In LA are the 2 meters repeaters not very popular. I have a Yaesu Ft60r and have never heard any 2 meter.
Any opinions?
Any opinions?
LA 2 meter repeaters
- Thread starter scanner99
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SkipSanders
Silent Key
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Perhaps you're just not listening to the right repeaters, or at the right time.
Here's the official repeater coordination list for 2 meters for SoCal.
TASMA Coordinated Repeater List
Here's the official repeater coordination list for 2 meters for SoCal.
TASMA Coordinated Repeater List
I don't think there is a minute out of any day or night where at least a couple repeaters are not in use in the LA area. I'm surprised you've not picked anything up.
prcguy
prcguy
Lists of 2M Stuff
There are local nets that meet on the air each week (many of these are in the SFV):
Mondays
145.300 - LASO DCS - 1900 hrs
147.300 - LAFD ACS - 1930 hrs
146.580 - LA City ACS/ARES - 2100 hrs
145.300 - Packet Voice Net - 2000 hrs
147.705 - Seismic Net - 2100 hrs
Tuesdays
146.820 - ARES/EARS Net - 1900 hrs
146.925 - BARC Net - 1930 hrs
144.830 - Simplex Net - 2000 hrs
146.565 - Simplex Net - 2100 hrs
146.580 - Simplex Net - 2100 hrs
Thursdays
146.925 - ARES Net - 2000 hrs
147.735 - W6SD Net - 2000 hrs
147.705 - Red Cross - 2000 hrs
Here are some active 2M freqs:
145.300 - K6CPT - Mt Disappointment - (LASO)
147.735 - KB6C (AKA "Magic Mountain") - Oat Mountain
147.435 (input 146.400) (103.5) - K6GE (Formerly W6DEK) - This can be rated "R" because of foul language and other content (lots of activity)
147.705 - K6QQN - Oat Mtn
145.180- (156.7) - W6MPH - Pasadena
145.200- (103.5) - N6AH - Arcadia - (D-Star actvity)
145.220- (103.5) - N6SLD - Santiago
145.440- (136.5) - N6USO - Sunset Ridge
146.085+ (110.9) - KA6AMR - Duarte
146.175+ (100.9) - W6GNS - Whittier
146.610- (103.5) - K6FAM - Sierra Peak
146.640- (167.9) - W7BF - Diamond Bar
146.700- (146.2) - KB5TJJ - Sunset Ridge
146.730- (103.5) - K0JPK - Rio Hondo Peak
146.820- (CSQ) - W6FNO - Johnstone Peak
147.150+ (103.5) - WR6JPL - Pasadena - (NASA/JPL audio feeds)
147.270+ (100.0) - WA6ZTR - Mt. Disappointment - (LA Co. DCS)
147.705- (141.3) - N7RDA - Oat Mountain
147.765- (131.8) - W6QFK - Monrovia - (SGV ARC)
Here is a site that lists SoCal 2M repeaters:
Southern California 2 Meter Repeater List
Check out this site of California Amateur Radio Clubs:
California : Ham Radio: Clubs: North America: USA: California
This should be enough for now.
There are local nets that meet on the air each week (many of these are in the SFV):
Mondays
145.300 - LASO DCS - 1900 hrs
147.300 - LAFD ACS - 1930 hrs
146.580 - LA City ACS/ARES - 2100 hrs
145.300 - Packet Voice Net - 2000 hrs
147.705 - Seismic Net - 2100 hrs
Tuesdays
146.820 - ARES/EARS Net - 1900 hrs
146.925 - BARC Net - 1930 hrs
144.830 - Simplex Net - 2000 hrs
146.565 - Simplex Net - 2100 hrs
146.580 - Simplex Net - 2100 hrs
Thursdays
146.925 - ARES Net - 2000 hrs
147.735 - W6SD Net - 2000 hrs
147.705 - Red Cross - 2000 hrs
Here are some active 2M freqs:
145.300 - K6CPT - Mt Disappointment - (LASO)
147.735 - KB6C (AKA "Magic Mountain") - Oat Mountain
147.435 (input 146.400) (103.5) - K6GE (Formerly W6DEK) - This can be rated "R" because of foul language and other content (lots of activity)
147.705 - K6QQN - Oat Mtn
145.180- (156.7) - W6MPH - Pasadena
145.200- (103.5) - N6AH - Arcadia - (D-Star actvity)
145.220- (103.5) - N6SLD - Santiago
145.440- (136.5) - N6USO - Sunset Ridge
146.085+ (110.9) - KA6AMR - Duarte
146.175+ (100.9) - W6GNS - Whittier
146.610- (103.5) - K6FAM - Sierra Peak
146.640- (167.9) - W7BF - Diamond Bar
146.700- (146.2) - KB5TJJ - Sunset Ridge
146.730- (103.5) - K0JPK - Rio Hondo Peak
146.820- (CSQ) - W6FNO - Johnstone Peak
147.150+ (103.5) - WR6JPL - Pasadena - (NASA/JPL audio feeds)
147.270+ (100.0) - WA6ZTR - Mt. Disappointment - (LA Co. DCS)
147.705- (141.3) - N7RDA - Oat Mountain
147.765- (131.8) - W6QFK - Monrovia - (SGV ARC)
Here is a site that lists SoCal 2M repeaters:
Southern California 2 Meter Repeater List
Check out this site of California Amateur Radio Clubs:
California : Ham Radio: Clubs: North America: USA: California
This should be enough for now.
