222 MHz band radios and usage

[K3YGX]

I've never been on 1.25 before now.......I went the ghetto route and got a UV21 'pro' v2. I also have a GM21 GMRS version which can receive
200-250 MHz. The UV21 can also transmit on all those freq.s too, so gotta be careful. Nothing but crickets here but I have access to that band
now. Those HTs look alike so the only way to tell them apart when off is the antennas. They feel sturdier but time will tell, I have had a UV5R+ for 12 years and had no trouble with it, so I'll have to see (hopefully assuming I'm still here in 12 yrs).

edit: Double checked the range - it is actually 200 through 259.99875 on those x21s and the UV21 can transmit in that range.

 

[merlin]

I just ordered a tri band antenna for my UV-K5(8) for 1.5 meter work. Sadly, no 220 stuff where I live.
The radio scans 240 to 400 nicely for military so thinking Trivec-Avant AV 2055-3 for mil-sat.

 

[nokones]

I remember doing coverage surveys and comparison testing with 220 MHz for MDT use back in the late 80s and early 90s. The use of the 220 Mhz band was abandoned mainly for the lack of manufacturers of equipment.

 

[GlobalNorth]

1.25 meters is what I call the 'haunted band'. I've made only one contact, via repeater. No nets, few listeners, and a machine that rarely hears a PL tone.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Great band to use, if it's crowded or busy and you want to have a semi-private rag chew ! Dmr simplex on 222 works great too !

 

[rf_patriot200]

The TYT TH-350 is only $70 at R&L Electrronics this month. it's 5 watts and a Tri band talkie. 2/222/70cm Also displays all 3 at once if you want it to.

 

[KD8DVR]

The BTECH UV-5X3 is under $70.

 

[rf_patriot200]

The BTECH UV-5X3 is under $70.

Where at ??

 

[KD8DVR]

BTECH or Amazon.

 

[AK9R]

The last Baofeng UV-5X3 that I tested on a spectrum analyzer put out enough of a spur when transmitting on a 222 MHz frequency to activate a repeater in the 440 MHz band. And, I saw the phenomenon demonstrated in the field.

 

[rf_patriot200]

The last Baofeng UV-5X3 that I tested on a spectrum analyzer put out enough of a spur when transmitting on a 222 MHz frequency to activate a repeater in the 440 MHz band. And, I saw the phenomenon demonstrated in the field.

Wow ... that's bad.

 

[chrismol1]

The last Baofeng UV-5X3 that I tested on a spectrum analyzer put out enough of a spur when transmitting on a 222 MHz frequency to activate a repeater in the 440 MHz band. And, I saw the phenomenon demonstrated in the field.

I remember back in the day you'd put a bowlturd on the scope and the whole spectrum would light up it'd look like a saw blade all the peaks

 

[K6GBW]

220 MHz used to be the best band in a congested city like L.A. back in the 90's. 2 meters was very congested back then and paging systems were a problem. I had an Icom IC-03AT, a big brick of a radio, but it had a great receiver. Only ten channels, but hey, that's about all the 220 MHz repeaters there were back then.

 

[rf_patriot200]

220 MHz used to be the best band in a congested city like L.A. back in the 90's. 2 meters was very congested back then and paging systems were a problem. I had an Icom IC-03AT, a big brick of a radio, but it had a great receiver. Only ten channels, but hey, that's about all the 220 MHz repeaters there were back then.

I still have Kenwood's equivalent to that. the TH-315. It Still works too, but the battery is toast. Someday I'll buy a new battery for it, maybe give it to a new ham.

 

[kb1fua]

I have a Kenwood TH6FA triband, and a VX6R for my 222 ops.
I was just in SoCal last week and hit a few repeaters with them, no one on simplex tho.. Nothing around me at home, just on the road.

 

[KD8DVR]

The last Baofeng UV-5X3 that I tested on a spectrum analyzer put out enough of a spur when transmitting on a 222 MHz frequency to activate a repeater in the 440 MHz band. And, I saw the phenomenon demonstrated in the field.

Interesting. Both of mine have come out clean. (BTECH, not Baofeng)

Are you certain these radios were the *BTECH UV-5X3* ?

There are *Baofeng* branded UV5 whatevers out there that *are* dirty as you have mentioned.

The BTECH was specifically designed for use on 220 and has hardware supporting it.

The Baofengs just have a firmware kludge that lets them transmit on 220.

I did the experiment you did with my old Baofeng UV-82X (long discontinued) I was amazed when I could key up a 70cm repeater while on a 220 repeater. Both of my 82X's ended up in a bonfire shortly after that. Lithium Ion batteries make a nice explosion.