Hi
I just wonder which PMR channel (Frequency) and CTCSS/DCS codes are used by members when out on runs?
Do you use analogue or digital?
I have my radio which I can program to use, I just need the relevant codes, channel or frequency please
Andy
The channel to be used is determined by the person running the meet, or by the AC.
I don’t think there’s a universal channel - which would be counter productive anyway. Imagine two adjacent area runs out on the same day, each using the radios for directions and coming within radio range of each other - even more chaotic than normal.
Most area OC clubs will have their own channel frequencies, it depends on the resident technophobe who will chose a channel at random and then tune the rest in that particular area to suit.
And as 99% of club members will not have a radio licence they are limited to walkie talkies rather than pro radios.
Hope that makes sense as i am no techy.
CB radios (the old school FM 27mghz ones) would be a good idea as these have a decent range, 40 channels to choose from and are cheap to buy on eBay etc. You can also get the hand held walkie talkie type if fitting one to the car isn’t an option. I’ve got two cb radios in the garage as I was into them from 1981 onwards until around 2001. Thinking about fitting one to Mindy!
Many thanks for your replies. I will check with the North West club to find out what frequencies are in use. Good look with fitting your CB radio, space is a little tight on the MX5 I note!
I would like to fit my radio in, but where do we fit the all important aerial is the question?
I do NOT like mag mounts, can scratch the body work and become a missile in the event of a serious impact. It may be a case of fitting a boot rack and fixing the aerial to that.
On the other hand just use a hand held with extension speaker mic, that might be the better approach. Any way, I ramble. Thanks once again for advice
Andy
If you can wait until tomorrow i will PM you with the Northwest channel and ctc numbers, just off to work at the mo.
Dave.
PM sent.
The space below the radio in a mk1 would take a cb easily mate. Mounting the ariel is indeed the tricky part though. I did see on a forum (cant remember which one) that a member custom made a mount that fitted to the mounting bracket for the hard top on the rear panel. Kinda like a boot mount. They were selling them in the forum. Think something like that would be cool, and a lot safer than a magmount too.
Sounds good. I have the Mk4. I will have to think about this… May be just use a hand held with extension spark/mic clipped to the belt would be easier.
Looks like I am the 1% that holds a class A amateur transmitting license then! I use a handheld radio (stationary of course) when contacting fellow amateurs, NO aerials on the ND. The range is enhanced through repeater stations.
Peaks and Pennines run on Binatone Walkie Talkies on Channel 4-12
When I was looking at radio communication options I down loaded this information, I hope you can stay awake whilst reading it
Air band
Airband refers to VHF frequencies used for navigation and voice communication with aircraft. Trans-oceanic aircraft also carry HF radio and satellite transceivers.
The VHF airband uses the frequencies between 108 and 137 MHz. The lowest 10 MHz of the band, from 108–117.95 MHz, is split into 200 narrow-band channels of 50 kHz. These are reserved for navigational aids such as VOR beacons, and precision approach systems such as ILS localizers.
As of 2012, most countries divide the upper 19 MHz into 760 channels for amplitude modulation voice transmissions, on frequencies from 118–136.975 MHz, in steps of 25 kHz. In Europe, it is becoming common to further divide those channels into three (8.33 kHz channel spacing), potentially permitting 2,280 channels. A typical transmission range of an aircraft flying at cruise altitude (35,000 ft), is about 200 miles in good weather conditions
Broadcasting
Broadcast frequencies:
Longwave AM Radio = 148.5 kHz – 283.5 kHz (LF)
Mediumwave AM Radio = 530 kHz – 1710 kHz (MF)
Shortwave AM Radio = 3 MHz – 30 MHz (HF)
Designations for television and FM radio broadcast frequencies vary between countries, see Television channel frequencies and FM broadcast band. Since VHF and UHF frequencies are desirable for many uses in urban areas, in North America some parts of the former television broadcasting band have been reassigned to cellular phone and various land mobile communications systems. Even within the allocation still dedicated to television, TV-band devices use channels without local broadcasters.
The Apex band in the United States was a pre-WWII allocation for VHF audio broadcasting; it was made obsolete after the introduction of FM broadcasting.
