• Is VHF/UHF analog FM still alive in Birmingham/WM?

    From Ottavio Caruso@21:1/5 to All on Fri Feb 11 17:02:32 2022
    Hi,

    Asking here as it looks like https://ukrepeater.net/ is not working at
    the moment.

    I bought a Baofeng 3 years ago. I tried to program it with local
    channels. I don't know if I did anything wrong or if there was a problem
    with the 'feng but the spectrum sounded dead and I returned the thing to
    Amazon the same day.

    I'll move into new accommodation shorty (West Birmingham bordering with Halesowen) and I've been told I can forget putting up an HF aerial for
    the time being. So my only options would be either portable QRP (there's
    a local park, nice and clean, no feral yobs) or portable FM. I don't
    really like digital voice modes (Fusion or whatever it's called now).

    Is there any repeater in my area? Is it worth giving analog FM a try?

    It's a pity that FM looks quite dead in UK as it is still alive and
    kicking on the continent.

    --
    Ottavio Caruso

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  • From mm0fmf@21:1/5 to Ottavio Caruso on Sat Feb 12 07:30:43 2022
    On 11/02/2022 17:02, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
    Hi,

    Asking here as it looks like https://ukrepeater.net/ is not working at
    the moment.

    I bought a Baofeng 3 years ago. I tried to program it with local
    channels. I don't know if I did anything wrong or if there was a problem
    with the 'feng but the spectrum sounded dead and I returned the thing to Amazon the same day.

    I'll move into new accommodation shorty (West Birmingham bordering with Halesowen) and I've been told I can forget putting up an HF aerial for
    the time being. So my only options would be either portable QRP (there's
    a local park, nice and clean, no feral yobs) or portable FM. I don't
    really like digital voice modes (Fusion or whatever it's called now).

    Is there any repeater in my area? Is it worth giving analog FM a try?

    It's a pity that FM looks quite dead in UK as it is still alive and
    kicking on the continent.


    https://ukrepeater.net/ working fine for me.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ian Jackson@21:1/5 to All on Sat Feb 12 14:09:49 2022
    In message <su7nn4$4es$[email protected]>, mm0fmf <[email protected]>
    writes
    On 11/02/2022 17:02, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
    Hi,
    Asking here as it looks like https://ukrepeater.net/ is not working
    at the moment.
    I bought a Baofeng 3 years ago. I tried to program it with local >>channels. I don't know if I did anything wrong or if there was a
    problem with the 'feng but the spectrum sounded dead and I returned
    the thing to Amazon the same day.
    I'll move into new accommodation shorty (West Birmingham bordering
    with Halesowen) and I've been told I can forget putting up an HF
    aerial for the time being. So my only options would be either
    portable QRP (there's a local park, nice and clean, no feral yobs) or >>portable FM. I don't really like digital voice modes (Fusion or
    whatever it's called now).
    Is there any repeater in my area? Is it worth giving analog FM a
    try?
    It's a pity that FM looks quite dead in UK as it is still alive and >>kicking on the continent.

    https://ukrepeater.net/ working fine for me.

    If it doesn't appear to be working, there are several other sites that
    give information about UK repeaters.

    Did you really mean that you had had your Baofeng for three years, and
    only then tried to use it - and then after it appeared that it was no
    good you sent to back to Amazon? If so, then I'm very surprised that
    they accepted it!

    Are you sure you programmed the channels correctly? Until you get used
    to it, this can appear rather complicated. The easiest way to program
    the channels is to use the Chirp software. https://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_CHIRP.php
    Don't forget that for each FM repeater you need to have the transmit and receive frequencies correct, and the CTCSS tone. [Note: Some of the
    older Baofengs do not have CTCSS (only the 1750Hz access tone).

    Assuming you DID do everything correctly, the lack of signals might
    indeed have been that (as I think you suspect) there are simply no
    active repeaters within range. My local repeater is only 2 miles away,
    so I have no trouble 'keying it up' - and when I do it still transmits
    about 5 seconds of carrier back to me after I stop pressing the PTT
    button. The furthest that I've been able to access the repeater from is
    about 20 miles - but that was over a nice clear path!
    --
    Ian

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  • From David Taylor@21:1/5 to Ottavio Caruso on Sat Feb 12 11:21:25 2022
    On 11/02/2022 17:02, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
    Hi,

    Asking here as it looks likehttps://ukrepeater.net/ is not working at
    the moment.

