Radio Channel Setup

[Air Randy]

In addition to the std 146.460 we use as a default channel, what are the other channels that we use on a regular basis especially for Moab? I am programming my mobile this weekend and want to get it all setup. Do we use any std channel naming convention like "RS01" for 146.460, etc?

 

[LXBRADY]

http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=12515

 

[Air Randy]

Thats good info but I was wondering more if we've come up with a standardized club simplex channel plan?

My radio can be programmed to show 6 characters for each channel name, so I could enter into memory labels like RSCH01, RSCH02, etc. I guess I'm used to having it that way from my cop days so if someone says "everyone go to channel 3" all I have to do is dial to RSCH03 without worrying about the actual frequency. It looks like if we came up with a standard plan for channels 1-20 that would cover Moab and you could just add 1 more column to the Moab freq plan to show the RS channel number.

I'm guessing we would want channel 1 to be 146.460. For you more experienced guys is there a 2nd most preferred freq for ch2, next preferred for ch3, etc or is it just random after that?

 

[rover67]

There are a few radio programs floating around... but I think there is not really a standard channel plan though...

I have my Icom radio set up with channel 1 as R SUN = 146.460 then from there on it's local repeaters, then statwide repeaters, followed by utah, followed by weather, then police, fire, emt, then some random repeaters on the cross country drive I do every year. All of those channels are programmed to display stuff that makese sense to me. For example: colorado connection 145.310 displays CCO310.

Everything on mine is 2meter since my radio is not capable of other bands.

No real order to it all...

Channel "1" only means something to me, or anybody else that used my program for their Icom.

Dave has a totally (maybe not totally) different program that he has created for the yaesu's where multiple bands are utilized with LOTS more channels programmed.

So the short answer is that there is no standardized simplex plan within the club.... but there are a few programs floating around..

 

[MDH33]

When is the Ham and Eggs Run Nakman?

 

[nakman]

When is the Ham and Eggs Run Nakman?

I don't know, I have asked my technical expert guys to approve a preliminary date but haven't heard back.. hopefully we can figure it out at the meeting next week.

As for naming channels, I've found it's less useful than you think. Everyone else will refer to the frequency, and won't have the same naming convention as you.. also if you're scrolling repeaters it's nice to see the actual number, particularly if the repeater directory shows them by number. So while it's kind of a neat trick, I rarely use it, and the day I learned how to toggle between the custom name and the actual frequency on my 8800 I was very happy.

 

[Air Randy]

As for naming channels, I've found it's less useful than you think. Everyone else will refer to the frequency, and won't have the same naming convention as you.. .

Which would be precisely the reason for creating a club channel plan, so everyone would use the same naming convention.......

 

[DaveInDenver]

Thats good info but I was wondering more if we've come up with a standardized club simplex channel plan?

My radio can be programmed to show 6 characters for each channel name, so I could enter into memory labels like RSCH01, RSCH02, etc. I guess I'm used to having it that way from my cop days so if someone says "everyone go to channel 3" all I have to do is dial to RSCH03 without worrying about the actual frequency. It looks like if we came up with a standard plan for channels 1-20 that would cover Moab and you could just add 1 more column to the Moab freq plan to show the RS channel number.

I'm guessing we would want channel 1 to be 146.460. For you more experienced guys is there a 2nd most preferred freq for ch2, next preferred for ch3, etc or is it just random after that?

National FM calling frequencies are 146.520, 446.00, 52.52. I put in a location called 'RSSIMP' for 146.460. Call it whatever makes sense to you. There is nothing official about 146.460, just what we've standardized on in the club because it's available in all band plans around the country and is easy to remember. From 146.460 it's usually just up or down a channel if it's busy although 147.570 is my personal backup if we have to stick to 2m (also easy to remember, but not available in Utah). Truth is we prefer to go to UHF when it's just us, since my truck and HT both do 70cm and then I don't need to bother with the tall antennas.

