As an experiment, one cold and rainy weekend (about as close as we get
to winter) last year, I programmed all of the local 2m, 220 and 440
repeaters into a scanner and let it do its job.
Surprisingly, compared with 10 or so years ago, most were dead quiet.
Back then, 220 was a nice alternative to the crowding and overuse of
many of the 2m repeaters.
And 440 is definitely a different story here. Most are closed or
private. I'm not debating the fairness of this phenomenon; just stating
a fact.
Most of us have one or a few favorite repeaters anyway. Mine sits in
the clear at 8,000' elevation and can be used with a HT from almost
anywhere in southern California.
73 de Jim - AD6CW
On 5/19/2014 4:07 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:
Another example of how mileage may vary...
Apparently you haven't been to California (lately). One can't get a
two meter frequency to put up a repeater pretty much anywhere (even
though the band may appear to be dead) and six is pretty full too.
420-450 is disallowed over much of the state (150 miles circumference
from Beale/PavePaws)... Not a wasteland, just ham politics; often
downright ugly.
10M has open repeater slots; 220 is near capacity in some areas.
At least until recently, the CHP has been using 70 MHz for site
linking but that may fade away since they're in the middle of a huge
rebuild/remodel of their spectrum.
And there are still low power TV stations using either digital or
analog back in that range too... Typically minority language,
Hallelujah or Sellavision channels, but the bottom line is: 4M won't
happen here.
73,
Rick wa6nhc
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