Upper Area 52 - Getting SSB Back on 2 Meters in the Valley!

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Mark
Administrator

Digitizin'...

Posts: 218

QTH: Phoenix, AZ
FCC Call Sign: W2MIX
License Class: General
Radio(s): Yaesu- FTM400XDR, FT3D, FT2D, FT70DR, HRI-200, Alinco- DR-235 MkIII, SDR- RSP2, RTL-SDR.

Upper Area 52 - Getting SSB Back on 2 Meters in the Valley! May 11, 2017 1:37:16 GMT -7

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Post by Mark on May 11, 2017 1:37:16 GMT -7

There is a small, but growing group of Area 52ers that are gearing up for SSB on 2 meters.

SSB Frequencies
144.200, 144.210, 144.220, 144.230, 144.240, 144.250

SSB used to be a common mode on 2 meters for a good reason, you can talk a lot farther with less power! We have already been in SSB QSO with Grant in Queen Creek who is also gearing up. We hope to make this a well known frequency in the Valley and with nearby Tucson and Prescott area operators, please spread the word!

We are monitoring and testing to see if anyone else is using this on a regular basis. Help us out and reply with your thoughts and discoveries.

"Lower Area 52" group frequency 146.400 USB will be used as our 1st backup for SSB and 2nd backup for FM.

Feel free to QSY there with a friend and test out your equipment. SSB used to be a common mode on 2 meters for a good reason, you can talk a lot farther with less power! We have already been in SSB QSO with Grant in Queen Creek who is also gearing up. We hope to make this a well known frequency in the Valley and with nearby Tucson and Prescott area operators, please spread the word!

Reply below if you are able to operate in SSB mode on 2 meters and what equipment you are using. This will help others decide what equipment to use.

Soon we will be announcing regular meetup times for some fun with our new project! No, this is not a net and no "police" are allowed.

Last Edit: Jan 10, 2018 8:56:27 GMT -7 by Mark

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Norm
Crewman

Posts: 2

QTH: Peoria, AZ
FCC Call Sign: W7CK
License Class: Extra

Upper Area 52 - Getting SSB Back on 2 Meters in the Valley! May 16, 2017 7:50:50 GMT -7 Mark likes this

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Post by Norm on May 16, 2017 7:50:50 GMT -7

I'll give it a try. I have a Flex that is capable of 2m SSB at 75 watts. I also have an IC-7100 that is normally scanning simplex FM and SSB frequencies on the 2m band. I personally think if we were down in the SSB portion of the band, we'd attract a few more people to the group though. Although it is perfectly legal to run ssb on any 2m frequency, I think it would be much more widely accepted if it is within the SSB portion of the band plan.

Additional Information:

I've had a few SSB QSO's on 144.200 through 144.250 over the years but it's usually pretty quiet. I normally give a call down there at least once a week during the weekends.

There is a Sunday morning net on 144.210 at 8:30 AM called the SWAT Net. Members checking in are using horizontal antennas so this is not an option for most of the folks on 146.52.

There is a Tuesday evening AM net 144.45 AM at 8:00 pm. I believe these folks are running vertical antennas. Please note: Most Icom radios will not transmit AM on 2m.

The Yavapai Amateur Radio Club (great club by the way) has a SSB net on Wednesday evenings on 144.250 at 8:00 p.m. The groups is primarily located in the Prescott area and uses vertical antennas. In the past, I've heard them down here and have checked in a couple times but conditions have to be really good for me due to the mountains between my QTH and Prescott.

There is a SSB Chit Chat group out of Tucson that meets on 144.210 at 7:00 pm every Thursday.

Brent and I set up my 10 element yagi in the horizontal plane and mounted it to a 10' pole one evening. We ran a piece of coax from my mobile rig to the antenna and with a 200 watt brick we made several contacts on 2m SSB into the L.A. area. Most of those contacts were a little over 330 air miles from here.

During the VHF contests, I've managed to have several long distance contacts on 2m SSB. Grand Canyon Village, Prescott Valley, Paulden, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, L.A., Tucson, Green Valley, Chino Valley, the rim and lots of others.

See ya all down on 2m SSB!!!

