80 MHz band. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Refugee · 5th Apr 2018, 3:19 pm

Does anyone off hand know what the band immediately below 88MHZ is used for these days?

Andrew2 · 5th Apr 2018, 4:13 pm

I used to hear the AA (or similar) down there, but I don't think I've heard anything at all for ages.

SiriusHardware · 5th Apr 2018, 4:58 pm

The band 68-88Mhz (roughly) is generally referred to as 'VHF low band', and in the UK is a PMR band and as such has been used by Fire services, Taxis, Mountain rescue services, and so on. A small section is / was also used by the military. But I'm guessing you really mean the 1MHz or so just below 88Mhz?

tealandsilver · 5th Apr 2018, 4:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Refugee

Does anyone off hand know what the band immediately below 88MHZ is used for these days?

86.7125 to 87.5000MHz NFM used to be PMR low band duplex and had numerous users including AA, RAC, Councils, Taxis, Water boards etc etc.
In my location (Scotland) I have given up monitoring this band as I seldom heard anything.
The split was -10MHz ( ie mobile operator was 10MHz below the base station).

CambridgeWorks · 5th Apr 2018, 6:03 pm

Back in the day, 85.850Mhz was Pye Telecom national transport scheme frequency for base tx. Base rx wad 72.350Mhz. Frequencies around 86-87Mhz used to be for simplex working.
Rob

Radio Wrangler · 5th Apr 2018, 6:05 pm

75MHz is an international aviation spot frequency for outer, middle and inner markers on approach to a runway.

Then there's the 4m amateur band in the UK and some countries.

David

CambridgeWorks · 5th Apr 2018, 6:06 pm

As well as the 13.5Mhz split for approx 72/85.5, there was another 10Mhz split around 77/87Mhz.
Rob

Graham G3ZVT · 5th Apr 2018, 7:18 pm

HM Customs & Excise had an allocation around there in the early '90s
Lots of tailing suspects and all night stake-outs.

Needless to say, I didn't listen myself

The writers of the ITV series "The Knock" probably did listen, because they got a lot of the radio procedure correct.

I imagine a lot of the drug gangs and contraband smugglers also had their "ears on" on such a covenient frequency, just below the Jimmy Young Show

Refugee · 5th Apr 2018, 11:29 pm

The reason I asked is that 30 years ago I was given a set and was told it was a taxi radio and it has been kicking around in my box of bits for a very long time.
When I got my first frequency counter I keyed it up and got a frequency just below FM.
If it turns up during spring cleaning I was wondering what to do with it.

SiriusHardware · 5th Apr 2018, 11:37 pm

If you hold an intermediate or full amateur radio licence you may be able to move it down to the 4 metre (70.000MHz to 70.500Mhz) band. Can you tell us the make (Tait, Dymar, Philips, Pye, Storno, Motorola perhaps?) and model?

Refugee · 6th Apr 2018, 12:59 am

I think it is a GEC.
I have found a photo from about 5 years ago taken during another tidy up.

Peter.N. · 6th Apr 2018, 10:46 am

I used to operate in that band for many years. I had a PMR license from 1966 until mobile phones became cheaper than the cost of the license.

I bought a secondhand Westminster base station from Henry Westlake of ham radio fame, it was ex Devon council so had to change the crystals, if it had been ex Cornwall council I would't have needed to as they were on the same frequency as me.

Peter

Refugee · 6th Apr 2018, 12:39 pm

Yes the crystals would have to be changed.
I will have to wait and see if it turns up again during my spring cleaning.
There is 4 spaces for crystal pairs.

5th Apr 2018, 3:19 pm	#1
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	80 MHz band. Does anyone off hand know what the band immediately below 88MHZ is used for these days?

5th Apr 2018, 4:13 pm	#2
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: 80 MHz band. I used to hear the AA (or similar) down there, but I don't think I've heard anything at all for ages. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

5th Apr 2018, 4:58 pm	#3
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,556	Re: 80 MHz band. The band 68-88Mhz (roughly) is generally referred to as 'VHF low band', and in the UK is a PMR band and as such has been used by Fire services, Taxis, Mountain rescue services, and so on. A small section is / was also used by the military. But I'm guessing you really mean the 1MHz or so just below 88Mhz?

5th Apr 2018, 6:03 pm	#5
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,859	Re: 80 MHz band. Back in the day, 85.850Mhz was Pye Telecom national transport scheme frequency for base tx. Base rx wad 72.350Mhz. Frequencies around 86-87Mhz used to be for simplex working. Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

5th Apr 2018, 6:05 pm	#6
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,872	Re: 80 MHz band. 75MHz is an international aviation spot frequency for outer, middle and inner markers on approach to a runway. Then there's the 4m amateur band in the UK and some countries. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

5th Apr 2018, 6:06 pm	#7
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,859	Re: 80 MHz band. As well as the 13.5Mhz split for approx 72/85.5, there was another 10Mhz split around 77/87Mhz. Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

5th Apr 2018, 7:18 pm	#8
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,714	Re: 80 MHz band. HM Customs & Excise had an allocation around there in the early '90s Lots of tailing suspects and all night stake-outs. Needless to say, I didn't listen myself The writers of the ITV series "The Knock" probably did listen, because they got a lot of the radio procedure correct. I imagine a lot of the drug gangs and contraband smugglers also had their "ears on" on such a covenient frequency, just below the Jimmy Young Show __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

5th Apr 2018, 11:29 pm	#9
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: 80 MHz band. The reason I asked is that 30 years ago I was given a set and was told it was a taxi radio and it has been kicking around in my box of bits for a very long time. When I got my first frequency counter I keyed it up and got a frequency just below FM. If it turns up during spring cleaning I was wondering what to do with it.

5th Apr 2018, 11:37 pm	#10
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,556	Re: 80 MHz band. If you hold an intermediate or full amateur radio licence you may be able to move it down to the 4 metre (70.000MHz to 70.500Mhz) band. Can you tell us the make (Tait, Dymar, Philips, Pye, Storno, Motorola perhaps?) and model?

6th Apr 2018, 12:59 am	#11
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: 80 MHz band. I think it is a GEC. I have found a photo from about 5 years ago taken during another tidy up. Attached Thumbnails

6th Apr 2018, 10:46 am	#12
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: 80 MHz band. I used to operate in that band for many years. I had a PMR license from 1966 until mobile phones became cheaper than the cost of the license. I bought a secondhand Westminster base station from Henry Westlake of ham radio fame, it was ex Devon council so had to change the crystals, if it had been ex Cornwall council I would't have needed to as they were on the same frequency as me. Peter

6th Apr 2018, 12:39 pm	#13
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: 80 MHz band. Yes the crystals would have to be changed. I will have to wait and see if it turns up again during my spring cleaning. There is 4 spaces for crystal pairs.