Hi everyone,?
In light of the FCC Docket 24-240 which is the attack on the 900 Mhz band by NextNav, I would encourage fellow amateurs to try out the 900 Mhz band. And you can do it without getting expensive radios, all you need is Echolink on your computer,? tablet, cellphone, or even an I-pod (I use an I-pod Touch when not using the cellphone)
The NEAR900 group has 16 900 Mhz repeaters linked across New England. The closest ones to us are Cumberland RI and Wrentham MA.?
Outside of that, there is the lovely repeater in Marshfield MA, W1ATD which has a Echolink connection W1ATD-L listed under Links in the Echolink station list.
Now I hear folks say Echolink isn't real radio, it's a mix of internet interconnection between hams and repeaters using a system similar to IRLP.
So if you're not doing anything Thursday evenings, check in to the NEAR900 net at 9pm Eastern Time. Early check-ins start around 8:30-ish, and someone is usually around to take early check ins. Give you an idea, I've seen between 29 to 40 check ins on average this summer.?
After a taste of this band, I made a inexpensive investment (under $70.00) of a Retevis RT-10 1W Analog/DMR FM 1 watt handheld. This is the most inexpensive way on to the band, other than used commercial gea, and kind of interesting as 900 Mhz 33cm band functions like the 70cm band.?
73 Matt NA1Q?
