Probably the most popular ham band in use today is the 2 meter band.
Virtually every ham, young and old, has this band in his or her shack. The primary focus of ham radio operation on this band is using FM (frequency modulation). In addition, most who use this band do it in the area of the band set aside for repeater operations and it is very popular with new hams holding a Technician license!

The 2 meter band covers from 144 to 148 mHz. It is easily received by most scanners. It is a VHF (very high frequency) band and has the advantage of having very small antennas and being able to achieve high gain from them, even on a city lot.

For those of you not familiar with repeaters, I will provide a brief explanation of their operation. These consist of a transmitter and receiver, usually located at a very high point in the average terrain with a gain type antenna mounted as high on a tower as is possible.
Since vhf radio signals are mostly "line of site", the repeater site's high location enables the equipment to "see" farther than it would if it was located at ground level.  This set up allows them to receive weaker signals, such as from a handy talkie, and rebroadcast them through the transmitter and high antenna at the repeater site. This effectively gives you the same or greater  range as if you were sitting on the hill using your own equipment!

On the 2 meter band, the input and output frequencies of the repeater are separated by a spacing of 600 kHz. Which can be either plus or minus the repeater output frequency. Usually everything is minus 600 kHz. Up to 147 mHz. Where it changes to plus 600 kHz. In other words you transmit on one frequency ( the INPUT )...the repeater hears it....and repeats it on a different (OUTPUT) frequency.
See more about repeaters here.
If you want to listen to the repeaters, program your scanner to the OUTPUT frequency of the repeater. In most areas there will be lots of repeaters from which to choose.

All FM work is done with vertically polarized antennas because they are much easier to design and build for mobile and portable operation than are horizontal ones. All SSB (single sideband) work on 2 meters is conducted for simplex in the area of 144.200 and is horizontally polarized. Please note the difference in polarity !

Two meter equipment is readily available and the cost is not outrageous. For the best of both worlds, consider a handy talkie capable of 5 watts output. You can use this inside on a power supply and with a large outdoor antenna array or you can use it mobile with an external antenna or finally portable with the normally supplied "rubber duck"antenna.
Larger and more powerful mobile rigs can be purchased new or used and either used as intended in your car, truck, van, boat, etc or use them as a "base station" in your home using a power supply.
Join the fun and adventure on 2 Meter Ham Radio!
(Edited and re-written by an article from an unknown author)

2 METER BAND PLAN (all frequencies are in megahertz)
144.00-144.05 EME (CW)
144.05-144.10 General CW and weak signals
144.10-144.20 EME and weak-signal SSB
144.200 National calling frequency
144.200-144.275 General SSB operation
144.275-144.300 Propagation beacons
144.30-144.50 New OSCAR subband
144.50-144.60 Linear translator inputs
144.60-144.90 FM repeater inputs
144.90-145.10 Weak signal and FM simplex (145.01,03,05,07,09 are widely used for packet)
145.10-145.20 Linear translator outputs
145.20-145.50 FM repeater outputs
145.50-145.80 Miscellaneous and experimental modes
145.80-146.00 OSCAR subband
146.01-146.37 Repeater inputs
146.40-146.58 Simplex
146.61-146.97 Repeater outputs
147.00-147.39 Repeater outputs
147.42-147.57 Simplex
147.60-147.99 Repeater inputs

Notes: The frequency 146.40 MHz is used in some areas as a repeater input. This band plan has been proposed by the ARRL VHF-UHF Advisory Committee.

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