Channel 16 VHF
Channel 16 VHF is a radio frequency on the marine VHF radio band. It is used for shipping and maritime purposes, to call up ships and shore stations, and as an international distress frequency. After an initial response the call is to be switched to one of the working channels, except in case of emergency traffic. Channel 16 is used for broadcasting distress calls such as mayday, pan-pan, securite or other urgent safety messages. It is allied to the 2,182 kHz frequency.
VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is monitored 24 hours a day by coastguards around the world. In addition, all sea bound vessels are required to monitor channel 16 VHF when sailing, except when communicating on other marine channels for legitimate business or operational reasons. Coastguards and others are permitted to broadcast short informative safety messages on channel 16, however, it is an offence in most countries to make false mayday calls. When using the channel to call up ships or shore stations, the call has to be switched to a working channel after the initial response in order to keep channel 16 available to others.
Marine VHF radio refers to the radio frequency range between 156.0 and 162.025 MHz, inclusive. In the official language of the ITU the band is called the VHF maritime mobile band.
It’s installed on all large ships and most seagoing small craft. It is also used, with slightly different regulation, on rivers and lakes. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, including summoning rescue services and communicating with harbours, locks, bridges and marinas, and operates in the very high frequency (VHF) range, between 156 and 162.025 MHz. Although it is widely used for collision avoidance, its use for that purpose is contentious and is strongly discouraged by some countries, including the UK.
A marine VHF set is a combined transmitter and receiver and only operates on standard, international frequencies known as channels. Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is the international calling and distress channel. Transmission power ranges between 1 and 25 watts, giving a maximum range of up to about 60 nautical miles (111 km) between aerials mounted on tall ships and hills, and 5 nautical miles (9 km; 6 mi) between aerials mounted on small boats at sea level.[1] Frequency modulation (FM) is used, with vertical polarization, meaning that antennas have to be vertical in order to have good reception.
Modern-day marine VHF radios not only offer basic transmit and receive capabilities. Permanently mounted marine VHF radios on seagoing vessels are required to have certification of some level of “Digital Selective Calling” (DSC) capability, to allow a distress signal to be sent with a single button press.
Marine VHF mostly uses “simplex” transmission, where communication can only take place in one direction at a time. A transmit button on the set or microphone determines whether it is operating as a transmitter or a receiver. The majority of channels, however, are set aside as “semi-duplex” transmission channels where communication can take place in both directions simultaneously. Each semi-duplex channel has two frequency assignments. Semi-Duplex channels can be used to place calls on the public telephone system for a fee via a marine operator. This facility is still available in some areas, though its use has largely died out. Marine VHF radios can also receive weather radio broadcasts, where they are available.
Other bands
Aeronautical voice communication is also conducted in other frequency bands, including satellite voice on Inmarsat and high frequency voice in the North Atlantic and remote areas. Military aircraft also use a dedicated UHF-AM band from 225.0–399.95 MHz for air-to-air and air-to-ground, including air traffic control communication. This band has a designated emergency and guard channel of 243.0 MHz.
Some types of navaids, such as Non-directional beacons and Distance Measuring Equipment, do not operate on these frequencies; in the case of NDBs the Low frequency and Medium frequency bands are used between 190–415 kHz and 510–535 kHz. The ILS glide path operates in the UHF frequency range of 329.3–335.0 MHz, and DME also uses UHF from 962–1150 MHz.
Channel spacing
Channel spacing for voice communication on the airband was originally 200 kHz[8] until 1947, providing 70 channels from 118 to 132 MHz. Some radios of that time provided receive-only coverage below 118 MHz for a total of 90 channels. From 1947–1958 the spacing became 100 kHz; from 1954 split once again to 50 kHz and the upper limit extended to 135.95 MHz (360 channels), and then to 25 kHz in 1972 to provide 720 usable channels. On 1 January 1990 the frequencies between 136.000 and 136.975 MHz were added, resulting in 760 channels.
Increasing air traffic congestion has led to further subdivision into narrow-band 8.33 kHz channels in the ICAO European region; all aircraft flying above 19,500 feet are required to have communication equipment for this channel spacing. Outside of Europe, 8.33 kHz channels are permitted in many countries but not widely used as of 2012.
The emergency communication channel 121.5 MHz is the only channel that retains 100 kHz bandwidth.
