2 Meter in Maryland, MFJ-8400

[Heirphoto]

Hello, I have been active in SW for a while now as well as crystal radios. Having not owned a scanner for over 30 years I recently got a GRE PSR-500. My old one was a little Regency portably with 4 crystals.

Anyway, I picked up a little 2 meter rig, an MFJ-8400 from ebay and was curious about 2 metere activity here around Baltimore. I hooked it up with the supplied 10" telescoping antenna and am not picking up much at all. I will very occasionally get a few seconds of voice around 147 MHz but no where else.

Any tips on what to look for, things to try, etc.....? I did download the MFJ manual for this tiny rig.

Would a different frequency range supply more to hear....15 meter, 20 meter, etc...? Would I need a special antenna for those frequencies (obviously I would need a different radio)?

Thanks,
Tony

 

[N8IAA]

Hello, I have been active in SW for a while now as well as crystal radios. Having not owned a scanner for over 30 years I recently got a GRE PSR-500. My old one was a little Regency portably with 4 crystals.

Anyway, I picked up a little 2 meter rig, an MFJ-8400 from ebay and was curious about 2 metere activity here around Baltimore. I hooked it up with the supplied 10" telescoping antenna and am not picking up much at all. I will very occasionally get a few seconds of voice around 147 MHz but no where else.

Any tips on what to look for, things to try, etc.....? I did download the MFJ manual for this tiny rig.

Would a different frequency range supply more to hear....15 meter, 20 meter, etc...? Would I need a special antenna for those frequencies (obviously I would need a different radio)?

Thanks,
Tony

Actually, there should have been a 19" telescoping antenna with the radio. That would be a quarter wave antenna @ 2m. Even a 10" antenna will pick up a 145-147MHz signal. Do a Google search for 2m repeaters in your area and tune in that range. Not as active a band as it used to be. You may be able to do a search in the ham bands on your scanner to see if there is activity and what bands.
HTH,
Larry

 

[K9WG]

Can't speak for your area but some places 2-meters can be pretty quite. I know in Indianapolis area most activity is on 440 now and 2-meters for the most part is underused.

 

[Heirphoto]

Thnaks guys. I actually meant a 19" antenna, the 10" was a typo.

I did find a local guy who made a complete map of 2 meter repeaters in our area and a few are nearby, 2 are within 10 and 20 miles of me. he actually makes the KB3KAI 2-Meter Portable Roll-Up J-Pole antenna reviewed on eHam.

I was not sure what to expect with 2 meter but picked the radio up for less than $40 when I bought an MFJ-1020 antenna tuner on ebay. The seller had both components and I was after the 1020 so picked up the 2 meter on a whim.

I know the MFJ receivers in 15 and 20 meter turn up on ebay a lot and was curious if they would provide better chances to hear stuff and whether they need more specialized antennas?

I don;t have any plans for a license or to have a large receiver. Just wanted some small, more home built type stuff to have fun with. So far my entire shack would fit in a shoe box.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[N8IAA]

I know the MFJ receivers in 15 and 20 meter turn up on ebay a lot and was curious if they would provide better chances to hear stuff and whether they need more specialized antennas?Thanks,Tony

I thought that MFJ made receiver too. I might be wrong. But, 15 and 20 meters depend a lot on band conditions for what you might hear. Both are good during the day and early night. But, with good conditions, there are good day and night. An inexpensive antenna tuner with a wire antenna will allow you to hear what's going on. When I was on hf, I had a 40 meter dipole strung up attached to a tuner allowing me to transmit on anything 40 and above. Also made for a good sw antenna. If you already have an antenna up for sw, that will be all you need for the other rcvrs.
HTH,
Larry

 

[hill]

147.075 mhz and 147.105 mhz have radio traffic from about 5:30 AM until 9:00 AM on weekdays. Afternoon drivetime is also a good time to listen. You most likely won't receive much during the middle of the day. Other repeaters with use are 146.67 mhz and 145.33 mhz. Many repeaters have nets during a evening night.

 

[Heirphoto]

Thanks. I'll try the morning hours on Friday when I am off and see what is bradcast. I did pick up a short conversation last night on 147 and then an hour later a few seconds of code. I was listening to SW but kept the 2 meter on in the background just in case.

I'll try different weeknights and see what I find. Does not look like as much activity as SW or the scanner but it is fun to listen to anything going on.

Tony

 

[Daniel_Boone]

I guess the answer is that all frequencies reduce at the square of the distance away from the transmitters.
Most good towers in my area will transmit on average about 50 miles in Pennsylvania.
Some really good towers in really good locations will transmit about 100 miles.
All it takes to make 2 meters work is two people willing to talk to each other.
That requires multiple people to be monitoring the frequencies you desire to listen to.
In order to increase your reception capabilities you will need to invest in a good outdoors antenna.
Get your antenna as high up above the main roof and scan for people talking on Simplex.
For the most part - the 2 meters is a lot like a buddy club - everyone knows everyone and they tend to pal around together.
A person on the outside looking in - might not get to talk too much.
If you really want to become involved in radio - might I suggest that you attend some meetings at a local Ham radio club and take your test and get your license and buy yourself a good transceiver and outdoors antenna and maybe you can start your own little buddy club and have lot's of fun.
I do not see this activity as something that is going to perpetuate as long as people are not willing to invest money into this hobby and unless they are willing to talk amongst themselves.
The average age of a Ham today is somewhere around 70 years old and getting older.
With all of technology - cell phones, I phones all that crap - there is no reason for most young people today to even want to talk on a ham radio or get involved because it is too easy for them to just pick up their phones and talk to people.
That is about all that I have to say

 

[ka8ypy]

List of repeater frequencies in MD.

http://www.tmarc.org/freqs/MD.html

 

[kc4jgc]

147.105 does have a morning drive net weekdays. I have checked into that net when I'm in the area and driving. 146.64 has a traffic net, I believe at 6pm.

Check that list ka8ypy linked to here. Some repeaters may not be on the air but is a good start.

 

[Heirphoto]

Thanks guys. I have been picking up a lot more now that I know to focus on the repeater frequencies and especially when to listen. I have been having good luck around 10:00pm most nights.

The dial on the MFJ-8400 is not that accurate so I don't know exactly what frequency I am monitoring but if I swing back and forth around the repeater frequencies I usually hit something late evenings and this is with the little 19" built in telescoping whip. I may try the J-pole antenna idea and see if this give a bit better reception.

Tony