Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, has some specific frequency bands for their work which is called HAM radio bands. Ham radio band allocation can range from a few centimeters to 2200 meters. Of these radio bands, The 2 meter ham radio band is probably the most popular and widely used.
The 2-meter band is a very high-frequency band whose allocations typically range from 144 MHz to 148 MHz.
In this article, we will discuss the 2 meter amateur radio band, 2 meter ham radio frequencies, and its characteristics.
Let’s start
What is 2 Meter Ham Radio Band?
The 2 meter HAM radio band is part of a very high-frequency radio spectrum consisting of frequencies ranging from 144 MHz to 148 MHz in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Territory.
The 2 meter radio band is easily accepted by most scanners. It has the advantage of having small antennas and is able to get high profit from them, even in a city space.
How Does A 2-Meter Ham Radio Band Work?
For 2 meter FM operations, local amateur radio operators use a radio repeater, a transmitter, and a radio receiver that instantly resends a received signal at a different frequency.
Repeater station is usually located on high ground, such as a hilltop or a high-rise building, where terrain extensions can be seen. This allows ham radio operators to expand their coverage area, often 180 miles to 200 miles.
Use of 2-meter band
Ham radio operators usually use 2-meter bands for communication. You can hear normal conversations while listening to the 2-meter ham band.
Also, 2-meter radio bands are very effective for emergency communication. You can also hear a ham operator reporting a traffic accident or criticizing someone.
Ham radio operators use 2-meter radio bands to communicate during various emergency services such as law enforcement, fire and emergency medicine, natural disasters, etc.
Mobile ham radios for cars can be used to talk to other HAMS. Using a 2 meter repeater, you will be able to talk to other hams in the distance while driving.
2 Meter ham radio frequencies plan
The band plan is proposed by the ARRL Advisory Committee to avoid interference in incoherent mode. The 2-meter band plan supports a variety of operations.
| Frequencies (MHz) | 2-Meter Band Plan |
|---|---|
| 144.00-144.05 | CW |
| 144.05-144.10 | Normal CW and weak signal |
| 144.10-144.20 | EME and weak-signal SSB |
| 144.200-144.275 | General SSB operation |
| 144.275-144.300 | Propagation beacons |
| 144.50-144.60 | Linear translator input |
| 144.60-144.90 | FM repeater input |
| 144.90-145.10 | Weak signal and FM simplex |
| 145.20-145.50 | FM repeater output |
| 145.80-146.00 | OSCAR subband |
| 146.01-146.37 | Repeater inputs |
| 146.40-146.58 | Simplex |
| 146.61-147.39 | Repeater outputs |
| 147.42-147.57 | Simplex |
| 147.60-147.99 | Repeater inputs |
Why 2m radio band is a popular choice?
The 2 meter Ham band is probably the most popular ham band currently in use. Since it is relatively easy to meet the license requirements for 2-meter radio band transmission in the United States, the 2-meter band is more popular than other amateur radio bands in the United States.
Besides, The 2-meter radio band is reliable and its equipment is affordable. You can use it with a small handheld transceiver or a mobile transceiver.
Verdict
Although the 2 meter band is known as a local band for short distances communication, you can also use it for long distance of ham radio communication if you want.
So do you still have anything left to know about 2 meter ham radio band? I don’t think so.
To know more about the 2-Meter radio band, you can contact the American Radio Relay League or visit their website.
Leave a Reply