Simplex Activity

[KD5MNA]

Here in Northeast Oklahoma we are doing something a little different to promote more activity on 146.520 simplex. We hold a net there at 8http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif0pm on saterday night. The net control is out of Big Cabin, OK. His call is KD5MLW. I act as a recive station for the net to get relay checkins. We have got checkins as for away as 200 miles. And have heard stations trying to checkin from Nebraska. If you come to checkin and are listining and here someone that we are not please fell free to jump in and relay for the net. Just trying to get more activity on simlex. Thanks Look forward for your checkin 73s.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Say howdy to the guys in Coffeyville who check in on that net for me! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

73 de Craig.........KCØGOA

[W0BKR]

Sounds like a good idea to me, and it might even help someone mobiling down 35 or 44.
I will have to dust off my 2 meter radio and mobile on through sometime.

GL with the idea !

Chris
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KD5KUF]

Hi Shawn, kd5mna. Good to see your call sign on here. I am always listening to the south and east during the net, but the terrain works against us in those directions. The few I've heard have been able to make it without relay.
Now if we can only stir up local activity on 6 meters between band openings.
Catch you on the air. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[mackinac]

This sounds like a good idea. #Good to hear that it is working out.

There is no net activity on .52 here, but I keep a radio tuned to .52 whenever I am at home. #There is an occasional transient mobile passing through on the Interstate and some local activity. #Old crystal controlled radios and even synthesized radios are cheap, so it doesn't cost much to set up something to monitor.

At least one club in the area has selected a simplex frequency (other than .52) for club activities and uses it for regular get togethers on the air (an informal net) and club public service activities.

GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SIMPLEX OPERATION.WE OPERATE ON 147.495 SIMPLEX WITH A GREAT BUNCH OF HAMS HERE IN THE EDEN NC AREA, GIVE US A CALL IF YOU GUYS DROP IN
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kf4lne]

You can get in on 146.52, 147.525 and 144.91 in the Asheville, NC area, 146.52 being used primarily in the southwest part of Buncombe county, 147.525 is just kind of all over and 144.91 is active along the I-40 corridor from Ridgecrest(Exit 66) to East Asheville, NC (Exit 55). Hope to hear from some of you soon! Also, we're working out details for a net on 144.910 and will post more info later!

[ke4sky]

An important thing to teach new ops is where the "reverse" button is on their rig. #If they can hear the other station clearly on the input frequency they probably don't need to be using a repeater for their local ragchew and they could probably move off to an appropriate simplex frequency.

New operators often get an HT as a "first rig" because they are handy and convenient, but Virginia RACES recommends that new licensees get mobiles, because they cost no more than a portable and have much more utility for emergency and disaster communications.

Virginia RACES has several handouts on emergency preparedness and recommended equipment which are free for the asking for any individuals or clubs who would like them for noncommercial, educational and public safety use. #

Visit our web site at http://www.varaces.org and click on the Training and Video Page. #73 de KE4SKY, Virginia RACES State Training Officer.

[Phineas]

People would really get into it if they really knew how far you can have a clear QSO on 2 meter FM on a hill, I have talked 40 miles away simplex. That is farther than you can get on CB with 10 times the power mobile to mobile. or 30 miles on 10 meter side band, almost 100 miles on 6meter SSB. I think the Key is people hang out where their friends are. Where are they? Hanging out monitoring their favorite repeaters. I think everyone is guilty of that to a point, even on simplex. Too bad traveling HAMS dont seem to hang out on simplex very much. That would make traveling fun, and would lower the need for the old CB other than monitoring 19 on the HF rig. There are enough truck driving HAMS out there to keep it going. It would be nice to start a movement to do something like that. Have a UHF/VHF Nationwide travel Frequency. Simplex would come alive then I would think.

Phineas
KC0LSC

[KG4RYT]

PHINEAS,
I LOVE THE 2 METER SIMPLEX ROAD CHANNEL. GREAT IDEA.
#http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[W5ATX]

A new simplex freq? I'd have to reprogram my X again . . . grrrrrrr . . . (it actually IS a hassle doing the mobile rig. The HTs are easy though!)

Seriously though, I'd sure like to see a nationwide simplex freq movement for travellers. I too remember riding around town with a single freq rig on 52 and there was ALWAYS someone to talk to. Anymore here in Central NJ, I hear exactly TWO hams chewing the rag on 52 and that's IT! Nice guys, but . . .

