2meter frequency

[bigunn]

Yes I have the manuel and am trying small steps at a time . I don't mind pming my phone #.

[AD]

Hw many repeaters show up in your area based on K5EHX?

[KF7SZX]

The most important functions I've come to know with my 2m radio are:

memory function
setting repeater offsets and pl tones
finding the quickest way to switch from the repeater output to the input.
The time out setting

That's pretty much it, the most used functions on my radio.
You don't need to know much to start off with so don't feel like you need to know your radio inside out before having fun with it.

[idial1911]

Yea learn how to set the offset, and turn on the pl tone, and how to change the tone. How to save to memory. Figure those things out, and you will have most of what you need to know done. Also figure out squelch, turn that baby to high and you hear nothing. Find the squelch turn it down until you hear static, then turn it up just so it stops the static and leave it like that.

Like AD said in the other thread, can't screw it up. If you do, post here and we will find out how to reset that radio to default. Actually if you bought the radio used, probably a good idea to reset it to default anyways. I always do when I buy a new radio, just to clear all the "surprises" out.

[bigunn]

If I'm reading the site right looks like there are 23 repeaters here closed to me I live in Merced Ca. 95340. I want to thinks you people for the fast replies. Time I get done I not only know how to speak chines but understand it as well. Another question does anybody use skype ? My grandson was over the other day and I came in and he is talking and looking at the person on my computer never seen anything like that before . Would that be a helpful tool in some cases ?
,

[KF7SZX]

I've used it, but by the time I've gotten the details figured out and the lighting on the radio I could have found ten youtube videos that do it step by step.

Now if you can't find a video elsewhere online or if you like people to talk you through it with you, then sure!  It'd be a great tool.

[AD]

What antenna are you using? How is it set up?

[AD]

Only seven of those are 2M (140 mHz - ish).  When you go out to the 50 mile range there are many more.  Later when i get on a PC and off the ipad, i will post all of them for you.

[AD]

OK, here are the 2 Meter ones close to you:


Just look at the top 7, those are 2 Meter.

In the manual look at page 15 direct key pad entry for how to get first one 145.2900 in the radio to listen to that channel.

Then look at Page 30 Memory Storage to learn how to store that. 

[RazorCityDen]

I think it's ironic that many folks consider HF to be the 'advanced' pursuit of amateur radio. In my experience UHF/VHF 2meter/70cm/6meter has required much more radio 'fiddling' and freq fussing than HF 

To answer the OP and stay on topic.

I have the compact ARRL repeater book in my radio bag and a 2meter/70cm antenna/mag mount and power cable behind the seat of my truck. This is what what passes for operating my FT-897D 'mobile'. I have ran 'portable' on UHF/VHF using my 'mobile' mag mount and antenna on a cookie sheet (idea gleemed from a 'SurvivalBlog' story) and I homebrewed a simple ground plane antenna (idea from Quietus) that works pretty well hung off the mast of my temp rigged fan dipole 'array'.

The repeater guide is no excuse for local knowledge though I've found there's ALOT of quiet repeaters, when you just start randomly programing from the guide.

I sometimes struggle to be 'social' enough to make a good QSO on HF and the chatter on VHF/UHF doesn't have me reaching for my mike to jump in. I make contacts though and manually program repeater freqs because, well, I bought this multi band beast so I might as well know how it works! 

Take care,

[Quietus]

I was try to find out as I now have my 2 meter radio hooked up and had it scanning weather channels but didn't know what the frequency to start with . When I first turned it on and had it scanning I picked up a lot of stuff but I switched it back to the weather channels and now I have to start all over, but didn't know where to start, and I didn't want to just start pushing a bunch of buttons.

 
Do you want your HT to be a scanner for items of interest to you  (fire, EMS, L/E, USFS, Search and Rescue, etc.?)  Some of those would be of more interest to some than to others.  I like to know where the USFS radio carriers are when I'm training on their turf.  If I lived close to other people, I doubt that I would want to hear public service responses to their problems.  Scan or not.
 
It's been advised already that you might want to buy a programming cable ($15 or so), then download a free program to customize your radio to your wants.  Again, you can't screw up your radio doing this.  Even I have loaded fifty or so channels into a Wouxon HT.  Some are scannable, you program that choice yourself.  The program I use lets you print out what your current channels are in some detail, and also your current radio settings... so if there's something you did on the computer  that you don't like, it is easier to go back and change it.  The paper makes a good reference to keep with the radio, also.
 
I went through similar frustration after buying my Wouxon:  I didn't know much, so the manual did not tell me much.  Reviews of this radio said...  "buy the freaking cable..." and I finally did, made life easier.  I still use that cable, since once used, with this Wouxon you have to use it to change much of anything.
 
You might also check into some 2m antennas that are easy enough to make, that will considerably improve the performance of the radio.  Ten feet of coax (maybe requiring a $5 adaptor to your radio's antenna socket), then a twin terminal breakout (maybe $8), then make a better antenna on top of that.  I've done a 6' speaker wire antenna  on top of the coax, with a speaker wire counterpoise.  This hangs well in a tree when out in the woods.  Another simple one that I think has worked better, is more complicated to describe.  It's gotten me non-repeater traffic at 80 mapped miles into an HT.  Knowing who sent it, I sort of suspect that it was a 5w and not a vehicle radio, which makes the quarter wave ground plane hanging in the window even more impressive in my mind.
 
More free advice FWIW:  It's been talked about enough here, to just study a bit more as you study for Tech, so you can take and pass General for no more money and GED the same day as Tech.  It's a worthwhile thing to do.
 
Since you're working on studying,  scrounging up some antenna parts and doing one, might be a nice break from that.

[bryanthegoon]

Sounds like everyone here has put you on the right track, but just a couple things to add in particular to harming the radio, as said pretty much nothing that you will do cannot be done, but as it is a mobile model (as opposed to a HT (which stands for handi talkie or handheld)) there are 2 things that I would add (the only 2 things I can think of that could "really" hurt something).

1. Always make sure that you are properly connected to your power source, this means good clean connections, correct gauge wire, and fuse.  If operating away from a vehicle make sure you have a appropriate 12 volt power supply or battery, if there are any questions on these I am sure a number of us here can help.

2. Never attempt to transmit at all without an antenna attached to the radio, in fact unless you are doing some specific kinds of testing it is good practice to never turn the radio on without an antenna attached.

The biggest thing to remember is not to get overwhelmed with all the settings, you can start out simple ( as has been described) and work your way into the other things later.  At the end of the day there are settings that you will likely never have need to use.

[bigunn]

  Well it has been a while but am back at least for another day been trying to program my radio all day have had some luck. got to talk to three different people around the valley here. Also learned how to go back to factory defaults must have been their three or four times. One of the reasons is that I would get a repeater programed in and then try another and would try all of the different things that you are supposed to make sure little things that go with memory , and I guess you don't have to do that except where the off set is plus or minus. Any thanks for the help guys and to AD for the repeater list. Gonna try to do some more repeater channels in and then I have to go in the VA hospital on Wed. morning and will be gone about a week. 73"s KJ6WYU.