Once upon a time, two meter was taken pretty seriously. There were many operators who attempted to work DX, QRP, the occasional skip, and of course worked all the local repeaters. Not any more. Today, two meter has degenerated a bit, becoming a sort of a licensed, grown up version of what CB once was. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed CB decades ago (still do to a certain extent, particularly if I want to talk to unlicensed friends), and I have enjoyed my share of casual talk, and late night involved conversation on two meter. Some of my most fondly remembered conversations, where we solved all of the world’s problems at three in the morning, have occurred on two meter. Still, to a certain extent, even this is not so common on two meter any more.

        The photo to the right shows the radio with the cover off. The upper right hand side of the photo shows the installed VS-1 Voice card, and the tone board. I had not yet installed the computer interface. To the left of the photo are the power supply and finals. The radio can be serviced and upgraded by a person with nominal skill.

         These days, two meter seems to be dominated by handi talkies working repeaters, with a fair number of mobile operators as well. This is almost exclusively FM transmitted through vertical antennas. This may be a reflection of the fact that it is one of the few voice segments available to the technician class of license, or it may be a carrier from when it was the only useful voice band open to no code operators for a number of years.

         Because of this, for many years, there was very little available in the way multi mode radios, of good quality, that could be carefully adjusted and adapted to operating conditions. Instead, two meter radios became simple, and a bit less capable, under the assumption that most users would be operating into powerful repeaters with large antenna arrays.

        This appears to be changing somewhat, and I have noticed some recent units that are now capable of multi mode use, and have adjustable filtering and certain other features. Still, they are not the norm. Certain VHF and UHF radios from a few decades ago when the bands were still taken seriously, are still sought out. The TS-711 (along with its rare UHF brother the TS-811), is one such unit.

       The Kenwood TS-711a is, more or less, the 2 meter twin of my TS-440. The features are similar, and the styling is identical. Both units were introduced at about the same time, and even use some of the same accessories (such as the computer interface). This makes it a classic knob and dial turner, and button pusher. Unlike the HF model, the 2 meter version has a built in power supply, and can be plugged directly into the wall. This is an all mode transceiver, and is not limited to FM like most 2 meter units. There was also a third member of the family: the TS-811, a 70 CM unit. This was Kenwood's middle range series.
       The unit puts out 25 watts. This is enough power for local communications, within the limitations of the 2 meter band. It is also enough power to run a good quality linear amplifier up to full rated power. I plan, in the near future, on getting a linear amp for this unit. Mirage makes a suitable unit, which puts out 160 watts, and is capable of multi-mode (including FM) operation. This should give me a respectable amount of power, for local operation, and still be within the capability of the 42 amp power supply which runs my shack. The Mirage has a claimed current draw of about 20 amps, which still leaves plenty in case I wish to operate the linear and my TS-440 HF at the same time. It is unlikely that I will ever wish to do this, but it is comforting to know that the capability is there if I need it. Output is continuously adjustable, via the RF PWR knob, from 2 watts, up to the maximum of 25.
        Hitting any of the mode buttons to change mode generates a Morse code beep announcing the new mode selected. The main reason I selected this unit for my shack, is that it is capable of all mode operation. The majority of 2 meter units out there are FM only. I don't know how much SSB or CW I will be using on two meter, but it's good to have the option. Frequency can be set in increments as small as 5 KHz.

        This unit has the optional speech chip, which was thought to be a very big deal back in the 80's, when digital technology was novel and just coming of age. Today, it seems kind of silly and quant. The speech chip announces, in a pleasant female voice, any frequency changes or mode changes that I make - 80's high tech. The unit also has the tone board, which was an option back in the eighties, but is certainly a requirement these days. This is also one of the earlier units to be capable of computer control. An optional adapter board must be added, along with a level converter for RS-232C.

         There are 40 memory locations available in this unit. Each can store frequency, shift, and tone. The last three can store two separate frequencies to be worked as a split. This is a nice feature which somewhat compensates for the 600KHz non adjustable offset of the 711. With the tone card installed, the unit is capable of selecting between 37 tones from 67 to 250.3 Hz.

       The transceiver is capable of  shifting the receive frequency up to 9.99 KHz, using the RIT control. It is also capable of shifting the receiver passband, through use of the IF shift control. The unit also has scanning features, due to an early version of computer control, and an eighties era microprocessor. Scanning can be done of segments of the band, or of the memory locations. You can also set a particular memory location for an alert, anytime it shows activity. A DCS feature allows the radio to respond to tone alerts or calls.

       Though this is of the same series as the TS-440, and shares that unit's all mode operation, the TS-711a is a bit less capable. In particular, it is missing many of the connections, which give the HF unit so much of it's flexibility. The rear panel features an antenna connector, ground, power connectors for 120v and 13.8 volt, computer interface, and audio jacks. Most activity, on the two meter band, is FM, making it hard for many ham operators to justify the expense of an all mode radio. To properly use the radio to its full potential, it should be hooked up to a vertical antenna for FM, and a horizontal dipole for SSB.

