1.25 Meters, 220Mhz Ham Band, What Is It? Who Uses It? Amateur Radio
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Have you or someone you know wondered about the 220Mhz Ham Radio band? Maybe you thought "What happens there?" or "Why does nobody use it?" Well, hopefully this video brings a little learning to this underused ham band.
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Bought a 220 ICOM IC-38a for 5$ at a garage sale, turned it on and hit a net with 30+ people that went to almost midnight.
I bought a ICOM IC-37A when it first came out, and enjoyed 220Mhz. This was before the FCC decided to "hack up" that band. Unfortunately the radio was stolen out of my car.
220 is a wonderful band. It is starting to grow in North Carolina
Rohn Daughtry good to know considering I live in NC
Would be great if every one of us Hams make it popular again before it's gone forever. 220 is very popular in California I've heard. Thanks for the video.
Every week or so we link our 220 Repeater to about 50+ other repeaters for a ton of fun! It has been a while since I use an HT for 220 and am currently enjoying HF Bands that are "forgotten" like 12, 30, and 60 meters!
A few years ago when I was living in NH, I had a Wouxun HT and a homebrew 6 element quad for 220 MHz. The coverage matched 2 meters. I was able to get into repeaters in/around the Boston area and the Mt. Washington repeater from 130 miles away with 5 watts.
@TryNDoxMe 15 feet above ground.
It’s not the power output it’s the antennas
We used 220 for Dayton, 2m and 440 was jammed
Score! That was the type of use-case I needed to justify buying a few 220 radios. Thanks.
What really pisses me off is that UPS stole a couple MHz out of the 1.25M band - and they NEVER used it. And here in RI there used to be the KA1RCI net - but when he went SK the net shut down. It had links on 2m, 70cm, 1.25m, 10m etc.
Its an awesome network as well, too bad KC1DWH
We had a great 220 MHz repeater system in Philadelphia... linked, efficient, and as you said UPS SCAMMED THE FCC and bought them off... great band! We have a 222 repeater here in the Wilkes Barre area (NorthEast PA). Kerchunk us if you’re passing through the area.
Great Job .. When I started in Ham Radio I remember that we had from 220 to 225 .. then the big shake up and we lost the bottom 2 megs of the band and was given the 1 meg 219 to 220 .. just remember use it or lose it like we did on the bottom 2 megs of the 1.25 band!!! De Randi
Kenwood th-f6 does 5 watts and Alinco Dr-235tmkIII does 25 watts. I have and use both here in Sacramento California. Awesome video though and keep up the great work.
Yeah, I snagged a few of the Kenwood radios because of the 5w on 1.25m. Since you mentioned Alinco, there is also dedicated 1.25m DR-CS25 that puts out 10/25/50 watts!👍🏻
Just got a 220 radio for my shack. Another local HAM loaned me one so that I could get on the band and check things out. There are several local 220 nets, as well as a reasonably active group on the band. The Tulsa area has a very active HAM community, and ideally the 220 band will remain an option for all of us. More options is always better.
I’m in Clarkridge Arkansas and there’s 7 220 repeaters within 100 miles of me. My FT-7900 has receive only on 220
I love triple-deuce! It’s my favorite band! From how cleanly it’s laid out to
The videos on the TV spectrum sound very interesting. I'm looking forward to it.
Great video! As an Extra class Amateur Radio operator, I have never used the 1.25 band! 73 KX7DAR
Great video. The two best things about 220 is 1.) As you stated, not a whole lot of traffic on this band, and 2.) Propagation is usually pretty good with a low noise floor. There are a number of 220 repeaters in the DC Metro area. Correct me if I am wrong but motorola did and does manufacture commercial 220mhz radios. Both ht and mobile. Love your video. Just came across your channel recently and subscribed. Keep up the great work. LOVE THOSE YASEUs!
73.
In Southern California there are many repeaters on 220.
The Condor Network, right
Good video. Love 220! Haven’t made a contact since I left Maine but I try every so often now that I’m in Florida.
