Where Oh Where is the 1.25 Meter Band? (

[@don_cc123]

220 is awesome. It has comparable range to 2M (if not better!), yet has the smaller antennas and lower noise floor of 70 cm. The best of both worlds!

[@PaulGriffith]

We have a 1.25m repeater in New Orleans, which has a net on Thursday nights.

[@seankm6nfo990]

Thanks, Dave. I love 220. We have simplex and repeater nets here in Sacramento. We're stirring up interest. There's an Alinco mono bander that works really well. About 50 watts and good receive. I'm using a copper Jpole with it. Sweet and simple. 73.

[@SeptemberRain8888]

I am in Canada 🇨🇦 and the 220mhz band. Love this band! There is still lots of radios being sold for this band.

[@problemwithauthority]

1.25 meters is alive in NW Washington. I use a 1.25m transverter during vhf contesting as well. But true enough the equipment can be tough to find.

[@DavidSmith_W6DPS]

There are a number of linked 1.25M systems in the southwest. The Edison Amateur Radio Network, W6SCE, has a number of linked 1.25M machines that have a very wide area coverage. The band is not as popular as 2M, it is a great place to expand to for many clubs.

[@xe1rew]

Here in Mexico that band is dead. The reason is what you pointed out, the chicken and egg problem. Many times I have thinking on buying a equipment with that band but at the end... it will be just me, alone because nobody is interested in that band anymore. Greetings from XE2AD.

[@randygc3704]

Our local wide area ARES repeater has a linked 220 repeater. It's great for working, say SKYWARN on 2M and also being able to monitor and talk on the ARES site without desensing yourself. FYI the Kenwood TH-D74 HT includes 220 (that and APRS are why I bought it). I believe the new TH-D75 does as well. 73 KAØAZS

[@n4gix]

About three years ago BridgeCom was displaying a 1.25-meter portable for $85 at the first year "Dayton Hamvention" was held at Zenia, OH. I quickly bought one. They evidently sold out of them and have never offered them again. I bought an AnyTone AT-778UV TriBand so I would have a mobile or base station for 1.25m since we had a 1.25m repeater in full operation in Gary, Indiana. I was delighted when I moved to Hot Springs, AR just over a year ago to learn that there was a repeater I could use there as well. Unfortunately, the owner of that machine took it out of service, so it is no longer available. What a shame that my cute little portable is completely useless now, as is the middle band of my AT-778UV. There's no one to talk to...

[@KI5UCO]

Beam on over to the harrison/Everton area. We're usually listening on 223.5 and 146.520

[@jarneskegge]

I like the 220 band. Since I got my ticket a few years ago, I spend half my time on the KG4HOT's awesome 220 repeater system in the Waynesboro\ Charlottesville VA area. It is hotter than the 2 meter and 70cm bands here, and there have been strides made in linking 220 repeaters coast to coast since late 2020.

[@mlr06121974]

Thanks Dave The are 3 220 repeater’s at 42,48 and 53 miles from my qth of Clarkridge Arkansas I have a Yaesu 7900 that has receive only on 220

[@davidhodgson977]

Thanks for the Dave, people back in the day used to use a bomber command frequency. It is that long ago I can't remember the frequency.

[@robertmeyer4744]

I am in Boston NY and we have a 1.25 meter repeater hear . part of a linked system. It is used somewhat. Baofeng has the UV-5X3 now that covers 1.25 meters. Nogoya makes a tri band antenna. some newer stuff coming to market in the past few years or so. seems like a lot of new HAMS are not aware of the band. all 3 levels of licence can use the band. also there is the 900 Mhz band. look at the ARRL amanatura band plain. it's free to download and print out. I did that a local library . 73's

[@cidcolead1115]

Alinco dropped their DR-x35 monoband radios for 2, 1.25 and 70cm but they did release a 1.25m monoband new model. It adds complexity to take on this band. Most radios and antennas are dual band 2m/70cm there are some Comet triband base and mobile antennas. I have both. I think it odd that Icom dumped it from their 9700 all mode rig too.

[@DavidSmith_W6DPS]

I have a QYT-8900R in my car for 2M, 1.25M, and 70cM. It works great and gives me a lot of repeater options in SoCal. I also use a couple of Bao Feng HTs with 1.25M, and have good results.

[@d3w4yn3]

Great backround story!

[@douglasrice4753]

Also very important to note that none of the countries that make Amateur Radio equipment have privileges on the 1.25m band...except for the US "based" Kenwood brand.

[@DellFargus]

Being a new-ish ham, I did not know this. I never used the 1.25 MHz band. There are no repeaters in my area in the band. Thanks Dave for the history lesson!

[@bassmanjr100]

Try to get a repeater pair and put something up.

[@TintagelEmrys]

There aren't many 1.25m repeaters near me, but that means all the traffic is consolidated. There is almost always someone there to talk to, cause you don't have to be scanning and hope to get someone.

[@realFoxBox]

Funny you are making this. I literally just picked up a DR-CS25 at HRO on Saturday. Haven't made any contacts yet. But no response from anyone on the local repeaters.

[@izzy351]

My Kenwood HTs have 220 at 5W, and both my AnyTones cover it with reduced power. We use the band here in SW FL.