Travelling is problematic now without simplex. Once upon a time, a synthesised rig and a repeater directory would carry you across this great land of ours. No more. Most places everything is using PL, and as I discovered on my trip to Tampa/Lakeland Fl last week, the PL info is NOT up to date.

Even if we could get folks to listen to 52 simplex. Sure it's the "calling freq" and everyone SHOULD make contact there and move off, but as little used as it is now, chewing the rag there isn't going to bother anyone. It would be a start anyway. And back in the day I never heard anyone complain about us yakking there. Of course that was in the days of crystals and not many options to fall back on anyway.

So how do we REALLY get this going? I'm ready!

73

Chris

[kf4lne]

Maybe we can get this goin by teaching simplex as a main meathod of communications. Just flipping through my old tech exam book i find far more refernces to repeater operation than to simplex. By showing new and prospective hams how "wonderful" the repeater is or by showing off to CBers by talking to a ham 300 miles away from your HT. I hear every day someone doing a radio demonstration using the area repeaters. Maybe instead of showing off our great repeater systems we should show off things like simplex operation, people are usually far more impressed when they hear a station 30 miles away coming in at an S7 under its own power and not helped by a repeater. By promoting simplex operation we as a whole become more effective in the event of something like a disaster where normal communications are down. (most repeaters are on the same towers as normal communications, so if their repeater is down, ours probably is too.) I agree with the VA ARES - get a mobile as a first radio. Set up the best simplex station you can!

[mackinac]

? ? ? #Why are people talking about a new simplex frequency? # What's wrong with 146.520?

Maybe what we should do is try to get the ARRL to remove that "calling" designation from their published band plan and let people use it in the most appropriate way. #Does anyone know why the ARRL changed it? #Does anyone know who decided to change it? #When they made the change 3-4 years ago I made some inquires of ARRL officials, but no one seemed to know or wouldn't tell me anything.

[KD5KUF]

As a fairly regular check in to the net in question, I can tell you that a lot of people hang out on .52 in our area now. We treat it as a meeting place and if you want to make a contact everyone will stand by until you do. If you want to join a ragchew in progress you are welcome. If you want to talk to one of the round table members about a different topic just ask that person to QSY with you to another simplex frequency.
There have been no conflicts that I am aware of, and many comments of how glad people are that someone is on .52 to talk to, especially passers through. As someone else stated, the repeater guides are often wrong about pl tones. Several of our local ones announce the tone being used during ID. But simplex is simple, key up and throw out your call sign, you will likely get an answer in our area and sometimes at the very late night hours too. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ke4sky]

In Virginia RACES we teach operators to maintain what we call the "Suburban Protocol" which suggests that mobiles and monitoring fixed stations maintain a programmed memory scan on their designated ARES / RACES and/or Skywarn repeaters, plus National Simplex and our statewide ARES / RACES common simplex, 146.415. #

Most rigs today have a priority scan feature, so it is no trouble to dual-watch your favorite repeater and National Simplex.

During the summer months when tropo is active it is best to move off the calling frequency for local ragchews after having made initial contact. #Good alternate simplex frequencies for over-the-road use which are useable nationwide are 146.49, 146.55, and 146.58.

Of the three 146.55 is probably the best alternate to 146.52 nationwide, as it is widely used as an unofficial secondary calling frequency and mobile-to-mobile simplex frequency.

[k9kjm]

Glad to see the positive response to simplex operation! We don't need a "new" travelers frequency! Use 146.52!!!! I admit to a little "overuse" of .52 at times, But as long as people leave a long "pause" between transmissions, in rural areas like this, over use is better than NO use........ at least travelers have stations to contact if needed. Use repeaters for what they really are: a "crutch" to get you thru when you can't on simplex! 73

[KC9BQW]

I am glad to see all the posts on national simplex and the promotion of more use of 146.52 for traveling hams. As a new ham (Tech class) I am wanting to learn how to best communicate on 2 meter, especially while traveling across the mid-west. My primary interest in getting into this hobby was for comminicating with other hams while on long interstate trips. It sounds like my best bet is to use 146.52 or 146.50. I have a 55W 2meter ICOM with a 5/8 wave mag mount. Being new to this I don't know what to expect for range simplex but I would hope for 20 miles?? Not sure if this type of rig is typical for mobile VHF hams or not.
Is it a waste of time to try 2 m repeaters along my interstate routes while traveling? Do travelers monitor/scan repeaters? It seems like a waste to have so little use on many the 1000's of 2meter repeaters in the US. I did not realize prior to getting my license that the VHF repeater use was in such a decline. Did cell phones help in this demise?

