900MHz POTA - Leave No Band Behind

[@understandthetimes5721]

You are very fortunate to live in an area with hams active on VHF plus. Great job and 73!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Yes, I'm definitely lucky here. WNY is a great place for ham radio, with plenty of parks, even some summits, plus plenty of active clubs with lots of Elmers too.

[@NeonLightRays]

It’s awesome to see you do this 900MHz has always been so intriguing to me I wish more amateur equipment was made for it

[@MikeN2MAK]

Yeah, I really wish there was more. The dual band Alinco for 1.25m and 33cm is a perfect mix. It'd be great if they still made that HT and if there was a mobile version too.

[@daomingjin]

if you're going to go into the 900 mhz band, why not just use LoRa or Meshtastic ? no need for a license. I guess HAMs are afraid to communicate on the air with people that don't have a radio license (aka the federal government) attached to their name....

[@MikeN2MAK]

@@daomingjin The whole point of this is to encourage more interest and activity on 900MHz for amateur radio. Meshtastic and LoRA are definitely gaining popularity for hams. But there's still more that can be done with it.

[@a_ham_like_me]

Great stuff, Mike! Thanks for bringing the POTA life to the long-yagi bands!

[@MikeN2MAK]

You bet!! Thanks for checking it out too. I hope all is well.

[@carlosroig5315]

I had the DJ-G7 tri bander, 2m, 70cm, 1.2Ghz, never managed to get my hands on a DJ-G29. I'll be traveling to Rochester maybe by the end of the year or by early 2025. I'll take my FT-817ND to make some contacts with you guys from the Rochester VHF group. Thank's for the video!

[@MikeN2MAK]

I've used that Alinco tri-bander and it's another great HT. There's a FB page and Groups.io for the RVHFG to let us know when you'll be out here. They also do a regular 2m SSB Net on Monday nights.

[@StealthGTI]

I'm pursuing an N1CC Activator award. I'm a mobile-only operator with 80m-2m, plus 70cm and 33cm in the car. Just today, I told someone that 900 MHz is "the forgotten band" and that I've never made a 900 MHz contact. HAHA! I'm hoping to activate three more parks on 10 bands over the next few weeks. I'm traveling to WI and MN and will likely stop in some parks along the way from VA. I don't know that I can count on making VHF/UHF contacts on the road like I do near home. Thanks for the video! 73! -Scott KE4WMF

[@MikeN2MAK]

Awesome! It never hurts to try. The September VHF Contest and right around the corner. That’s a great time to make contacts on VHF/UHF that can count towards POTA awards, like the N1CCC or 6-Pack.

[@kc8opv]

Excellent video Mike. I'm primarily an HF guy, but this inspires me to look into what VHF+ DX activity is around where I live #leavenobandbehind

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks! That's exactly what I'm trying to do--encourage interest and activity.

[@ralphnunn3]

We have a few 900 mhz repeaters here in Utah, and one that I can actually break the squelch on with my 1 watt 900 mhz Retevis RT-10. We have a weekly net on that repeater that I've checked into on occasion. I, too would love to see more activity on this band. I'll have to check out that Yagi antenna that you used. I'm sure that would help my signal quite a bit.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Awesome! I didn't know about the Retevis RT-10, but I'll be looking into it now.

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

waaay cool, and great band.. 73🎙Ira

[@MikeN2MAK]

While it would’ve been nice to get a few more contacts on 900MHz, it definitely helped generate some more interest in the band, which is important. Thanks for watching!!

[@hamradioonthego]

Great video! I am mobilizing to get onto the 900mhz band!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Awesome! Thanks for watching and I'm hope many others will follow and try to get on 900MHz.

[@daomingjin]

the cheapest way is to use LoRA, in the U.S. i think it's on the 915 Mhz band. If you are skilled with Arduino/ESP, and a breadboard you can get something setup for around $20. the LoRa RF module that i'm using for my product supports all LoRa bands (each country has their own allocation for ISM). You can also switch the mode over from LoRa to FSK mode and bump the data rate up to 300kbps ;-)

[@johnplattVA7NDL]

Great vid Mike!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! I appreciate the view and comment too.

