T2A

Offsets, calling and band plans

Know the common repeater offsets, the simplex calling frequency, and how to call and answer other stations.

11 pool questions1 on the exam

Syllabus: Station operation: choosing an operating frequency, calling another station, test transmissions; Band plans: calling frequencies, repeater offsets

A repeater transmits and listens on different frequencies

A repeater can't hear and talk on the same frequency, so its input and output are separated by a fixed offset. The offset can be plus or minus.

Offset = the gap between a repeater's transmit (output) and receive (input) frequencies.

Band	Common offset
2 meters	600 kHz
70 centimeters	5 MHz

Remember2 m: 600 kHz. 70 cm: 5 MHz. Offset is the gap between repeater transmit and receive.

Simplex: same frequency, no repeater

Same frequency both ways = simplex. 146.520 MHz is the 2 m national FM simplex calling frequency.

Simplex means transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, directly station to station. The 2 m national FM simplex calling frequency is 146.520 MHz.

A band plan is a voluntary guideline for which modes or activities go where within a band. It sits on top of the FCC's rules and privileges.

Remember146.520 MHz: the 2 m FM simplex calling frequency. Band plans are voluntary.

Calling: their call sign first, then yours

■ their call sign ■ your call sign. CQ means calling any station.

CQ means "calling any station". To answer one, say their call, then yours. To find a contact off-repeater, call CQ a few times with "this is" and your call, then pause and listen.

Memory hookReply: them, then me. On a repeater, "K2XYZ listening" says you're open for a call.

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Compendium articles on the ideas in this lesson, beyond what the exam asks.

Check what stuck

Practise the 11 pool questions for this group. Answers are shuffled, and every one comes with a one-line "why".

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