[WIARC] C4FM national simplex frequency

[Chris Schulz]

WIARC members,

     I would like to pass along some information that was sent to me. I have been running the Yaesu FTM-400 VHF/UHF recently and had the question of what is the national call frequency for CF4M (Fusion) was going to be. Ron (AA9GL) asked or found a post from John Kruk (Yaesu sales representative). John stated  “The frequency of 145.5625 was suggested to use as it works in ALL band plans worldwide.

It will catch on if people continue monitor it and use it. I have my wide area node at home on it. People have started to use it but as stated it just takes time.

I actually talked to a few people on it while traveling through the midwest/Chicago at the start of the month.”

     Not sure how many people in the local area have these radios with C4FM capability at the moment. The FTM-400 is a very nice and easy to use radio. Easy to program from the control head, with nice APRS features. I have really enjoyed seeing the decoded APRS beacon flash across the screen while mobile (I would not let this distract me while in motion though). You can review everything you received later on what is called the S.list. Decoded an APRS message from another station while mobile on a quarter wave 2m antenna a couple of days ago at almost 350 miles. The topic of the APRS features in this radio could be a topic all on its own. I do want to add though, there are numerous igate and digipeaters popping up in the area with more to follow. I just like to see when the band it stretching out and the messages people send with there beacons.

    Danny (NG9R) put out a nice article in the newsletter on our ability to link to many more hams throughout Illinois and farther. If you have any further questions on this topic and want to know more on how to get started in C4FM, any of us that use this mode would be willing to help. There is a net on the Illinois-Link on Thursday’s and now it was said there will now be an ARES net on the first and third Sunday of each month at 4:30pm.

     Look forward to seeing anyone that can make it to the meeting next Wednesday evening. 73 for now.

Chris Schulz
NR9Q
NR9Q at hotmail.com