Save our 2 Metre Band.

[G6Tanuki]

I suspect there are a hell of a lot of "Licensed Listeners" on 2M .

Perhaps if more of us called CQ now and again there would be more activity?

These days it's a cinch to build something which will ground the PTT line, play out a pre-recorded CQ message, then unground the PTT. A few lines of a suitable scripting-language and you have the ability to run this auto-CQ at random intervals.

[The CW equivalent is even easier to implement! The days of blowing 2708 EPROMs with different CW messages are long behind us]

Hmmmm... I've got a first-generation Raspberry Pi somewhere.

[Martin G7MRV]

Digital voice record/playback modules can be had from China for a couple of quid,

I actually have one I got for that exact purpose - to call CQ for me while mobile. But ive yet to get around to wiring it up into a suitable box for the car.

[Peter.N.]

I've got a lot of things like that.

Peter

[MrBungle]

My FT450D had a voice recorder in it. You cold program it so when you pressed a mic button it would TX your CQ call. That was an HF rig though. I'm sure something like that must exist for VHF.

[HamishBoxer]

Pity my FT950 does not have that, save me staying up till 2200 on a Sunday when I read the 160M RSGB news.

[MrBungle]

FT950 has an option module that adds it: https://www.moonraker.eu/yeasu-dvs-6...ce-memory-unit

[HamishBoxer]

Thank you, 20 secs though not long enough to pre record the news.

[MrBungle]

Plenty to record the good news though

[SiriusHardware]

There's a fairly strong tropo event ongoing NOW - 21:00, many stations being heard from out of area. Get on and liven the band up! (70cm is also up).

[MrBungle]

Typical. All the fun stuff happens when I'm trailing Mrs Bungle in Ikea

[SiriusHardware]

Back at my temporary weekend base where unfortunately I have no amateur station to speak of, but earlier when I was out mobile every simplex FM channel on 2m was occupied by signals, in some cases two or three mingled on one channel. Most of the repeater channels were occupied by signals, and there were stations working simplex from across the north sea on both 2m and 70cms.

At the time of posting #69 this was the most active tropo event I can remember for many years, I have not heard a tropo lift as strong as this since the period just after I first got my licence. (Mid nineties). Mind you, I probably miss most of them.

[Alf Fisher]

I've seen a lot of talk about operating on 2m but have you signed the petition "2 metre amateur band must be kept."
This campaign means a lot to us all and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...d-must-be-kept

Please pass this on.

Vy 73,

Alf,G3WSD

[HamishBoxer]

Yes,I signed a petition yesterday.

[SiriusHardware]

Although the intention is fairly clear, the wording is not well thought out.

"Stop the ITU from taking away the 2 metre band from Radio Amateurs, and allow the Aeronautical Service to use this Amatuer Radio band".

(sic)

It sounds as though the petition is asking to keep the 2m band for amateur use AND to allow the aeronautical service to use it. Unless this is edited for spelling and to make better sense, I'm afraid I can't sign it.

[SiriusHardware]

Just been out for the (Saturday 29th June) morning milk and papers - although not as strong as the conditions last night, there is still a bit of a lift on. Just heard a station on a hill top in Derbyshire from my location here on the north Yorkshire coast.

[Skywave]

Originally Posted by SiriusHardware

Although the intention is fairly clear, the wording is not well thought out.

"Stop the ITU from taking away the 2 meter band from Radio Amateurs, and allow the Aeronautical Service to use this Amateur Radio band".

(sic)

It sounds as though the petition is asking to keep the 2m band for amateur use AND to allow the aeronautical service to use it.

The way it is phrased it can only be interpreted in one way: a shared band. If that is the intention of this petition, that that phraseology is appropriate; if it isn't that intention, then it needs a re-write.

As it stands, I cannot sign it.

Al. / G8DLH

[Andrew2]

I've just e-mailed him to see if he'll change the wording.

[Radio Wrangler]

It looks like France has made a proposal to ITU-R. It will not have been initiated by ITU-R.

So the phrase 'stop the ITU.....' is aimed at the wrong target.

David

[Skywave]

A quick browse around the Internet indicates that there are two organisations to whom comments about this proposed change should be directed:
1. The European Parliament and the Council.
2. The ITU.

Al.

[SiriusHardware]

Originally Posted by Andrew2

I've just e-mailed him to see if he'll change the wording.

My guess would be that you can't change the wording of a petition once the starting gun has been fired, for obvious reasons. You could start off with the petition asking for something entirely reasonable, and then when you have a million signatures, change the wording to ask for the exact opposite.