What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

threeseven · 15th Feb 2014, 4:14 pm

Comms receivers are an unknown to me as I've basically only ever dealt with domestic receivers.
I've been offered an Eddystone 770U, which as comms receiver types will know is a VHF/UHF receiver for between 150-500 Mhz.
What will I find broadcast on these frequencies? Also, what type of aerial would be required?

G6Tanuki · 15th Feb 2014, 4:22 pm

Apart from the UK DAB multiplexes between about 175 and 225MHz [which your Eddystone won't be able to resolve except as a broadly-tuned 'sharsh'] nothing is 'broadcast' on those frequencies.

The 150-174MHz slice still contains some private-mobile-radio (police/fire/ambulance/utility companies, taxis and minicabs) using traditional AM and FM, though a lot of it has moved to using various digital-modulation methods which are primarily for data and handle voice as an afterthought.

Around 170MHz you may find some analog wireless microphones still being used (the film/TV industries hate digital for this sort of thing because of the latency induced through digitising/de-digitising which can cause major lipsync issues]

225-400MHz is the military-airband [ they still use AM! ].

400-500MHz again contains private-mobile-radio (still some public-service stuff but they've almost totally gone digital on to Airwave now: occasional things like "pubwatch" and "shopwatch" security walkie-talkies in cities), the 70Centimetre amateur-band [some FM/repeaters, occasional use of SSB], "PMR446" FM walkie-talkies at 446MHz etc.

But nothing "broadcast", it's all 'communications'.

threeseven · 15th Feb 2014, 4:35 pm

Hmmm, so basically all thats of interest to me would be the military airband. Please excuse my incorrect terminology, re broadcast and comms.
What frequency band does civil aviation use?

Phil G4SPZ · 15th Feb 2014, 5:05 pm

108 to 137 MHz.

AC/HL · 15th Feb 2014, 5:13 pm

Also AM

Skywave · 15th Feb 2014, 6:23 pm

As is effectively illustrated by G6Tanuki's post above, for the Eddy. 770U, things ain't what they used to be!

And that goes some way to explain, amongst all the Eddystone receivers that do appear on the S/H market, why the 770U tends to fetch a price that is not really reflective of the engineering effort that went into its design and its typical Eddystone quality. Nevertheless, the 770U can perform a useful role as an item of test equipment, e.g. a sensitive tunable voltmeter, amongst other uses.
So, do I have one amongst my collection? No. Would I acquire one? No. But I do have an Icom IC-R7000 and a Tek. 2465B 'scope to meet such needs in the relevant freq. range.

Al.

James Duncan · 15th Feb 2014, 6:48 pm

have a look at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...UKFAT_2013.pdf

you will find all the frequency allocations here.

cheers
MM0HDW

llama · 15th Feb 2014, 7:48 pm

Another answer to the original question is: whatever you want, if you build an up-converter. That could be fun.

Thinking out loud for a mo, a local oscillator at say 200MHz feeding a diode mixer stage with the wanted signals going into the other input port would give complete coverage from long, medium and short waves all in one range from 200.1 (say) MHz to 230MHz.

Maybe worthy of some experimentation.
Graham

electroanorak · 15th Feb 2014, 9:09 pm

Standard radio mic frequencies are 173.8MHz to 216.8MHz.

Dan.

threeseven · 16th Feb 2014, 12:19 pm

For the price being asked it's not viable for me, although it is a beautifully made lump!
Thanks for all the info guys.

Radio Wrangler · 17th Feb 2014, 1:14 am

Marine band (FM) seems to have been forgotten

David

electroanorak · 18th Feb 2014, 1:09 am

Yes, I think it is around the 153MHz area.

Dan.

15th Feb 2014, 4:14 pm	#1
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Comms receivers are an unknown to me as I've basically only ever dealt with domestic receivers. I've been offered an Eddystone 770U, which as comms receiver types will know is a VHF/UHF receiver for between 150-500 Mhz. What will I find broadcast on these frequencies? Also, what type of aerial would be required? __________________ BVWS member

15th Feb 2014, 4:22 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Apart from the UK DAB multiplexes between about 175 and 225MHz [which your Eddystone won't be able to resolve except as a broadly-tuned 'sharsh'] nothing is 'broadcast' on those frequencies. The 150-174MHz slice still contains some private-mobile-radio (police/fire/ambulance/utility companies, taxis and minicabs) using traditional AM and FM, though a lot of it has moved to using various digital-modulation methods which are primarily for data and handle voice as an afterthought. Around 170MHz you may find some analog wireless microphones still being used (the film/TV industries hate digital for this sort of thing because of the latency induced through digitising/de-digitising which can cause major lipsync issues] 225-400MHz is the military-airband [ they still use AM! ]. 400-500MHz again contains private-mobile-radio (still some public-service stuff but they've almost totally gone digital on to Airwave now: occasional things like "pubwatch" and "shopwatch" security walkie-talkies in cities), the 70Centimetre amateur-band [some FM/repeaters, occasional use of SSB], "PMR446" FM walkie-talkies at 446MHz etc. But nothing "broadcast", it's all 'communications'. Last edited by G6Tanuki; 15th Feb 2014 at 4:29 pm.

15th Feb 2014, 4:35 pm	#3
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Hmmm, so basically all thats of interest to me would be the military airband. Please excuse my incorrect terminology, re broadcast and comms. What frequency band does civil aviation use? __________________ BVWS member

15th Feb 2014, 5:05 pm	#4
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? 108 to 137 MHz. __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

15th Feb 2014, 5:13 pm	#5
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Also AM

15th Feb 2014, 6:23 pm	#6
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? As is effectively illustrated by G6Tanuki's post above, for the Eddy. 770U, things ain't what they used to be! And that goes some way to explain, amongst all the Eddystone receivers that do appear on the S/H market, why the 770U tends to fetch a price that is not really reflective of the engineering effort that went into its design and its typical Eddystone quality. Nevertheless, the 770U can perform a useful role as an item of test equipment, e.g. a sensitive tunable voltmeter, amongst other uses. So, do I have one amongst my collection? No. Would I acquire one? No. But I do have an Icom IC-R7000 and a Tek. 2465B 'scope to meet such needs in the relevant freq. range. Al.

15th Feb 2014, 6:48 pm	#7
James Duncan Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wick, Scotland, UK. Posts: 227	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? have a look at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...UKFAT_2013.pdf you will find all the frequency allocations here. cheers MM0HDW

15th Feb 2014, 7:48 pm	#8
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Another answer to the original question is: whatever you want, if you build an up-converter. That could be fun. Thinking out loud for a mo, a local oscillator at say 200MHz feeding a diode mixer stage with the wanted signals going into the other input port would give complete coverage from long, medium and short waves all in one range from 200.1 (say) MHz to 230MHz. Maybe worthy of some experimentation. Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!

15th Feb 2014, 9:09 pm	#9
electroanorak Hexode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tonyrefail, Rhondda, South Wales, UK. Posts: 337	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Standard radio mic frequencies are 173.8MHz to 216.8MHz. Dan.

16th Feb 2014, 12:19 pm	#10
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? For the price being asked it's not viable for me, although it is a beautifully made lump! Thanks for all the info guys. __________________ BVWS member

17th Feb 2014, 1:14 am	#11
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,901	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Marine band (FM) seems to have been forgotten David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

18th Feb 2014, 1:09 am	#12
electroanorak Hexode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tonyrefail, Rhondda, South Wales, UK. Posts: 337	Re: What is broadcast on 150-500mhz? Yes, I think it is around the 153MHz area. Dan.