Modulation
Aircraft communications radio operations worldwide use amplitude modulation, predominantly A3E double sideband with full carrier on VHF and UHF, and J3E single sideband with suppressed carrier on HF. Besides being simple, power-efficient and compatible with legacy equipment, AM and SSB permit stronger stations to override weaker or interfering stations, and don’t suffer from the capture effect found in FM. Even if a pilot is transmitting, a control tower can “talk over” that transmission and other aircraft will hear a somewhat garbled mixture of both transmissions, rather than just one or the other. Even if both transmissions are received with identical signal strength, a heterodyne will be heard where no such indication of blockage would be evident in an FM system.[citation needed]
Alternative analog modulation schemes are under discussion, such as the “CLIMAX” multi-carrier system and offset carrier techniques to permit more efficient utilization of spectrum.
Digital radio
A switch to digital radios has been contemplated, as this would greatly increase capacity by reducing the bandwidth required to transmit speech. Other benefits from digital coding of voice transmissions include decreased susceptibility to electrical interference and jamming. The change-over to digital radio has yet to happen, partly because the mobility of aircraft necessitates complete international cooperation to move to a new system and also the time implementation for subsequent changeover. Another factor delaying the move to any digital mode is the need to retain the ability for one station to override another in an emergency.
Unauthorised use
It is illegal to transmit on the Airband frequencies without a suitable license. Many countries’ regulations also restrict communications in the airband. For instance in Canada airband communications are limited to those required for "the safety and navigation of an aircraft; the general operation of the aircraft; and the exchange of messages on behalf of the public. In addition, a person may operate radio apparatus only to transmit a non-superfluous signal or a signal containing non-profane or non-obscene radiocommunications.
While it is not an offence to listen to voice transmissions in the airband frequencies, it may be an offence to possess such equipment in certain countries. Instances of such illegal activity has been the subject of international situations between governments when tourists bring airband equipment into countries which ban the possession and use of such equipment.
Marine band
The greatest incentive for development of radio was the need to communicate with ships out of visual range of shore. From the very early days of radio, large oceangoing vessels carried powerful long-wave and medium-wave transmitters. High-frequency allocations are still designated for ships, although satellite systems have taken over some of the safety applications previously served by 500 kHz and other frequencies. 2182 kHz is a medium-wave frequency still used for marine emergency communication.
Marine VHF radio is used in coastal waters and relatively short-range communication between vessels and to shore stations. Radios are channelized, with different channels used for different purposes; marine Channel 16 is used for calling and emergencies.
Amateur radio frequencies
Amateur radio frequency allocations vary around the world. Several bands are common for amateurs world-wide, usually in the shortwave part of the spectrum. Other bands are national or regional allocations only due to differing allocations for other services, especially in the VHF and UHF parts of the radio bands…
Citizens’ band and personal radio services
Citizens’ band radio is allocated in many countries, using channelized radios in the upper HF part of the spectrum (around 27 MHz). It is used for personal, small business and hobby purposes. Other frequency allocations are used for similar services in different jurisdictions, for example UHF CB is allocated in Australia. A wide range of personal radio services exist around the world, usually emphasizing short-range communication between individuals or for small businesses, simplified or no license requirements, and usually FM transceivers using around 1 watt or less.
Industrial, scientific, medical
The ISM bands were initially reserved for non-communications uses of RF energy, such as microwave ovens, radio-frequency heating, and similar purposes. However in recent years the largest use of these bands has been by short-range low-power communications systems, since users do not have to hold a radio operator’s license. Cordless telephones, wireless computer networks, Bluetooth devices, and garage door openers all use the ISM bands. ISM devices do not have regulatory protection against interference from other users of the band.
Land mobile bands
Bands of frequencies, especially in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum, are allocated for communication between fixed base stations and land mobile vehicle-mounted or portable transceivers. In the United States these services are informally known as business band radio. See also Professional mobile radio.
Police radio and other public safety services such as fire departments and ambulances are generally found in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum. Trunking systems are often used to make most efficient use of the limited number of frequencies available.
The demand for mobile telephone service has led to large blocks of radio spectrum allocated to cellular frequencies.
