Wide or narrow
- Thread starter Clats97
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Most amateur radio repeater coordination is based on +/- 5 kHz deviation, though there may be areas that are starting to use +/- 2.5 kHz deviation. "Wide", "mid", "narrow" are subjective terms which are defined differently by different people. I'd stick with whatever subjective term your radio uses to get +/- 5 kHz deviation.
Carson's Rule determines the bandwidth of an FM radio signal in that the bandwidth (BW) equals two times the sum of the maximum frequency of the audio signal (Fm) and the maximum deviation (Fd). In two-way radio communications, Fm is usually accepted to be 3000 Hz. So, for +/- 5 kHz deviation, BW = 2 (3000 + 5000) = 16 kHz.
Channel spacing, which also sometimes gets confused in these discussions is an arbitrary decision made by regulatory bodies. The land mobile radio industry used to have 16 kHz signals on either 15 kHz (VHF) or 25 kHz (UHF) channels. Now, with "narrowband" they have 11 kHz signals on either 7.5 kHz (VHF) or 12.5 kHz (UHF) channels. But, none of this applies to amateur radio since it is not bound by the FCC rules for land mobile.
Carson's Rule determines the bandwidth of an FM radio signal in that the bandwidth (BW) equals two times the sum of the maximum frequency of the audio signal (Fm) and the maximum deviation (Fd). In two-way radio communications, Fm is usually accepted to be 3000 Hz. So, for +/- 5 kHz deviation, BW = 2 (3000 + 5000) = 16 kHz.
Channel spacing, which also sometimes gets confused in these discussions is an arbitrary decision made by regulatory bodies. The land mobile radio industry used to have 16 kHz signals on either 15 kHz (VHF) or 25 kHz (UHF) channels. Now, with "narrowband" they have 11 kHz signals on either 7.5 kHz (VHF) or 12.5 kHz (UHF) channels. But, none of this applies to amateur radio since it is not bound by the FCC rules for land mobile.
It would help to know what scanner / receiving radio the OP is using. As has been noted, some of the scanners and other receivers have different meanings for "narrow", "wide", and even "mid" .... which could range from very narrow FM all the way up to FM-broadcast type bandwidth well beyond the "standard" 25 kHz settings for most Amateur Radio analog FM repeaters. So are you programming for receive only, or both receive and transmit use? And with what radio? Your question is a valid one and could have different answers. Knowing the receiver (and transmitter if applicable) will help get more accurate responses here for what you are trying to receive (or transmit into in the case of a repeater).
It's not a scanner it's a ham radio. Everything works fine on my scanners but I wanted to program some repeaters into my ham. But you must pick either "wide" "mid" or "narrow" in one of the sections in the programming software.
Yeah I guess I could do that but I haven't had much luck asking local hams for details, they usually just tell me to check the database because "it's all there" but it really isn't. If it was all there I wouldn't need to ask questions on RR lol
It's a tyt uv88 ham radio. I will be programming it to transmit and receive but will only really be listening if I'm being honest.
Asking the average ham on the street about the repeaters they use may not get you good info. Find out who the repeater trustee is and ask them.
nd5y
Member
Use wide. That's probably 5 kHz deviation. If people tell you your audio is too hot then use mid.
Very few ham repeaters in N America use 2.5 kHz deviaiton narrow FM.
Audio too hot?
How do I go about that? Some of the repeaters have a blank section under "sponsor" or "owner" when it comes to the repeater etc
Distorted or too loud.
I'd contact the repeater coordinator for your area and say that you want to get ahold of the trustee of the repeater in question. Ask them if they will give you the trustee's email address or forward your email to the trustee.
I think this is the coordinator for Ontario: Western NY and S. Ontario Repeater Council
Ohh okay so like your voice comes over the radio abnoxiously loud with a whole bunch of RF noise? And okay thank you mate I appreciate it I will look into this.
VA3JPX
Member
I am not referring to a specific repeater. I am wondering if repeaters in general are wide band or narrowband
VA3JPX
Member
Well if you give me the repeater frequency and callsign, I can direct you to the custodian of that repeater(s) and you can ask them specifically.
When in doubt, just use "Wide".
When in doubt, just use "Wide".
nd5y
Member
It depends. There are probably no narrowband amateur repeaters in Canada.
There are probably few if any narrowband commercial or public safety repeaters in Canada.
Narrowband is mainly a US thing.
N4KVE
Member
Analog Ham repeaters in general are wide band, except of course 900 MHz ham repeaters which are all narrow band. It’s the rare exception that a VHF, or UHF analog ham repeater would be narrow band.
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