[222mhz] 220 Mobile Advice

[Christopher Boone]

Phil Lefever wrote:

> It is great to see several companies step up to address the lack of new
> equipment from the big three. I am happy that Kenwood is still remembering
> that people in North America have an allocation on 220MHz though. We should
> ALL email Icom and Yeasu and let them know there is still some demand for
> 220 equipment!

Yeah, its time Yaesu did something after the FT311 series...they never 
did come out with a 312 to match the 212/712 series....and though the 
FT-33 HT is still available, it's over 15 years old now! I do have
a TM742 but the programming in it is screwy (thanks to Kenwood following 
the "official" ARRL band plan--HA!)....so any rptr freq below 223.90 
requires me to manually offset the radio...thank goodness for the memories!

> My matter what equipment you buy, the 220Mhz band is the BEST VHF band
> available to us! It has the range of 2m without the noise levels and the
> antennas are smaller too. On 220 sideband my range is every bit as good
> as 2m sideband and the noise floor is below the receivers noise floor.
> Also with no paging allocation close to the band there are no problems
> with the receivers receiving all the junk that 2m radios do in the big
> cities.
> 
> 220MHz, Use it or loose more of it!

With 30years of amateur service under my belt, I agree 100! On 220 FM, 
the signal drops quicker than 2mtrs BUT it hits a plateau....then stays 
there! while a 2mtr signals continues to dive toward the noise 
floor....I had a 2mtr and 220 crossband rptr network years ago...the 
2mtr rptr ran 100watts out....the 220 was a 15watt Midland convert...my 
radios were Yaesu FT227R and FT127RA in the mobile with Larsen NMO 
5.8wave on both bands....identical setup....yet the 220 was overall the 
winner!

Even on the fringe! It really blew the 2mtr rptr away.....
Now I own more 220 gear than any other band....and I love it!
Dont mod a Midland into a rptr....take a VHF GE and use it on 220...
load the Midland, etc xtal rig to a friend...get the band rolling again!

The lack of commercial use of 220-222 sure has NOT hurt the 222-225 
amateur band......only lack of activity can hurt us....dont waste it!

Chris
WB5ITT
224.5 Beaumont-Port Arthur
224.8 Houston TX


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