4 Meters 70MHz

[rooth]

Scavenging a stick for a pole is a smart idea; sometimes you’ve got to be resourceful. If you go for the AnyTone, I think that could be a solid choice for those longer chats.

[Transwarp]

£100 is a cheap radio. The ones being sold for happy meal price can only do so because of volume sales. 4m is dead in the rest of the world. The popular, and rather good TYT 9000 and the Retevis version were useful radios, aND THE Anytone is too small.

The Chinese manufacturers have ceased production, because the UK was their last outlet for 66-88MHz gear. I hear the Anytone is now on factory stock only. I sold loads of lowband radios over the last three years but it gradually dwindled. I sold a few to taxi firms who still have their low band systems and the motor sport people who have a 70MHz allocation still live. Maybe a few farmers in my area, but very soon 4m will be in borrowed time and no new users because manufactured kit will be gone.

6m at least is an international band, where 4m was pretty much just us!

My idea of a cheap radio is 10 pound off ebay old low band PMR set that is programmable to 4 meters...

There are lots of countries that have the 4 meter band.

There was talk not long ago that the U.S might be getting 4 meters...

4 meters is active in Hull but not in this neck of the woods. I think all the VHF/UHF ham bands are on borrowed time.

Decline in some places of 2mtrs / 70cms usage has been apparent for many years. Much usage of these bands was mainly via repeaters, but as misuse of them increased some have either been shut down never to return or put to other modes use.

Except for shack in a box radios, either homebase or the few mobile ones, you can't buy anymore a dual bander or dedicated single band radio for these bands that has all the modes, they're just FM only, unlike decades back when they had SSB / CW / FM, that to me says that usage and interest in is dwindling.

I sold my FT-450D about 15 months back and deliberated on what to get to replace it, as l wanted a set that has 4mtrs. I was going to get an icom 7100 as it has that plus VHF / UHF and d-star, however l don't use digital modes, and l already have a FM only dual bander, so instead l went for the Yaesu 710 as it has all that l required and a fair bit cheaper then the icom.

It's a shame 2mtrs is seemingly slipping away, it's a good band, l'd hope the spectrum people don't decide to take it away from the hobby due to the low use of.

[Agent 48]

£100 is a cheap radio. The ones being sold for happy meal price can only do so because of volume sales. 4m is dead in the rest of the world. The popular, and rather good TYT 9000 and the Retevis version were useful radios, aND THE Anytone is too small.

The Chinese manufacturers have ceased production, because the UK was their last outlet for 66-88MHz gear. I hear the Anytone is now on factory stock only. I sold loads of lowband radios over the last three years but it gradually dwindled. I sold a few to taxi firms who still have their low band systems and the motor sport people who have a 70MHz allocation still live. Maybe a few farmers in my area, but very soon 4m will be in borrowed time and no new users because manufactured kit will be gone.

6m at least is an international band, where 4m was pretty much just us!

My idea of a cheap radio is 10 pound off ebay old low band PMR set that is programmable to 4 meters...

There are lots of countries that have the 4 meter band.

There was talk not long ago that the U.S might be getting 4 meters...

4 meters is active in Hull but not in this neck of the woods. I think all the VHF/UHF ham bands are on borrowed time.

Decline in some places of 2mtrs / 70cms usage has been apparent for many years. Much usage of these bands was mainly via repeaters, but as misuse of them increased some have either been shut down never to return or put to other modes use.

Except for shack in a box radios, either homebase or the few mobile ones, you can't buy anymore a dual bander or dedicated single band radio for these bands that has all the modes, they're just FM only, unlike decades back when they had SSB / CW / FM, that to me says that usage and interest in is dwindling.

I sold my FT-450D about 15 months back and deliberated on what to get to replace it, as l wanted a set that has 4mtrs. I was going to get an icom 7100 as it has that plus VHF / UHF and d-star, however l don't use digital modes, and l already have a FM only dual bander, so instead l went for the Yaesu 710 as it has all that l required and a fair bit cheaper then the icom.

It's a shame 2mtrs is seemingly slipping away, it's a good band, l'd hope the spectrum people don't decide to take it away from the hobby due to the low use of.

I really hope they don't take 2 meters away because 2 meters is where I do my main operating and I know 2 meters isn't every bodies cup of tea, I know quite a few hams that favor 2 meters but say they don't go on it often because there is nobody to talk to on the band...

I don't think 2 meters would be taken away from us as its not all that desirable commercially and there is plenty of spectrum in the VHF range plus with digital modes now using less bandwidth...

If 2 meters went there be no point in bothering to renew my license after that... besides what would be left... 4 meters? a band nobody uses. PMR446 UHF

The good thing about 4 meters is that its like CB but without the noise floor and shorter antennas but still very good range and its a shame its barely used if at all. 70cms has pretty much died a death, not even the repeaters get beeped anymore let alone any voices, its exactly like listening to paint dry. PMR446 license free is where there are people to chat with.

[Agent 48]

Thanks to the London webSDR which is actually based in Hertfordshire... I can check my signal on 70MHz and I can see my signal is reasonably strong which is incredible seeing that I have a hard time trying to get anywhere near Hertfordshire on 2 meters which goes to show how far 70MHz travels on about 20 watts. Also because there are other people monitoring the London webSDR they will see my signal appear in the waterfall which could encourage them tune to 4 meters and respond to my CQ call.

I have been very amazed and impressed with the range on 4 meters.

[Transwarp]

Well 2 meters is a 'protected' band, the primary user being ham radio, however there was some years back a proposal for it to be used for aeronautical purposes, however that proposal was withdrawn after some campaigning over, quite right too.

