Universal "travel" frequency?

[MSHappyCampers]

I got my old ticket back a little while ago and the club gave me a Baofeng UV82 (I think) handheld transceiver. I haven't really done anything with it yet. Is there a frequency that is monitored around the USA that I would use as we travel?

[coupevilleDF]

146.520 is the common road frequency. It not monitored pre se, but you can pick up other hams occasionally. You may need some kind of external antenna to get your signal out. As a new ham, figuring that out is part of the adventure.

When we travel, I usually take my computer and program in some local repeaters. I have made some interesting contacts that way. I don't try that while I'm in motion because it would be too much of distraction.

BTW, welcome to the hobby. Have fun. W7DAF.

[MSHappyCampers]

Thanks! I got my ticket, K5DXL, back in 1956 and was very active for a few years, but let it expire. It's amazing how things have changed since then!

[paddykern]

Made a few contacts on 146.52.
Wish more would monitor that freq.
I monitor every day.

[1bigmess]

Originally Posted by paddykern

I monitor every day.

This is the most common complaint of many radio users.

Maybe take a few minutes every day and call out to see who else is just listening? If everyone listened and no one called out then it would sound mighty lonely.

[paddykern]

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

This is the most common complaint of many radio users.

Maybe take a few minutes every day and call out to see who else is just listening? If everyone listened and no one called out then it would sound mighty lonely.

Good suggestion.
I will do that.

[paddykern]

Another interesting option while on the road is an Icom 51A+.
You can load a massive number of repeaters in the general area you are traveling.

Getting the repeater info online will include coordinates.
The Icom with the built in GPS will find the local repeaters for you.

Note that the Kenwood D74A will do the same but only for D-Star repeaters.
The Icom will load both D-Star and analog repeaters

On our trip out west last year, the few times I used this function, the closest repeater was always too far away.

Guess I need to camp in cities for that to work. :-)

Will see how this works when we go to Maine this year.

[KT4Wextra]

146.52 is the National calling simplex frequency. Common courtesy is after you make a contact move to another unused simplex frequency or a repeater. Joe, a HT isn't going to get you much activity due to the short range unless you can mount an antenna on your mirror instead of the rubber ducky. That shouldn't be to hard to do. If you want to talk mobile it may be best to get a dual band mobile rig with at least 25W output and program repeater frequencies along the route you are planning plus all the simplex frequencies and just run a scan on the road. I monitor 146.52 on the road but I don't make any calls. I rarely hear anyone on that frequency. The only time I ever heard anyone was on a trip when were were on I-80 in Nevada and I believe the people I heard were not on the highway but on some back roads and probably a long distance away since it was so flat in the area. Our local club used to do a local simplex test net on 146.52 and a few people complained we were tying it up but no one was using it but us. We don't do that net anymore since someone had to go mobile and find the highest elevation for net control.
Marv
KT4W

[Hgrace56]

Whatever happened to
CQ CQ CQDX?
KOE7605

[DWJoyce]

It's the national monitoring frequency for emergencies. That's one of the reasons it's so seldom used. Thank you for monitoring it and please do NOT talk on it, but agree to another frequency to speak on.

73

[KT4Wextra]

Originally Posted by Hgrace56

Whatever happened to
CQ CQ CQDX?
KOE7605

Not much DX on VHF/UHF FM lol. Rarely hear anyone calling CQ either although it is ok to be done. Most people just give their call sign and wait or give your call and say "listening".

[KT4Wextra]

Originally Posted by DWJoyce

It's the national monitoring frequency for emergencies. That's one of the reasons it's so seldom used. Thank you for monitoring it and please do NOT talk on it, but agree to another frequency to speak on.

73

Actually you are slightly off frequency for emergency traffic. 146.55 is the designated official emergency frequency. 146.52 is the national calling frequency. No need to avoid using 146.55 in normal use but if there is emergency traffic it is best you either stop transmitting or go to another frequency.
Marv
KT4W

[1bigmess]

Originally Posted by KT4Wextra

146.55 is the designated official emergency frequency.

Made "official" by who? No mention of it in the ARRL band plan.

http://www.arrl.org/band-plan

[Chuck_Hammer]

been thinking of installing my old 2 meter rig in the truck...

it and the Mobil antenna still work.
the bird 43 said so...