Newbi Question

[MountainEMT]

Hi my name is john and I'm new to the site and ham, i am currently studying for my amateur licence. Me getting into ham started with wanting better radios for hiking so obviously handhelds, and yes others in in my group of friends i hike with are taking the test too. but lurking around here and research im kind of hooked. I have a couple questions though i cant seem to find answers too, they all fall under the general question of how do you pick your frequencies?

I know some of it is based on what licence you are for what you are aloud to operate on. I know for hiking ill probably try to find a more private channel for our group, but is there general frequencies most people go on like cb 18 and 19? and is their an emergency freq like cb 9?

thanks in advance

John

 

[FatHam]

John,

You'll more than likely end up with a 2m/440 handheld. Your local "coordinating body" will have a band plan that will section off areas of the band for simplex (direct radio to radio use), as well as repeater inputs & outputs, SSB frequencies, etc... These band plans are accessible online, as well as in repeater listing books. Try googling "VHF/UHF amateur band plan" and include your State in the search. That should get you on to it.

There are "call frequencies" (similar to CB ch19) assigned. For example 146.520 in the national 2m simplex call frequency, as you will see in your local band plan. As far as an "emergency" freq similar to CB ch9, there isn't one in my local band plan, but I suppose that could be different in your area.

I use HT's in the Mountains for the same purpose that it sounds like you are going to be using them for. Something that we do as far as local emergency frequencies, is programming several local high level repeaters in to our HT's. Depending on my location, I can usually hit a local repeater to relay emergency info to a monitoring ham if needed.

Speaking of band plans and local repeaters, we just had a group of hikers this past weekend that DIDN'T follow the local band plan while talking to each other on a hike. They just happened to pick the input frequency for the repeater that a lot of So. Californians rag chew on, which happens to be located at 5500' elevation in the Angeles National Forest and several of them coincidentally had our 100PL tone programmed in to their radios. The conversation that they thought they were having privately was being broadcast all over So. Cal. A good example of why you want to stick to your local band plan!

 

[Zagadka]

Hi John - Welcome to WWDX and the ham world. Start with this - The ARRL Band Plan. It'll give you a proper idea of where you can transmit with your new Technicians license. Just look for the frequency allocations that have a "T" next to them.

how do you pick your frequencies?

Basically, you just pick one that doesn't have any traffic on it and that you have permissions to use and off you go.

is there general frequencies most people go on like cb 18 and 19? and is their an emergency freq like cb 9?

Unlike CB, ham is not channelized so in a word, no, there is no single emergency "channel" . As you learn more about what you're doing you'll find frequencies in your area that are monitored by folks that can help you. For hiking, I would think that the state or fed park services might be a good place to start.

You might find it helpful to find a radio club in your area where you can meet folks who can help you figure all this out (in the ham world that's called "elmering" or finding an "elmer").

You have much to learn. Fortunately, it's great fun learning it.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

Welcome to the board EMT !! And to the world of ham radio....Looks like the other replies have pretty well covered your questions.....

Best of luck on the test and hope to hear you on the air someday !!