Just found another video and obtained software to modify my 8w Baofeng uv-5r to open up the VHF to 136-259. Still learning stuff and working toward my license test in may.
You should just get the UV-17L Pro. It is tri-band and another commenter on another channel tested 220.550 and got 6.3 watts with dummy load and that was higher than the other 2 bands.
After watching all your videos in this series, then when this one came out I decided to buy an Alinco DR-235TMKIII 220 MHz Mobile Transceiver, put 50 repeaters into it, granted, the nearest one is 8 miles from me the next one is 22 miles then the rest of them are much further away, however, I do drive a lot and while on the road I scan the programmed Chanel’s and have had no problem talking to people, not as Active as 2-meter, or 440, but! For me the challenge is, for me anyway, worth it, 73s N3MJR
My first radio is Vx-6r. Still using it. Yeah heard some people the other day on 220 ragchewing. Never keyed up on it though.
223.920 N8JPR Repeater.. Also on Echo Link. "Making 220 great again." "If it were any cooler, you'd get frost bite"
A great 220 HT, the Bridgecom BCH-220. Full 5 Watts!
Thanks for your Ham Radio videos. I watch regularly. Keep up the good work. 73, WA6TWJ Dave
1.25 Meter.I used to live in North carolina and the repeaters I used on Phoenix mountain West Jefferson NC had 2 220 repeaters up there that were never used .So i started a 220 repeater net . I sent an email out to local members and they also spread the word . every other month I would switch the repeaters . some fellow hams were surprised to find out they HAD 220 on a hand talkie.. Or like I did I had a jetstream radio mobile unit and installed it in my shack and a mobile antenna on a cookie sheet (later bought a base station 220 antenna and put it outside.) the net grew had a station check in from roanoke virginia 104 miles away. 220 is good and fun I am a proponent of this underused asset . de ne7ts
I learn so much on your channel. Great resource.
When I was learning the novice ticket in the late 80's 220 MHz was a popular band in my native south Jersey ( 2-3 Philly city repeaters). I currently live in Central PA and closest 220 repeater to my qth is Lancaster. 40 miles. Enjoyed the video. KD2ANN
New 224 repeater in EN66! I have five radios, Kenwood TH31at, F6a, KDK FM4033 , Yaesu FT108rh and a new TYT 9000D....
I managed to get my hands on an Alinco DJG29T...220 with 33cm. Love it!
just got a qyt kt8900r like it, here we have repeater systems in central valley linking 440, 220, 2m, 6m togeather
Good video. Going to start using 220.
When I got my ham license in 1989. There was alot of traffic on 2m SSB. I kick myself now for selling that rig back in the 90's. It is hard to find a 2m SSB transceiver anymore. Unless you buy a HF rig with 2m. We need just a radio for 144/440 with ssb, cw, and fm. I would buy it in a heartbeat.
In central Va 220 is more active than 2 meter. there is an awesome group using linked repeaters.
There's 220 mhz out here in Arizona there are linked with uhf here in metro phoenix area moutin top systems
As always great video! I look forward to the next. 73 WY6L
Great video keep them coming!
De kv4li. Just got my china man for 220. Uv5r lll. Live near highway 40 getting a lot of crosstalk. (Simplex) A real goldmine of traffic. This will be fun tks Fer good show. De kv4li.
A local ham talked me into getting a 220 radio.
My club has a weekly net on 223.50. I also have an IRLP node on 223.48 simplex. If you want a 220 radio, I have the UV-5x3
I love my Btech UV5X3 the firmware is much better than the baofeng because it allows me to program it on the fly without having to delete the channel and start over from scratch and fully program the settings before I save it to memory. The UV5X3 allows me to make changes as needed and I don’t have to start over. Plus i got the 3 year protection plan. I was using a Nagoya whip antenna and made some QSOs on 1.25 M. I was shocked that it seems to do better for transmitting than my baofeng BFF8HP and my baofeng UV5R on VHF 2meters. I highly recommend the Btech UV5X3 for a budget Tri-Bander HT setup.
