VHF UHF
BAND CHARACTERISTICS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM
EACH BAND
VHF
50-54 MHz Also
known as 6 Meters or The Magic Band. Good VHF ground wave coverage up to
several hundred miles on SSB. 1200 miles or more on openings such as
Sporadic-E, F2 layer skip, meteor scatter, aurora, inversions and some EME
(Earth Moon
Earth). Operators
have worked the world with fairly modest stations. Some FM and
repeater activity.
144-148
MHz The popular 2 meter band. Generally
shorter groundwave distances of around 200 miles can be expected on this
band with a modest SSB or CW station. Good mobile FM band. Lots of local
FM communications on repeaters with
up to 150 miles on some "machines". Lots of repeaters are linked together
for even greater coverage. The
IRLP,(INTERNET RADIO LINKING PROJECT) is very popular on repeaters
linking to the internet all over the world! Also a good band for packet
radio. There is also lots of satellite activity, EME and terrestrial DX
for the hams doing weak signal work. (QRP). Expect many of the
same kinds of openings on 2 meters as on 6 meters.
222-225 MHz 1-1/4
Meters. Not as
much activity as 2 meters and no satellite activity. This band is not
available in many countries other than the
USA.
UHF 420-450 MHz Also
known as 70 centimeters (cm). This is the lowest frequency amateur
UHF band. Groundwave coverage is quite limited compared to 2 meters due
to high absorption. Satellite, EME and terrestrial DXing are popular on
this band. Fast scan TV has also found a home on 430 MHz. Lots of FM
activity between 440-450 MHz. Lots of machines are linked to 2 meters! The
longest Element of a beam for this band is about 12 to 13 inches on the
low end!
902-928 MHz
Not much activity on this band so far due
to a lack of suitable equipment. Also this is a shared band with other
services.
1200-1300 MHz
1.2 GHz is a HUGE band with lots of room for
experimenters. EME and satellite are popular up here and in some parts of
the US there are very active FM repeaters. Antennas are
VERY small! Not
a lot of terrestrial DXing but during contests there is some activity.
Antennas for small signal work are quite impressive with lots of elements
on short booms. Dishes are practical on this
band.
GETTING CLOSER TO
LIGHT! Above
1300 MHz Amateur radio has allocations all the way from here to light and
all kinds of room for experimentation with microwaves and frequencies
approaching light. Lasers anyone?
