[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] 33cm/900MHz Juggle Net

Sat May 13 11:22:53 EDT 2023

No real need to do PL decode.  

The reason we do PL on the transmit is to open the squelch on anybody's radio who is listening with the PL decode turned on.  

You might use PL decode if there is a lot of noise on the frequency or you are in a crowded area with lots of users on the same frequency, like Hamvention.

Rich

> On May 13, 2023 at 10:01 AM Jeff Cook via AlexandriaRadioClub <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
>     Great, thanks! Question on #3. It’s SIMPLEX but has a PL Tone of 107.2. Is that right?
> 
>     —
>     Jeff KQ4CMA VA
> 
> 
>         > > On May 13, 2023, at 9:09 AM, Ian <iann8ik at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >     > 
>         > >         Attached are area 33cm repeaters and other recommended channelization.  Channels 1-9 should not be moved around as they correspond to the channelization that was programmed into a group of Motorola GTX900 handhelds we purchased a long time ago and those are rather challenging to reprogram.
> > 
> >         73, Ian N8IK
> > 
> >         On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 2:52 PM Jeff Cook via AlexandriaRadioClub <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net > wrote:
> > 
> >             > > > Excellent, thanks Rich. This guy in Vermont (through eBay) is selling the 15w Kenwood TK-981 with programming up to 15 stations for $199.
> > >             http://www.virtualvermont.com/store/900mhz-33cm-Ham-Radio-Kenwood-Tk-981-Includes-Microphone-Free-Programming_274687280261.html
> > > 
> > >             So the next step is to specify what should go into 15 programmed channels on 33cm. If anybody can help lay out that list, I’m happy to serve as point man for that. Please contact me at kq4cma at icloud.com mailto:kq4cma at icloud.com .
> > > 
> > >             The goal is to return the lesser used club repeaters to a more viable option for the club & community. The club’s 33cm/900MHz and 23cm/1200MHz repeaters are sitting there like ripe fruit for anybody who’d like to expand their capabilities.
> > > 
> > >             —
> > >             Jeff Cook, KQ4CMA
> > >             kq4cma at icloud.com mailto:kq4cma at icloud.com
> > > 
> > > 
> > >             > On May 12, 2023, at 11:14 AM, Rich Adamy <ka4gfy at gmail.com mailto:ka4gfy at gmail.com > wrote:
> > >             > I was using a Kenwood TK-981 into a Diamond 900 MHz base antenna.  For
> > >             > the time being, it's located in the corner of the room.  I do have
> > >             > plans to put it on my tower.  I do have an Alico G-29 as well.  The
> > >             >http://kw902.com website is the go-to website on the Kenwood TK-981.
> > >             >
> > >             > 33cm has similar propagation characteristics to 70cm.  The difference
> > >             > is, we share that band with a multitude of other services, industrial,
> > >             > medical, scientific, etc.  The noise floor is very high
> > >             >
> > >             > If you can find a Kenwood TK-981 at a good price, it is well worth the
> > >             > money.  I picked one up about 4 years ago at the Richmond Frostfest
> > >             > for around $160.  They are also available on the internet.  There are
> > >             > several of us in the club who have them.
> > >             >
> > >             > The Motorola Spectra will also work.  Be sure you get one that covers
> > >             > 896 to 950 MHz.  That one takes a little more work to move it to our
> > >             > 33cm band.
> > >             >
> > >             > There is a group in San Diego on 33cm.  Their website is here:
> > >             > http://www.sd900mhz.com/about900.htm
> > >             >
> > >             > Here is another website on getting started on 900 MHz:
> > >             > https://w6aer.com/getting-started-with-900mhz-ham-band/
> > >             >
> > >             > We can certainly try this again.
> > >             >
> > >             > Rich, KA4GFY
> > >             >
> > >             > On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 5:55 AM Jeff Cook via AlexandriaRadioClub
> > >             > <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net > wrote:
> > >             >>
> > >             >> So a few of us tried to find some productive comms on the 33cm/900MHZ club repeater tonight, but we’re still looking for the magic. With there being almost no amateur transceivers that even do 900MHz, I think the five people who participated tonight were all on a different radio!
> > >             >>
> > >             >> We treated it as an informal ragchew rather than a formal net, but it turned out to be mostly a troubleshooting session. But we got this one behind us and we all know a little more than we did before.
> > >             >>
> > >             >> Participants were:
> > >             >> KQ4CMA Jeff (me), Motorola GTX HT & Larsen mobile mag mount
> > >             >> KA4GFY Rich, HT & ext antenna
> > >             >> N8IK Ian, Alinco G29 HT & rubber duck
> > >             >> W4JJ Jack, Motorola XPR6580 HT & rubber duck
> > >             >> W4MAB Murph, SDRuno, internet
> > >             >>
> > >             >> Our playground was on these frequencies:
> > >             >> CLUB REPEATER: 927.6, -25MHZ offset, PL Tone 107.2
> > >             >> SIMPLEX: 927.6, 927.5
> > >             >>
> > >             >> But sorry to report it was a spotty test. I could hear, but not get out at all from two mobile locations. There was some scratchiness from somewhere, and since I came in a bit late, I’m not sure anybody was able to both RX & TX, though W4JJ thought KA4GFY’s transmissions were ideal.
> > >             >>
> > >             >> We used the club’s 2m repeater (club net had just ended) as a home base when we couldn’t connect on 33cm, and that allowed W4MAB to report on his RX on SDRuno, very helpful.
> > >             >>
> > >             >> I’m still looking into my options with my 1w Motorola GTX, but I’ve just discovered a guy on eBay offering 15w Kenwood TK981 transceivers which he’ll program to order. But I’ll be hoping to find a native 900MHz radio that doesn’t have to be custom programmed, though most of those seem to be out of production just now.
> > >             >>
> > >             >> So we’ll try again. Thanks for the workout, everybody!
> > >             >>
> > >             >> —
> > >             >> Jeff KQ4CMA
> > >             >> ______________________________________________________________
> > >             >> AlexandriaRadioClub mailing list
> > >             >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/alexandriaradioclub
> > >             >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > >             >> Post: mailto:AlexandriaRadioClub at mailman.qth.net mailto:AlexandriaRadioClub at mailman.qth.net
> > >             >>
> > >             >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > >             >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > >             ______________________________________________________________
> > >             AlexandriaRadioClub mailing list
> > >             Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/alexandriaradioclub
> > >             Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > >             Post: mailto:AlexandriaRadioClub at mailman.qth.net mailto:AlexandriaRadioClub at mailman.qth.net
> > > 
> > >             This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > >             Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > > 
> > >         > > 
> >     > 

> 
>         > >          
> > 
> >     > ______________________________________________________________ AlexandriaRadioClub mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/alexandriaradioclub Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:AlexandriaRadioClub at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 