73
KB4BGZ
I LOVE 222 - 224 Mhz band ..... about the same coverage as 2 meter band and clarity of 70 cm band ( YES I SAID THAT and have USED IT =) 222 mhz SSB is GREAT PLACE =) Sad we gave it away several years ago to FEDEX .... FCC sold it off to them as HAMs had it for a long time ( thanks to HAMs the radios where cheap ..... FEDEX took advantage of that exploit /-) It is still IFFY if we can use 220 - 222 Mhz part of the band we use to have =( Great series you have done Eric =)
Pat Hopkins Also there’s a radio that receives 220 MHz - 222.5 Mhz on TV Sound radios like Tecsun R-1012 MW/SW/FM/TV bands and Happy CS-106 (Looks like Tivdio V-111; CS-106 have TV band III up to 222.5 MHz but not available on Tivdio V-111).
Also 222 MHz - 224 MHz overlaps from DAB European Digital RADIO CHANNELS 11C, 11D, 12A and 12N.
Pat Hopkins CS-106 Radios have 0.05 MHz steps on both FM and TV sound band.
I believe it was UPS the petitioned to have part of 220 reallocated. I don't think FedEx had anything to do with it, and UPS never actually ended up using the spectrum after it was re-purposed.
Living in Chicago as a ham I used 220 phone patch setup in my car. this took place in the early 70"s.the repeater was located in Oak Park ,Ill.
Never heard of a 220 mhz band in the UK. As far as i know that band here is used for DAB digital radio (216-226 mhz) or 10A to 13F
You may have had one up until TV came about.
No. Vhf tv in the uk was around 174 MHz. 220 MHz was in military use until it was relinquished for digital radio.
ntmdisco en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_III it looks like it was part of your VHF-Hi TV spectrum at one time.
Y'all can't. 1.25 is only available in ITU region 2.
You left out the Kenwood THD74A which has 1.25 included, 5 watts, and D-STAR! The stock antenna does not work very good on 1.25 but the Diamond SRH320A does and should be bought with it. The receiver is all mode from the AM broadcast band to 1 gig. It only does wide FM from 72 megs to 108 megs as I remember.
You all probably dont care at all but does anybody know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb forgot my login password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.
@Collin Jamal Instablaster :)
@Mayson Avi i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Mayson Avi it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thank you so much you saved my account!
@Collin Jamal No problem :D
I wish good quality cheaper gear would exist (I want Icom and Kenwood to care) $140 will buy a Kenwood TM-281A for 2 meter. I want that rig for 220Mhz in similar price class. But the real problem is convincing friends who barely use 2 meters to go out and but a 220 system
Some people hate the 'B' word, but Baofeng (BTECH) makes a tri-band mobile for about $120, and a portable for about $60. Hard to beat the portable for the price.
The 219-220 MHz range has been assigned to another radio service as primary use, with amateur use to be done on a "not to interfere, must accept interference by primary users" basis. Addionally, coordination is required in the US depending on location. From the ARRL site:
"The FCC has allocated 219-220 MHz to amateur use on a secondary basis. This allocation is only for fixed digital message forwarding systems operated by all licensees except Novices. Amateur operations must not cause interference to, and must accept interference from, primary services in this and adjacent bands. Amateur stations are limited to 50 W PEP output and 100 kHz bandwidth. Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems (AMTS) stations are the primary occupants in this band. Amateur stations within 398 miles of an AMTS station must notify the station in writing at least 30 days prior to beginning operations. Amateur stations within 50 miles of an AMTS station must get permission in writing from the AMTS station before beginning operations. The FCC requires that amateur operators provide written notification including the station's geographic location to the ARRL for inclusion in a database at least 30 days before beginning operations. See Section 97.303(e) of the FCC Rules."