Last edited:
cousinkix1953
Member
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Lets not forget the WIN System and it's world-wide network of local repeaters that are linked on the internet. I hear local nor-Cal hams chewing the fat with several other states and even foreign countries on the VHF and UHF bands. LA is is even bigger. WIN must be active there too...
I've never heard of this Win System.
Perhaps you're thinking of echolink or irlp?
EDIT: Nevermind... I found it on the internet... Its is using IRLP.
Last edited:
Hotdjdave
Would i be able to reach those repeaters from the west LA area you think?
Would i be able to reach those repeaters from the west LA area you think?
The WIN system is very large and impressive, the local LA 2m frequency is 147.210. Look up winsystem.org for other frequencies and PL tones. Last time I checked over 60 repeaters around the US in many countries all key up at once. Dave left out the Catalina repeater at 147.090 and many others.
prcguy
prcguy
I'm on the TRW repeater nearly every day. (145.320) It has great coverage for the LA West side and much of the L.A. Basin to Hollywood.
Other than that, I'm on Mt. Lukens (the SC DX Alert repeater) 145.480. It has great coverage over all the San Fernando Valley and much of the L.A. Basin, even down as far as Newport Beach.
In LA what is your favorite public repeater on 2/70 bands
Try listening during weekday drive times, i.e. rush hour.
It depends on where you are and where the transmission site is. There are several mountains that may block the transmission.
There is a tool to test propagation of tower sites using GoogleMaps, but I can't find the link. When I find it, I will post it.
2 meters is generally a waste in LA, and has been for 25 years. I haven't been able to put up with any open repeaters for at least that long.
spock00
Member
145.300 - K6CPT - Mt Disappointment - (LASO)
147.735 - KB6C (AKA "Magic Mountain") - Oat Mountain
147.435 (input 146.400) (103.5) - W6NUT
147.270+ (100.0) - WA6ZTR - Mt. Disappointment - (LA Co. DCS)
147.705- (141.3) - N7RDA - Oat Mountain
146.025+ (136.5) - Verdugo
146.910 - (136.5) - Oat
147.120 - CS - Verdugo
147.240 - CS - Duck Mtn
445.80 WA6IBL Mt. Disappointment
446.46 K6JSI Oat
446.58 WD6FZA Oat Mtn.
446.72 K6JSI Loop
447.76 CalNet Loop
That's neat, and you can't beat the price - but...
It's not a propagation tool. It's merely showing line-of-site visibility. It does have the ability to specify an elevation above ground, like you would an antenna. Unlike real propagation tools, it doesn't take into account antenna patterns, power levels, receiver sensitivity, and effects of frequency, refraction, etc. etc. etc.
Being aware of it's limitations will make it more useful, not less. In general, you'll probably find that it shows you the overall shape of a repeater coverage area, but not quality of coverage.
So i got my call sign KI6YOP and have been using the WIN system set of repeaters. Does anybody know of any other good set of repeaters on 440 that work well in LA
The best thing to do is listen. I have found all many systems by just scanning the 440-470 Mhz band.
There are 3 major linked systems in SoCal: WIN system, CAL-Net, and PAPA. You can make contacts over a large area with those. I usually scan all 3 when I'm looking for someone to talk to. I also scan my local Echolink node (its link is on a stand-alone repeater down here.)