I hope to see more promotion of 2 meter use by interstate travelers for traffic/construction info and general rag chewing.

KC9BQW (Washington, IL)

[K7PIG]

If any will be on the road to Arizona, I-10 East or West give me a call(W7SNS) on 146.520 from the Texas Canyon area(lots of pretty rock formations and 2 rest area's East & West). Texas Canyon is East of Benson, Az.
Me, I'm 35 to 40 miles to the South of the Canyon, aerial is directly on that area of I-10, day and night.
Hope to chat with you.

[K7PIG]

2m SimX works very well.
Listened this early morning on 146.520, made afew calls for anyone traveling on I-10 at about 0815Z, nothing heard, THEN at about 0830Z heard KD6CUB/M giving a call.
Well, we chatted for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours on .520 then switch to a link. Receive signals varied and finally very weak so, we signed 73.
Distance about 60 to 100 miles.
Not bad at all folks. Enjoyed it.

[kf4lne]

WOW! Lots of simplex support! Simplex is awesome and there really should be more use. In all the forums, classes, books, ect I have seen/been to for new hams I have seen a lot of emphsis put on repeater operation. For example, in chapter 2-11 of the ARRL "Now You're Talking" book that many new hams start out with i find three pages of helpful information about how to use the repeater, and the benifits of repeater use. As for simplex i find three simple paragraphs. This is common in the many beginner books available. Simplex can be a good way to get new hams intrested in HF. Back to playing radio. See you on 52!

[kf4lne]

Is this too much for the local repeater? Should I just stick to simplex?

My Antenna system (http://www.kf4lne.ath.cx/turret.jpg)

So did put too much effort into building this thing just to find simplex is really as dead as everyone says?

KF4LNE

It's too much - better send it to me! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

We use both 146.52 and 147.55 in the Lane county Oregon area. Lots of chat and almost allways someone around if you need them.

For you weak signal folks, try us on 144.125!

[kf4lne]

KD7QCG:

Actually it is too much. I can get mobiles nearly 40 miles away in this mountainous area and still key two repeaters at the same time on a few of them. It was well worth the time to build that and push it up to nearly 40 feet. I love it and wish there were more stations working simplex. maybe if i raise it a few more feet we can work simplex #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif. Actually, If anyone wants to know how to build this just let me know. It can be built for less than $50 using parts found at any radio shack. (UHF yagi not included) maybe a lot of ops don't work simplex because they cant afford a big antenna - $20 can build a decent 5el yagi. I will post more pics of some of the other yagis that can be built for under $30 using simple tools (hack saw or tubing cutter, drill, soldering iron). I spent more time putting those up than i did building the whole array. catch you on 52!

[K7PIG]

Join us (W7SNS & KG4SMI/M) on Tuesday morning at about 0900Z on a LINK: 145.170, minus, 100.0.
CA., AZ., NM. We could also be found on 146.520 SmX.
IF U can hear us and the SmX or LINK.

[K7PIG]

Nice aerials, DAN.

[kf4lne]

tnx wally - when i upgrade (hopefully soon) hope to work u on 80m sometime

[KD8VD]

Great Idea to use 2M instead of CB when travelling!
I have an Airstream Motorhome and travel extensively. Is there a way I can obtain listings of active 2M stations in various states? Also, to monitor the Simplex frequencies, what is the best way,

[NC7K]

I wish more people would like to QSO on simplex. I have tried, mostly in vain, to get a QSO while mobiling on 446.000. NO TAKERS!!!! People have come to rely on repeaters too much and so many of them have become club only or very very Cliq-eeeyyyyy. Too bad. But I always try on simplex first be it 2 meters or 440.

NC7K

[kg6huf]

I love simplex! i get so tired of repeaters with tones and offsets with closed and private repeaters. I doubt i will be able to make a contact with the net but I sure will try!

Tyler,
KG6HUF.

[kc8axj]

I.M.H.O.

