Ham Radio Operaters

[OKCHunter]

Does anyone talk much on the 2 meter and 70 CM bands anymore?

I have started studying for the Technician license and hope to take the test next month.
In the meantime, I purchased a Baofeng UV-82HP HT to listen with and become familiar with on-air lingo and procedures.

Pretty good radio but I hear very little traffic on 2m and I have never received anything at all on 70cm.
I know that I am not likely to hear much simplex because of limited range.

Looked up a list of repeaters in the OKC metropolitan are and punched them into the radio but I hear very little.
I do hear the regular announcements of call sign and frequency that the repeaters are required to broadcast so I know everything is working.
I have heard repeater station announcements as far away as 25 miles.

Apparently digital systems like DSTAR are gradually becoming more popular because they allow linking over the internet to other repeaters all
over the world but I have no interest in those because if the internet goes down those links go down too.
To me the whole point of amateur radio is to provide communications in a worst case scenario.

Is amateur radio less popular in this area than it used to be or is everyone going digital?
I had planned to end up with a 50 watt mobile transceiver in my office and a vertical omnidirectional antenna in my attic but won't make that investment unless I hear more than I have so far.

The activity level seems to go up and down. The 2 meter Edmond Repeater has occasional use, especially during morning and evening drive times. During storms and other events the Repeater is fairly active.

The latest digital craze is DMR. Oklahoma recently switched from DMARC to the Brandmeister Network and there are several Repeaters in the state. DMR lets you communicate locally, regionally, nationally, and world-wide with your Technician license. You can get a Tytera MD-380 handheld for around $120.

 

[Poke78]

Does anyone talk much on the 2 meter and 70 CM bands anymore?

I have started studying for the Technician license and hope to take the test next month.
In the meantime, I purchased a Baofeng UV-82HP HT to listen with and become familiar with on-air lingo and procedures.

Pretty good radio but I hear very little traffic on 2m and I have never received anything at all on 70cm.
I know that I am not likely to hear much simplex because of limited range.

Looked up a list of repeaters in the OKC metropolitan are and punched them into the radio but I hear very little.
I do hear the regular announcements of call sign and frequency that the repeaters are required to broadcast so I know everything is working.
I have heard repeater station announcements as far away as 25 miles.

Apparently digital systems like DSTAR are gradually becoming more popular because they allow linking over the internet to other repeaters all
over the world but I have no interest in those because if the internet goes down those links go down too.
To me the whole point of amateur radio is to provide communications in a worst case scenario.

Is amateur radio less popular in this area than it used to be or is everyone going digital?
I had planned to end up with a 50 watt mobile transceiver in my office and a vertical omnidirectional antenna in my attic but won't make that investment unless I hear more than I have so far.

The activity level seems to go up and down. The 2 meter Edmond Repeater has occasional use, especially during morning and evening drive times. During storms and other events the Repeater is fairly active.

The latest digital craze is DMR. Oklahoma recently switched from DMARC to the Brandmeister Network and there are several Repeaters in the state. DMR lets you communicate locally, regionally, nationally, and world-wide with your Technician license. You can get a Tytera MD-380 handheld for around $120.

OKCHunter has it right on pretty much every aspect in the post, especially DMR. I'd add that the Edmond/Guthrie area has a repeater that is part of the SuperLink System that connects to the north-central and northeast part of the state. That frequency is 443.250, PL 88.5, +5MHz offset. The connection to a wider area will give you more traffic to monitor. Tonight, I'll be the net control operator on that system for the Tulsa County ARES Net and I expect check-ins from OK, AR, MO, & KS because the system covers that area. Once in a while, somebody from Edmond checks in to the net. This system is also the SKYWARN station for the Tulsa NWS office so you can expect traffic to pick up as the spring storm season rolls around and weather nets are activated.

 

[mbalexander]

General N5KLA, Marshall since 1985(ish)

 

[Profreedomokie]

I have a Technician license with a great call sign, KG5FUU.lol

 

[p238shooter]

In the Tulsa area and NE Oklahoma if you throw out your call on the Pryor Mayes County Amateur Radio Clubs 147.06,+ 88.5 repeater especially after 10PM most likely there will be someone answer you back. It is pretty busy and usually monitored in the day also. Great group of friendly people.

Some clubs shun non members, this repeater is not one of them, we welcome everyone with a license.

It has great coverage, about a 70 mile radius, some people can use an HT from Tulsa.

 

[Hobbes]

The activity level seems to go up and down. The 2 meter Edmond Repeater has occasional use, especially during morning and evening drive times. During storms and other events the Repeater is fairly active.

The latest digital craze is DMR. Oklahoma recently switched from DMARC to the Brandmeister Network and there are several Repeaters in the state. DMR lets you communicate locally, regionally, nationally, and world-wide with your Technician license. You can get a Tytera MD-380 handheld for around $120.

OKCHunter has it right on pretty much every aspect in the post, especially DMR. I'd add that the Edmond/Guthrie area has a repeater that is part of the SuperLink System that connects to the north-central and northeast part of the state. That frequency is 443.250, PL 88.5, +5MHz offset. The connection to a wider area will give you more traffic to monitor. Tonight, I'll be the net control operator on that system for the Tulsa County ARES Net and I expect check-ins from OK, AR, MO, & KS because the system covers that area. Once in a while, somebody from Edmond checks in to the net. This system is also the SKYWARN station for the Tulsa NWS office so you can expect traffic to pick up as the spring storm season rolls around and weather nets are activated.

Thanks for the response.

I have the list of repeaters for Oklahoma and maybe I just haven't found the most active ones yet.
So far W5NOR in Norman is the most active repeater I can receive.

Not sure about the digital radio part yet.
It is my understanding that there are competing incompatible technologies still?
I understand most of the advantages, efficient use of frequency and ability to send digital data.

Really what I am primarily interested in is local emergency comm during natural disasters.

 

[Raptor62]

Thanks for the response.

I have the list of repeaters for Oklahoma and maybe I just haven't found the most active ones yet.
So far W5NOR in Norman is the most active repeater I can receive.

Not sure about the digital radio part yet.
It is my understanding that there are competing incompatible technologies still?
I understand most of the advantages, efficient use of frequency and ability to send digital data.

Really what I am primarily interested in is local emergency comm during natural disasters.

What are the frequencies for DMR in Oklahoma City?

 

[Poke78]

What are the frequencies for DMR in Oklahoma City?

444.325 - Yukon
442.625 - NW OKC
443.050 - Edmond
443.175 - OKC East
443.825 - Norman
443.225 - Downtown
442.325 - Edmond

 

[Raptor62]

444.325 - Yukon
442.625 - NW OKC
443.050 - Edmond
443.175 - OKC East
443.825 - Norman
443.225 - Downtown
442.325 - Edmond

Thanks.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[jrusling]

I would recommend getting involved with a local radio club. I personally belong to http://w5paa.com/. We take all comers as members. We are having our next monthly meeting this next Thursday at 6:30. It is held at the fire department training facility on N. Portland. After the meeting a lot of us go to the 76 Truck Stop at Council and I-40 for some visiting and information sharing. Unfortunately we are currently having a lot problems with some of our repeaters. If I can help you any, just let me know. I have only had my license for just a little over 2 years. During storm season the repeaters get a lot more active. If you get your General, then it opens up a lot of other options including the ability to send email with your HF radio. It can be a fun hobby. Some people spend a lot of money and other spend very little.