Amateur Radio Frequency

[Tyler Allison]

Is there an agreed upon simplex frequency that chasers use and monitor?

Assuming you are a ham of course :)

[Jay Cazel]

I think alot use 145.550 on 2m but on 70cm I don't know.

[Kurt Hulst]

is it 145.55 or 146.55? i do beleive 146.550 and 146.520 there are a few others but those are the most used

[Ben Cotton]

146.520 is the national calling frequency and 146.550 is the unofficial chaser frequency. As far as I know, there's no chaser freq on 70cm but 432.100 is the calling frequency.


The BC

[Steve Miller OK]

146.550 is the universal chaser frequency.

[mrobinett]

We used 146.550 this year and FRS for those in the group that are not hams. Jim Leonard lead our group on May 13th and we used FRS until we got split up. It was good having two hams in the group, I fell back due to large hail and we stayed in contact 15+ miles away on 50watts on 146.550 simplex.

As I watch chaser DVDs from this year I do notice more chasers using the Walkie Talkie function of their Nextels to keep in touch, thats a good way to keep those in their group in touch without giving out locations and conditions they might want to keep a secret, sometimes thats good. Since they use the Nextel network, they can be many, many miles from each other and keep in touch.

Mike Robinett
W4UAV

[Mike Gauldin]

Is 146.55 popular around the country? Here in Oklahoma we have two main networks that cover just about the entire state that are linked to the NWS. Most of the more powerful repeaters are programmed so the NWS offices in Tulsa (TSA) and Norman (OUN) can remotely link them during severe weather and gives chasers/spotters a direct line to the NWS office for Western and Eastern Oklahoma. I don't know how many other states (if any, maybe TX?) have a system like this, but I know when I'm chasing in Oklahoma, I can usually hit one of them and have a direct line to NWS for reporting. Most city EOCs tune in as well for information from spotters. I wish Kansas had something like this...

[Steve Miller OK]

Mike:
146.55 is a talk around simplex frequency. There are generally not many repeaters with an input freq that falls on or around 146.55 thus making it a good choice for use.

[Jay Cazel]

Originally posted by Mike Gauldin
Is 146.55 popular around the country? Here in Oklahoma we have two main networks that cover just about the entire state that are linked to the NWS. Most of the more powerful repeaters are programmed so the NWS offices in Tulsa (TSA) and Norman (OUN) can remotely link them during severe weather and gives chasers/spotters a direct line to the NWS office for Western and Eastern Oklahoma. I don't know how many other states (if any, maybe TX?) have a system like this, but I know when I'm chasing in Oklahoma, I can usually hit one of them and have a direct line to NWS for reporting. Most city EOCs tune in as well for information from spotters. I wish Kansas had something like this...

I know the NWS out of Wichita uses 146.820 and that tower is out of Hutchinson, Also there is a repeater out of Beaumont Ks (145.130 I think)which is east of Wichita that they use alot. Now, Sedgwick Co RACCES will use 146.940 but that repeater goes to them when bad weather hits the city. Now Mike Umscheid (a ST member) I do believe does work for the NWS out of Dodge City and he might now the loaction of the towers and the frequency they use in that area.

[Kurt Hulst]

I think this was about SIMPLEX frequencies?

[Mike Gauldin]

Originally posted by Steve Miller OK
146.55 is a talk around simplex frequency.

I knew that :P I was just wondering since it seems what you would normally hear on the .55 simplex takes place on the repeaters around OK. I wish some of the people would use simplex and not rag-chew on an active emergency net.

[Bobby Eddins]

Here in N. TX we use 146.52 on 2m and 446.000 on 70cm most of the time for simplex.

[Bill Hamilton]

Here in SW OK the main frequencies used for storm spotters and reports are 147.045 (Cyril, OK), 147.255 (Grandfield, OK) and 147.715 (Granite, OK). All three repeaters are linked together and are also linked to NWS in Norman (WX5OUN). The three repeaters are owned and operated by S.W.I.R.A.
During severe weather the weathernet is active and the frequencies are for reporting confirmed reports only and not used as general chat frequencies
http://www.swiralink.com/repeaters.htm

[Tim Stoecklein]

At last reading, I believe that Dodge City and Garden City could link up in the event of severe weather. I think it is a 440/2m link.

