Are you on 4M ?

by g6ohm on Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:47 pm

As the title says are you on 4m ?
I have been active on the 4m band since it was given to class b amateurs back in the 80's.
It is a band which depending on the area of the country you live can be active or completely dead.
Over here in Cambridgeshire 4m is used quite a lot.
I am lucky as i live within MB7FM parrot repeater catchment area.
For 4m i uses a PMR rig a KEY KME 80 running 30 watts to a vertical dipole at 30 feet.
Unfortunately there are not many commercial rigs made for this band.
The only rigs at the moment are the FT847 and the AKD 4001.
The AKD rig is available from Garex for £149.95 plus £8.00 next day delivery.
Apart from MB7FM there are no repeaters.The call frequency is 70.450 fm.
4M SSB call frequency is 70.200.
Most amateurs tend to use 12.5 khz spacing but sometimes older kit is used with only 25khz spacing.
My best DX so far on 4m fm is S51DI and GM4JYP.
4m is an up and coming band as more and more countries are being granted the frequency.
4m is like 2m simplex but seems to travel better and seems not to be affected with buildings and local
Terain.
One sad part i always feel is that M3's are not allowed to use PMR radios.
This i feel is a sad loss as a lot can be learned by playing with this sort of gear.
So take a listen on 70.450 you maybe missing out on local chatting.
If you live in the south part of the UK or near Tring listen on 70.4375 for MB7FM.

Perhaps hear you on the band.

Andy G6OHM
[/size]

by daxi on Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:52 pm

I have an ex fire brigade handy. A PYE PFX.

by g7uod on Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:52 am

I am on 4M.

I have a simoco PMR re-programmed. I have listened and called on FM many times and have to date made one contact.

Look forward to making some more.

Hugh G7UOD

by daxi on Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:09 pm

I now have a transverter, a programmed ex PMR mobile & a mobile whip & our local area has a 4 meter net each Tuesday on FM.

by g0sop on Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:33 pm

4M isnt currently allowed in PA land to transmit on, I know there are some Dutch amateurs with 4M kit who SWL on the band.

We don't get 4M as apparently the Dutch military didnt want to share it.

Shame really, be a nice band to try if we get given it.

by M3HIM on Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:33 pm

daxi wrote:I have an ex fire brigade handy. A PYE PFX.

Ditto! Don't know of its origins (emergency services or commercial) but it get's me into the local parrot MB7FM just fine. Annoyingly, the flexible whip (rubber duck) antenna that came with it was accidentally put into storage a while back and I can't seem to find it. However, a 1m length of 6mm threaded rod works as a replacement for now, albeit with the potential for taking someone's eye out if you're not careful with it!

I also have an Ascom SE550 which needs a little work to get it going so that's in storage at the moment.

Are you on 4M ?

Are you on 4M ?

Re: Are you on 4M ?

Re: Are you on 4M ?

Re: Are you on 4M ?

Re: Are you on 4M ?

Re: Are you on 4M ?