Establishing a local ALT input for APRS in USA                24 Sept 2004
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With the proliferation of low power tracking devices and HT style APRS 
operations (see Pocket Tracekr in Oct QST), we must seriously look at the 
option of adding (in congested areas) an alternate input channel for APRS. 

There would be NO digi *tansmitters* on this freqeuency, only receivers, 
and a few low power trackers and a few other APRS stations maybe beaconing 
once every 30 minutes or so.    Packets HEARD on this channel are not 
digipeated there, but are digipeated over to 144.39 where EVERYONE listens.  
In fact, due to the low duty cycle and low power and NO high transmitters, 
this channel CAN be shared with other agreeable users of BBS's, Nodes and 
DX clusters...  Who would have priority if for no other reason than the
fact that they are typically using 20 dB more power and will capture 
everytime...

144.99 MHz is ideal for this application if it is avaiable in your area 
becasue it is +600 from 144.39 MHz.

I just Googled 144.99 MHz and looked at the top 120 hits (12 pages) and the 
channel is coordinated for packet everywhere that I could find.   But only
a few areas have BBS's or NODES or DX clusters there.  (see list below).

Existing usage is *not* bad news, but almost good news.  This means that in 
some areas, there are already HIGH sites *listening* on 144.99 with SITES, 
Antennas and RECEIVERS.  All you have to do is pull any APRS packets heard 
and send them over to 144.39.  Done...

And of course work well with those existing users.  We do not intend to just
plop down and usurp the frequency.  But in all areas, the Node packet 
traffic has dropped by an order of magnitude since the mid 1990's where 
these systems first went up.  Maybe many of any existing users of those 
channels may also be in APRS now.  The idea is to work with packet radio in 
your area, and see if some low power trackers can be permitted to operate on 
144.99 in your area.  Certainly these under-1-watt occassional packets cannot
really interfere with 50W base stations who are the typical users of these 
BBS's and NODES.

Please take a look in your area.  Another good advantage of 144.99 was that 
it WAS reserved for SAREX voice uplink during the early 1990's  before the 
big move to the new ARISS frequencies.  Thus, unless a DX cluster moved in,
these frequencies were not used for packet during the peak in packet activity
and may still be available in your area. 
Please check with your coordinateors!

We are using 144.99 in Annapolis MD as an alternate input and it works great 
for local trackers and fixed stations...

If you see the potential for this growth, I ask you to also GOOGLE for 
144.99 MHz *and* your STATE.  Do a thorough search for any other use or 
coordination in your area and lets get this ball rolling...  talk to people 
cooperate, lets see what we can do...  Here are the first 120 hits I found 
without being specific by state:

Google hits on "144.99 MHz":

AZ: Prescott Vy
CA: Berkely, Benicia, NoCal,, LA, Stockton
FL: Augustine, Gainsville
KY: Bowling Green
NH: Hannover
NY: Jamesport
OR: south, HCKNSN, Eugene
PA: Abington
WA: Bremerton, Vancouver
WI: Ozaukee Co

Please do a more thorough seach in your area.  After you find that it 
is acceptible use for an APRS alternate low power input channel, then 
let us know so we can get the word out...

Bob, WB4APR