Tim

[rdale]

This isn't about Skywarn ops - it's about simplex talk-around frequencies...

[John Erwin]

Here's a link to the ARRL band plan: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulatio...andplan.html#2m (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html#2m)

As you can see 146.52 is the National Simplex Calling Frequency, meaning that it should only be used to initiate contacts. 146.55 is also within one of the designated frequency ranges for Simplex communication, and has become popular with chasers over the years (although it's not exclusively reserved for chasers).

I always monitor both; however I also usually have a map with the various repeaters available for a given area (along with information on those that you shouldn't come up on during a weather situation).

Perhaps this is also a good time to plug the excellent "kBrews Storm Spotting Frequencies" website... anybody who caries a radio or scanner with them should have this site bookmarked. http://www.caps.ou.edu/~kbrews/spotfreq/index.html

[Steve Miller OK]

I have long been a supporter and user of 146.55 as a common chaser talk-around freq on 2m but I can't say I have ever looked in to simplex on 70cm. Is there a common freq in the 70cm range for chase chatter?

[John Erwin]

Originally posted by Steve Miller OK
I have long been a supporter and user of 146.55 as a common chaser talk-around freq on 2m but I can't say I have ever looked in to simplex on 70cm. Is there a common freq in the 70cm range for chase chatter?

The only simplex banter I've ever heard on 70cm has been on 446.00, although the calling freq. is supposedly 432.10.

I generally only use 70cm for repeater work.

[Amos Magliocco]

I've always thought chatting on 2 meters on the way to targets or after a chase is one of the most enjoyable sidelights of the experience. Of course it's cool to have car trips with just silence or some music, but during a multi-day (or multi-week) chase expedition, the radio can keep you sane. It's a cool way to catch up with friends and analyze the hell out of the wx setup---and with real-time sensible data! It's sort of like a rolling chat room with actual voices and a chase at the end.

146.550 gets crowded around isolated storms and it helps to have a few backup frequencies in case the qso's bog down. This seems to happen when seven to ten chasers share the frequency in close proximity---not all that often, but usually at a critical time. It's good when groups agree on alternate simplex channels to maintain their own discussions.

I've noticed chasers deliver their best comedy material on the radio. Several dash-mounted videotapes of mine contain hilarious bits or one-liners from other chasers that are somehow even funnier because it's over the air. I guess it's natural to use humor in tense situations. With the radio, you don't have to look like you're enjoying your own quip. You can deliver the one-liner and still keep the nervous look on your face.

[Joe Dorn]

Originally posted by Mike Gauldin
I don't know how many other states (if any, maybe TX?) have a system like this, but I know when I'm chasing in Oklahoma, I can usually hit one of them and have a direct line to NWS for reporting. Most city EOCs tune in as well for information from spotters. I wish Kansas had something like this...

We have a very wide area repeater located at 1600 feet AGL near Eddy, Texas (South of Waco) with Echolink connectivity to the NWS in Fort Worth. The coverage area is roughly Hearne/College Station to San Saba and Hillsboro to Round Rock.

We also have a APRS digi located at the same level.

If the DFW area is not having problems, we usually have someone connected from FWD via EchoLink.

I am the trustee and with my ancient, night blind eyes quite often the net control and If I am not chasing, I have almost every weather/ham related program mentioned on this forum running on two computers and four monitors.

Try it out the next time you are passing through the area chasing dust devils... We have given up on anything wet...

The repeater frequency is 147.140, PL123

[Rockwell Schrock]

What about those of us who don't have an amateur radio license (yet)? Is there a common channel for CB radio?

[Jeff Snyder]

What about those of us who don't have an amateur radio license (yet)? Is there a common channel for CB radio?

