Since both were made from my car, I figured 'auto' was a good word for it! Does make more sense your way! Ah, but as Sinatra says, "I did it my way." (I just learned Paul Anka wrote that song, by the way.)

Autopatch is a very different critter from phone patch. Today, both are becoming extinct. I rarely hear the autopatch on our linked system. Most people use cell phones now. And phone patches are even closer to being extinct, except for the very rare boater. Now and then I'll hear someone on a boat down in Mexico seeking a patch back to the US. But it's like once every three or four months or so. Lots of alternate methods these days, if you are within range of a cell system. Or a wireless internet system.

Ed

[AD7NW]

Cell phone coverage is not universal. Next weekend I will be in an area that has no cell coverage. I will be involved in a moderatly high risk activity. Through repeater networks I'll be able to contact SAR for the area as well as local operators. But it would be nice to check in with my wife once a day or so to let her know I'm okay, or if I have a delay to let her know.

I know my radio has DTMF ability. But I have no idea how to find repeators that provide the service, or how to establish a link.

BTW I really like getting into areas that don't have cell coverage. It's nice to get off the electronic leash for a while. My wife is the only one I want to stay in contact with the rest of the world can push a noodle.

[AD7NW]

Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 16 2007,22:02)]Cell phone coverage is not universal. Next weekend I will be in an area that has no cell coverage. I will be involved in a moderatly high risk activity. Through repeater networks I'll be able to contact SAR for the area as well as local operators. But it would be nice to check in with my wife once a day or so to let her know I'm okay, or if I have a delay to let her know.

I know my radio has DTMF ability. But I have no idea how to find repeators that provide the service, or how to establish a link.

BTW I really like getting into areas that don't have cell coverage. It's nice to get off the electronic leash for a while. My wife is the only one I want to stay in contact with the rest of the world can push a noodle.
I guess I should have been more specific.

Can anybody give me some pointers on this topic?

Should I post over in the questions forum?

[k0cmh]

Hey Charlie,

Remember, if people would just use CW, there would be no use for phone patches.

[n2cfj]

Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,07:53)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 16 2007,22:02)]Cell phone coverage is not universal. Next weekend I will be in an area that has no cell coverage. I will be involved in a moderatly high risk activity. Through repeater networks I'll be able to contact SAR for the area as well as local operators. But it would be nice to check in with my wife once a day or so to let her know I'm okay, or if I have a delay to let her know.

I know my radio has DTMF ability. But I have no idea how to find repeators that provide the service, or how to establish a link.

BTW I really like getting into areas that don't have cell coverage. It's nice to get off the electronic leash for a while. My wife is the only one I want to stay in contact with the rest of the world can push a noodle.
I guess I should have been more specific.

Can anybody give me some pointers on this topic?

Should I post over in the questions forum?
As discussed before, many repeaters have autopatch capability but it is usually reserved for club members. Check the repeater directory for the area you are going to and contact the club or trustee listed there to see if you can get autopatch priviliges while you are in their neighborhood.

[AD7NW]

Quote[/b] (n2cfj @ Sep. 17 2007,13:15)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,07:53)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 16 2007,22:02)]Cell phone coverage is not universal. Next weekend I will be in an area that has no cell coverage. I will be involved in a moderatly high risk activity. Through repeater networks I'll be able to contact SAR for the area as well as local operators. But it would be nice to check in with my wife once a day or so to let her know I'm okay, or if I have a delay to let her know.

I know my radio has DTMF ability. But I have no idea how to find repeators that provide the service, or how to establish a link.

BTW I really like getting into areas that don't have cell coverage. It's nice to get off the electronic leash for a while. My wife is the only one I want to stay in contact with the rest of the world can push a noodle.
I guess I should have been more specific.

Can anybody give me some pointers on this topic?

Should I post over in the questions forum?
As discussed before, many repeaters have autopatch capability but it is usually reserved for club members. Check the repeater directory for the area you are going to and contact the club or trustee listed there to see if you can get autopatch priviliges while you are in their neighborhood.
I was more interested in the step by step methodology. But I found that elsewhere.
Lets see if I got it right;
-set up the repeater offset and pl tone as normal
-press PTT and key in the access code followed by the phone number from a DTMF keypad
-release the PTT

I assume at this point the phone connection would be made and you would press PTT to talk to the party, release it to listen.


Did I get it right?

[VO1GXG]

Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,09:40)]Quote[/b] (n2cfj @ Sep. 17 2007,13:15)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,07:53)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 16 2007,22:02)]Cell phone coverage is not universal. Next weekend I will be in an area that has no cell coverage. I will be involved in a moderatly high risk activity. Through repeater networks I'll be able to contact SAR for the area as well as local operators. But it would be nice to check in with my wife once a day or so to let her know I'm okay, or if I have a delay to let her know.

I know my radio has DTMF ability. But I have no idea how to find repeators that provide the service, or how to establish a link.