Radio control
Reliable radio control uses bands dedicated to the purpose. Radio-controlled toys may use portions of unlicensed spectrum in the 27 MHz or 49 MHz bands, but more costly aircraft, boat, or land vehicle models use dedicated remote control frequencies near 72 MHz to avoid interference by unlicensed uses. Licensed amateur radio operators use portions of the 6-meter band in North America. Industrial remote control of cranes or railway locomotives use assigned frequencies that vary by area.
Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling (DTMF) is used for telecommunication signaling over analog telephone lines in the voice-frequency band between telephone handsets and other communications devices and the switching center.
In telecommunications, Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System or CTCSS is a circuit that is used to reduce the annoyance of listening to other users on a shared two-way radio communications channel. It is sometimes called tone squelch. Where more than one user group is on the same channel (called co-channel users), CTCSS mutes the other users if they are using a different CTCSS tone or no CTCSS.
Receivers equipped with a CTCSS circuit usually have a switch that selects normal mode or CTCSS mode. When enabled, the CTCSS radio circuit, instead of unmuting the receive audio for any signal, causes the two-way radio receiver’s audio to open only in the presence of the normal RF signal AND the correct sub-audible audio tone (sub-audible meaning that the receiver circuitry can detect it, but is not apparent to the users in the audio output). A carrier squelch or noise squelch receiver not configured with CTCSS will receive any signal. A receiver with CTCSS circuitry (and with it enabled) locks out all signals except ones encoded with the correct tone. CTCSS can be regarded as a form of in-band signaling.
In telecommunications, in-band signaling is the sending of metadata and control information within the same band or channel used for voice (e.g. DTMF tones) and can be heard by the callers, as opposed to out-of-band signals (e.g. SS7 control signals) which cannot be heard as they are on a different channel or band.
In radio communications, single-sideband modulation (SSB) or single-sideband suppressed-carrier (SSB-SC) is a refinement of amplitude modulation that more efficiently uses transmitter power and bandwidth. Amplitude modulation produces an output signal that has twice the bandwidth of the original baseband signal. Single-sideband modulation avoids this bandwidth doubling, and the power wasted on a carrier, at the cost of increased device complexity and more difficult tuning at the receiver
Squelch
Not to be confused with Attenuator (electronics)
In telecommunications, squelch is a circuit function that acts to suppress the audio (or video) output of a receiver in the absence of a sufficiently strong desired input signal. Squelch is widely used in two-way radios to suppress the annoying sound of channel noise when the radio is not receiving a transmission.
Carrier squelch
A carrier squelch or noise squelch is the most simple variant of all. It operates strictly on the signal strength, such as when a television mutes the audio or blanks the video on “empty” channels, or when a walkie talkie mutes the audio when no signal is present. In some designs, the squelch threshold is preset. For example, television squelch settings are usually preset. Receivers in base stations at remote mountain top sites are usually not adjustable remotely from the control point.
In devices such as two-way radios (also known as radiotelephones), the squelch can be adjusted with a knob, others have push buttons or a sequence of button presses. This setting adjusts the threshold at which signals will open (un-mute) the audio channel. Backing off the control will turn on the audio, and the operator will hear white noise (also called “static” or squelch noise) if there is no signal present. The usual operation is to adjust the control until the channel just shuts off - then only a small threshold signal is needed to turn on the speaker. However, if a weak signal is annoying, the operator can adjust the squelch to open only when stronger signals are received.
A typical FM two-way radio carrier squelch circuit is noise operated. It takes out the voice components of the receive audio by passing the detected audio through a high-pass filter. A typical filter might pass frequencies over 4,000 Hz (4 kHz). The squelch control adjusts the gain of an amplifier which varies the level of noise coming out of the filter. The audio output of the filter and amplifier is rectified and produces a DC voltage when noise is present. The presence of continuous noise on an idle channel creates a DC voltage which turns the receiver audio off. When a signal with little or no noise is received, the noise-derived voltage goes away and the receiver audio is unmuted. Some applications have the receiver tied to other equipment that uses the audio muting control voltage as a “signal present” indication.
Tone squelch and selective calling
Tone squelch, or other forms of selective calling, is sometimes used to solve interference problems. Where more than one user is on the same channel (co-channel users), selective calling addresses a subset of all receivers. Instead of turning on the receive audio for any signal, the audio turns on only in the presence of the correct selective calling code. This is akin to the use of a lock on a door. A carrier squelch is unlocked and will let any signal in. Selective calling locks out all signals except ones with the correct code.
