the 220 band

[902]

There is a small informal net on 222.100 MHz, USB that meets on Mondays, starting around 1930 local in Northern California. Unfortunately, that would require additional equipment and expense to utilize that mode.

It would be an investment, for sure, but it wouldn't be a tremendous expense. A modest beam, a TV rotor, and a Down East Microwave transverter could do the job very nicely. And, everyone could use another station on the air to make contact with.

Out of curiosity, what do you run? My station is only 6, 2, and 432 (6 and 2 transverters with a 3 ele M2 6 meter yagi and a Cushcraft 14 ele boomer being fed with LMR600, no 432 antenna at the moment), but I've been thinking about putting something together on 222 SSB/CW for contesting.

 

[Weaksignal]

Out of curiosity, what do you run? My station is only 6, 2, and 432 (6 and 2 transverters with a 3 ele M2 6 meter yagi and a Cushcraft 14 ele boomer being fed with LMR600, no 432 antenna at the moment), but I've been thinking about putting something together on 222 SSB/CW for contesting.

I'm using an Icom IC-375A, a TE Systems 2252G amp and a M2, 10 element Yagi. Depending where you're located, I may be able to work you on 50, 144 and perhaps 432 MHz.

 

[W6SAE]

There is a small informal net on 222.100 MHz, USB that meets on Mondays, starting around 1930 local in Northern California. Unfortunately, that would require additional equipment and expense to utilize that mode.

There is an FM simplex net that meets Thursdays at 2000 local on 223.500 and is hosted by Len, WA6KLK, near Willits. With a modest Yagi antenna for the band, you would hear him (and possibly work him) from your location.

Thanks for the information!

 

[KD2FIQ]

I'm using an Icom IC-375A, a TE Systems 2252G amp and a M2, 10 element Yagi. Depending where you're located, I may be able to work you on 50, 144 and perhaps 432 MHz.

That was a real cool series of radios Icom made. Tricky enough to get 220 FM and you have SSB. Very nice. The other nice radio would be the Yaesu FT-736R with a 220 module.

 

[BBB007]

Been using a Baofeng UV-82X as a 220 MHz base station for a few years now with a 220MHz ground plane antenna on a mast with great results and no complaints. All for less than $100. Now there is no reason not to have 220MHz FM in your shack. Heck the ground plane is NMO so you can put a NMO mount on your ride. Throw out the rubber ducky antenna that comes with the radio because its only good for 250MHz.

https://baofengtech.com/uv-82x

220MHz 1 25M 220 225MHz Base Station Antenna | eBay

Some other forum related conversation:

http://www.ozaukeeradioclub.org/qst/index.php?topic=181.0

 

[KD8DVR]

Been using a Baofeng UV-82X as a 220 MHz base station for a few years now with a 220MHz ground plane antenna on a mast with great results and no complaints. All for less than $100. Throw out the rubber ducky antenna that comes with the radio because its only good for 250MHz.

https://baofengtech.com/uv-82x

220MHz 1 25M 220 225MHz Base Station Antenna | eBay

Same deal here; but with an n9tax. Slim Jim.

Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk

 

[BBB007]

Cool! Good deal.

Slim Jim Info

 

[KD8DVR]

Cool! Good deal.

Slim Jim Info

I know, right?

 

[W5KVV]

I'd like to know more on the BridgeCom mobile. Looking it over, it looks like a Chi-com copy of a 281 Kenwood. That being said I'd love to have one. I had a TYT 220 radio a few years back. The closest repeater is 60 miles away but it was a high elevation site and I had no trouble making the machine.

The problem I ran into was, with 220 it was like pulling teeth to get someone to qso with you. But put that same person on 2 meters and they wont shut up. Almost like they were scared of 220. I don't get it.

I may have to try 220 again.

 

[gewecke]

In some areas of the country, 222 and even 440 seems to be a regional band where some hams are just stuck on either 2 meters or Hf with no other interests. Also yes Bridgecom seems to be a company to keep an eye on for sure. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[N4GIX]

I'd like to know more on the BridgeCom mobile. Looking it over, it looks like a Chi-com copy of a 281 Kenwood. That being said I'd love to have one.

Well, give Ron a call and ask away! He is the engineer who designed the equipment and has it built to specs by various companies around the world. I'm not at all surprised if he chose to use an existing chassis for his electronics as it undoubtedly saves a lot of setup expenses.

 

[bharvey2]

I love 220. I have a TYT mobile set up in the shack. Problem is I have no one to talk to!!! I've had it for about two years and have under 10 contacts. It's always on 223.500. No activity. Shame cause I think it's an awesome band.

