I’ve been known to whine complain comment about the prohibition against using 146.52 MHz during ARRL radio contests. For example, see The One Frequency You Should Never Use on Field Day and Mt Herman: SOTA plus VHF Contest.
During my presentation on Mountaintop VHF for SOTA at the Central States VHF Society Conference in Denver today, I mentioned this is an issue. Basically, I pointed out that Summits On The Air (SOTA) operators often default to the 2m fm calling frequency, which is prohibited for use in the ARRL contests. This gets in the way when mountaintop stations do a combination SOTA and VHF Contest operation.
During my presentation, Brian Mileshosky N5ZGT, ARRL Director of the Rocky Mountain Division, reported that the ARRL has decided to remove the prohibition of 146.52 MHz in VHF contests. It will take some time for this to work its way into the actual rules, so stayed tuned for further developments.
This is great news…a cleanup of an unnecessary impediment to VHF contesting. Now, will the CQ Worldwide VHF Contest do the same?
73, Bob K0NR
Added 21 Oct 2015, here’s the ARRL announcement:
Use of 146.52 MHz FM Simplex Frequency Cleared for ARRL Contests
I feel the decision to use the 146.520 National recognized calling frequency for use during contest is totally ignorant. With the blessing from the ARRL the freq will be trashed. Why change a good thing? If it aint broke don’t break it. I have 52 elements and 1000 watts. If I were to set on .520 everyone a couple hundred miles (without a band opening) wouldn’t be able to make any calls because they would be hearing me calling cq contest. This is typical of the ARRL above 30 MHz. I haven’t hardly seen a good call yet above 30 MHz.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the comments, even though I disagree with them.
OK, let’s say you are correct…during the VHF contests 146.52 MHz will be completely overrun by contesters all weekend. I don’t think this will happen but let’s say it does. There are three ARRL VHF contests: January, June and September, so three weekends out of the year the 2m fm calling frequency gets “overused”.
That’s the worst case. I think the reality will be not so much.
73, Bob K0NR
Well we agree to disagree. For the life of me I don’t understand why people are so anal to get ride of a calling freq. It’s like it’s a goal to eliminate it. It’s only 1 freq in the band. It’s been recognized forever that it’s a calling channel. It’s only 1 freq. There are many other freq’s contest and QSO’s that can be had on. It’s not like the 2 meter band is so saturated with QSO’s that that one can not find a clear freq. I can see no logical reason to try and eliminate a calling freq. It’s no different than trying to eliminate the use of APRS 144.390 and using that as a contest freq too. The idea is asinine.
The proposed change is to use the calling frequency, not get rid of it.
Bob K0NR
Like I said in my last sentence. It’s asinine. There’s no reason 146.520 the recognized calling freq should be dominated by a contester/contesters when there are many other simplex freq that aren’t utilized. Like I said before. Change the 144.390 APRS freq for contesting too. Why would that be any different?
QSL QRT
73, Bob K0NR
Also I like the robust iedpeendnnt power to communicate over long distance that radio provides if the mobile & landline’ phone + internet ever when down all hell would break loose!Anyway, I look forward to your reply.Marc
I love to hear FM activity on 29.6, 50.525, 146.52 and 446.0 and SSB/CW activity on 50.125, 144.2 and 432.1 mHz!
Those bands for my mobile/QRP station setup generally limit my comm range to less than 40 miles anyway, so I’m thrilled to hear stations on without having to endlessly search dead bands! So, I say, keep the activity going on those “watering holes!” If these channels get busy during skip conditions or a contest or occasional mountain topper, simply move up or down a few kHz and call! No problem! You can make the same argument about any popular HF frequency or mode! Keep these traditional monitoring frequencies busy! Amateur Radio isn’t the marine or aviation service where there ARE defined calling/working frequencies!
Lighten up and have fun!
73, DE WA4A Bob Truitt
Let’s see…the ARRL made this change to the rules back in 2015.
I’ve been waiting for all of the reports of how this totally destroyed the use of 146.52 MHz.
Still waiting…
Crickets…