rogersmithiii
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2008
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On 2 meters, the simplex chunks are as follows.1. 6-digit is called 2x3 (i.e. 2 letters, a number, 3 letters AKA prefix, suffix). You can get a vanity call sign if you want. I forget the rules, but higher license levels can get shorter calls.
2. You have to wait for it to show up on the FCC website before you can hit the PTT. It seems to be pretty fast these days. My upgrade last fall was something like test Saturday, on FCC website Monday or Tuesday. Basically it's at the speed of mail and the VE's sending it in.
3. People talk directly, called simplex. That's typically done with known entities who are listening for you. There are also calling frequencies that are simplex, and people monitor those. 146.520 is on 2m and 446.000 is on 70cm. All bands have calling frequencies for various uses (FM, SSB, weak signal, etc).
4. If you're looking to test an antenna, I usually get on a repeater and tell people I'm testing an antenna and ask for a signal report. Or you'll hear people just asking if they're making the repeater; they could be mobile and wondering if they can reach it from where they are.
Some people feel like if you call on the calling frequency and start a QSO, you should then move to another frequency to free it up. It's used so little I don't do that. I've never had a problem but I don't use it often. But I wouldn't sit on it for an hour talking about hemorrhoids.
If I am traveling with friends, we choose an out-of-the-way, simplex frequency to chat along the route.
It never fails that no matter how weird the simplex freq, someone always chimes in with something like "Hey guys. This is the Podunk Hollow Ham Radio Club contact frequency. Welcome to the area. "
Someone is always listening.