[NLRS] 2m calling frequency was Fw: 50 mhz CW

Tue Jul 19 08:12:08 EDT 2011

If you really feel the need to change the calling frequency....
Stop
Think
Think a second time
(If you succeed in getting people in general to QSY, Murphy dictates the people that won't move off .200 will be likely to adopt the new frequency)
If you still think its a good idea, consult some 2m EMEers to make sure its not a bad choice in terms of interference with them or noise pickup from things you can't avoid like usb and harmonics of crystals found in all sorts of gear.
Consider your phase noise with a SSB signal, a brick and some band enhancement, your tx antenna gain, and their tx antenna gain and a receiver with a better than thermal noise floor. As much as they'd like to be at the bottom of the band its not uncommon to find a strong birdy 50khz above 144. While it might be easy enough to stay far enough away to not interfere with normal propogation, it is harder to guarantee with enhancement.

In a perfect world, all electronics would have crystals at exactly 4,9,12,16,24,32 mhz, etc and the harmonics would fall at exactly the band edge. Unfortunately they usually get a pair of (approx) 22pf capacitors, or might even have a ceramic resonator that is even less precise ... Which is a double whammy in also having more phase noise.

I have a little mfj 2m ssb radio, and it was shocking to see how many birdies were around even with a crystal +vfo rig with no synthesizer.

----- Original Message -----
From: John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK [mailto:hamk9jk at ameritech.net]
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 08:19 PM
To: Herb Krumich <wa2fgk at yahoo.com>; nlrs at mailman.qth.net <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: n0jk at arrl.net <n0jk at arrl.net>
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Fw: 50 mhz CW

Herb, NLRSers, (and cc: Jon, N0JK)

IF "we" are talking about moving down 30-50 kHz to "create an 
area for CW activity"...why stop there with the frequency 
movement, "go farther" and USE the frequency range 'dedicated' 
to CW that ALREADY EXISTS on the 2 meter band!

I recognize that Herb mentioned this and that "nobody is using 
that area" BUT how do "we" know that folks would use an area 
from 144.150 to 144.170...or more precisely, WHY would folks use 
144.150 to 144.170 if they are NOT using the area below 144.1?

If "we" agree to establish something in this vein, let "us" just 
move ALL THE WAY to the 'dedicated' CW portion of the 2 meter 
band, down 100-120 kHz, to 144.080 to 144.100? Perhaps 
suggesting 144.090 as a "2 Meter CW Calling Frequency"? For that 
matter, how about a network of 2 Meter CW Skimming receivers 
throughout the country as a source of propagation info, 
potentially as good as (or better?) than the APRS Mapping.

Dare I also suggest that 144.125 become the 'new' national 
calling frequency for the 2 meter band and 144.100 to 144.125 
would be the "DX Window"? (Just Kidding on the latter but I AM 
SERIOUS about the former.)

My 1/5 cent worth (inflation adjusted).

73, JK
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herb Krumich" <wa2fgk at yahoo.com>
To: <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: <n0jk at arrl.net>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 16:12
Subject: [NLRS] Fw: 50 mhz CW

>
>
> As everyone knows, 50 mhz activity on CW has been tremendous. 
> Especially during openings and contests. So many stations can 
> pile into a small area.
> Over the last few years, as activity increases on 6 meters, 
> the activity on 144 mhz has dwindled. Even during contests 
> when your struggling for contacts and switch to the CW mode, 
> there are very few stations to work.
> I would like to throw this idea out to different loggers to 
> see what the response would be.
> Would it make sense to take a portion of two meters that is 
> not used, and create an area for CW activity. I realize some 
> people are going to say the lower portion of 144 mhz is for CW 
> contacts. But nobody is using that area.
> We generally use 20 khz on 50 mhz from 50.080 to 50.100
> May I suggest 144.150 to 144.170 for CW activity. At least 
> during contests. When I switch to CW on 50 mhz, there are many 
> contacts made that could never be made on SSB.
> I will be in contact with the ARRL to make this suggestion.
> Please throw this around on this logger and lets see where it 
> goes.
> 73's Herb K2LNS
> Station mgr for the WA2FGK location
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