How to setup Ham radio frequencies for a designated route?

[lacofdfireman]

I hate to admit I'm a Ham radio operator but passed the test by memorizing all the questions so still don't have a great understanding of all of it. I have a 360 mile commute to work from St. George, UT to Lancaster California where I take I-15 south to Barstow, Ca then Hwy 138 to Mojave then hwy 14 South to Lancaster. I have a couple Baofeng radios and would like to add in the different frequencies so I could talk along the route. No idea what you would find this or if there are maps or something out there that show the frequencies that one would use to talk on. Any help would be appreciated for a new Ham. Gotta figure this out sooner or later.


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[ladn]

Welcome aboard.
Try searching Repeater Book (https://www.repeaterbook.com/). It lists repeaters near major highways. There is also an Android app from Repeater Book that will show repeaters within a specified radius of your location.

Program your radio channels with repeaters in the order of travel (Channel 1 would be St. George area). Put the radio in scan mode as you drive and make note of which channels tend to be active.

I can't vouch for Utah and Nevada area repeaters, but the Keller Peak repeater (146.385 + PL. 146.2) is very active and has excellent coverage along your travel route in California.

Don't forget to program in some simplex frequencies (146.520, etc). It's pretty common to hear local and short distance mobile traffic while on the road.

Consider also using an external 1/4 wave antenna outside your vehicle. This will increase your radio's transmit and receive efficiency considerably. They are about 19" long and with a magnetic mount, cost about $25.

Good luck and enjoy.

73

 

[popnokick]

I just came back from a week in this part of CA. I had my TYT MD-380 with me and the PAPA System codeplug loaded. I was AMAZED at the DMR coverage from the PAPA system of networked repeaters, even when using an HT with antenna inside my rental car. It was perfectly acceptable but would be incredible with an external UHF antenna... even a mag mount. Get yourself a DMR radio or you'll be missing the fun. The MD-380 is less than $110 brand new. There are others but the codeplug is readily available on papasys.com Here is the repeater map -
http://papasys.com/dmr/rapidmap/papamap.html

 

[K5MPH]

I do this all the time i take an trip program all the repeaters in my mobile radio i always find or hear some one to have an qso with repeaterbook.com is a good place to start.....

 

[cmdrwill]

146.73 100.0 Houser Peak in Palmdale that is active in Palmdale/Lancaster area. .
Keller Peak, that ladn mentioned is also a good choice.

145.220 Barstow 114.8
147.18 Flash II Barstow 151.4
147.885 - Rodman Pk Barstow
Baker 147.15 + 131.8
MT Potosi just west of Las Vegas

And NARI, I think, that has linked system from LV to St George.