    I bought a Baofeng 3 years ago. I tried to program it with local
    channels. I don't know if I did anything wrong or if there was a problem
    with the 'feng but the spectrum sounded dead and I returned the thing to Amazon the same day.

    I'll move into new accommodation shorty (West Birmingham bordering with Halesowen) and I've been told I can forget putting up an HF aerial for
    the time being. So my only options would be either portable QRP (there's
    a local park, nice and clean, no feral yobs) or portable FM. I don't
    really like digital voice modes (Fusion or whatever it's called now).

    Is there any repeater in my area? Is it worth giving analog FM a try?

    It's a pity that FM looks quite dead in UK as it is still alive and
    kicking on the continent.

    Ottavio,

    Although originally from near Birmingham, any information about activity is 50 years out of date!

    There is FM activity here in Edinburgh, although DMR is more prevalent in Scotland (local talk groups 2355 and 23558). With a DMR rig you can access UK, Europe and World-Wide talk groups which at least means something more than simple FM will give you. DMR/FM handies are not as expensive as Icom or Yaesu rigs.

    I would also recommend getting a hotspot (Raspberry Pi + hotspot, or BlueDV, for example) so that you are not restricted by the local repeater and have independent access. Lots of fun to be had, if that tickles your interest.

    Oh, and https://ukrepeater.net/ is OK now (11:18 UTC).

    73,
    David
    --
    Cheers,
    David GM8ARV
    Web: http://www.satsignal.eu

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  • From Just Jim Dandy@21:1/5 to David Taylor on Sat Feb 12 20:08:45 2022
    On 12/02/2022 11:21, David Taylor wrote:
    On 11/02/2022 17:02, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
    Hi,

    Asking here as it looks likehttps://ukrepeater.net/  is not working at
    the moment.

    I bought a Baofeng 3 years ago. I tried to program it with local
    channels. I don't know if I did anything wrong or if there was a problem
    with the 'feng but the spectrum sounded dead and I returned the thing to
    Amazon the same day.

    I'll move into new accommodation shorty (West Birmingham bordering with
    Halesowen) and I've been told I can forget putting up an HF aerial for
    the time being. So my only options would be either portable QRP (there's
    a local park, nice and clean, no feral yobs) or portable FM. I don't
    really like digital voice modes (Fusion or whatever it's called now).

    Is there any repeater in my area? Is it worth giving analog FM a try?

    It's a pity that FM looks quite dead in UK as it is still alive and
    kicking on the continent.

    Ottavio,

    Although originally from near Birmingham, any information about activity
    is 50 years out of date!

    There is FM activity here in Edinburgh, although DMR is more prevalent
    in Scotland (local talk groups 2355 and 23558).  With a DMR rig you can access UK, Europe and World-Wide talk groups which at least means
    something more than simple FM will give you.  DMR/FM handies are not as expensive as Icom or Yaesu rigs.

    I would also recommend getting a hotspot (Raspberry Pi + hotspot, or
    BlueDV, for example) so that you are not restricted by the local
    repeater and have independent access.  Lots of fun to be had, if that tickles your interest.

    Oh, and https://ukrepeater.net/ is OK now (11:18 UTC).

    73,
    David
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From David Taylor@21:1/5 to Just Jim Dandy on Sun Feb 13 06:53:31 2022
    On 12/02/2022 20:08, Just Jim Dandy wrote:
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    Yes, if you prefer listening to jamming, pile-ups, interference, static noise, contests etc., of course DMR may not be the best choice for you.

    If you want to communicate with people (rather than just 59, Goodbye) and talk to folk world-wide or just local, whether it be technical or not, DMR and other voice modes have a lot to offer. I hear folk doing weak signal tests on HF, and using DMR as their communication link.

    I do still use FM and occasionally SSB, but I prefer the clarity of DMR.

    --
    Cheers,
    David
    Web: http://www.satsignal.eu

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dave Sergeant@21:1/5 to All on Sun Feb 13 06:49:21 2022
    In article <su944f$o0m$[email protected]>, [email protected]
    says...
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up



    Personally I agree and call it 'repeaters on steroids'. But that said
    many enjoy it including some members of our own club. Since you can do
    it via a hotspot across the shack it is no more 'radio' than connecting
    to your router via wifi.

    I don't live anywhere near Birmingham but the analogue repeaters are
    still very much alive in these parts of the world even though activity
    is pretty low nowadays.