Hmm, I haven't heard of chaser CB channel... I used to have a CB in my car, but got rid of it this past year since I never used it. I think the main neg for CB is range... You're stuck with 4-5W, which doesn't do much for range (vs. 50W on 2m with a 3-4dB antenna).

[Jay McCoy]

I still carry a CB in my truck to garner information from truckers who just came through a storm or get a smokey report :).. You would be surpised how much info you can get from the truckers about storm conditions.

On the other hand I dont think I have heard any chasers use the CB for communicating. I do know some have gone to the FRS style radios which have a much shorter range than a 2m but do not require a HAM license. I and my partners use them as backups or for when we are out of our vehicles but I have heard alot of car-car traffic on them also and since you can buy a set of 2 for about $50 it is a cheap alternative for those that arent HAM's (everybody should be. its easy and cheap).

[J West]

The national calling frequency for UHF FM voice is 446.000....the 432 MHz freq everyone is listing is the SSB voice calling frequency.

[KMcCallister]

This reminds me of something I meant to address in the chaser community back during the summer.

The convention in ham radio VHF simplex is that the simplex "channels" be spread out by .15 MHz to prevent interference. Hence, you get numbers like 146.52, (146.535), and 146.55 MHz.

Earlier this year, we had to change freqs off of one of these established simplex freqs due to other chasers using a non-standard freq closeby. While obviously not illegal, it would be beneficial to all hams to try to stick to the standards, especially near those beautiful isolated storms where the crowds get thick.

[C Brian Batey]

Originally posted by KMcCallister
While obviously not illegal, it would be beneficial to all hams to try to stick to the standards, especially near those beautiful isolated storms where the crowds get thick.

Hear Hear!!

With the additional power and flexibility of HAM radio comes a significant increase in operating expectations. These are far and above what's expected of CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS.

The HAM service is an extremely valuable tool in chasing/spotting. It should be learned and operated with the same commitment we give to our other tools.

[/SOAPBOX]

Any chasers using mobile HF?? The groundwave propogation of the lower bands can be VERY impressive.

brianb
N5ACN

[John Erwin]

Originally posted by C Brian Batey
Any chasers using mobile HF?? The groundwave propogation of the lower bands can be VERY impressive.

There was some discussion about using HF in this thread: http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9174

It sounds like a few people are up for it. I plan on installing HF shortly in my vehicle for other reasons but will have it ready for chasing this year.

[David Drummond]

Speaking of addressing some issues....

Last year on the June 12 storm in Kent County, TX, there were two parties operating in and around 146.55. One operator was a female, the one on the other end was a male. I never heard any call signs given, and in fact I suspect that they did not have the appropriate FCC license to be operating on those frequencies.

Aside from that issue, the even bigger one was that there was a considerable amount of foul language traffic being passed, up to and including liberal use of the F word.

I kept picking them up because I often have one of my scanners set to scan the 2 meter bands. When I heard the cussing start up, I would switch my 2 way over to that frequency and sign my call sign. They would immediately shut up and then I would pick them up a little later on another frequency. Based on the conversation I suspect they were two vehicles caravaning together.

Folks, I am going to state this here because I know the majority of people chasing read this board. I suspect there is a good chance that the offending parties will read this. You will know who you are.

You can have the radio to listen (although why you would get it and not get your license is beyond me, since you can pick it up with a cheaper scanner), but you may not EVER transmit on your ham radio without a license, or a licensed operator present. EVER!

You may think you won't get caught, but you will eventually. HAMS will turn you in to the FCC. The FCC WILL take enforcement action which, to quote them:

While many people use Citizens Band radio or Family Radio Service equipment, the use of Amateur radio equipment requires a Commission-issued license. Please be advised that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 301, and will subject the operator to monetary forfeiture (fine) or imprisonment. Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.

And if you think they don't go after people for doing it, do a little reading here:

http://www.arrl.org/news/enforcement_logs/

You will probably be stuck with a stiff fine and maybe the confiscation of your expensive radio equipment. The same holds true if, God forbid, you DO have a license and participate in the above mentioned activities. Even more shame on you if you DO have a license and were participating in the aforementioned activities.

