STATUS OF ALT-INPUT APRS DIGIS and USE OF 144.99 MHz        14 Oct 2004
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This page will attempt to characterize the use of 144.99 MHz in North
America based on ***your feedback***.  If it is available in a local 
area, it makes a great alternate input for local 144.39 digis to help 
local users avoid the input contention from hundreds of out-of-area 
packets on 144.39.  The ideal alt-input channel, if available in the 
local area, is 144.99 for the following reasons:

* 144.99 is +600 KHz from 144.39, and thus easy to operate split
* 144.99 was reserved for SAREX during the 1990's peak in packet
  radio and so no ancient legacy systems are found there.
* 144.99 was vacated by SAREX when they moved to 145.800
* 144.99 is reserved in most band plans for weak signal, FM
  simplex, packet with no hi-site digis (a perfect match!)

This TEXT FILE will keep track of the growth of alt-input channels
and to see where the 144.99 frequency may be available for this use.
Please investigate and get back to us about your area.

First is a list of all the new APRS 144.99 alt-input channels as
reported to us:

CALL     LAT   LONG   CITY/State     Comments
-------- ----- ------ -------------- ----------------------------
99ANNAP  3858N 07630W Annapolis, Md  5 Watts, 120' HAAT 3 db omni
KD4RDB-2 3350N 08024W Sumter, SC     49watts, 40 feet, 6dB , omni.
More?

BAND PLANS WHICH ALLOW FOR PACKET ON 144.99
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ARRL (weak signal, simplex, FM, widely used for packet)
Canada (CRAC)
Florida, (FADCA)
Indiana Repeater Council (weak signal, simplex FM, packet)
Northern California (NCPA) low level operations (no digi outputs)
Maryland (TMARC)
Quebec
More?

OTHER USES OF 144.99 AS DISCOVERED OR FOUND ON THE WEB:
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The following is a list of WEB hits on uses of 144.99 MHz.  Most are 
old, dating back to mid 1990's and all need confirmation.  Those 
confirmed as still on the air will be marked with an asterix(*).

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 
More?


MONITORED AREAS WHERE NO 144.99 ACTIVITY HAS BEEN FOUND:
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QSY your packet station over to 144.99 for several days and
see what packets you can find.  Report activity here:

Annapolis, MD   - now has APRS input on 144.99)
Denver, CO      - seems clear (as reported by NG0X)

Others?