In non-critical uses, selective calling can also be used to hide the presence of interfering signals such as receiver-produced intermodulation. Receivers with poor specifications—such as scanners or low-cost mobile radios—cannot reject the strong signals present in urban environments. The interference will still be present. It will still degrade system performance but by using selective calling the user will not have to hear the noises produced by receiving the interference.
Four different techniques are commonly used. Selective calling can be regarded as a form of in-band signalling.
CTCSS
CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) continuously superimposes any one of about 50 low-pitch audio tones on the transmitted signal, ranging from 67 to 254 Hz. The original tone set was 10, then 32 tones, and has been expanded even further over the years. CTCSS is often called PL tone (for Private Line, a trademark of Motorola), or simply tone squelch. General Electric’s implementation of CTCSS is called Channel Guard (or CG). RCA Corporation used the name Quiet Channel, or QC. There are many other company-specific names used by radio vendors to describe compatible options. Any CTCSS system that has compatible tones is interchangeable. Old and new radios with CTCSS and radios across manufacturers are compatible.
SelCall
Selcall (Selective Calling) transmits a burst of five inband audio tones at the beginning of each transmission. This feature (sometimes called “tone burst”) is common in European systems. In the same way that a single CTCSS tone would be used on an entire group of radios, a single five-tone sequence is used in a group of radios. A 1750 Hz tone is used in European amateur radio repeater systems.
DCS
DCS (Digital-Coded Squelch) superimposes a continuous stream of FSK digital data, at 134.4 bits per second, on the transmitted signal. In the same way that a single CTCSS tone would be used on an entire group of radios, the same DCS code is used in a group of radios. DCS is also referred to as Digital Private Line (or DPL), another trademark of Motorola, and likewise, General Electric’s implementation of DCS is referred to a Digital Channel Guard (or DCG). DCS is also called DTCS (Digital Tone Code Squelch) by Icom, and other names by other manufacturers. Radios with DCS options are generally compatible provided the radio’s encoder-decoder will use the same code as radios in the existing system. Be aware that the same 23-bit DCS word can, for example, produce three different valid DCS codes due to the encoding architecture.
Frequency-shift keying (FSK) is a frequency modulation scheme in which digital information is transmitted through discrete frequency changes of a carrier wave.[1] The simplest FSK is binary FSK (BFSK). BFSK uses a pair of discrete frequencies to transmit binary (0s and 1s) information.[2] With this scheme, the “1” is called the mark frequency and the “0” is called the space frequency. The time domain of an FSK modulated carrier is illustrated in the figures to the right.
XTCSS
XTCSS is the newest signaling technique and it provides 99 codes with the added advantage of “silent operation”. XTCSS fitted radios are purposed to enjoy more privacy and flexibility of operation. XTCSS is implemented as a combination of CTCSS and in-band signalling.
Uses
Carrier squelch was invented first and is still in wide use in two-way/three-way radio, especially in the amateur radio world. Squelch of any kind is used to indicate loss of signal, which is used to keep commercial and amateur radio repeaters from transmitting continually. Since a carrier squelch receiver cannot tell a valid carrier from a spurious signal (noise, etc.) CTCSS is often used as well, as it avoids false keyups. Use of CTCSS is especially helpful on bands prone to skip and during band openings.
Family Radio Service (FRS) and PMR446 radios often use a number of different CTCSS tones, usually erroneously called “sub-channels” (the actual number of tones depends on the manufacturer). While these do not add to the available number of conversations which can take place at once in a given area, they do reduce annoying interference experienced by users. However they do not afford any protection from eavesdropping, as the voice signal is not encrypted. The squelch system relies on the receiver to comply with the squelch signal, but if a receiver chooses to listen in, the signal is not protected.
It is a bad idea to use any coded squelch system to hide interference issues in systems with life-safety or public-safety uses such as police, fire, search and rescue or ambulance company dispatching. Adding tone or digital squelch to a radio system does not solve interference issues, it just covers them up. The presence of interfering signals should be corrected rather than masked. Interfering signals masked by tone squelch will produce apparently random missed messages. The intermittent nature of interfering signals will make the problem difficult to reproduce and troubleshoot. Users will not understand why they cannot hear a call, and will lose confidence in their radio system.
