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How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot

Created by Greg Danes, KJ4DGE on 2021-01-20

How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot

 

By KJ4DGE

 

Let me start right off by saying that yes, you can by a decent HT that does 220 at a greatly reduced power output such as the Yaesu VX-6R or the Kenwood TH-D74A at 5 watts, but the purpose of this article is to get your feet wet without spending loads of money on either of those radios.

 

Both of those radios start in the hundreds of dollars and you may find you can only hit one or two repeaters in your area, so why spend that kind of money to be able to have 220 in a handheld?

 

I know, I know Chinese “junk” radios have flooded the market. That may have been true 5 years ago and is still true for some sellers, but today a tri-band HT from China is significantly better all round in performance and “spectral purity” than in the past. I prefer to buy from US dealers whenever I can and still do.

 

Back to a decent HT for 220. First is a brand that has been around and improved in many ways over the years to compete in the US market. That brand is Baofeng.

 

Unlike the standard UV-5R, Baofeng has modified and upgraded the inside and outside of their radios in the past few years. They now have a dozen or so models and dealers here in the US that are not ashamed to stock and support the brand in sales and service.

 

The model I settled on was the BF-R3. While it looks identical toa UV-5R, it has been upgraded to reduce harmonics with filtering, still takes all the 5R accessories, comes with the improved 3800 ma battery and overall gets good reports on audio received. Starting at around 30.00 with two antennas (1 for 220 and the other a dual bander for 2 and 440 you have the makings for your first step into the 220 band. You can stop right there and try your luck at how many 220 repeaters in your area you can bring up. Being at 5 watts or less is not going to get you far if not withing 7-10 miles line of sight of the repeater. In my case I opted for a 220 mono-band antenna for 27.00 from Ed Fong. Many hams know of Ed’s dual band roll-up antenna and they are being used by EMCOMM folks and for field day use as you can hang them in a tree and with an HT double or triple your coverage.

 

Ed’s 220 antenna is specifically built and cut for the 222-240 MHz range. It comes with the antenna connected to a SO329 PVC end cap and a top cap for the user provided  3 ft ¾ inch PVC pipe. You can pick one of these up at Lowes for around 7-8 dollars.

 

I had a run of RG-58 cable lying around and also a SMA male to SO239 cable adapter or you could make one yourself fairly cheap. Use RG-174 cable between the two to reduce stress on the antenna connector of the radio though.

 

So far, I have spent around 57.00. Here are the results. After mounting the 3 ft. PVE antenna at around 22 feet. I am now able to hit six area repeaters with one at full quieting 25 miles away with only 5 watts! That is about half the number of 220 repeaters within a 40-mile radius.

 

I have found that like the 6meter band the 200 has characteristics of both the 2 meter and 440 sides. This makes it interesting as it has the longer distance of 2 meters with the better penetration of UHF. Note: you do not have to have a mast for this antenna. You can simply put an eyehook into the top PVC cap and toss some rope over a tree and pull it up to any height.

 

This makes it great for VHF contests and also makes it very portable.

 

Here is the Baofeng BF-R3

 

 

 

The above is being sold on eBay for 30.00 Below is my setup for the antenna using a 22-foot bamboo mast.

 

 

For low cost you can try 220 and see if it works for you. To make things even cheaper, buy the radio and make the antenna from Ed’s articles available on QST and elsewhere. You may have most of the things you need lying around the shack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AC9XH2021-02-14
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
Great idea.
In fact have a monthly try all bands event every month on all bands including 220. everyone get on simplex and start call cq. Do it on 2 meters ssb, etc.populate the airwaves.wont contact anyone if we dont get on.I live in indiana and some 220 around me is dead also. so im getting on the air simplex and i will be calling cq.
Reply to a comment by : K7DAA on 2021-01-23

Thanks for putting this article together! I'd love to see more use of all our bands, and the 222 MHz band often gets unnecessarily ignored. Might I suggest that if someone doesn't live close enough to a repeater, that it would only take one more ham friend, and then both of you have a virtual private line to each other! If you each put up one of the excellent Ed Fong antennas, you can reach each other maybe 5-20 miles apart or a bit more. If you live further apart, build a KA5VJB 4- or 6-element Yagi with a piece of 1x2 wood and some 12 gauge copper wire, and you can reach maybe 35 miles or more, still on simplex. (see https://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf for build info). If you live in an antenna-restricted area, tie the Yagi antenna up with string or fishing line in your attic, and nobody will be the wiser. You'll still get out pretty well. Have fun--this band is your band to play with!
N6JBC2021-02-10
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
I have been on the !.25 Mtr band for years. One way to see if you have repeaters in your area is to check the directory for your location. If it shows a number of repeaters, and they are open, then go for it. Also, check with local clubs and see if they can help with questions you may have. Club members are almost always glad to help new people with the hobby. They will also help you find the right equipment for your actual needs.
K2WH2021-02-06
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
That is not entirely correct.

UPS took a portion of 220, it was exactly 220-222. We still have 219-220 and 222-225 Mhz.
Reply to a comment by : KJ4DGE on 2021-02-02

I think the key word here is get on 220 "cheaply" and with a decent base antenna use the band if repeaters are around in your area. Yes Alinco makes a great 220 mobile rig, but whats the point if there are no repeaters to use in your area. You are sitting with a 200 dollar radio and nobody to talk to. Its a underused band and we lost it to UPS once then got it back.
Reply to a comment by : K2WH on 2021-02-01

Why an HT when you can get a 220 mobile rig, 25 or 50 watts and sit comfortably at your desk talking on the rig like the Alinco line or 220 radios. HT's are for portable operation, IE. walking around outside.
K7DAA2021-02-04
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
"transverter for my Flex radio..." << Please check the title of this article and try again!

