Gary
That's what I figured. For my entire trip, which was actually probably closer to 5000 miles, I talked to one station on 146.52. Here is a suggestion that will light up fires. Since, at least my 880 will rcv vanilla FM as well as D-Star, than maybe we should share 146.52. Then we could have the best of both worlds. I'll bet this suggestion will create a bunch of FM activity on 146.52. I had programmed in the D-Star repeaters in the cities I planned to pass thru. Other than Phoenix Az and California, I heard no activity, but was able to bring up the repeaters in the area. In some cases this was probably because I passed the cities during the day. In other cases in spent the night in the cities and still heard nothing. Rusty From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gary Pearce KN4AQ Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 10:37 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] 145.67 D-STAR simplex (was: DStar Nets) At 07:32 PM 6/3/2010, Rusty Hemenway wrote: I'd not heard about this freq being the d-star simplex freq. Is it coordinated nationwide? Wish I had known this as I just returned from a over 2000 mile trip across the country. Rusty K1GGS Hi, Rusty, Simple answer: no, 145.67 is not coordinated nationwide for D-STAR simplex. Someone suggested it a few years ago, and it's been more or less adopted in many areas of the country where it isn't already in use for packet. You'll find it in use at some hamfests, and I think there are a few pockets of simplex activity here and there. It would have been quite the coincidence if you ran into any on your long trip (heck, people have trouble finding activity on 52 simplex analog). Longer answer: Go ahead and use it anyplace the channel is clear. In some places you'll find some legacy packet activity there. For example, Minnesota uses it for a statewide emergency packet network. Probably avoid it in those areas. There isn't any organization that could "coordinate" it nationwide (and to get the language right, it would be "band planning," not "coordination"). Frequency coordinators and spectrum management groups are regional - single state or multi-state, but none approach nationwide. I haven't heard of any officially adopting 145.67 as D-STAR simplex, and some would have conflicts with other incumbent activity. The ARRL could revise their band plan <http://www.arrl.org/band-plan-1> to recommend it, but I don't expect that to happen. The League hasn't tinkered with the band plan in years (they still call for terrestrial linear translators between 145.10 and 145.20). Even if they did, though (and Katy bar the door if they do - everyone and their HT will want to be in on it), the local/regional band plans take precedence, so it would really be just a suggestion. If Kermit Carlson W9XA is listening, he might chime in here as former chairman of the ARRL VHF/UHF Advisory Committee with some background. So again, use it if the channel is clear... and you can find someone to talk to! If you really want to use D-STAR on the open road, a DVDongle or DVAP and an air card are your best options between repeaters. 73, Gary KN4AQ ARVN: Amateur Radio//Video News Gary Pearce KN4AQ 508 Spencer Crest Ct. Cary, NC 27513 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 919-380-9944 www.ARVideoNews.com <http://www.arvideonews.com/>
