The AM Forum

The ARRL 2 meter Band Plan:

2 Meters (144-148 MHz):
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
146.52 National Simplex Calling Frequency
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.

ARRL AM Frequency Listing for 2 meters

2 Meters:
 144.4 (Northwest)
144.425 (Massachusetts)
144.28 (NYC-Long Island)
144.45 (California)
 
144.30-144.50 New OSCAR subband

Is the listing for the New Oscar Band correct or not used?
Are the recommended AM 2 meter frequencies in the correct place?

Your comments are appreciated. ;)

AM on 144.425 is currently used during the evenings in Massachusetts.  

Jeff
KA1OGM

Jeff-
Thanks for the information. Is the listing below for the "original" OSCAR subband from the early 1960's? ;)

144.30-144.50 New OSCAR subband

You'd have to ask a satellite guy about that section of the band.  

Jeff
KA1OGM

I don't hear the Long Island group on 144.28 anymore. It's been over 10 years since Shep and I used to talk with them.

Man, in the 1970's I had a ton of 6 and 2 AM stuff.    Now all I have is a twoer and a goonie box.  Where is the Mass. 2 AM group and how about on 6 AM?  Any activity on 6 AM on a regular basis (I think 50.4 is the magic freq.).  I am in central NJ (I know we are all nuts in NJ, but it is a good VHF location, as we can get most stations from W1 to Va. in 4 land).

I am on 50.4 AM every Saturday night at 8 PM with a group south of Boston.
I have a 2 meter Gonset but haven't got it working yet.

I do wonder what and if any activity in PA 3 land is happening..

I listen from time to time up heeya in VT, but no joy. Of course, need to get some decent ants up in the air. Just finished repairs to an old Clegg Zeus and Interceptor station, would be fun to actually use it. Good thing is, the Allbander converter works fab, so I can tune the receiver down to 75m and listen in. Other than 6m SSB contacts locally around the state, zilch. Even the 2m CB channels are quiet for the most part.

Maybe we should think about coming up with some frequencies and times? Especially with noise season fast approaching. Could be a good place to retreat to when the HF bands go to snot. Once a few guys start having regular contacts it's bound to attract a crowd.

Still haven't gotten that 22'er FM going yet, Warren - but I will!

~ Todd, 'KAQ

6M AM in smAlbany,NY area. Weeknights@ 8P  
                                                                       KLC

I recently e-mailed a close friend of mine Dave N2AAM in Brookneal, Virginia about 2 meter AM calling frequencies. Dave is an avid Amateur Radio Satellite user and enjoys working the "birds". Here is what he had to say: :D

Dave Marthouse <dmart@pure.net>
Saturday, May 07, 2005 6:55 PM
Bob Scupp <rascupp@uphi.net>
Re: New Oscar subband?

The 144.3 to 144.5 Oscar subband was used for Oscar-13 back in the early 90's.  Even though it is still listed as an Oscar band there is sort of a gentlemen's agreement that it won't be used any more for satellite stuff do to the congestion of the two meter band in a few regions of the world.  This is my understanding of it anyway.  
 
 
Dave

Hope this helps.

73's,

OK, how about Wed at 8PM on 50.4 AM in Central PA . . . anyone want to try?

Art

2 AM ...... 6 AM...... way too early in the morning for me !

IN the way back, early seventies, when repeaters started coming into vogue, they operated with vertical polarization  to match the 1/4 wave whip antennas on cars.  Most of us were using horizontal yagis for AM.  We experimented with NBFM using a varactor diode to phase modulate the crystal oscillator and reception was done by slope detection in you HF receiver with a converter to take you from 144 down to either 14 or 28 MC.  We generally operated between 144 and 144.5  as the HF tunable IF might only cover 500 KC and the converters were usually not as broadband as receivers of today.  Many of us also used triplers to get onto 432., so you wanted to use the same rock.  The generally accepted practice was to call CQ while you rotated your yagi back and forth for several minutes. Then you manually scanned for replies while also sweeping the yagi.  

Still have the little 20 W Tecraft AM xmtr and Ameco CN-144 converter.