Reply to a comment by : KB6QXM on 2021-02-03

I would like to have a tri-bander all mode base unit. I do not buy Boefeng radios. If I could find a tri-bander all mode from Icom, Yeasu or use transverters for my Flex radios, then that is the best solution for me.
KB6QXM2021-02-03
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
I would like to have a tri-bander all mode base unit. I do not buy Boefeng radios. If I could find a tri-bander all mode from Icom, Yeasu or use transverters for my Flex radios, then that is the best solution for me.
KJ4DGE2021-02-02
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
I think the key word here is get on 220 "cheaply" and with a decent base antenna use the band if repeaters are around in your area. Yes Alinco makes a great 220 mobile rig, but whats the point if there are no repeaters to use in your area. You are sitting with a 200 dollar radio and nobody to talk to. Its a underused band and we lost it to UPS once then got it back.
Reply to a comment by : K2WH on 2021-02-01

Why an HT when you can get a 220 mobile rig, 25 or 50 watts and sit comfortably at your desk talking on the rig like the Alinco line or 220 radios. HT's are for portable operation, IE. walking around outside.
K2WH2021-02-01
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
Why an HT when you can get a 220 mobile rig, 25 or 50 watts and sit comfortably at your desk talking on the rig like the Alinco line or 220 radios.

HT's are for portable operation, IE. walking around outside.
KT4EP2021-01-27
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
You can make or buy a simple 220 beam. Get it up in the air and point it at the repeater. Let us know how it works out.

I have no need for a omnidirectional vertical. 220 is pretty much a dead band here except for the repeater. No simplex activity.
Reply to a comment by : KG4RUL on 2021-01-20

Great idea! Except for the fact that the closest 220 repeater to me is 20 miles and is in someone's backyard.
KJ4DGE2021-01-24
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
That is actually a great idea. Especially for older Hams looking to talk the talk but not make the walk 10-12 miles down the road. Thanks!

KJ4DGE
Reply to a comment by : K7DAA on 2021-01-23

Thanks for putting this article together! I'd love to see more use of all our bands, and the 222 MHz band often gets unnecessarily ignored. Might I suggest that if someone doesn't live close enough to a repeater, that it would only take one more ham friend, and then both of you have a virtual private line to each other! If you each put up one of the excellent Ed Fong antennas, you can reach each other maybe 5-20 miles apart or a bit more. If you live further apart, build a KA5VJB 4- or 6-element Yagi with a piece of 1x2 wood and some 12 gauge copper wire, and you can reach maybe 35 miles or more, still on simplex. (see https://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf for build info). If you live in an antenna-restricted area, tie the Yagi antenna up with string or fishing line in your attic, and nobody will be the wiser. You'll still get out pretty well. Have fun--this band is your band to play with!
K7DAA2021-01-23
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
Thanks for putting this article together! I'd love to see more use of all our bands, and the 222 MHz band often gets unnecessarily ignored.

Might I suggest that if someone doesn't live close enough to a repeater, that it would only take one more ham friend, and then both of you have a virtual private line to each other!

If you each put up one of the excellent Ed Fong antennas, you can reach each other maybe 5-20 miles apart or a bit more. If you live further apart, build a KA5VJB 4- or 6-element Yagi with a piece of 1x2 wood and some 12 gauge copper wire, and you can reach maybe 35 miles or more, still on simplex. (see https://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf for build info).

If you live in an antenna-restricted area, tie the Yagi antenna up with string or fishing line in your attic, and nobody will be the wiser. You'll still get out pretty well.

Have fun--this band is your band to play with!
KJ4DGE2021-01-23
Re: How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
I did not expect a lot from 5 watts either but we do have a number of repeaters in the DC area and MD. I can hit a number of these pretty well full quieting with the Ed Fong mono-band 220 vertical. That was the point of the cost versus results test. Six 220 repeaters I can use for less that 70.00, plus the extended 3800 ma battery to boot.
Reply to a comment by : KT4EP on 2021-01-20

I bought one of these radios just for 220. Cost - $35. My first HT in 1992 an Icom 24AT cost $450 and didn't even have a tone board, I digress... We have one 220 repeater in the Memphis area, due south of my home about 15 miles. I built a Kent Britain cheap yagi just for 220, put it in the attic pointed south and hit the repeater full scale. The radio isn't of the quality as a Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, and etc but it serves my purpose to get on 220.
KT4EP2021-01-20
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
I bought one of these radios just for 220. Cost - $35. My first HT in 1992 an Icom 24AT cost $450 and didn't even have a tone board, I digress... We have one 220 repeater in the Memphis area, due south of my home about 15 miles. I built a Kent Britain cheap yagi just for 220, put it in the attic pointed south and hit the repeater full scale. The radio isn't of the quality as a Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, and etc but it serves my purpose to get on 220.
KM4ZWW2021-01-20
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
Ed Fong also has a tri-band version of his antenna. Haven't put it up yet but will shortly.
KG4RUL2021-01-20
How to Get On 220 Without Spending a Lot
Great idea! Except for the fact that the closest 220 repeater to me is 20 miles and is in someone's backyard.