Professional wireless microphones use squelch to avoid reproducing noise when the receiver does not receive enough signal from the microphone. Most professional models have adjustable squelch, usually set with a screwdriver adjustment on the receiver
The 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144.000 MHz to 148.000 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region (ITU) Regions 2 (North and South America plus Hawaii) and 3 (Asia and Oceania)[1] and from 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz in ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and Russia). The license privileges of amateur radio operators include the use of frequencies within this band for telecommunication, usually conducted locally within a range of about 100 miles (160 km).
The 10-meter band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a primary basis. The band consists of frequencies stretching from 28000 to 29700 kHz.
The 20-meter or 14-MHz amateur radio band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 14.000 MHz to 14.350 MHz. The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication (DXing), and is one of the most popular—and crowded—during contests.[2] Several factors contribute to this, including the band’s large size, the relatively small size of antennas tuned to it (especially as compared to antennas for the 40-meter band or the 80-meter band) and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable propagation conditions.
The 40-meter or 7-MHz band is an amateur radio frequency band, spanning 7000-7300 kHz in ITU Region-2, and 7000-7200 kHz in Regions 1 & 3. It is allocated to radio amateurs worldwide on a primary basis.
40 meters is considered one of the most reliable all-season DX bands.
The 60 meter band or 5 MHz band is a relatively new amateur radio allocation (not strictly a band), first introduced in 2002, that was originally only available in a few countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Ireland and Iceland. Over a number of years however, an increasing proportion of countries’ telecommunications administrations—together with their government and military users—have permitted Amateur Radio operation in the 5 MHz area on a short or longer term basis from discrete channels to a frequency band allocation. At present there is no worldwide common International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frequency allocation as is the case with other amateur radio bands. Allocations are made by individual administrations in accordance with Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations, which requires non-interference with other radio services.
Where two-way amateur radio communication is authorized on 60m, it has generally been within the frequency range 5250–5450 kHz, but the whole of this range is not necessarily available and allocations vary significantly from country-to-country.
In a number of countries the allocation is channelized at present, whereas others have block or band allocations. Voice operation is generally in upper sideband (USB) mode to facilitate inter-communication by non-amateur service users if necessary. In the United States and its Dependencies it is mandatory. Where channelization is used, the USB voice ‘dial’ frequency is normally 1.5 kHz below the quoted channel frequency (e.g. 5403.5 kHz is the USB voice ‘dial’ frequency for the channel 5405 kHz).
Amateur equipment made in Japan and surrounding countries often did not support this allocation, since it is not currently available in those countries. However it is usually possible to modify equipment to work correctly on these frequencies within the terms of the individual’s licensing conditions. More recently, commercial amateur radio equipment manufactured in Asia destined for the North American market has begun to include provision for US 60m/5 MHz operation.
The 80 meter or 3.5 MHz band is an amateur radio frequency band, allocated frequencies from 3.5 to 4.0 MHz in IARU Region 2, and generally 3.5 to 3.8 or 3.9 MHz in Regions 1 and 3 respectively. The portion of the band used for phone (voice) communications is sometimes referred to as 75 meters.
80 meters is the most popular band for regional communications networks through the late afternoon and night time hours. It is usually reliable for short to medium distance contacts, with average distances ranging from local contacts within 200 miles/300 km out to a distance of 1,000 miles/1,600 km or more, depending on atmospheric and ionospheric conditions.
The 160 meter band is the oldest amateur band and was the staple of reliable communication in the earliest days of amateur radio, when almost all communications were over relatively short distances. The band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1927. The allocation was 1715–2000 kHz. The International Radio Conference of Atlantic City reduced the allocation to 1800-2000 kHz under the provision that amateurs must not interfere with LORAN operation.
As the high frequency bands were developed in mid-1920s — along with their smaller, more convenient antennas — 160 meters fell into a period of relative nonuse. Although there has always been activity on the band, fewer and fewer hams are willing (or able, due to lack of sufficient real estate) to put up the antennas necessary to take advantage of the band’s unique properties. For most amateurs, the HF bands are much easier to use and HF antennas need a lot less real estate.