In Colorado we use a 15KHz 2 meter, narrow BW spacing band plan (mode is 15K0F3E). So if you want to channelize all 26 of the 2m full power frequencies for our state they would be:

146.400
146.415
146.430
146.445
146.460 (Rising Sun default)
146.475
146.490
146.505
146.520 (ARRL recommended national calling)
146.535
146.550
146.565
146.580
146.595
147.420
147.435
147.450
147.465
147.480
147.495
147.510
147.525
147.540
147.555
147.570
147.585

The plan also allows simplex between 144.900 and 145.100, but we don't use this because it's agreed that QRP and digital is allowed in this spectrum and operating ragchew at 50W voice would interfere with that.

Note that Utah uses 20KHz spacing (mode is 20K0F3E) and so many of these are not available in Moab. Those would be from 146.420 to 146.600 and 147.400 to 147.600MHz on even spaces and 145.510 to 145.790MHz on odd spaced channels. The general purpose FM voice simplex for Utah are below with a star next to those common with Colorado.

146.400* (although this is not open in northern Utah because of a coordination agreement with an Idaho repeater input)
146.420
146.440
146.460* (Rising Sun agreed)
146.480
146.500
146.520* (ARRL recommended national calling)
146.540
146.560
146.580*
146.600
147.400
147.420*
147.440
147.460
147.480*
147.500
147.520
147.540*
147.560
147.580
147.600

Personally I put in two sets of simplex banks, one for 20KHz and one for 15KHz and just change banks when going from a 15KHz plan to 20KHz so that I don't step on someone. It's also easy to figure out what the local plan is by asking. A call on 146.520 or one of the local repeaters will generally always get a response (and a local contact to boot).

I have before suggested the 15/20KHz common frequencies and those were at one point listed in my programming files as '4WD1' through '4WD9'. That got very little use and so has never been popular. So we just use 146.460 as our group calling and move if needed based on frequency.

 

[DaveInDenver]

BTW, this (standard frequencies) has been brought up before.

http://risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=9367

 

[Groucho]

Amateur Radio requires that operators know where they are in the spectrum at all times for purposes of legality. We have responsibilities to operate within our licensed privileges and with that responsibility comes the fact that we have to know what frequency we are operating on. Our common frequencies are known as "Band Plans" set up by the ARRL. Frequency sharing requirements are set up by the FCC, but the band plans are set up by the ARRL.

U.S. Technician class operators on the 2M band have privileges between 144 and 148 mhz. Even more defined are the modes on which we can operate within those boundaries. Phone, CW, RTTY, repeater inputs, these all come into play. The entire band is not open for simplex phone. Due to all of this responsible operating procedure, we as Amateur Radio operators must know what frequency we are operating on. This information is easily found on the web as well as at the local library.

That said, the idea of understanding what frequencies can be used is a good idea. The reason is that if there is a large amount of trail chatter going on on 146.460, folks can QSY to another freq of their liking. Commonly known freqs would be anything 15kz away from 146.460, as long as the band plan permits whatever mode you are operating by. All an operator needs to do is pick a freq near to their current location in the band, tell whomever they want to talk to that they want to QSY there, and go.

Band Plans are how Amateur Radio Operators differentiate ourselves from CB operators. The level of understanding and intimacy with the operation of our radios is what makes it what it is. Not everyone will get it the same way, but we are all here to mentor one another. Most of us carry a 2M repeater guide with us, as traveling from state to state the rules change as do the repeaters. This handy, small book contains all the information one would need to know to operate appropriately in whatever area that person is in.

In the end, name your memory inputs some way as to make it easier for you to remember what freq they are. I use things like "145 rpt" for the 145 repeater and "CC-Den" for the Colorado connections Denver, "CC-BRK" Breckenridge, "CC-LED" Leadville repeaters, etc. I also have two memories input for 15kz up and down (146.445 and 146.475) from 146.460, just in case.

 

[Hulk]

The Romers and I ran into the NorCal guys coming out of the Beef Basin area when we were headed to Chicken Corners. They talked to us for a bit, then their leader said, "NorCal guys, please switch to NorCal Two." They all switched, leaving us on 146.460 free and clear.

It was really cool. I'd love to have a Rising Sun Two, Three and Four.

 

[farnhamstj]

So what is RS Chanel #2? Matt your idea you call it. I'm in.



....Or is there already a #2 that everyone else uses to talk about me behind my back? With a secrete pass-phrase like,"Matt, I heard you got a SECOND set of BFG's" What am I not in the loop? Matt, you in the loop? Karate man cry on the inside.