Since many folks have moved over to HAM, it is time to set up some known standards regarding frequencies for NWOS. Please look at the conversation from Craig below and let's fire up the discussion. If you have known resources (frequencies, repeaters and so on) that pertains to this topic, please list them in this thread.

I asked do we have a standard frequency for NWOS......

Craigs response and direction......

We discussed it once, but never decided on anything firm. What I've been using is 146.460 for voice. This has been proposed by some as being designated an Offroaders specific frequency. It's used by the guys at ExpeditionPortal and the BC Roverlanders, but I don't know of anyone else using it and I've never heard anyone on that frequency in WA. We did get some chatter down by Bend and flipped over to another frequency.

Let's start a thread and get this nailed down. Verifying that we aren't stomping on any really well known/used frequencies or picking a frequency that is normally a repeater frequency, common SAR frequency, etc.

We need:

Primary voice simplex frequency, secondary voice simplex frequency
Primary APRS simplex frequency, secondary APRS simplex frequency.

Note that PNW APRS standard is 144.390, but that gates our locations to the internet. Sometimes it is preferable to have a group only frequency. We should discuss this though.

Once decided, it needs to go in the Wiki.

while on my way up to the meet and greet/swap meet i was tuned up 146.46 and there were a coupple of guys on there talking simplex on the way. not sure if it is a commonly used freq or not though.

Yep, I like the easy to remember frequencies.

A quick google yields this list for the available 2m simplex frequencies.
146.400, 146.415, 146.430, 146.445, 146.460, 146.475, 146.490, 146.505, 146.535, 146.550, 146.565, 146.580, 146.595, 147.405, 147.420, 147.435, 147.450, 147.465, 147.480, 147.495, 147.510, 147.525, 147.540, 147.555, 147.570, 147.585

Note that 146.520 is the national simplex frequency. In theory, it is used to connect with others via simplex, then you switch off to another frequency. I believe it is also one of those frequencies where you are supposed to check it at the top of each hour to see if someone needs help... I'm not so sure about that though.

Ben - Regarding "Gated". APRS broadcasts your location over the airwaves. The common frequency that is used is 144.390. Other HAMs that do APRS listen and broadcast on this frequency so you can see each other's positions. There are several stations setup that "hear" your broadcasted lat/lon and re-transmit it to a database on the internet. Your location will then show up on websites such as aprs.fi. Go there now and search for my callsign (K7NAV) and you'll see where I've been lately. This retransmitting is called "gating" as it serves as a gate between the land of RF and the internet. Note that this is also why it is possible to send/receive email via APRS... but we won't go there in this thread.

By using a common frequency like 144.390 you can see all APRS users.  If we use an off frequency we will only see people in our group.  Here's a snap of Overland Navigator after listening to APRS stations for 2 minutes.  It shows a semi, a car, a jeep, a weather station, etc.  Further north, it has a couple of repeaters shown near Vancouver BC, but I didn't have the map centered up there when I took the snapshot.

Doesn't each region have a group that helps to manage the band plan? Maybe we need to contact them to see what's available.

Craig, when you set up your aprs, do you tell it what type of vehicle it's in so that others can see it or did you tag them that way on your screen?

I'm not aware of a regional coordination group, but I'm no expert either. Do you have any details?  I think we can pick from the list above.

When you setup your APRS enabled radio or tracker you specify which symbol to use for your vehicle. There is zero operator interaction to get the right symbol for each station that is heard. They just magically show up on the screen.

Well the last thing we want to do as a club is step all over some local ham's.  We don't appreciate it when noobs in 4 wheel drives go through and tear up 'our' trails, same thing applies to frequency allocation, there's only so much bandwidth/channels available.

I've been part of the scanning community and there are a couple guys on there that might have some info for us.  I'll bounce it off them and report back.  Of course, as long as you're licensed no one 'owns' a frequency and you are free to use it however I'd hate for us to get a bad rap by being channel stompers.

Ben,

Yep it means $, though not that much more since most of us are already investing in a radio and a GPS.  A radio is also a long-term purchase that will be moved from vehicle to vehicle over the years, so IMO, spending a little extra that let's you have a lot more fun is worth it.  We are talking about $500 (new) for an APRS ready radio like the Kenwood D710a.

One option I've been kicking around is purchasing a few complete trackers that we can strap on people's vehicles who don't have APRS.  That way, the trip leader can see where they are even if they can't see where he is.  It helps on trail runs to have a good idea of how stretched out the group is on the trail.

Craig

Hey guys! The band plan coordinators for all Pacific Northwest states as well as BC and Alberta use a 20Khz channel spacing. The chart listed above is a 15Khz spacing as used in more populated areas of the country including California. Throughout the country you will find 15, 20 and 30Khz recommended spacing so check it out before you travel. To keep from stepping on toes here at home I would suggest you use one or more of the following recommended simplex frequencies:
146.42, 146.44, 146.46, 146.48, 146.50, 146.52 (National Call), 146.54, 146.56, 146.58, 146.60 (Cross Band), 147.40, 147.42, 147.44, 147.46, 147.48, 147.50, 147.52, 147.54, 147.56, 147.58.

The ARRL Repeater Directory can be of big help.

https://www.wwara.org/Band_Plans_2004_06_03.pdf

http://users.rio.com/kg7fu/orrc.html

Click on the skinny box for a full-size map indicating channel spacing for most of North America:

 [u]http://books.google.com/books?id=YeDTpxHt37kC&pg=SA2-PA9&lpg=SA2-PA9&dq=2+meter+channel+spacing+%2Bmap&source=bl&ots=h1QOC2Wniq&sig=f17QTeqOer4rwHPd7eS6aYe-ghU&hl=en&ei=8vP2S8_BEML48AaisbDeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=2%20meter%20channel%20spacing%20%20map&f=false[/u]

Right on. Thanks Jerry! I was hoping you'd chime in on this thread.

Jerry, this is great information and lines up with what I discovered today as well. Consistent with the band plan for our region (Oregon and Washinton), it appears that we have two primary options for simplex communications while on the trail.... 146.420 - 146.580 and 147.420 - 147.600. This is to include a .050 offset as you move through this frequency range.

Am I also correct in stating that repeater channels are on odd frequencies below 146 and even frequencies above 146 with both have a .020 offset?

Dustin

So, based on that input and reading both the WA and OR related links Jerry posted how about:

Vx:  146.460 & 146.500    Note:  146.520 is the National Call frequency.
APRS:  147.460 & 147.50  Note:  144.390 is the National APRS frequency.
 

Edit:  Removed the confusing dash.

No, you should use EITHER 146.460 or 146.500. Sorry about the confusing dash. It was just a way of separating our NWOS freqencies from the National Call frequency.

Yes on the National Call frequency stuff.  You get it.  :)