Sporadic Essays - Reasons To Use and Enjoy 2-Meter Simplex

                        
                            Feb. 2008
                          
                            Reasons To Use & Enjoy 2-Meter FM Simplex
                          
                        - Simplex is the best way to discuss other modes of Amateur Radio operation. Has your group been thinking about putting on a Special Event on the HF bands? You don't have to leave home to go to a planning meeting when you can work out the details on 2-meter simplex! 
                      
                        - Simplex is simple to use. No PL tones. No offsets. Use fewer memories. I don't know about you, but I don't need many memory slots!
                      
                        - Cheaper to get on the air. Basic 2 meter FM rigs have the least "bells & whistles" and cost fewer dollars and cents. I love the simplicity of my Yaesu FT 1802M. I seriously disliked the Kenwood TM 261 I had a few years back. If I remember correctly, it had a dreaded "function" button on it! The buttons on the Yaesu have different functions, but it's done in more of a painless way.
                      
                        - No repeater dues. How many clubs out there exist only to feed a repeater?
                      
                        - No learning different "rules of etiquette" for different repeaters. Are you catching heat for using terms like "what's your personal?", "destinated", "10-4", "on the side", etc. on the repeater? Come on over to 2-meter FM simplex. We'll still dog you, but maybe fewer people will hear it! (are we having fun yet?)
                      
                        - You'll feel better because you don't owe anyone anything for using their repeater. I've always been uncomfortable using resources owned by others, even when I was a club member. Now, if you really love repeater operation, then use the heck out of them. Just get your daily simplex contact in!
                      
                        - You'll develop your antenna optimization, weak signal, & propagation knowledge & skills. You'll really learn the capability of your 2-meter station in a way that's just not possible for those who use only repeaters. Just recently I installed a new Yaesu FT 1802M in my car. I tuned up the 5/8 wave mag-mount antenna, set the rig to 5 watts output, and went for a drive. I tested the performance of both my mobile rig and my fixed station (also a FT 1802M) which was using a temporary Ringo Ranger at 10 feet and 5 watts output. I was able to communicate more than effectively with my XYL from the city limits of the three main highways coming into Wichita Falls. I am more than ready to assist mobile hams passing through. Another 20 feet on the Ringo Ranger and there'll be no stopping me!
                      
                        - You'll make "real" contacts without assistance from repeaters, IRLP or Echolink. For me, contacts made on my station's own merits are more satisfying. Now I know that for some of you, the gadgets are the excitement of Amateur Radio. If that's the case, then by all means enjoy the gadgets. You should do whatever makes you happy in this hobby before you do the BIG QRT. 
                      
                        - Less worry about extended QSOs tying up a repeater. That's not to say some folks can't "time out" a simplex frequency, but you're much more likely to run into trouble on a repeater.

                        73,

                        WF5TX