Then best VHF band in my opinion. We need more 220 gear !!
great video about 220 mhz. I have a few repeaters hear. they are used. most are linked and from 70Cm I can get on 1.25meter or even 10 meter FM even a 6 meter . lots of fun when band opens. I herd simplex FM talk 1.25 meter hear. north east USA.
Hi world In Thailand we use 245-246Mhz as citizen band
How would you compare 245-246Mhz to other bands? Are there mode restrictions on 245-246Mhz there in Thailand?
222 mHz is starting to catch on in this country. Much of the credit goes to those who ROVE there using the digital modes on meteor scatter and eme. I myself have 40 states and 3 countries confirmed on this band. Dave N9HF
Though this will probably get a lot of flak from the hardcore sad hams, most Baofeng handheld radios can (very easily) be unlocked and have frequency limits expanded to send and receive on 1.25m. Plenty of tutorial vids can be found right here on YT.
I live in palmbay Florida Eric they got rid of 220 it's a great band I dont know why they got rid of it .we lost some of this band. That sucks.
My cousin and I bought a set of Quanshangs for 220. We're the only people on in our area. It's like our own private channel lol.
Think there is a 220 machine in Titusville now and one linked to a 6 meter repeater in volusia
I forgot to discuss how people cross link from 220 to 440 and such. Maybe another video.
HamRadioConcepts sweet think the one up in Holly Hill is the KI4RF system. I bought a triband hh antenna but never hear enough activity on that newer repeater 1.25 in Titusville to get me motivated to buy a triband radio yet ...
The KI4RF repeater here in the Daytona Beach area (Holly Hill to be specific) had 220, 2m, and 10m all linked up today. I had a QSO using my D74 on 220 with the repeater owner who was coming in on 10m. Just before that I was listening to him talk to some folks who were using 2m to access the system. It was my first QSO on 220 although I knew that I could access the repeater based on testing when I first programmed my D74.
I've been scanning the band for weeks (repeater outputs and simplex freqs) and haven't heard anything outside of this system in my area.
There are three 220 repeaters listed in Boise ID. I can bring up two of them when I visit there. I have yet to get an answer on any of them. I am planning a 220 echolink node for my QTH.
We need to use it before we lose it. HAMs stopped using 1.25m for a while and we lost the 220-222 range to UPS. Yes... big brown owns 220-222. They were going to use it for a custom GPS system but that never happened as GPS got super cheap. We should ask UPS to give up that spectrum. Please... pretty please.
Michael Beck 1. Ham isn’t an acronym, so it’s just “Hams” (& not capitalized at all if it doesn’t start a sentence).
2. UPS doesn’t own the spectrum, the U.S. government has leased it out to varying interests, including setting aside frequencies for law enforcement. There are 100 channelized pairs between 220-222. One thing of note is that we did lose 220-222, but we gained priority status on 222-225 as compensation!!!
@@jayrogers8255 correct on the government leasing the spectrum. They did lease it to UPS who did nothing with it and as far as i know they still are paying for a majority of it. They were going to use it for directional radios to keep tabs on their trucks but then GPS became way more inexpensive. Just saying what I learned.
We had a few people active on the band when I lived in Dayton. They encouraged new users and expansion of 220 repeaters in the area
While in the USN used 220mhz in the 80's in Groton Ct. Was fantastic loved it. It was our goto band. After I transfered to VA nobody wanted anything to do with it. I even offered a repeater and no taker. And it's few and far between here in Ks. But I still getting one for the car when I retire.
what about the Kenwood THf6. It is a great little radio that has been on the market for several years and still sells for Kenwood
Alinco makes a mobile radio for this and it's 25 watts.
Interesting fact:
The Baofeng AR-152 dual band tactical handheld transceiver can be configured for operation on 1.25 meters, as well, although slightly reduced performance. it is not advertised that the radio can be configured as such. However, I have made the conversion over ten times.
In Thailand we use 245-247Mhz use for cb radio from E25QDX QRU 73
Be sure to check out the 220MHz "Good Guys" Preservation Net on the WM9W-R on Echolink Saturday Nights @ 9PM Central
We have several 220 repeaters in the KC area. Loading them up soon!!!
