Getting on the 1.25M isn't as easy as 2M or UHF, as the options for a rig are limited. For a full-powered rig, the TYT TH-9000D still seems to be best option, and various manufacturers make clones of this radio. The Alinco model has the DSub9 connector already installed on the back, ostensibly for packet use. Otherwise, it's the same radio. The TH-9000D is, itself, a clone of an AnyTone rig -- though AnyTone never bothered to make a model for 220 MHz.
The TH-9000D (1.25M model) is now available domestically for $150 (plus shipping), and from China for $150 (free shipping). My experience with the U.S. distributor (radio-mart.com) is that the guy takes over a week to actually ship your order, so it's not much faster than buying from China. Any problems are only resolved by shipping the radio back to China, so there's little advantage there either.
But maybe $150 is a bit too much of a gamble for a band like 1.25M, and for a monoband radio at that. Then, you have to consider an HT. Wouxun and TYT make dual-band HTs that include 1.25M, though reviews of those radios are mixed. My experience with the TYT UHF/1.25M offering is not positive, as the radio is worthless for UHF, and it's selling for over $90. The Wouxun, at $130, hardly seems worth it.
The cheapest option -- and a reasonably good one -- is the BaoFeng UV-82X. The UV-82 is, by virtually all accounts, superior to the familiar UV-5R. John at miklor.com has written up a comparison of the two. Higher output power, and better TX/RX audio are significant differences over the old UV-5R that so many roll their eyes at. The UV-82 also has two PTT buttons -- one for the "A" band, and another for "B" band. There's also a speaker mic that's compatible with this dual-button arrangement.
The UV-82X, at $50 (free shipping), seems like a pretty good option. It pushes over 5W on 2M, and the addition of an external antenna would make it an adequate home or mobile option. Certainly, this wouldn't take the place of a full-powered 50W two-metre FM mobile rig. But it would allow you to play with 220 MHz and sample the local repeater coverage, without being isolated from the activity on 2M. And it wouldn't be an expensive gamble, either.
I use an old UV-5RS in my home office. Though it has lower output power than the UV-82X, I can readably work the Columbia Heights .660 and .500 repeaters, plus the Arden Hills 223.940 machine, using nothing more than an indoor 1/4-wave whip mag-mounted to a metal paint can sitting next to the window -- from out in Plymouth. So, if you doubt that you can do anything on the band with an HT, you'd be wrong. I've also had good luck reaching these repeaters with the same 1/4-wave whip on my car driving around the west metro. If you can improve on these marginal antenna solutions, the extra power afforded by the UV-82X should allow you to do pretty well getting in to the excellent local repeater infrastructure on the band.
Locally, the repeater situation continues to improve. The 224.660- (100.0 PL) machine has excellent coverage, along with EchoLink access, and plans for cross-band linking. The 224.500- (114.8 PL) repeater isn't quite at the level of the .660, but it's now functional and is improving. The Arden Hills 223.940- (100.0 PL) remains as reliable as ever, and the link to the HandiHam network will be restored in the future. This would allow the HandiHam network to expand its coverage in the north and east, and the 1.25M band could be one of the best ways to get in for a lot of people that struggle with the VHF .450 coverage.
There are other repeaters that show potential, as well. The 223.900- (100.0 PL) still requires higher power and better antennae to access, but no one involved in that project is content with that situation. There are plans to add a 70W PA to improve range, and potential linking schemes are being considered. Likewise, the 224.940- (100.0 PL) is searching for a better site that could allow it to become one of the "big boys" on the band.
Right now, it's going to take a sustained effort to build up a core group of operators on the local 1.25M scene, and some kind of cross-band option on one of the local machines so that those who jump in on the ground floor aren't isolated from the rest of the amateur radio community.
5 comments:
My buddy who got me into this has a UV-82X. Before getting licensed, I bought a UV-82L (partly on his recommendation that a dual-band 2M/70cm would more useful). Replaced the stock antenna with something a bit better (ExpertPower 14.5-Inch Dual Band--at $16 it was nearly a third of the cost of the radio!). It has served me well thus far. And as you pointed out in another post, it was what I *needed*, not necessarily something that would be a do-all for years and years to come. I'm thinking of picking up the UV-82X just so I can see what it's like on 1.25 meter.
~KD0ZSW
1.25M, at least here, is more of a case of *potential*.
The propagation characteristics of the band are the best aspects of VHF and UHF. We have a few nice repeaters, and a few that need better sites and upgrades. Activity is low, and will probably stay that way until we get a cross-band repeater or two so that those on 1.25M aren't isolated from the others. The link from the 223.940 to the HandiHam network needs to be restored.
The bottom line is that amateurs will lose this band unless we start using it. We've already lost 220-222 MHz to commercial services.
A UV-82X, along with a ground-plane or J-pole, should get you in to three machines at the moment. You can always EchoLink in to the .660 with the AE0N node, too.
So, my UV-82X arrived today, along with a Nagoya NA-702 220MHz rubber ducky. Tested it with my UV-82L and it was sending/receiving on simplex. Went to repeaterbook.com to look up info on the local 1.25m repeaters. Hmmm.... sure not a lot to choose from. Was able to ker-chunk 4: 223.900; 223.940; 224.500; and 224.660. For me, the most reliable is the 223.940. The others I can not ker-chunk all the time. Have thrown out my call a few times to get a signal check, but thus far no takers. Not sure if I'm hitting them enough, though. With only four channels programmed into the UV-82X, its relatively slow scan speed is effectively sped up. Will listen to see if I can hear anything.
~KD0ZSW
Well, welcome to 1.25M, Dustin. I'll try to be around on evenings through the weekend to give you a signal check on a few repeaters.
As you probably know, the .940 is in Arden Hills, which isn't that far from you. I'm a bit surprised that you're having trouble getting in to the .660. Columbia Heights isn't that much further -- ten miles vs. 7.5 miles.
K0LAV (Paul) will be disappointed that you can't hit his .100 repeater from Lino Lakes, though.
The .660 has EchoLink, so you can listen to your signal and determine how strong you are getting in. I heard people coming in to the .660 through EchoLink just this last weekend.
I seem to remember that you have an indoor J-pole. You might try using that, as 444 and 222 are harmonics. Check it with an SWR meter. KE0NA (Dave) uses a 2M/70cm antenna on 1.25M for his mobile.
Be patient. Things are still evolving are the infrastructure end. KG0BP (Chris) has to put a Yagi on his roof to link the .940 to the HandiHam network, but it's winter (and he's blind). We're looking into RPi links for the .900, and maybe cross-band. We're also getting a 70W PA for that repeater. And N0FKM (Dan) is exploring options for the .660 and .500 machines. Getting people on the band is a challenge, as activity is dropping across the board. It takes a core group of operators to generate enough activity to draw others in.
The only antenna I have at the moment specifically for 1.25m is the Nagoya rubber ducky. I do have a dual band 2m/70cm antenna attached to my roof for my IC-7000, but I doubt if that is tuned properly for the UV-82X. Maybe in the future I'll think of putting together a homemade dipole or something. For the time being, I'll just try to work with what I've got. I'll try to throw out my call this weekend to see if anyone picks up.
Thanks,
~KD0ZSW
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