Winsystem
Calnet Repeater Group
PAPA Home
Note that the WIN system is a member-supported, open system. Anyone can talk. Calnet and PAPA are membership-based systems. I think they expect you to join if you want to be a regular user.
Once you've identified a frequency with people talking, you then need to figure out how to join in. Some rigs automatically set the repeater offset based on some standard rules, but if yours doesn't, just use this simple rule: if the frequency is above 445 Mhz, you need a negative offset (or you'd be transmitting illegally.) Otherwise, try a positive offset first.
Not all systems hum tone, but if they do, your receiver probably has a way to listen for it. Also, try the "reverse" mode - this listens on the input frequency, where you will be able to grab the tone (if you can hear the person talking.)
If that doesn't work, just save the freq and come back when the repeater is not in use. Start with the lowest tone freq, key the mic, and say your call sign. After you unkey, listen for the "tail" (the repeater will be transmitting after you stop.) If there's no tail, go to the next tone freq and key the mic again, listening for the tail. Once you find the right tone freq, save that in your radio's memory. Be sure to call your callsign again when you're done, so you're legal.
You also might want to pick up the ARRL repeater directory. According to what I've been told, it contains all of the coordinated repeaters in the country.
You can also search for amateur radio clubs in the area. It's a sure bet that a club either owns a repeater or two.
There are 3 major linked systems in SoCal: WIN system, CAL-Net, and PAPA. You can make contacts over a large area with those. I usually scan all 3 when I'm looking for someone to talk to. I also scan my local Echolink node (its link is on a stand-alone repeater down here.)
Winsystem
Calnet Repeater Group
PAPA Home
Note that the WIN system is a member-supported, open system. Anyone can talk. Calnet and PAPA are membership-based systems. I think they expect you to join if you want to be a regular user.
Once you've identified a frequency with people talking, you then need to figure out how to join in. Some rigs automatically set the repeater offset based on some standard rules, but if yours doesn't, just use this simple rule: if the frequency is above 445 Mhz, you need a negative offset (or you'd be transmitting illegally.) Otherwise, try a positive offset first.
Not all systems hum tone, but if they do, your receiver probably has a way to listen for it. Also, try the "reverse" mode - this listens on the input frequency, where you will be able to grab the tone (if you can hear the person talking.)
If that doesn't work, just save the freq and come back when the repeater is not in use. Start with the lowest tone freq, key the mic, and say your call sign. After you unkey, listen for the "tail" (the repeater will be transmitting after you stop.) If there's no tail, go to the next tone freq and key the mic again, listening for the tail. Once you find the right tone freq, save that in your radio's memory. Be sure to call your callsign again when you're done, so you're legal.
You also might want to pick up the ARRL repeater directory. According to what I've been told, it contains all of the coordinated repeaters in the country.
You can also search for amateur radio clubs in the area. It's a sure bet that a club either owns a repeater or two.
spock00
Member
Congrats! Since you're in BVH you'll be able to work most repeaters in LA County. For Open stand alone 440 repeaters try looking here:
Open 440MHz Repeaters
Southern California 440 Repeater List
Congratulations on getting your ticket! Have fun!
A few comments on 440 in Southern California are in order. The operating environment there is completely different than in any other ham band. The 440 band here is FULL. There are several repeaters on EVERY frequency pair, and the vast majority of them are closed, private systems. The reason for this is many are linked, with remote bases, and other toys, and the mindset is to make all users control operators. They can also be tremendously expensive to operate and maintain. So membership becomes mandatory.
Other systems are less structured, but in the case of most private systems, casual use by non-members is not generally encouraged. There ARE notable exceptions. If you happen upon a private system, you'll generally POLITELY be told that it's membership only. That's your que to not talk there. Some of those private systems DO welcome new members, and frequently have web pages showing how to join. Others cater to more specialized groups, and if you're not in that group, you don't use their radios. Period. Membership in those systems is like a pushing on a door that opens toward you - the harder you push, the tighter it closes. Just leave 'em alone.
Calnet seems to be a great bunch of people, and is several orders of magnitude less inane than WIN is. It's closed, but anyone can become a member. Look up their web page. WIN has wider coverage due to it's internet links, but personally, I can't stand listening to it. I've never listened to PAPA, so have no opinion of it. ALERT is another closed system that solicits new members.
One last thing... many repeater guides make a distinction between "closed" and "private" systems. It's easy... Closed is membership only, but anyone can join. Private is usually by invitation only.
Have fun, get started on the right foot, and there's some really neat stuff to do!
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