Get the license, it's not that hard, and use proper operating procedures. Have operating priviledges afforded to you by getting the license are just that, PRIVILEDGES! Respect the license you earned, and respect the rest of us out there on those frequencies.

[C Brian Batey]

Originally posted by David Drummond

You may think you won't get caught, but you will eventually. HAMS will turn you in to the FCC.

Underestimating the territorial nature of HAMS is a serious mistake. We jealously guard our frequency allocations.

Think you can't be found and caught. WRONG. Locating transmitters is a game that HAMs have played for years.

The Tech license is easy to get. Don't risk it.

brianb
N5ACN

[Steve Miller OK]

I too have heard a lot more cussing on the air (simplex) over the past few years. I'm not sure what the reasoning is behind this but I sure wish it would go away.

As for triangulation and HAMS having fun with finding people tx'ing when they shouldn't be, do a google search for "amateur radio fox hunt".
HAMS are using some crazy equipment for finding signals...

[Bill Hamilton]

Here is a good link for weather repeaters and frequencies here in OK. It has some interesting frequencies that the NSSL and DOW vehicles use (or did use).
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?...ame=RR&aid=1871 (http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=1871)

You can choose your state to see what is listed.
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR

[mrobinett]

The group I caught up with last year were hams, at least the ones operating the radios were, just by habit during an ongoing chase period Id put my callsign out, about at least every ten minutes which is the rule on repeaters. The same holds true for simplex, I know everyone gets caught up in whats being said and forgets the ten minute rule. One of the group said he'd forgotten that one and was glad I reminded him by doing it. Like David, I heard alot of substandard operating last year also, probably by non hams, mostly "Hey Dave, you there?" kind of things with no callsigns.

[Dave Nelson]

Hi All,
will be looking forward to catching up with a few of you on .550 whilst in tornado alley
during may2006.
I will also be taking a few days out from chasing to go to the Dayton, Ohio hamfest
which has been a dream for a few years


cheers
Dave Nelson
VK2TDN

Sydney
Australia

[Tom Stefanac]

Just a quick note, I know this a ham discussion but I have noticed FRS/GMRS abuse is on the rise as well...

I have come across several people on the FRS bands and I mean the FRS only channels such as Ch.10. I usually put all the FRS channels into the HAM radio just to listen when I am bored or just to see if there is anyone around. I have come across several cases where I have been able to pick up FRS users for many miles, sometimes upwards of 20 - 25 miles and they have been registering with powerful signals. This leads me to the conclusion that they are using modified HAM radio equipment and probably dishing out 35 - 50 watts. I have come across an individual here in Canada who claimed to be using a kilowatt (probably lying) and the government has been chasing him down. I believe they eventually caught him, but he was probably using 500 watts in the city of Toronto. He could be heard on a cheap FRS radio just about anywhere in the city (again 30 miles in any direction).

Due to topography the hills blocked his signal before it reached my place, if that was not the case I would have gone on a fox hunt since it was incredibly annoying, he was interfering with business and personal communications as well as ambulance services when he wanderd well outside of the GMRS/FRS band. Furthermore, fowl language was the least of concerns, he was fighting with children and using/saying all sorts of slanderous language any parent would be heavily offended over, not so much the language but the messages conveyed!

People are always going to open up their radio's since there is always someone that knows how and will do it for whoever asks, but if you are someone who chooses to operate on the GMRS/FRS bands with an illegal setup please be considerate of others out there. Don't use 50 watts if you guys are 10 feet apart LOL and try to keep the language down to a minimum.

To be honest I am not endorsing any illegal activity, but I much rather have people abuse the public bands (FRS - CB) then the HAM radio bands since the public bands are rarely used for emergency purposes while the HAM bands, especially 2 meters and 80 meters are very important during emergencies. GMRS is a public band technically but given some companies invest quite a bit of money into good GMRS systems with nice repeaters they deserve respect too. In fact, the best band to take advantage of is the CB band. There are many people and experimenters on that band who operate well above and beyond the FCC regulations so CB abuse is actually the best kind of abuse since it is almost accepted as the norm.

