[ICOM] Most popular 440 mHz frequencies?

[Gary Pearce KN4AQ]

At 08:39 AM 9/13/2005, you wrote:
>I'd be grateful if someone could direct me to a site or
>
>other source for the 100 or so most popular 440 mHz
>
>repeater frequencies.  Got a new "toy" with lots of
>
>memories that need to be filled...HI!
>
>73
>
>Tim K3HX


Hi, Tim,

I'll try to second-guess your needs here and suggest that unless you do a 
LOT of traveling, programming the "most used" UHF channels would be a waste 
of time.  You probably want all the channels used in your general area, and 
maybe some more around your state.

Beyond that, the UHF band plan is so "regular" - channels every 25 kHz, 
that scanning the whole band with a "program scan" (setting a low and high 
frequency limit) is as effective as scanning a few hundred memory channels.

Another thing working against just filling up memories is that most UHF 
repeaters use CTCSS (tone, PL) access, but each of the several repeaters on 
any one frequency across a wide geographic area will be using different 
tones.

Something important to note if you DO travel is that your area, and the 
northeast in general, uses a somewhat different band plan from most of the 
rest of the country.  In most of the country, the spectrum between 441 and 
445 MHz contains repeater OUTPUTS, while 446 to 450 contains repeater 
INPUTS.  In the northeast, on some channels that scheme is reversed.  This 
is an issue of occasional debate among repeater owners, and I won't get 
into that - just presenting the fact.

If you really do want to dig into it deeper, pick up the ARRL Repeater 
Directory and review the listings.  I don't know of any simpler way to do 
it, though some individual state frequency coordinators might be able to 
give you a rundown.

You might take the question to one of the repeater oriented mailing lists 
on Yahoo or QTH.net for more responses from the repeater guys.

73,
Gary KN4AQ