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Ok, I'm rather new to all this, and was wondering what frequencies were used most in the I-5 area between Portland and the Canandian border.
I'm currently looking at getting a triband HT and it looks like I'll have to decide between 1.25 and 6m for the 3rd band. I was wondering what band was used most in the area. I've really been considering the Icom, but since I have no experience in the area, I'd appreciate any advice I can get. For all I know a duel band might be more than sufficiant. Any help/advice would be more than appreciated.
I'm also curious as to where I can take my test preferably North of Seattle. I work on the base in Oak Harbor, so anything on the Island would be convienant.

Thanks

If have or are going to get your Tech license then a triband with 6M is all you could use (which is still a lot). I don't it's like CB though where certain channels/freqs are used more in certain areas since HAM has so much available to them. I think 2M is used the most though as far as bands go.

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I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.

It's my understanding (I could be wrong) that the radio I'm looking at works on 6m, 2m and 70cm, If memory serves me right Kenwood makes a radio that works on 6m, 2m, and 1.25m. And from what I'm understanding from reading the FCC rules, we're in ITU region 2, and should be ok with using 1.25m. Keep in mind I'm new to this. Now, if 1.25m isn't used, or is rarely used then it would serve me no purpose. I'm really looking for advice on what direction I should go with a radio, I mean if you guys tell me noone in the area uses anything but 2m, then getting a triband would be a waste of money. Will the ICOM triband be sufficient? Are there alot of people in these bands? What are the more frequented bands? It's my understanding that 1.25m gets used more on the east coast, from what I've read, any help is greatly appreciated. Oh, and where do i take the test at?

Lost in Oak Harbor

If you are limited to a handheld radio, then I would lean toward the 144/220/440 radio (or, the Kenwood F6A, to be specific). I have owned one for over 2 years now, and It's a great radio. As far as a 3rd band goes, the 220mhz band is much more usable in a portable radio than 50mhz (specifically because of the inefficiencies of the "rubber duck" antenna at 6m).

I use both 220mhz and 50mhz on just about a daily basis. I think the 220 band is used more around here - especially if you're in the Oak Harbor area. The 224.780 repeater on Lyman Mtn (east of Mt. Vernon) is a very active 220 repeater, and is quite usable on a handheld radio from your area. Other 220 repeaters in the Everett and Seattle area have notable activity. Though there area plenty of good 6m repeaters around Puget Sound, I don't hear as much activity on them.

As far as radios go, I only have experience with the Kenwood - however, those people I know who bought the Yaesu products have been very happy with them.

I guess it comes down to whatever band you believe would be the "best" 3rd band option for you. I'm partial to 220 mhz - however, your mileage may vary.

How's that?

Brad/N7JGX
Whidbey Island, WA.
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Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition!

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Whatever.....

Thanks! That really explained alot. I've really been searching all over the net for answers. So where would I go to take my test? I'm currently at sea, but I'll be home by christmas. Any suggestions on places to take the exam?

http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml/?zip=98023&dist=20

Federal Way Amature Radio Club (or FWARC, heh) has this useful little link.

_________________
I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.

I went back and re-read your post....

There is pleanty of 2m and 70cm activity around the Puget Sound area. Since Puget Sound is sandwiched by two mountain ranges, there is LOTS of good high level radio sites where amateur radio repeaters are located. There are more 70cm repeaters on the air around here than 2m (simply because there is more space in that band for them).

If you area really strapped for funds, a dual band handheld is pretty attainable. Most of them seem to be in the high $100's/low $200's.

But, for a few bucks more, you can have the 3rd band. That's the way I would go.

And, with an external antenna, a handheld would make a usable mobile radio.

Just my opinion....

Brad/N7JGX
Whidbey Island, WA

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Whatever.....

I don't know if I'd select 1.25 as a third band - in fact, I don't know that I'd buy a tri-bander at all. If I was going to spend money on a new radio - which I'm not right now, I'd go with something like a Icom 706-MKIIG that covers HF, 2m, and 70cm all at once.

As far as machines to work go....my favorites are K7PP's system on 147.200 (Covers the entire I-5 corridor from Portland to Vancouver, BC with multiple receiver sites linked together) - email from K7PP's site for tone info.

There's also the WW7RA system on 146.620, which will cover most of the I-5 corridor in WA from it's site on Gold Mountain (co-located with the Q-13 tower). Tone info and membership form on http://www.ww7ra.org.

Hope this info helps!

Jeremy, NW7JU

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ARS KF3EL/7
Jeremy, Bremerton, WA USA

I'm seriously looking at the Yaesu FT-60 2m/70 cm handheld. It has 1000 memories, but they can be grouped into banks, which is long overdue and has ctcss and dcs but you can go DCS encode only for systems that use 2 seperate tones on the input and output and has wide receive too. Not as good perhaps as the VX-150 which is a great 2 m but still looks like a great replacement to the discontinued FT-50