I believe ".52 Simplex" should be left clear, other than to make a contact. There is A LOT of freq. that can be used in the 2 M band for nets and rag chewing. I like to have my radio scan and when you get someone talking on .52 (which can go on for some length of time) it can get annoying. Then you block it out and forget to take it out of "skip" channel and a few days latter someone says, hey I've been calling you on simplex what gives !!
What if someone has an emergency coming through your area and doesn't know the repeater freq's and has an emergency. This should be a monitored freq. by all of us. Folks tying it up for lengths of time make that hard because other folks might be blocking it out also. I know nobody OWNS a freq., and band plans are NOT LAW but, as they are intended to work, call freq.’s are just that, make a call and move off. Our new hams need to get in the habit of this because it applies to ALL THE BANDS CALLING FREQ.’S. They (new hams) all learn a lot of procedures as they go along, and a lot of bad practices happen and they don’t now the difference, they just think that’s the way you do things. We (should) take care of are own. Sometimes .52 can be as bad as “CH 19”. If you passed your exam to get a license, you should be smart enough to program other channels on your radio to some simplex freq.’s to switch to, or use VFO and dial one in there.

73 to all and remember what opinions are like !
(If you don’t, email me and I’ll let you know the answer)

Steve
Kc8axj@arrl.net

[mackinac]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc8axj @ June 29 2002,07:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I believe &quot;.52 Simplex&quot; should be left clear, other than to make a contact. There is A LOT of freq. that can be used in the 2 M band for nets and rag chewing. I like to have my radio scan and when you get someone talking on .52 (which can go on for some length of time) it can get annoying.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I have a different opinion, which you'll find out about if you keep reading. #About 3-4 years ago some unknown person at the ARRL decided that the national simplex frequencies should be listed as &quot;calling&quot; frequencies in the band plans. #I think this was not a good idea.

Having a national simplex frequency was a great idea. #Both my mobile and main base rigs have .52 programmed in to the first channel. #At home I have a rig dedicated to monitoring .52 and on long trips the mobile rig is on .52 unless I find a local repeater.

But the idea that .52 and other national simplex channels should only be a calling channel doesn't work so well as a universal rule. #VHF-FM activity is local in nature and the use of national simplex channels should take local activity in to account.

What about that mobile with the emergency or just looking for directions? #In a high activity area that doesn't follow the calling channel rule everyone might have their receivers off, but in a low activity area that does follow the rule .52 might be left unmonitored when the few stations that might monitor it have switched off to another channel for their conversation.

In the area where I live .52 activity is low and generally tolerable to listen to. #When I hear a mobile on .52 I'll call and have a short conversation on .52. #There are a couple of guys that get on simplex and yammer away for hours, but, fortunately, they stay off of .52.

[K8EEI]

If you're into a good old fashioned roundtable ragchew, and you're in the NE Ohio , W PA area , #check out 147.410 simplex... no nets ...no links... just conversation about any subject.

# # 73 de Tony K8EEI http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K7PIG]

Here in SE Arizona, 6.520 is used in the mornings by locals then is idle till the next morning session.
Afew folks say their #monitoring at 0700Z till 1000Z on 6.520, those are Trucker's on I-10 E/W, heck I'll chat with them till they go out-of-range, I don't care if it's a calling frequency or not. Break-in with your callsign and ask us to move, no trouble here moving, BUT, never heard that.
Of course, how many folks are up all night (0700Z to 1200Z) regularly?
Use the frequencies we have.

[NN6EE]

Well I'll tell you guys that here in the BAY AREA we locals in the &quot;DIABLO VALLEY&quot; use 146.415mhz as our regular/daily used SIMPLEX CHANNEL but yet we have a couple of organizations nearby who use them ocassionally as their &quot;FOX HUNT FREQS.&quot; knowing full well that the afformentioned SIMPLEX CHANNEL is WELL USED for FM/Voice communications by us and others!!!

But yet the ILLUSTRIOUS MT. DIABLO RADIO CLUB and another club in Livermore, nearby, insist upon ruining the well used SIMPLEX CHANNEL whenever they want to!!! Especially on weekends of course!!!

Other simplex freqs are available here in our area that would not infringe upon anyone say like 146.430 OR 146.490 BUT oh no!!! The FOX is right on a well used channel!!!

Makes you wonder about the good-will of certain organizations here in No. Cal, ESPECIALLY CLUBS of their ILK!!!

Jim/nn6ee
Member,ARRL