6mtrs has been hit and miss for me over the years and l never had much interest in. 4mtrs is a band l played around on for a little while not that long ago on a friend's set and l quite liked it. HF in general is a pain in the rear to me because of all the interference hash so that leaves me with VHF and above.

Six, four and two meters plus 70cms are right for me as the antennas for are manageable sizes.

[Agent 48]

I've never dabbled in 6 meters mainly because there are no single band 50MHz radios available, its something I will try if and when I ever come across a 5 meter set.

4 meters, 2 meters, 70cm are also the bands for me. I'm planing on getting back out on the hill tops with some hand helds next week.

An interesting site I came across about 4 meters.
https://m0ukd.com/2015/08/working-happi ... -on-70mhz/

[Agent 48]

I was given a Storno 423 transceiver already converted to 4 meters and it was free, but another ham told me the person who gave it to me nicked the transmit crystals out of it for a laugh

Its a shame because it looks like somebody spent a lot of time converting this and its been nicely done. I can't find any info on this radio it seems to be quite rare and pretty much wiped from history.

I have tested it and it receives but no transmit so another 4 meter radio for the junk box.

[Agent 48]

I still have my trusty Tait T2020 which fingers crossed it still works... I have a second low band Tait T2020 which I haven't tested yet but it powers on. I could not find my dummy load so I haven't been able to test anything else on it. At the moment I'm working more of the 2 meters side of things. I should be running on four meters by next week, just waiting on antenna parts to arrive. I may just fix the radio down in the living room get it ready then all I'll need to do is sort the the antenna once my bits arrive.

[Agent 48]

I got myself an old Pye transceiver low band. Its AM and has 6 channels. It is crystal controlled, I have no idea what crystals it would take to get it on 4 meters. I have tested it and its working and transmitting on 86 MHz.

6 channels is plenty for 4 meter AM use...

The Pye transceivers were beautiful and quite solid radios well build and were of quality. Even if I never get to use this radio it would still look nice as a display piece next to other vintage transceivers. It would be nice to have it on 4 meters. I could probably work out what crystals I need if I work hard at it on paper but I don't trust myself to get it right... math was never my strong point but I guess sometimes you've got to try and see what works because in some cases its the only way of learning when there is a lack of info.

Here is a picture of one I found in google images



I also have one of these with original speaker as well as the mic...

[paulears]

I remember these! I had forgotten. Cambridge on 145.55, the local chat channel in 1980, and the Reporter microphone seen in every episode of the Professionals. Crystals were everyday stuff back then, and even if you did the maths properly, lots were just off spec a bit and would not pull in. I didnt even know they were still made? I wonder how much they cost now? Most repeaters back then used the repeaters they made too, all blue! I think they are heritage worthy, but I’m not sure I would want to actually use one now. My Cambridge hated my car’s alternator, and it whined badly related to engine speed!

[Agent 48]

I remember these! I had forgotten. Cambridge on 145.55, the local chat channel in 1980, and the Reporter microphone seen in every episode of the Professionals. Crystals were everyday stuff back then, and even if you did the maths properly, lots were just off spec a bit and would not pull in. I didnt even know they were still made? I wonder how much they cost now? Most repeaters back then used the repeaters they made too, all blue! I think they are heritage worthy, but I’m not sure I would want to actually use one now. My Cambridge hated my car’s alternator, and it whined badly related to engine speed!

145.550 is the chat Channel around here mostly run by G7WIA most evenings after 8:00 PM anybody is welcome to join.

I think with the Pyes they need a bit of modifying to get them bang on, also they are very old so some electrical components will be out of spec. Some of these transceivers are quite desirable among collectors and 4 meter enthusiasts. It all depends on what band they cover, some of these covered sections of the FM broadcast band.

The Pye reporter above isn't very desirable although a good AM low band transceiver, there were one channel versions that can easily be opened to 6 channels. I have found the service manual for these models. The Reporter doesn't go for a lot there was one on ebay recently for 15 pounds auction but got no bids and I got mine for free with its original speaker, mic plus original accessories and its in fantastic condition.

They don't make these anymore but it would be nice if a company could reproduce these with the same build quality and same retro design but make them computer programmable instead of crystal controlled.

[paulears]

You could buy a baofeng, strip out the guts and put it in the box. It would be a far better radio. Remember that when these were new users were on first name terms with the engineer, who fixed them frequently. The mcdonalds happy meal baofengs are better in virtually every way to these, especially in frequency stability, reliability, signal purity and audio quality. Mechanically you could jack up your car on them, though.

[Agent 48]

I could... the Baofeng H888 or whatever they are called now would be ideal, the only thing is you don't get the exotic modes like AM but then again nobody would use the mode on 2/70 I think the Baofengs don't receive too well on external antennas and pick up stuff that isn't there... it may need some work around's but definitely a start, maybe A built in UHF RF amp with a pre amp, it would only need to be 20 watts or so. Some harmonic filtering will be needed also.

[paulears]

Lots of those old pye units had really wide filters from when channel spacing was 50khz, and when i left college i thought i wanted to work with them. I lasted six weeks with the radio department and 15 years with the firm in a different dept where people were not boring old f*rts. The radios were cambridges and the new westministers which were better but they were constantly bothered by vibration, going off tune, and were never reliable. They were also deaf. Sensitivity was so variable, cambridges were in the vans that rarely left town, and few managed the close villages nearby. The radio authority at the time would pay visits and test the frequency of the radios because they needed to!

[Agent 48]

I guess it was the early days of radio back then... Thanks for the info I enjoyed reading up on that, it really took my mind back to the early days of what times were like with the Pyes. I was born in the mid 80s so I wasn't around in the 70s but I wish I was born earlier to experience the golden days. Its made me appreciate these old Pye radios even more now.