Great vid.
We used 220 mhz freq. back in the day to track our hunting dogs.
220 machine is about 60 miles from me don't know anyone who uses 220 would love to have ago but pointless really.. Great Vid Eric
I have been licensed since October 2009 and an Extra class operator since April 23,2011 and have never had a QSO on 220 but I am sure that it's a very good band to use. Tony Ridlen KC9QVE Marion,Indiana
As a fairly new licensee, I really enjoy these videos. Good stuff. I also thought it was interesting that you are a fellow CWA brother. Couldn't make it out on my screen, but what local are you in?
3111
Nice. I'm the President of #3179.
Well 220 came late to the game 2 meters was well entrenched with repeaters everywhere it was easier and cheaper to to just upgrade to technischen than buy 220 gear as a novice that's what I did
In I believe 1987 the FCC gave the Novice class operators 220 and 10 meters I was a Novice and I jumped on there of course. At that time the big manufacturers made 220 radios. I had a pretty good time on there. And there still is a 220 repeater in my area. It ticks me off that the manufacturers put 220 in some of their ht's with low power output.
I won and received the icom ham nation promotion for January id31a plus. But I have a problem. It doesn't come programed. And I only have android. So chirp is out. Explicatives, bad words, dirty words....
I run handhelds thru amplifiers everyday. You can turn 5 watts into 40 watts to hit repeaters for $100
ask the people of taiwan, they get low vhf 78mhz and 245mhz for unlicensed use and special use, the weird thing is how the case of either radio must be identified by color coding the case itself.
Here in new york long island we have a few 220 repeaters and my uv-5x3 dose 220 at 5w we have alot of different repeaters here on the island we even have a 10m repeater somewhere Upstate I believe
Have a Kenwood TM-621A that does 144 and 220.
220 gets used here in New England but not like 144/440. The 3 local radio clubs in my area use it.
Tell me more of this TV.
Chickenbone 🤣
I'm wondering what if anything I could receive on 220 here in the UK as the band isn't used.
Nothing at all! 😟
@@mikesey1 Apart from digital noise from DAB
Been a ham for a while, but I largely overlooked this band. Great info.
DE KC2ORH
can you direct me to a web site or do you know of a good small outdoor/indoor hf antenna?. everyone is tell me to make one, but i rather just buy one knowing its going to work right out of the box, my roof is a at 3 story's high and have an flat roof next to my i have access too i just got my gen, ticket.. was looking at a older icom mark2 706 or a i com 7300
Seems you were a little late to the party with this video. 220Mhz Amatuer radio band was introduced in the late 1980s. Digital broadcast TV in the US was finalized in June of 2009.
California has 220 repeaters. look up the Condor Network. I know this video is kind of old but for if anybody else finds it
I cut the cord a couple of years ago. I now enjoy 60+ channels of FREE TV, many of which are in TRUE HD. These HD channels look better than the compressed video that you get from cable or satellite. I was amazed. I'm looking forward to what you have to say about it.
Hi Eric, the 220 band is alive and well here in Ohio. I’m looking for a 220radio for my truck.
Nice video, but correction on the Yaesu VX-7R: it does 300mw, not 1.5w.
I have a Anytone D578UV. It has 220 MHz band on it. It is lower power, think 5 watts but it has it. It said it will work repeater from one band to another. I have not tried it yet. But want to get a 220 antenna and see if there is someone to talk to.
I'm thinking one of the 'quad' clones like that lt425 or radioddity qb25. We have several 220 repeaters in CNY. Already dumped cable years ago. my stacked bowtie coathanger antenna reaches 60 miles. I have good HAAT tho.
TH-F6a is capable on 222 MHz. Great little HT.
So excuse my ignorance here but in order to operate Ssb on 2 Metre you need to have a Yagi antenna and a hf transceiver? All I have is a dual band mobile connected to a j Pole as my base rig. Could I make contact on SSB with what I have?