[@sar11809redwork]

active repeater in Auglaize County Ohio, Jim KB8PET

[@DustyTrailCFDA]

Several of us use it on simplex, AND two repeaters in my area. The 1.25 works better than 440 and is VERY quiet.

[@skaramicke]

Schhh, don’t tell everybody!

[@DustyTrailCFDA]

LOL@@skaramicke

[@n2qjn]

220 is big on Cape Cod MA, since they can't have 440.

[@burtcale6055]

Only 2 nets around me on 1.25. After those nets...nothing. I have 35W and a copper slim jim.

[@stephenmitchell3]

220 was very popular in the late 80s to early 90s due to Novice Enhancement which gave many Novices voice privileges not only on 10M but also the 220 band. I really liked the band - I had a Kenwood TH-315 and TM-632 mobile. The irony, if you will, and something not mentioned in the video - after fighting to get the 2 MHz of spectrum they wanted, UPS never did anything with it. It's unfortunate the FCC didn't see fit to give it back.

[@crazyunclebob6901]

What is a "repeater backhaul "?

[@realFoxBox]

The backhaul on 219-220Mhz is for fixed digital messaging forwarding systems. This was for backhauls for the Packet systems popular in the 80s and 90s, an all but a distant memory in todays age. A backhaul is just a way for linked repeater systems to send messages or voice back and forth with each other without interfering with operations on the main bands they serve. Today, if you do see traffic, its mostly whats left of the mighty packet networks. I wish I had been around during those days because i want to try more packet stuff, but where I live there is just no packet infrastructure outside of Winlink nodes. Edit: The section from 219Mhz - 220Mhz is ONLY for fixed digital messaging forwarding systems. And is not allowed to be used for anything else. I believe as of 2012 you also have to get written permission if you are within 360 miles or so of an AMTS before operating on that part of the 1.25m band.

[@kc0itf]

RATPAC just did a presentation on this... seems no one really knows what to do with this band. The potential is there for packet radio data manipulation as we seem to be headed towards a data bandwidth era...@@realFoxBox

[@markr.1984]

I have a new Kenwood TH-D75 and want to get on 220 but the 220 repeater we have in our county is down. It's coming back up this summer but they are going to link it up to their clubs local 2 meter and 440 repeaters, all three on the very same tower! I have no use for that idea, since why would it be very special to get on their 220 repeater when it comes back up if I can just get on their 2 meter or 440 repeater in the first place? Not very alluring to me. I'd get on it if it were 220 only with some people I know but I'm not going to bother getting one it at all if it's linked. No reason to.

[@cheifreal]

Im in noth texas over the last five years not 1 contact or even just hearing anyone. I did have someone hear me on call freq. He answered me when i switched to 2 m saying he heats me on 1.25m but he do t ha e that capability. He says he almost never hears anone on 1.25. Ima keep tryin Though.

[@kendebusk2540]

I have a Baofeng UV-5R which has been unlocked via software and a programming cable normally used for Chirp. It will now do 1.25m but there's no one home when I knock. Oh well, maybe when I go through a big city I'll find something. 73 de KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan

[@lyfandeth]

Sounds like Dave is using it to mean repeater to repeater radio connections.

[@nine7295]

You said that the Japanese stopped making 220 radios since, and you mentioned the time frame as 30 years ago. Both are inaccurate. The time frame is closer to 20+years than 30 years, first of all. As for that Japanese brands on 220 since then, there are the Alinco DR-235 and the recent replacement model. I used to own a 235. And then the Alinco DJ-G29T dual 220/900 HT. And then there is the Kenwood TH-D74A, which I own, and the replacement D74A, both can do 220. And then the Kenwood TH-F6A also. Yes some have been discontinued in recent years, but you were referring back 30 (and I will give you even 20+) years ago. It's a myth that you are saying that there's no Japanese brand 220 radios and only Chinese brands. It's just not true.

[@G7VFY]

There are no ham radio users outside of the USA. Could be ideal for packet or Fast scan TV.

[@kc0itf]

Yes, RATPAC just did a presentation on attempting to use the 219 portion for packet operation... no one seems to know what to do with it! Time to experiment and see if anyone actually complains...

[@youtubeaccount931]

I have a Baofeng that can do 1.25M and I can hit repeaters with it, there just isn't anyone on. Hardly anyone on 2M band either. I think all the guys around here are using fancy radios on 70cm with digital voice and internet linked modes and such. We even have 6M repeaters here, as soon as I finish my 6M antenna I'm going to try to hit them.

[@marshall2041]

Hey o g how what say yeee ?? Just a new hamster ko6 bin looking around for american make of radio can you tune me up here??? C.B. radio has been my extent of knowledge as a retired trucker now looking to try on a old hat.

[@frankthetank3342]

220 is alive in Northeast Ohio.

[@Tassie-Devil]

Here's the thing - or the question: If unilaterally give away a portion of a band just because someone threw $$$ at them... what's wrong with boycotting the band entirely? I can understand anyone who feels, well the band might still be relatively unpopulated... why should you/ I/ we allow ourselves to be squeezed by these [expletive redacted]? Let's just give it up as an over-regulated joke and find somewhere else to play.