Norm
Crewman

Posts: 2

QTH: Peoria, AZ
FCC Call Sign: W7CK
License Class: Extra

Upper Area 52 - Getting SSB Back on 2 Meters in the Valley! May 16, 2017 7:58:53 GMT -7 Adam likes this

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Post by Norm on May 16, 2017 7:58:53 GMT -7

Oh, I forgot to mention. There is a small number of folks who are into Summits On The Air (SOTA). Some of these folks like to run SSB because it typically travels farther than FM. Most of the time they call and operate on 144.200 SSB. I've worked a few over the years but it is far and few between.

Just another reason to put those SSB frequencies (144.200, 144.210, 144.220, 144.230, 144.240, 144.250) in your rig and put it on scan when your not talking on it. You just never know what you'll hear!

Mark
Administrator

Digitizin'...

Posts: 218

QTH: Phoenix, AZ
FCC Call Sign: W2MIX
License Class: General
Radio(s): Yaesu- FTM400XDR, FT3D, FT2D, FT70DR, HRI-200, Alinco- DR-235 MkIII, SDR- RSP2, RTL-SDR.

Upper Area 52 - Getting SSB Back on 2 Meters in the Valley! May 17, 2017 9:12:45 GMT -7

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Post by Mark on May 17, 2017 9:12:45 GMT -7

This is some great information Norm!!! I am going to put these frequencies into my radio for future scans

As for frequencies for Area 52 it was recommended that as a group we stay closer to the middle of the band so most people would already have a vertical antenna tuned for everyday FM use. I haven't put a meter on my antenna yet to see how the SWR changes at the end of the band, now it's on my to do list.

This is good to get people started and from your info there are plenty of other frequencies to check out as well. Thanks for your input!

Last Edit: Jan 10, 2018 8:48:11 GMT -7 by Mark

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Nov 29, 2020 17:42:51 GMT -7

Mark: Thanks for stopping by Len, VHF is busiest, the 146.52 calling freq and 147.52 digital freq are fairly consistent. It's just a short scan through to find others. Oct 17, 2020 9:02:13 GMT -7

W7CCE - Len: Thanks for your work. By listing the simplex frequencies you have helped me a lot. I would be interested in which frequencies are most popular in Arizona (Gilbert). Oct 10, 2020 10:40:47 GMT -7

Mark: The Phoenix Matrix frequency has moved to 445.250 due to uncoordinated interference. Oct 7, 2020 18:44:06 GMT -7 *

Mark: Welcome James in Scottsdale!!! Our newest member, let us know if we can help you or if you can help us, lol :))

Oct 3, 2020 21:20:00 GMT -7

Mark: Welcome Mark J., our newest member from Phoenix

Jul 16, 2020 8:43:33 GMT -7

Mark: Hey Andrew, some are on Fusion, some are on 52... and some are back on HF. Lots to discover, feel free to comment on any! Mar 30, 2020 23:43:26 GMT -7

andrew: are y'allfusion now or still 52 simplex Mar 25, 2020 23:01:13 GMT -7

andrew: hello found this site in a repeater booklisting Mar 25, 2020 23:00:39 GMT -7

Mark: Pat, update your items for sale, LOL Feb 23, 2020 11:58:27 GMT -7

Mark: Beau, also see www.yaesu.com/jp/en/wires-x/id/id_active.php for a complete active list of active Rooms and Nodes. Aug 30, 2019 22:54:33 GMT -7

Mark: Hi Beau, my node is usually just on during the weekends, so that's why it might not be connecting. You might try 145.330RX/144.730TX on the White Tanks or 443.150/448.150 in Scottsdale, for wider coverage area. Aug 30, 2019 22:53:37 GMT -7

beau: New to this (FT-70DR), taking technician test next week. I cannot get my radio to connect - flashes "wires" and goes back to 445.275 on the screen. If anyone can tell me how to program this radio so it connects, it would be much appreciated. Aug 17, 2019 16:02:05 GMT -7

Mark R: Thanks for the Welcome!! Have a new FTM400XDR trying to understand the digital and messaging function/GM Jul 8, 2019 12:54:53 GMT -7

Mark: Welcome Mark R to our forums. Please post any questions you may have so all can help.

Jul 7, 2019 20:18:37 GMT -7

Mark: Hey Vernon, do you mean a FTM-400 by chance? There are several people here, including myself that can help you! Please sign up for membership so we can PM you or post in a thread. Jun 22, 2019 22:33:01 GMT -7

Vernon Lewis - Just learning: I am just leaning how to connect to this Wires-X - probably not getting it right with this FTM-300. So far, no luck Jun 22, 2019 11:19:44 GMT -7