I am not saying to go out and abuse these bands, but if you are going to abuse them then abuse them... lol how do I put this... ok abuse them 'properly' LOL.

BTW on 70cm many chasers use 446.025/446.100 and that is sometimes patched into 146.550. That only happens when things are very busy and tones don't solve problems on 2m. Usually everyone who can move to 70cm will do so but the guys stuck on 2m will be patched in or sometimes vice versa. People don't often scan UHF simplex so often this fact goes unnoticed.

Also, I have heard some chaser activity on CB channel 26 during a few occasions, all AM. I have not come across any SSB activity with chasing.

I suppose I should have posted to this thread sooner given it did start in Feb and it is currently April. Hey Dave thanks for bringing the thread back to life!
:D

[John Erwin]

Just a quick note, I know this a ham discussion but I have noticed FRS/GMRS abuse is on the rise as well...
[/b]

Don't forget that some GMRS channels allow for power levels of up to 50 watts by licensed users. These are obviously not the regular radios I'm talking about here, but some of the frequencies are shared with the portable units. Not sure on the status of licensed GMRS use in Canada for the purpose of repeaters or high-power usage, but the fellow you speak of may have been using equipment obtained in the US.

[Tom Stefanac]

Don't forget that some GMRS channels allow for power levels of up to 50 watts by licensed users. These are obviously not the regular radios I'm talking about here, but some of the frequencies are shared with the portable units. Not sure on the status of licensed GMRS use in Canada for the purpose of repeaters or high-power usage, but the fellow you speak of may have been using equipment obtained in the US.
[/b]

Yes that is true, repeaters on the GMRS system may use up to 50 watts, but the abuse I have heard was outside of the GMRS frequencies on the FRS only channels (Ch.8 - 14). The table below outlines GMRS/FRS overlaps and channel use. The 5 watt only applies to portables since repeaters may go as high as 50 watts. The abuse I heard was in Indiana - Illinois.

GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (1) 462.550
462.5625 FRS Ch 1 (GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (2) 462.575
462.5875 FRS Ch 2(GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (3) 462.600
462.6125 FRS Ch 3(GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (4) 462.625
462.6375 FRS Ch 4(GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (5) 462.650
462.6625 FRS Ch 5 (GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (6) 462.675
462.6875 FRS Ch 6(GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (7) 462.700
462.7125 FRS Ch 7 (GMRS 5 w. allowed)
GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex (8) 462.725
GMRS Repeater Input (1) 467.550
467.5625 FRS Ch 8 GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (2) 467.575
467.5875 FRS Ch 9(GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (3) 467.600
467.6125 FRS Ch 10 (GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (4) 467.625
467.6375 FRS Ch 11 (GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (5) 467.650
467.6625 FRS Ch 12 (GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (6) 467.675
467.6875 FRS Ch 13 (GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (7) 467.700
467.7125 FRS Ch 14 (GMRS not allowed)
GMRS Repeater Input (8) 467.725

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm...=general_mobile (http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile)

http://www.ba-marc.org/writeups/gmrs-frs-freq.htm

In Canada GMRS is limited to 2.5 watts, ERP can be as high as 3.5 watts (I believe) and there is no repeater use, you can't modify the radio's components such as antennas. Basically you are limited to store bought walkie-talkies, there is no such thing as mobile use LOL. There is also no license required to use GMRS and the GMRS/FRS simplex US band plan is the same one used here, so US channels 1 - 22 are the same as Canadian GMRS/FRS channels 1 - 22.

but the fellow you speak of may have been using equipment obtained in the US[/b]

Many people actually buy the 5 watt portables from the US, I actually own a set myself but I bought them before GMRS was legal in Canada, I did not think they would limit power levels as much as they did haha. The guy who was ticking me off was using a modified Kenwood radio and a linear amp. Someone probably just clipped the radio for him because he was all over the 400 MHz spectrum (bad SWR!), he was messing with ambulances services in the 414 range, ham in the 440's, GMRS/FRS in the 460's and commercial stuff all in between. Several people confronted him on radio and he openly confessed to using his Kenwood with some 200 AMP fuses and he believed he was spitting out a kilowatt. Personally I think he was dreaming, at the most it was 500 watts. Thankfully such abuse is rare, the only reason the government chased him down was because he started messing with the secondary backup ambulance channels for the city. Thankfully the real ambulance action has been moved to 800 MHz with the rest of the important stuff, but the backup channels are still very important. When there is a good lightning storm the UHF low channels often come into play so he could have been a real disaster!