    73 Dave G3YMC

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ottavio Caruso@21:1/5 to All on Sun Feb 13 08:32:38 2022
    Le 12/02/22 à 14:09, Ian Jackson a écrit :
    Did you really mean that you had had your Baofeng for three years, and
    only then tried to use it - and then after it appeared that it was no
    good you sent to back to Amazon? If so, then I'm very surprised that
    they accepted it!

    It was clear from my wording that I bought it and then immediately
    returned it to Amazon.

    I take it from all you guys' answers that there is indeed no life on
    analog FM in my area, so thank you all for saving me precious money that
    I can waste on booze and drugs instead.

    --
    Ottavio Caruso

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  • From Les. Hayward@21:1/5 to David Taylor on Mon Feb 14 09:55:00 2022
    On 13/02/2022 06:53, David Taylor wrote:
    On 12/02/2022 20:08, Just Jim Dandy wrote:
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    Yes, if you prefer listening to jamming, pile-ups, interference, static noise, contests etc., of course DMR may not be the best choice for you.

    If you want to communicate with people (rather than just 59, Goodbye)
    and talk to folk world-wide or just local, whether it be technical or
    not, DMR and other voice modes have a lot to offer.  I hear folk doing
    weak signal tests on HF, and using DMR as their communication link.

    There is already an invention for that - called the telephone...

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Just Jim Dandy@21:1/5 to David Taylor on Mon Feb 14 09:09:57 2022
    On 13/02/2022 06:53, David Taylor wrote:
    On 12/02/2022 20:08, Just Jim Dandy wrote:
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    Yes, if you prefer listening to jamming, pile-ups, interference, static noise, contests etc., of course DMR may not be the best choice for you.

    If you want to communicate with people (rather than just 59, Goodbye)
    and talk to folk world-wide or just local, whether it be technical or
    not, DMR and other voice modes have a lot to offer.  I hear folk doing
    weak signal tests on HF, and using DMR as their communication link.

    I do still use FM and occasionally SSB, but I prefer the clarity of DMR.

    There is a local hot spot or what ever it is gateway? near here and they
    were given a 12.5Kc/s channel between 145.325 and 145.350 so when a big
    wide station comes on frquency it wipes out two useful simplex channels.....shocking waste

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  • From Just Jim Dandy@21:1/5 to Dave Sergeant on Mon Feb 14 09:05:44 2022
    On 13/02/2022 06:49, Dave Sergeant wrote:
    In article <su944f$o0m$[email protected]>, [email protected]
    says...
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up



    Personally I agree and call it 'repeaters on steroids'. But that said
    many enjoy it including some members of our own club. Since you can do
    it via a hotspot across the shack it is no more 'radio' than connecting
    to your router via wifi.

    I don't live anywhere near Birmingham but the analogue repeaters are
    still very much alive in these parts of the world even though activity
    is pretty low nowadays.

    73 Dave G3YMC

    better just wasting your time on the amater radio channels on Zello
    ....just sound the same...and you can use your phone...

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Just Jim Dandy@21:1/5 to David Taylor on Mon Feb 14 14:46:16 2022
    On 13/02/2022 06:53, David Taylor wrote:
    On 12/02/2022 20:08, Just Jim Dandy wrote:
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    Yes, if you prefer listening to jamming, pile-ups, interference, static noise, contests etc., of course DMR may not be the best choice for you.

    indeed

    If you want to communicate with people (rather than just 59, Goodbye)
    and talk to folk world-wide or just local, whether it be technical or
    not, DMR and other voice modes have a lot to offer.  I hear folk doing
    weak signal tests on HF, and using DMR as their communication link.

    I do still use FM and occasionally SSB, but I prefer the clarity of DMR.

    oh well clarity is all then ..... I just don't like listening to the
    clear foreign accents...they are best best disguised with ssb

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  • From Just Jim Dandy@21:1/5 to Les. Hayward on Mon Feb 14 14:47:36 2022
    On 14/02/2022 09:55, Les. Hayward wrote:
    On 13/02/2022 06:53, David Taylor wrote:
    On 12/02/2022 20:08, Just Jim Dandy wrote:
    DMR just gives you a dead feeling and you will soon give it up

    Yes, if you prefer listening to jamming, pile-ups, interference, static
    noise, contests etc., of course DMR may not be the best choice for you.

    If you want to communicate with people (rather than just 59, Goodbye)
    and talk to folk world-wide or just local, whether it be technical or
    not, DMR and other voice modes have a lot to offer.  I hear folk doing
    weak signal tests on HF, and using DMR as their communication link.

    There is already an invention for that - called the telephone...
    ha ha yes spot on....using zello...you don't even need a license

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