Thanks
Bill
Well the antenna doesn't necessarily have to be a Yagi. Even a dipole would work, but not as well as a Yagi. Dual band i.e. 2/70 mobiles are FM only and would not be suitable for SSB work. To do 2 meter SSB you would need an HF transceiver that also has 2 meters.
Scanned the 220 band 4 times when 2m is active around 5:30pm. Heard nothing.
So do you just hook up a transverter to a 10m radio and you now have a radio that can cover 220mhz and 10m? You can switch back and forth? Or it's just 220mhz now? Do you have any videos of how this is done? A radio with 10m 220mhz and 440 would be nice with all the modes...... Also can a transverter be used with a handy talkie?? Like a president randy or something?? I have an old export superstar 3900e.... It would be pretty cool if I could modify it to use 220mhz and 440mhz....
Whether you can use 28MHz with a 220 transverter attached depends on the transverter. Some have an HF antenna pass through port which will be switched in when the transverter is turned off. Or you can always just add your own antenna switch and easily use both bands. Transverter s can indeed be used with HTs *if* the power input requirements of the transverter can be provided by the HT. (You can use attenuators if not.) Thet being said it would be kindof silly to use a transverter with an HT as it would be a very bulky and unwieldy setup…
Any 10meter transceiver (including your 3900) should be able to work with a transverter. Just make sure you pay attention to the power input max requirements of whatever transverter you have as they vary from less than a milliwatt up to 8 watts or so.
@@ruhnet thank you very much for your detailed reply:) much appreciated:)
Hj Eric.
Good to see you at Hamcation in Orlando.
220 is a great band....Not alot of activity but not a bad thing sometimes either....Keeps the lids away.
I have had a 220 repeater up on the air for the past 30 yrs in the Phila area
73
Greg WA3GM
Greg, what frequency? I'll listen in with a scanner. N2FMH
224.380 call on rptr is my partner n3fuy
The 220MHz radios are plentiful, but what about 200MHz? My Abbree radio AR-F3 shows good power (5+W) on 200-260MHz, very good power on UHF (4.6W) and is pretty anemic on VHF (3.6W). Build quality is only fair as it has a detonate plastic feel to it. It's advertised as an 8W radio, but isn't even close.
If you're thinking of buying any Abbree radio, don't, at least until you read reviews. The amount of dishonesty in Chinese advertising more than borders on the fantastic.
The 200-260MHz range, though, is very good. I just don't know how these frequencies can be used at this point. I scan them frequently, but can never find anyone on them.
What about the 49.21 inch band?
For all the 220 fans out there, the government may try to steal your spectrum for Positive Train Control. They don't have enough channels in the limited areas where it's been deployed, and the systems are - by definition - 'interference limited'. Until GE or someone else produces a better subscriber radio for these systems - one that can work with the existing frequency plan - you can expect some of the more savvy operators will be looking to broadcast 220 data under a 'secondary use' license. That means VERY noisy operation for analog voice, since their emissions are digital (GMSK - Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying).
Link to the TV spectrum videos?
The 1.25 metre band in the uk belongs to the military. My old 19set has 200 MHz on it.
In Las Vegas we have a couple of 220 repeaters in the valley. I've never made any contacts on them. I got the baofeng uv-5r 3 walkie-talkie it has 220 on it and it works okay. It's a nice feature to have but I wouldn't buy a radio that only transmits on 220.
are there no SSB rigs available?
did you do a 6 meter video?
I have a quad band HT. But I cannot find the recommended frequency separation.
- Do you have any knowledge on that part?
I found it. More or less any separation will do but 20 kHZ is a good one.
If there’s a section for amateurs on 220s we are encouraged tu use that spectrum if not the FCC will take back to them an re-assign to some else who might pay for that.
Same as 33cm band
WE SHOULD HAVE TO USE THEM ALL THE AMATEUR SECTIONS IF NOT...!
WE WILL LOSE THEM