Folks, A reasonable explanation can be found at URL: http://www.privateline.com/TelephoneHistory3A/mobile.html on how the Bell System used the two-letter Channel Designators as a prefix to the original MTS 5-digit mobile phone numbers. Later, when IMTS replaced the MTS system, Bell went to a seven digit dialing plan with the first three digits being the NPA (Area Code) for the mobile telephone registry.
Bill, WA8WG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Lemmon" <wb6...@verizon.net> To: <Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:31 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] IMTS Channel Designators > Jesse, > > Actually, those are MTS channel designations; the IMTS came several years > after MTS was deployed. The eleven "Y" and "J" channels were in the > 152-158 > MHz VHF band, while there were also ten "Z" channels in the 35-43 MHz Low > band, and six "Q" channels in the 454-459 MHz UHF band. The low-band > channels had an 8 MHz split, VHF channels had a 5.26 MHz split, and UHF > channels had a 5 MHz split. The oddball VHF channels were later used for > taxicabs. I am currently using two of those VHF channels in commercial > repeater service, taking advantage of the small additional separation. > > Back in 1968, I put a two-channel GE Pacer (gasp!) with a Secode > mechanical > selector attached, in MTS service back in Rantoul, Illinois. Not too many > folks in that part of Illinois had mobile telephones back then, and even > fewer had a kluge like a Pacer. Despite its appearance, it worked quite > well, and I learned to anticipate when the phone would ring by counting > the > clicks as the Secode unit stepped. > > I, too, would like to know the origin of the two-letter channel > designators. > > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jesse Lloyd > Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:32 PM > To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Repeater-Builder] IMTS Channel Designators > > > > Hey All, > > I was having a discussion with a fellow tech and the topic of IMTS came > up. > Does anyone here remember the reason for the strange channel designators? > JL YL JP YP YJ YK JS YS YR JK KR ? Why YL... why not channel B or Ch 2, > they > must mean something... > > > Jesse > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