BTW I really like getting into areas that don't have cell coverage. It's nice to get off the electronic leash for a while. My wife is the only one I want to stay in contact with the rest of the world can push a noodle.
I guess I should have been more specific.

Can anybody give me some pointers on this topic?

Should I post over in the questions forum?
As discussed before, many repeaters have autopatch capability but it is usually reserved for club members. Check the repeater directory for the area you are going to and contact the club or trustee listed there to see if you can get autopatch priviliges while you are in their neighborhood.
I was more interested in the step by step methodology. But I found that elsewhere.
Lets see if I got it right;
-set up the repeater offset and pl tone as normal
-press PTT and key in the access code followed by the phone number from a DTMF keypad
-release the PTT

I assume at this point the phone connection would be made and you would press PTT to talk to the party, release it to listen.


Did I get it right?
from the ones i have used . You ID . Then press # to turn it on , dial the number , wait for it to ring , do your talking and then press * to disconnect , then re-ID because your voice does not come out the repeater . But thats for repeaters here on the island .

[AD7NW]

So the access code would come after the # and before the phone number?

[VO1GXG]

Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,09:53)]So the access code would come after the # and before the phone number?
all autopatch repeaters here on the island are all open so i don't know for the coded ones. maybe contact the repeater operator ? thats what i did .

[AD7NW]

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ Sep. 17 2007,14:43)]Quote[/b] (AD7NW @ Sep. 18 2007,09:53)]So the access code would come after the # and before the phone number?
all autopatch repeaters here on the island are all open so i don't know for the coded ones. maybe contact the repeater operator ? thats what i did .
Good idea, it will probably come to that. At this point I'm still looking for a repeater that has auto patch in the area of interest.

I'm just curious about the nuts and bolts. I like to know how things work.

[kf4znl]

BFO World Missionary net on 14.319 at 21:00utc every Sunday.
kg9ho DWIGHT still does phonepatches.

[wa8rti]

"For example, a ham in Germany might call a ham in Richmond, to have that ham call a relative near Richmond. " Not likely unless the German ham wanted to lose his license. Unless there has been a change since I left Germany. The controlling agency (Bundespost) was very tough on enforcing 3rd party traffic restrictions. They were unhappy about all the phone patch traffic that MARS ran but could do nothing about it. The Bundespost controlled ham radio licenses, telephone, telegraph, (along with TV and broadcast radio). They did not want phone patch or any other 3rd party traffic cutting into their revenue. The local MARS club used to set up a 2 meter rig in the lobby of the BX and let kids talk to "Santa" at the North Pole(he was in housing a few blocks away). The year I was to be in charge, the Bundespost got wind of the thing. The word came down that anyone who used their German ham license for such communications would have their license pulled. That was the end of Santa on 2 meters.

[W1GUH]

Just for nostalgia....

"This is [call letters] handling phone patch traffic. A clear frequency will be appreciated."


Or how about....

"I've got two way into the [city name] area."

or

"Looking for a two way into East Podunk"

[NC5P]

An amusing thing happened once on the autopatch here. The phone company had a code number you could dial on any phone and it would speak the phone number of the line you were on. This was back in the early 80's. This one fellow (no it wasn't me) got on the repeater, brought up the autopatch, and dialed that number. Sure enough, the "secret" phone number was read right over the air. Curiosity did take over, he then used a desk phone to dial that number. It did answer and when the autopatch code was entered, you could then talk over the repeater from any telephone. It was a backwards autopatch. Hitting the pound took it off. He came up a couple of times on the air that way. Surprisingly, nobody at the club had a clue what was going on. The novelty wore off and it was soon forgotten.

[n9lya]

You are kidding right....

Like most things they can be hacked.. Either with programming,
or hardware modifications.. the rules state that they can not be easily modified.. However someone with a little knowlegde can work out a modification on at least some models.. And the older models were easy to modify...

Some examples..
1) Tune to the image of the original tx.
2) Remove a diode for full access
3) Get a hold of one that has the capability...




I don't know how they do things in Canada, but scanners sold in the United States must have the cell phone frequencies blocked regardless of how high they go.

Scott NØIU

[ky5u]

Months old chain here.

[K1CJS]

The local 'phone patches' that use two meter repeaters aren't really heard much these days, but they are still heard being done by some hams who refuse to spend money on cell phones. You can read anything you want into that statement.

As far as the phone patches for overseas comms, there are satellite phones and other means of communicating that have taken over much of the traffic that used to be just for phone patches. The pricing of those devices are so low now that any organization sending people over to work there can afford them.

Why do you think there are laments about the decline of serious ham radio communicating uses?

[WA7KKP]

Back in ye olden days of Mother Bell and high rates for LD, especially overseas, phone patches were an end run around Feeding the Bell . . .

Now phone rates are so cheap that you can talk around the world for pennies a minute, rather than DOLLARS.

It still isn't a bad idea to have a phone patch, especially in emergency situations like we've seen in China, Myanmar, Katrina, etc.

Gary WA7KKP