Where I’m from, 2m band seems to be popular due to the small antenna requirement. The fact we’re in densely populated area probably also play a role.

There should be the 70cm band as well, but I haven’t seen any sign of life around here.

  • vu2tum
    4·
    3 days ago

    Only HF these days, 40 through 10. Was active on satellites, not so much now. 2 m is dead in my vicinity. The weekly net prioritises checkins from Echolink over RF and that’s a dealbreaker for me.

    Will go back on satellites when HF conditions deteriorate. 73

  • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    5 days ago

    2m only. I’ll log into the weekly net, that’s about it since I don’t really have anyone I know these days that’s a ham.

      • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        5 days ago

        Maybe half a dozen people, but usually nobody has much to say. My dad is in a larger city these days and he says about the same.

        I think all the yappers are on 80, I sold my long range equipment years ago because I couldn’t listen to the stupid. I still have a 10m rig that I’ll fire up if the skip is active.

    • timkenhan@sopuli.xyzOP
      3·
      5 days ago

      Funny that what got me here was actually the occasional difficulty of reaching folks in the other cars during road trips.

      How far can you reach with that 2m HT?

      Where I’m from, the license-free HT operation is in a specific UHF range with low power, which I have very little faith on.

      • MonochromeLadybug@lemm.ee
        3·
        4 days ago

        I can generally hit a repeater 17mi (27km) away from at home. When I’m outside, I can be heard well, when I’m inside, I’ll break the repeater’s squelch but may not be clearly copied. HT to HT is generally much less, but I’d generally expect a mile or two (3km)

  • Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    41·
    5 days ago

    I usually listen in on the 2m band because it’s fun hearing the crazy folks in W6NUT ramble on. It’s like a ham 4chan.

  • I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org
    2·
    5 days ago

    Been trying 20m recently. Currently studying for a professional exam, once that’s out of the way I’ll start studying for the general license exam.