220 Mhz

[KE5MLF]

I was just curious if this band is used much. I don't know of any repeaters in my area. Just curious what other had to say. I never here much said about it here....

[KN4DS]

We allegedly have/had a repeater on 220 here, but I don't have equipment for that band, so I couldn't say whether it still exists...

My initial thought is that it's not a very popular band.

[N5FOG]

Quote[/b] (KE5MLF @ Mar. 14 2007,22:50)]I was just curious if this band is used much. I don't know of any repeaters in my area. Just curious what other had to say. I never here much said about it here....

Greg it depends on the area. I know here in Houston, TX we have like 2 or 3 220 repeaters and just a handful of guys that use them.

Now California is a different story, over there due the lack of available 2 meter or 70cm repeater pairs they have turned to the 220 MHz and 900 MHz bands and they have quite a few repeaters on both bands.


FOG

[KG4KWW]

I would like to see rigs like the 706 and 7000 include 220.

[K5FH]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Mar. 15 2007,21:24)]I would like to see rigs like the 706 and 7000 include 220.

Which brings up an interesting point...

Does the lack of activity on 220 stem from the lack of available equipment? #FM rigs for 220 are easy to come by (Alinco, YaeComWood) but if you want SSB you have to go the transverter route. #Nobody makes a 220 all-mode to my knowledge.

On the other hand, would having more equipment available spur more activity on 220?

It's something of a Catch-22: manufacturers don't make 220 all-modes because of what they perceive as low demand, and to some extent that low demand is being caused by the lack of commercial equipment.

Manufacturers are reluctant to invest millions in design, engineering, tooling and processes for a new product unless their marketing data tells them that the demand for the product is sufficiently high to assure at least some positive return on investment. #This is probably why Icom didn't include 220 capability in the 706, 7000, et al - they didn't think it was worth the extra production costs which would, in turn, drive up the selling price.

I, too, would like to see 220 included in YaeComWood all-mode, DC-to-daylight rigs.

220 has always been the "red-headed stepchild" of ham bands. #It shouldn't be that way, but it is that way. #Hopefully that will change.

[KC4YLV]

The biggest problem is that 220 MHz is not a legal ham band in Japan, I believe, and the Japanese ham community drives the market right now. See also: D-Star.

Wikipedia sez:

Quote[/b] ]1.25 Meters is an amateur radio band unique to ITU Region 2.

[KG6YTZ]

Quote[/b] (Kc5fog @ Mar. 15 2007,21:05)]Now California is a different story, over there due the lack of available 2 meter or 70cm repeater pairs they have turned to the 220 MHz and 900 MHz bands and they have quite a few repeaters on both bands.

Speaking of 220 and 900 in California... #Some of you might want to know that in SoCal, the 220 band is coordinated by 220SMA [220 Spectrum Management Association], and the 900 band [among others, except 2m and 220] is coordinated by SCRRBA [Southern California Repeater and Remote Base Association]. #220SMA lists all repeaters under their coordination; SCRRBA, for some reason, lists only the open ones.

Since I have nothing that even receives the 220 band, let alone transmits on it, I honestly don't know how much activity there is on that band around here. #220SMA seems to have a rather large list of repeaters, though.

K5FH asks:

Quote[/b] ]Does the lack of activity on 220 stem from the lack of available equipment?

I think that'd probably be my guess... {shrug}

[NE3R]

Some good answers. In my area, there are a few 222 repeaters. I used to use the one in my town quite a bit. It has great coverage. I also tended to use that repeater for any auto patch calls instead of the 2m. I stopped using 222 when my radio was stolen from my car, and I couldn't quite spare the bucks for another and since I needed a radio, I picked up an inexpensive dual bander. There are no tri band mobile rigs that can be bought new, and the used ones command a high price. I wouldn't put it past Kenwood to come out with a tri bander with 222, the TH-F6A handheld has sold well.

Now, for the weak signal 222 crowd, like 70cm, there only seems to be activity during the contests. Lets face it, they aren't likely to produce commercial all mode 222 rigs, so, you'll have to either buy one 2nd hand (not cheap) or build (or buy, I think you can get them prebuilt) a transverter. It seems like a lot of folks have a problem with transverters, I don't really understand why.

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[AC3P]

Quote[/b] ]The biggest problem is that 220 MHz is not a legal ham band in Japan, I believe, and the Japanese ham community drives the market right now. See also: D-Star.

Wikipedia sez:

Quote
1.25 Meters is an amateur radio band unique to ITU Region 2.

Seems like this would be a natural opening for a U.S. company. Ten-Tec or MFJ could market a 222 Mhz all mode transceiver. At a reasonable price, I would buy one.

[WB8YUE]

We have several 220 repeaters listed for the area I live in. I've heard very little activity on any of them. However the radio I am using is an IC-03AT with only the rubber duckie antenna. I did build me a 220 j-pole this month. But will have to wait until next month to buy the coax so I can get it put up. The I will try making some contacts an see what happens.