After World War II, the 160 meter band was apparently not coming back. A large part of the U.S. 160 meter band was allocated on a primary basis to the LORAN radio-navigation system that began operating in and around the 160 meter band in 1942. Amateurs were relegated to secondary, non-interfering status, with severe regional power limitations and restricted day/night operations on just a few narrow segments of the band.
Many older hams recall, with no great fondness, the ear-shattering buzz-saw racket of high power LORAN stations that began in 1942 until LORAN-A was phased out in North America on December 31, 1980 and most of the world by 1985. LORAN-A was still operating in China and Japan in 1995.
Great ingenuity was used to eliminate the pulse noise of the powerful LORAN-A transmitters through such famous circuitry as the “Select-O-Ject” of the late 1950s. The technology was adapted to modern noise blanking circuits used in current amateur receivers and transceivers.
Despite many obstacles and threats from commercial and military spectrum users, the efforts of a small number of determined 160 meter operators enabled the band to survive. The band experienced a rebirth with the demise of LORAN-A in the United States in December, 1980 and the removal of power restrictions below 1900 kHz soon thereafter. Power restrictions above 1900 kHz were removed in March 1984. 160 meters was then no longer regarded as the “orphan” band as it had been for more than half a century.
Technical Characteristics
Effective 160 meter operation can be particularly challenging, as full sized antennas (on the order of a quarter-wavelength or more), are difficult to erect for many amateurs with limited space. Nevertheless, many radio amateurs successfully communicate over very long distances with relatively small antennas. 160 meters is populated by many highly dedicated experimenters, as it is a proving ground for ingenuity in antenna design and operating technique.
Much about ionospheric and propagation on 160 meters is still not completely understood. Phenomena such as “chordal hop” propagation are frequently observed, as well as other unexplained long-distance propagation mechanisms. Inexplicable radio blackouts — sometimes encountered on the AM broadcast band — also occur on 160 meters. Many of these phenomena have been investigated in the scientific community, while 160 meter operators continue to be in a unique position to further investigate such fascinating mysteries. The original “magic of radio” is very much alive and well on 160 meters.
Frequency allocation
The International Telecommunications Union allocated the frequencies from 1810 - 2000 KHz to amateur radio operations in ITU Region 1 (Europe, Greenland, Africa, the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf and including Iraq, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia) and 1800 - 2000 kHz in the rest of the world.
For Binatone 550
Frequency of Binatone 950 & 1100
1 446.00625 5 446.05625
2 446.01875 6 446.06875
3 446.03125 7 446.08125
4 446.04375 8 446.09375
Having used PMR radios a few years ago it became apparent they were great for close contact but anything more than a dozen cars apart a CB radio performed so much better.
My Mk1 has a TTI TCI 550 CB installed in a mount below the single din radio.
Thunderpole short aerial is mounted on a bracket made by a fellow club member into the frankenstein bolt hole.
Thats the space i was referring too. CB looks sweet there mate. And that looks like the mount thingy i was on about too, great bit of kit. I also have that ariel, although its the original “Modulator” version. Is your cb on the old FM or the later FM (sometimss called “FCC chanelsc” or “mid band”)? Think i need to get mine wired in now!!
Many thanks for your replies. I will check with the North West club to find out what frequencies are in use. Good look with fitting your CB radio, space is a little tight on the MX5 I note!
I would like to fit my radio in, but where do we fit the all important aerial is the question?
I do NOT like mag mounts, can scratch the body work and become a missile in the event of a serious impact. It may be a case of fitting a boot rack and fixing the aerial to that.
On the other hand just use a hand held with extension speaker mic, that might be the better approach. Any way, I ramble. Thanks once again for advice
Andy
Hi Andy
I’m from the North West club and most use Kenwood radios. They have been retuned by one of our guys so we could use the normal pmr radios and the Kenwoods together.
I’m sure Safetymatch will have told you that already.
I also use the extension mike clipped to the seat belt as do most of the other members. Some dont as they tend to just want to listen to the usually front and back markers giving out information to the others in the group.
I cant give you the channel codes because i dont know what they are. If you can go to the social meeting it can be sorted there.
Already given him the codes, Carl.
If anyone else needs the NWOC codes P.M. me.