2 meter band plan question

We have a group that regularly meets on 146.56 FM simplex.
On occasion we get interference from 146.55 FM which seems to be a popular freq for some reason.
According to my understanding 146.55, although not illegal to transmit on, is definitely not a legitimate freq according to the ARRL band plan.
I've already told this to some hams using that freq and now have a few hams visiting here from Arizona using the annoying 6.55.

With either 15 kc spacing (suggested for the east) or 20 kc spacing (suggested for the west) 146.55 comes up in neither.

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

We have a group that regularly meets on 146.56 FM simplex.
On occasion we get interference from 146.55 FM which seems to be a popular freq for some reason.
According to my understanding 146.55, although not illegal to transmit on, is definitely not a legitimate freq according to the ARRL band plan.
I've already told this to some hams using that freq and now have a few hams visiting here from Arizona using the annoying 6.55.

With either 15 kc spacing (suggested for the east) or 20 kc spacing (suggested for the west) 146.55 comes up in neither.

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I guess it really depends on which "gentleman's agreement" you want to listen to.. Here in Orlando, 146.565 is a very popular simplex frequency... so by my day to day usage, I'd say you're out of bounds. But the ARRL band plan makes no specific reference to channelized (for lack of a better word) simplex frequencies.

It's really something that should be resolved locally and with the parties involved. There's no reason why they can't QSY down 5 or you up 5. I'd spend less time arguing about band plans and more time just eliminating interference. It's not entirely dissimilar to 28.400, though not a "calling frequency" recognized by any major organization, why fight it? Just QSY.

If I recall, 146.52, 146.55 and 146.58 are all national simplex frequencies (30 KHz spacing). 146.56 is not on a 15KHz mark, so you'd be the oddball where the plan is concerned. It's all legal, though. The plan is "just a plan."

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Originally Posted by W4GPL

It's not entirely dissimilar to 28.400, though not a "[highlight:19grihyd]name[/highlight:19grihyd]-calling frequency" recognized by any major organization, why fight it? Just QSY.

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Edited for reality in light of today's donnybrook between a group of 5-landers and a group of 8-landers.

If this is what's going to go on when the spots return...I'll kindly see all of you below .100, on 29.0 MHz AM or on 29.600 FM simplex. :roll:

here there is a group on 146.565 and another at 146.58

then there is another group at 144.94.

but hard telling if they are still there these days as i have no way to check in on them

According to the ARRL repeater directory 15 khz spacing in the east and 20 khz spacing in the west (where the dividing line is I don't know, maybe the Mississippi?). 146.52 is the call freq and 20 khz spacing = .52, .54, .56 :neener:

I never heard of 30 khz spacing

This might be a question for the magnificent ZED.

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

:neener:

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By all means, be mature about it.

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

According to the ARRL repeater directory 15 khz spacing in the east and 20 khz spacing in the west (where the dividing line is I don't know, maybe the Mississippi?). 146.52 is the call freq and 20 khz spacing = .52, .54, .56 :neener:

I never heard of 30 khz spacing

This might be a question for the magnificent ZED.

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15 KHz is the norm here.

.52, .535, .55, .565 and .58 are this area's most often used frequencies. A bunch of us hang out on .58.

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

According to the ARRL repeater directory 15 khz spacing in the east and 20 khz spacing in the west (where the dividing line is I don't know, maybe the Mississippi?). 146.52 is the call freq and 20 khz spacing = .52, .54, .56 :neener:

I never heard of 30 khz spacing

This might be a question for the magnificent ZED.

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Never heard of that before. East/west dividing line usually means the Mississippi River. Spacing has always been 30KHz everywhere as far as I know.

Back in the "old days" (mid-1970's and before), all repeater allocations were at 30KHz intervals. Many of the older repeater groups around here have held their original frequencies for 40+ years now. They only started going to 15KHz intervals when they ran out of 30KHz "slots." 20KHz spacing doesn't work real well when you started with 30KHz. Keep in mind that back before 15KHz spacing started, all 2m rigs used crystals. If you wanted to use a new (to you) repeater, it might cost you $20 for the "rocks." Even then, a number of repeater pairs were more popular. For instance, if you used a 146.34/.94 repeater locally, you at least had a decent shot that your rig would work elsewhere because it was one of the more popularly assigned repeater pairs.

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

This might be a question for the magnificent ZED.

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OK, then! Let me know how that works out for ya ... :lol:

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Originally Posted by ad4mg

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Originally Posted by kc7jty

This might be a question for the magnificent ZED.

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OK, then! Let me know how that works out for ya ... :lol:

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It met with quite a largely attended response, giving me some enlightenment into the history of FM and 2 meters.
In the end however I was right and Washington, Idaho, and Montana are 20 khz spacing states according to the almighty ARRL repeater handbook.
In this area 146.56 is a le-jit simplex freq.

146.5615 would be legit too. Oh wait. Nevermind. The entire 2m band is legit regardless of gentleman's agreement, ARRL bandplan or otherwise. Doesn't mean you should rock the boat. Just saying. If I don't, then who will?

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Originally Posted by KG4CGC

If I don't, then who will?

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a little birdie...

I'm just catching up on this topic now, but I asked over there, and I'll ask over here, too:

In this part of 2-land, we use 145.110, 145.130, 145.170 ... 145.490 and 146.610, 146.625, 146.640 ... 147.390. Are we 15 or 20 kHz? :mrgreen:

The convention around here seems to be to use 15 kHz steps on simplex since we use 15 kHz repeater spacing above 146.

Holy shite, a thread about actual ham radio on HamIsland :lol:

In 2-land 146.52 and 146.55 are well-known simplex frequencies and used often. I'm also part of a little group in my area that has been using 146.415 for almost 20 years.

There's regulars on 146.430 around here... agreement really means checking frequencies for activity above and below if you want to use something "different".

Umm, Am I the only one thinking "Who really has so much time on their hands to give a crap?" Don't interfere with another station and use whatever you want. Sure, gentleman's agreement, abide by it if you can, but if you want to be channelized, go by a GMRS and pay your $80 bucks.

John