That reminds me, back on July 22nd 2002 we had a massive lightning storm associated with an almost stationary squall line. Just about every cellular, commercial, government, and amateur radio tower within 60 miles of the city was either on emergency power or using the emergency secondary system. I had to place the same phone call about 5 times in 1 minute. I could hear the cell phone tower getting knocked dead with each call. There was a sharp crackle and then the connection was gone. I have no idea what was so special about this one lightning event but I have never ever come across another case of radio chaos which even comes close. The big blackout in the NE US was not even as bad. I think I am going to start a topic and see if I can get some ideas as to why this happened, thanks for jolting my memory John.

[CraigFisher]

146.550 4-15-06 Alot of storm chasers from this board in the Beatrice,Ne area, had my scanner set to that freq, didn't hear that freq break squelch. Am I missing something here??

[KMcCallister]

146.550 4-15-06 Alot of storm chasers from this board in the Beatrice,Ne area, had my scanner set to that freq, didn't hear that freq break squelch. Am I missing something here??
[/b]

In my experience, 146.550 is very heavily used by chasers in Oklahoma, but not nearly as much elsewhere.

If you really want to find such chatter, you probably want to put all of the "standard" simplex freqs for 2m such as 146.505, 146.535, 147.42, 147.435, 147.550 etc. You may also want to try some non-standard, but chaser used simplex freqs such as 146.500 or 147.500 as well.

[Sam Barricklow]

Per U.S. band plans (each state has its own variation of the national band plan), you can operate simplex anywhere between 146.40 and 146.59, or between 147.40 and 147.59. If 146.55 or .52 become crowded, pick another frequency within one of these ranges.

146.550 MHz seems to have become the primary chaser simplex frequency, although I've heard chasers chatting on unused repeater output frequencies, and other simplex frequencies in the 145 MHz end of the band, such as 145.550 MHz.

I still use 146.520 MHz, expecially away from the larger cities, primarily because hams in rural areas tend to monitor this frequency, which is, as others have mentioned, the national calling frequency. And, the "local" hams will often call and chat. Also, hams on long trips often monitor 146.520 MHz while traveling. If I'm with other chasers chatting on 146.52, the locals often comment that they appreciate the information they gained while listening to the chasers. Many very pragmatic farmers / ranchers who are hams, also get a good laugh listening to people who are "wasting good time and money" running around the countryside chasing storms.

Although I typically don't scan the 440 MHz band while chasing, the only simplex activity that I've found on this band has been on 446.000 MHz., which is the FM national calling frequency.

The 432.1 MHz frequency is primarily used for weak signal work, utilizing SSB or CW. I would not recommend using FM on this frequency.

Some local ham clubs transmit fast scan TV of local radar on or near 426.25 MHz. Coverage is typically limited. Today, a digital TV decoder for the regular TV channels would provide better coverage for receiving radar transmitted by local TV stations on one of the auxillary digital channels, such as channel 5.2, etc.

[J West]

This leads me to the conclusion that they are using modified HAM radio equipment and probably dishing out 35 - 50 watts.[/b]

While some of the FRS/GMRS rogue operators may be doing this, many use commercial land mobile radios (Motorola, Ericsson, etc.) programmed with the two pairs of channels. With the amount of cheap UHF LMR radios on places like eBay, there are illegal operators everywhere. It's not my place to play "Kilocycle Cop", but I'm glad that the vast majority of the illegal stuff happens on the public allocations.