[222mhz] RE: We want some new technology on our "other band."

[Doug W7FDF]

-----Original Message-----
From: 222mhz-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:222mhz-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Budd Turner

It seems to me it wouldn't be that hard for the Big Three (Kenwood,
Icom, 
Yaesu [another reply]), could simply do like they did in the past, by 
changing RF components in existing VHF & UHF models to make a 222 model.

The problem [my .02 cents on this subject] is that the Big Three
[Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu] are doing what they did way back in the
1970's.....using poor [or almost non-existant] marketing skills to push
220 equipment  in the United States. I designed and built my very first
220 repeater in 1978 and the ONLY radios that were available [for me and
my all of 18 Users] that were PLL controlled [if memory serves me] was
the Icom IC-3AT with the thumbwheels to select the frequency.

At least Icom made some attempt to create activity on the 220 spectrum
with limited products but......as technology would go and the need to
bolster the 2-meter spectrum, as it is still being done today. You will
ONLY get sporadic usage of the 220 spectrum in just a few cities and
communities. As I recall, New York City [where I am from] and
surrounding communities/states [New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania]
along with southern California and several communities had IMHO, the
biggest and consistent amount of 220 activity anywhere else in the U.S.

What made this spectrum even better was the abundance of the Clegg FM-76
and Midland 13-509 220 xtal controlled rigs both for linking purposes as
well as, for repeater systems [their radios had separate boards for rx
and tx]. I still have at least four FM-76's and two 13-509 radios laying
around the shack in working order.

What put Clegg out of business [FM-76] was this new technology...the
synthesized radio with its built in cpu and other bells-n-whistles!

You say, "I am resisting pressure to link to a uhf repeater on my 224.50
MHz repeater, so "we can talk to your repeater with our 440 radios."
That may get more 
traffic on the repeater, but is it really generating more 222 operators?


No, it will NOT generate new 222 operators! It will just provide a
"window" to allow the 440 local hams to chat with your 222 users and
vice-versa. Therefore what is the incentive for the 440 ops to spend the
cash for a 220 radio when all they have to do is power up their 440 rig
and PTT to your 220 repeater? If you decide to link to this UHF 440
repeater [and I can bet who's 440 repeater].....then you WILL NOT get
any new users but the same old guys in this town who have 440 capability

In all the years I have experimented with repeaters and Remotebase
systems I ALWAYS had separate radios at home and in my vehicle for one
specific purpose......being able to listen and communicate when I had a
need too and on any band. Even today I have six antennas on my F-150
with six radios to go with them. The Remotebase concept for me has
always been.....listen ONLY, to other systems out of interest and
curiosity. When I monitor 10-meters or 6-meters through one of my
remotes is exactly for that reason...to check for activity.

With my 900 repeater and its pending SUPER Remotebase system
planned.....will I be able to link to your 220 repeater yes, if I have a
need too, using one of my FM-76 220 rigs. BTW..I happen to have a pair
of crystals for your exact repeater split. Now will I join your "party"
and link my remote to your 220 repeater.....only your invitation will
make it so! Then again I don't have to use a remote when one of those
six radios is a synthesized ADI 220 rig in the truck. So yes...Doug
Fitts W7FDF is listening everywhere!!

Most Amateur Radio ops [if they are serious about the hobby] can afford
to spend the extra cash to buy a separate 220 rig. You did! If they
cannot then why are they in this hobby to begin with? On the other side
of this coin....I have been monitoring your new 220 repeater while at
work and using my Alinco [another company that shows interest in the 220
spectrum] portable HT. Judging by who has been "checking" into your
Thursday night Net, The word will filter down to the local 2-meter
operators and in time you MAY have some more new "converts" to the
spectrum....but don't hold your breath in this town.

You recall, I built and had a 220 repeater on Mt. Bigelow and it worked
well and had decent coverage with the few users [all of about three] but
once TRA got their hands on the box, the repeater went silent. Why is
that? I did my best work on that repeater and as a sidenote......I had
installed remotes on 2-meters, 6-meters and 10-meters and they all
worked well but still it was not enough, to generate new activity on the
220 spectrum.

Like anything new......the excitement is there on your new 220 repeater,
some are probably surprised to learn that another 220 repeater is alive
in Tucson but that excitement is for the short term, believe me Budd.  I
applaud you on your efforts to "keep 220 alive and well" but as I saw in
the 19 years living in this community there just are too many "cliques"
in this town whereas some frequent one simplex channel, some frequent a
specific UHF box, some frequent a "members only" UHF linked system [you
know who I am talking about] and some are just that, "appliance
operators" who flow around different frequencies like the wind.

Those AP's and newbies are the ones you need to work on, direct your
energies towards getting them off 2-meters and onto the 220 bandwagon.
Convincing the Big three to improve their marketing capabilities towards
the 220 spectrum sadly, just ain't going to happen. We already lost two
megs of the 220 spectrum and what did the manufacturers and the ARRL do
about it.....Nada!

I rest my case!

You want continued activity, growing activity on your new 220
box.....then "talk it up" on the other UHF repeaters and in time, "they
will come".....maybe! There is diversity indeed, in the Amateur Radio
fraternity, what is lacking is how the Big Three are NOT saying anything
about the 220 spectrum but instead, look at their profit margins with
new hardware for 2-meters, 440, dual-banders and hf equipment.

It took one young 25 year old snotty nosed fella from Canada [VE7LTD
2001] to usurp the communications world with his IRLP system and caused
Yaesu to come up with their WIRES internet Vo/Ip comm. system. So what
did Kenwood and Icom do in this internet new technology...........Nada!

I am being critical [as always] because I have always been a strong
supporter of the 220 spectrum and still am. I get very P.O'd when I read
nothing in QST or other publications that mildly touches on the subject
of the 220 spectrum. I miss the good old 73 magazine. Here anything and
everything was fair game when it came to 220 and beyond.

The next frontier............900mhz! You ready for that? One of your new
220 users has his 900 box up on Bigelow. Maybe you should collaborate
with him and see what's involved or ask me as I have a 900 repeater on
the air [in the test mode on this workbench]. I won't bite!

Doug W7FDF
Vail, Arizona

PS: Chris Boone WB5ITT said in his reply to your thread [and I read
everything], " There are several 2mtr rptrs now with ILink or other
Internet links....I do not consider that ham radio! UNLESS it is linking
to another dedicated rptr (like IRLP)....but even so, that is not ham
radio linking in the RF sense...to link across town or a region using
the internet IMO is not the way to do it long term to justify our
bands". In some ways I agree with what Chris is saying but.....there are
those who will take exception [strongly] to internet linking in
comparison to what some have called, "Real Radio".