[@KC2BKM]

COOL! and interesting.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks for checking it out! I'm glad you liked it.

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Mike, it can be surprisingly helpful to hold the HT sideways if you're using the stock antenna, and if the other station is horizontally polarized! Glad it all worked for you. 73 VE3GKT

[@MikeN2MAK]

Yup! I’m glad that came up, since I wanted to use the video as an opportunity to share tips like that. Thanks for watching!

[@deanheckman908]

Nice video, Mike! Wish I had known you were doing this. I live near the park. I don't have the equipment for 900Mhz, but could have gotten on the other bands. Dean AD2Z.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Sorry I missed you! I’ll be back again, I’m sure. I love it there!

[@ChrisKD9YSW]

Awesome to see and hear. maybe I might trying 2m and 70cm activation

[@MikeN2MAK]

Talk it up with others in your area! In general, I think hams like it when there’s activity on 146.52. The September VHF contest is the 14th and 15th too, which makes it a good opportunity.

[@ChrisKD9YSW]

@@MikeN2MAK yep we have a meeting for our club on September 11th might go try it on a tower we have at the county Marsh

[@MikeN2MAK]

@@ChrisKD9YSW perfect!

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

Fun video, many thanks!! Robert K5TPC

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks, I had fun too and it's great seeing the response to it.

[@danmarkiewicz3697]

Thanks Mike, that was a fun and interesting video. 73s Dan N2DTO

[@MikeN2MAK]

Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully more get interested and active on the higher bands.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Ham-Density - I like that. And your squelch chirping at the end sounded like it was coming from my shack and I had to pause/unpause/rewind

[@MikeN2MAK]

I can’t recall where I first heard “Ham Density,” but I use the term often because it makes a difference for a lot of reasons. That’s funny the squelch breaking got you, LOL.

[@JOHN_COSMO]

Great video awesome Yagi antenna I'm getting one! Thanks for the inspiration pretty close to you I'm in williamsville!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Awesome, John! WNY is a great place to be for VHF/UHF. I hope to work you in the September VHF Contest!

[@n2yqt]

It started looking pretty spooky towards the end.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Totally! That made it so much cooler. Thanks for checking it out!!

[@HamRadioCrusader]

Great Video Mike!!! Now I gotta take a serious look at 900Mhz 73 DE KD5FMU

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks, Freddie! My goals for this video was to try and raise awareness, generate interest, and get activity.

[@alzeNL]

I have an IC9700 at home and a triband (still have it) with 23cm on it, the only thing I could reliably here on it was one beacon. The only thing that uses the band reguarly is Amateur Television repeater on the 23cm band, but the ic9700 doesnt follow the UK band plan, so its not in there. Sadly there is very little activity from what I could see on my time on 23cm at the QTH - I did have a recent QSO on 2M FM for POTA tho ! Still, top work promoting POTA and the 23cm band, impressive work, especially the walk up the hill with the yagi !

[@MikeN2MAK]

The 9700 is one of the rigs I've been keeping an eye on for enhanced capabilities on VHF/UHF. It seems like a great radio and I already have the 7300 and 705, so it should fit right in, LOL.

[@alzeNL]

@@MikeN2MAK its fantastic radio, but be prepared to pay more money for very high quality coax, antennas, amps,etc. I love the satellites, its such a cool part of the hobby!

[@garylanders1470]

Could build an up-converter 2m to 33cm, fairly small device.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Transverters for 1.25m and 33cm are definitely of interest. ICOM does have 23cm (10W) on the 9700 and 905 though.

[@tinysolarshack9615]

There are 900 MHz HT’s that were police or fire that are easier and less expensive than up converting. Check with a local club that does 900Mhz, some HT’s are easier than others to program etc.

[@MikeN2MAK]

@@tinysolarshack9615 will do. Thanks again!

[@bobkopf227]

Good morning Mike, thanks for sharing another great video I’m curious about whether there are black bears in Western New York?

[@MikeN2MAK]

Yes, there are. I do have bear spay that I bring with me on certain activations.