I bought a TYT 220 single band a few years ago. I programmed a number of the 220 repeaters that I found for my area on Repeaterbook and found that there was a decent amount of activity for an "unused" band. It turns out that a few of the repeaters are linked to 2M or 70cm networks. Kinda took the wind out of my sails but they're contacts none-the-same I suppose. Never had any luck on simplex though. As an aside, I noticed recently that the Wouxun 8D or 9D? has a version that now includes 220. It may not appeal to the big three purists but the cost of entry is pretty low.

 

[dunee88]

Im on long island so i can safely say that it is mainly 2m and 70cm. There are a few 220mhz band repeaters out here but the amount of chatter on 2m/70cm makes me believe no one really uses 220

 

[KD2FIQ]

Im on long island so i can safely say that it is mainly 2m and 70cm. There are a few 220mhz band repeaters out here but the amount of chatter on 2m/70cm makes me believe no one really uses 220

I'm on LI too! We should chat on 220. But yes, it's totally dead. I mean dead. Comes alive during VHF contests but that's it.

 

[N4GIX]

There are five 220 repeaters within range of my BridgeCom 220 HT, but have been dead as dead can be for the past few months I've been scanning them.

 

[W6SAE]

There is a small informal net on 222.100 MHz, USB that meets on Mondays, starting around 1930 local in Northern California. Unfortunately, that would require additional equipment and expense to utilize that mode.

There is an FM simplex net that meets Thursdays at 2000 local on 223.500 and is hosted by Len, WA6KLK, near Willits. With a modest Yagi antenna for the band, you would hear him (and possibly work him) from your location.

I recently became aware of the Condor Connection, a network of 220 MHz repeaters covering California and parts of Nevada and Arizona. The nearest repeater to me is about 15 miles away on Mt. Vaca (AC6VJ, 223.840- [PL 156.7]). They have a Monday night net at 1900 hours PST. Even with the wide coverage area, the network seems to be pretty quiet.

I recently added to my shack an Alinco DR-235T MkIII 220 MHz transceiver and an Ed Fong (WB6IQN) DBJ-220 base station antenna. I really like the radio and antenna; I just wish there was more activity.

I'll see if I can hear the simplex net you mentioned this week.

 

[vagrant]

Some northern California operators have 70cm band issues due to Pave Paws. One club had to turn their UHF repeater down to 0.5 watts. the 1.25m band can pick up the slack if 2m is congested and keep things mobile or HT sized.

I have an old Kenwood TH-315A I use for contesting with an Elk 220 antenna. When SSB operators flip over to FM, but stay horizontal, I use a TH-F6A and just turn it on its side to work them and remove the polarization loss.

 

[wrath]

Well we don't have anything going on around here on 220 but a bunch of us have the equipment, many of us have our boat anchors some the Jetstream stuff one F6A and one 74a, a rag tag fleet for sure,we do according to the F.C.C have a 220 repeater,in reality the call and machine have been SK for over ten years and not even the ham who built the machine has any idea where it went, used to love 220 it was a good balance between 2/70 but we really lost out years ago to FedEx and everyone has remained shy on the band since then. Every few years the rumor mill about losing it completely gets going and people pay attention for awhile and then it goes dead again,maybe we can resuscitate interest since there are now 2 mobiles dedicated to it plus it being in the F6A and 74a.

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[mass-man]

I like that this thread returns from the dead every so often! 220 FM is alive and well in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area...224.88 in Dallas just got rebuilt first part of the year...224.94 in Ft. Worth works well over there. Recently 224.92 went on the air in Denton. 224.78 in SW Tarrant county has a very good signal. 224.8 in Arlington was unlinked from their 2 meter repeater and covers the area between the two cities.
There's more, those are the most active!
My first 220 rig was a Midland 13-510...always wanted a 13-513! Found one and use it now at home. DR 235 in the car and TYT TH-9000 at the lake house, where I need a bit more power to get my RF out of the hole.
Long live 220!(well really 222!)
Oh yeah, +1 to the Ed Fong antenna!!!!

 

[AK9R]

we do according to the F.C.C have a 220 repeater

The FCC doesn't license repeaters anymore.

but we really lost out years ago to FedEx

It was UPS. They were planning a nationwide radio system that never got off the ground. Once they abandoned the project, the 2 MHz that had been earmarked for their project remained in limbo. Now, it's being used by the railroads for the nationwide Positive Train Control system.

Every few years the rumor mill about losing it completely gets going

Rumors. There have been no proposals considered by the FCC to reallocate amateur radio's existing spectrum at 222-225 MHz.