[VHFcontesting] Icom & 222 Activity

Mon May 22 19:45:39 EDT 2023

The ADALM-PLUTO SDR units will transmit and receive on all frequencies from
70 to 6000 MHz. Their transmit range is not limited to the ham bands. By
adding a preamp and small power amp, various hams have made QSO's on all
ham bands from 144 through 5760 MHz, including 222, with them. They seem to
do pretty well.

I have one but I have not added preamps or power amps to it. I have mainly
used it as a weak-signal source and a spectrum analyzer. There is software
for it to use it as a spectrum analyzer.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 4:37 PM Terry Price <terry at directivesystems.com>
wrote:

> With the current SDR designs, it would be easy to incorporate 222 and just
> disable it for other countries, much like they do now for 2m operation
> where
> some countries don't have the full 4 MHz we do. The American market is just
> not enough to entice them to do it. I wonder how many FT736 220 modules and
> Ic-375's were sold. The VHF weak signal market is probably less than .1% at
> beast of the total amateur radio market, if it weren't for satellites, we
> probably wouldn't have anything except transverters. As easy as it is to
> hook up a transverter for 222MHz, I just don't see the issue.
>
> I am surprised ICOM brought out the IC-905, I assume they are aiming at low
> power FM video and the DSTAR market. K1RZ played with mine quite a bit at
> Dayton and I have to say it's pretty nice. For folks that don't want to or
> can't roll their own, it's something to think about.
>
> Terry - W8ZN
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting
> [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces+terry=directivesystems.com at contesting.com]
> On
> Behalf Of k3sk at buckwalter.co
> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2023 5:24 PM
> To: 'Marshall-K5QE' <k5qe at k5qe.com>; vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Icom & 222 Activity
>
> Marshall,
>
> It sounds simple, but its not economically sound.   If the mfgr adds 222
> MHz
> it cannot be marketed in much of the world.  Many countries have laws
> similar to the FCC "type acceptance" and if the 222 band is included it
> will
> not be allowed to be imported into many of those countries at all.  This
> would mean the mfgrs would need design and build several different
> versions.
> A single band rig or several versions of a multi-band VHF/UHF rig are about
> the only options and for a Region 2 only market, the single band is about
> the most cost effective choice.
>
> de K3SK
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marshall-K5QE <k5qe at k5qe.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2023 4:26 PM
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Icom & 222 Activity
>
> Why anyone would want a single band all-mode 222 rig is beyond me.....just
> another big box that I need to find a power supply for and space on the
> operating desk for.  What we need is a rig that has 6M, 2M, 222, and 432 in
> it(for sales purposes, you would probably have to have HF too).  We have
> the
> IC706MK2G series of radios(the 706, 7000, and its successors, and the Icom
> 9100 series rigs).  If the rig makers can make a rig that works on 2M and
> 432, they can make a rig with 222MHz on it. Maybe it would only make 25W,
> but that would be FB as it is enough to drive a big TE Systems amp or a
> solid state 222 palette amp.
>
> Adding 222 to a rig that already has 6M, 2M, and 432, just cannot be a
> serious engineering challenge.  However, we just don't seem to be able to
> get I, K, or Y to do that.
>
> 73 Marshall K5QE
>
>
> On 5/22/2023 5:53 PM, peter h via VHFcontesting wrote:
> > I just sent icom Sales an e-mail, requesting same.
> > Bt73Pete, n6ze
> >
> >
> > Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
> >
> >
> > On Monday, May 22, 2023, 06:25,k3sk at buckwalter.co  <k3sk at buckwalter.co>
> wrote:
> >
> > I cornered Icom at Hamvention this past weekend and ask if they were ever
> going to offer another 222 multi-mode.  The initial response I got was that
> I was the 3rd or 4th person that had asked that that day!    Then after
> educating them a little on the current SSB/CW/FT8 activity and telling them
> about the recent selling prices on used IC-375A, they seemed interested and
> said this was something that would be brought up at post Hamvention
> discussions with ICOM HQ.      This is a good start, but unless everyone
> starts contacting them to put a little pressure in their marketing, I
> wouldn't hold my breath.
> >
> > de K3SK
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David Olean<k1whs at metrocast.net>
> > Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2023 9:37 AM
> > To: Howard Reynolds<wa3eoq at gmail.com>;vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] 222 Activity
> >
> > Hi Howard
> >
> > Do not forget that W1GHZ has an inexpensive transverter ckt board
> available and you can populate it thru a Bill of Materials list from
> Mouser.
> Cheap n Easy!  WW1M and I are going to build one. I think he has ordered
> two
> boards for us. You do have to supply the LO but most people use those
> synthesizer boards available from DEMI and Q5 Signal. We will report back
> as
> things progress.  Now I know that many people have no time, and others go
> cross-eyed trying to work with surface mount parts, but I have had good
> luck
> with SM parts so far.  Magnifier glasses and laying off hard drugs helps.
> >
> > I would agree that the 222 band needs a commercial stand alone rig for
> many folks, but in the past, activity on 222 was miniscule. Manufacturers
> could not make any money on a 222 rig. Possibly a 222 MHz band could be
> added now with technology where it is, with much less effort.  I would
> always go the transverter route with a high end HF rig rather than a VHF
> multi mode rig just because you get more bang for the buck, but many people
> have the opposite opinion.
> >
> > I hope the activity keeps growing on 222 MHz. Increased activity and the
> attendant "chatter" will let folks know that 222 is a viable choice. 222 is
> a great VHF band. If it was world wide, it would be jam packed!
> >
> > Dave K1WHS
> >
> >
> >
> > On 5/20/2023 4:46 PM, Howard Reynolds wrote:
> >> I fully realize that the root cause of no 222 MHz radios is that the
> >> band is only available in Region 2 (and the manufacturers aren't).
> >> However, every once in a while a radio with 222 MHz appears such as
> >> the IC-375 or the Yaesu FT-736R.  It's FM, but I've had a Kenwood
> >> TM631A (144 and 220) and an Icom IC-37 for years.  Anyway, I keep
> >> hoping that, with sufficient activity in Region 2, the almighty
> >> dollar sign will be ignored.  WA3EOQ
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
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