[@johnleonardelli_VE3IPS]

I had 7 on 1296 SSB but not enough for a pure activation

[@MikeN2MAK]

That’s still good! I got 5 FM on 23cm and also on 33cm during the June VHF contest, which I did at a POTA park. I’m hoping I can get more in the September VHF Contest. Hopefully this helps encourage more to try the higher bands.

[@msnb2g]

POTA activation on 900MHz is a great job for amateur band defense. The words on t-shirts come from UN SDG's "Leave no one behind", don't they?

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks, I just remixed "leave no one behind" for the "leave no band behind" a year or so ago when I was focused on the N1CC award and trying to do different bands, like 60m and more.

[@LuisPerez-xe6nu]

If we don’t use it, we’ll lose it. Honestly, very little activity on 33 and 23cm bands.

[@MikeN2MAK]

I hope we can get more interest and activity. I’m definitely trying!

[@ThinGrayLine]

Hey Mike, what was that yagi you were using? Maybe we could do a 900mhz P2P lol!

[@MikeN2MAK]

The Yagi label says DMS Wireless YA90014, but since I'm just borrowing it, I don't know more more about it. Clearly it works though, LOL.

[@ThinGrayLine]

Thanks!

[@ghostmandka5498]

Those HT's aren't very intuitive to use compared to the big 3. Great job on the activation. Where did you find that antenna?

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks so much! I wish Alinco was still making some of the HTs. This one, with 1.25m/33cm, and the other with 2m/70cm/23cm make a perfect pair!

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

Big 3 ? Beofeng Retevis Quangshang?? 😉

[@MikeN2MAK]

@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan the Retevis RT10 will do 900MHz FM and DMR.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@MikeN2MAK there is so much usable cheap technology out there. So much of it is hackable too….if you’re keen. Lots of stuff to get into as a ham, in fact there’s so much it’s almost a full time job :-)

[@jlca320]

I am Curious how many contacts did you get and how many were 900?

[@MikeN2MAK]

I had 20 contacts in the log total. 13 were 20m SSB from the parking lot. Then I got 3 on 902.3MHz FM, 1 on 223.5MHz FM, 1 on 446 MHz FM and 2 on 146.52MHz FM.

[@CriticalThinker-42]

“Leave No Band Behind” Great! When are you doing... 2200 Meters 135.7-137.8 kHz 630 Meters 472-479 kHz 160 Meters 1.800-2.000 MHz 2300-2310 MHz 2390-2450 MHz 3300-3450 MHz 5650-5925 MHz 10.0-10.5 GHz 24.0-24.25 GHz 47.0-47.2 GHz 76.0-81.0 GHz* 122.25 -123.00 GHz 134-141 GHz 241-250 GHz & All Frequencies above 300 GHz

[@MikeN2MAK]

I'm slowly working my way up the bands, LOL. What started with the "bottom four" expanded to 33cm and 23cm this summer. And there's plenty of microwave enthusiasts out here, which will help along the way.

[@notsogreat123]

If I see the word POTA you instantly get blocked !! Bye !!

[@MikeN2MAK]

It’s a big hobby with something for everyone.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

Even for sad hams….. Someone must have had a bad experience. Should have packed mosquito repellent 😊

[@tinysolarshack9615]

I’ve used 900Mhz for years here in Colorado. In the metro areas s8me 900 MHz frequencies used for simplex are restricted. If you looking for 900 MHz FM the Motorola GTX 900 is easy to have programmed and reasonable prices. Kenwood also has a couple mobiles that work well for ham. Note* a number of 900Mhz amateur users have gone to P25 mode, make sure you know what you are buying. Some repeaters do cross mode and others do not. 900 MHz for ham who are limited in space or just need a new challenge will enjoy 900Mhz. For those in an urban setting be aware many things share the 900Mhz band. Everything from water/electric smart meters to traffic/ intersection control. Baby monitors to public service vehicles. You can get a lot of multi path RF interference in a city. Test it out. 73. Kc8hps. Bryan

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great tips! Thanks!!

[@danashtun5074]

Was looking for you guys from FN03FQ, to the NW... 73 dana ve3ds

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks for trying! I didn’t have the best line going to the NW from this location. Hopefully I’ll get you in the September Contest though.