The Two Meter Band

        The two meter band is, by far, the most popular ham band in the world. This is largely a local band, though very occasional skip and DX may be worked. The two meter band is 4 MHz wide, going from 144MHz to 148MHz. Though the band is not channelized, the heavy use of repeaters on the band means that there will generally be a number of repeater "channels" which will vary according to location. Repeater use is in FM mode, and requires an offset, which is usually +/- 600 KHz. More on this below.

        The maximum normal range usually given for two meter is 190 miles, which would be a surprise to most ham radio operators. I regularly hit other radios at 20 - 40 miles, and can  sometimes hit repeaters at longer distances, but radio to radio communications at 190 miles on two meters is a real matter of luck, unless you are in a high flying plane, or possibly orbiting the Earth. As a VHF band, two meter has a range based upon line of sight, which is a function of antenna height. Line of sight can be pretty easily calculated.

        Multiplying the height of the antenna (in feet) by two, and then taking the square root will give the line of sight of a given transceiver. Doing this for both transceivers and then adding the answers will give you the line of sight. As an easy example, if your antennas are eight feet high, multiplying this by two will give sixteen. The square root of sixteen is four. If both antennas are at eight feet, then adding the results together would give a range of 8 miles. In practice, due to atmosphere effects, you can multiply this by about 15%.

        Like all amateur services, two meter has a band plan.  These are voluntary plans, and technically are not legally binding; but as ham operators are required to adhere to standard operating practices, and not cause interference with other operators, a number of precedents have been set, in which the FCC enforces a local or national band plan.

        As can be seen from the band plan, FM repeater use predominates.  This has become so popular that the vast majority of two meter radios sold, do not have the capability to operate in any other mode. Most radios used on the band are handhelds or mobiles, with just a very few base units out there. There is a small portion of the band dedicated to CW (Morse code) and weak signal; but this seems little more than a carry over from the days when novices were limited to CW on VHF. There are a very few sections dedicated to SSB, for those who try to work scatter or do DX on VHF. For some, this is a challenge and a goad, since DX on VHF is difficult. There are also a couple of small sections dedicated to Satellite.

       Some small portions of the band are dedicated to FM simplex. This can be a convenient way to carry on private conversations, free from the crowding that often occurs on repeaters. Contacts can be made on repeaters or calling channels and then moved to the simplex frequencies. This also gives a certain measure of privacy. At the old spacing of 25khz, there is the potential for 66 separate users on the segments of the band reserved for simplex. With the new 12.5 KHz spacing coming into play, there is room for twice that number. If the entire band were channelized at the old spacing, there would be 160 channels.

        With all of the space, and the relatively short range of 2 meter, the band is not what I consider to be crowded.  In my local area, only one of the repeaters is regularly busy, and even this one is very slow late at night. Working simplex is a bit more fun, and allows for a fair degree of privacy. Simplex is rather short ranged, being limited to line of site on your particular radio. In a mobile unit, it could mean 5 to 8 miles, or perhaps ten to fifteen if talking to a base. For a handheld, it is probably a mile or two

Antenna Systems

        Wow! Is there ever an abundance of material on how to make a two meter antenna.  This is an extremely popular band, and antenna matters are very interesting to most radio amateurs. Due to space limitations, I was unable to do anything very elaborate. I had considered several ideas, but finally went the very conventional route. I made myself a horizontal dipole for AM and SSB, and a modified version of a J-pole, called a Slim Jim for FM. The dipole is essentially three feet of wire, and the Slim Jim is about triple the amount of copper tubing - simple.

        One great thing about my two meter station is that it is single band - one band, one antenna. This means matching the antenna once, and then  leaving it be. There are no recurring worries about SWR, tuning, or cable loss. Yes, VHF losses are greater in coax than those at HF frequencies, but this is all related to SWR, and SWR can be kept very low in a single band system. I do prefer to swap between the horizontal and the vertical, when I change operating modes, but this is a minor inconvenience. Lately, when I wish to operate in FM mode, I use my Azden 6000, rather than my Kenwood.

        My first antenna was a cheap little dipole made from a pair of telescoping radio aerials.  Technically, I suppose this is a horizontal dipole, made from telescoping antenna sections; but there was no balun, and the very thin coax cable is permanently attached. In addition, I did not know any better than to have the antenna mounted over my window and only a couple of inches above a parallel metal curtain rod, which certainly coupled with the antenna. I also had a part of the coax run right alongside the antenna elements and parallel to them - every possible thing was done wrong.  I am amazed that it worked and even more amazed that it did not fry my finals. Thank goodness for the protection circuits in the TS-711 radio. I did notice that from time to time, the transmitter section of the radio would seem to go out of service. Letting it sit for a few moments would usually fix this. In addition, turning the RF all the way down to the lowest setting, of two watts, would usually prevent this from occurring at all. Ignorance is bliss, and God protects fools and drunkards - well maybe.

        Once I got an idea of what I was doing, I improved the antenna slightly, by winding four turns of the coax around a piece of tubing (a pen actually), to make a choke. I also removed the curtain rod, and rerouted the coax to be perpendicular to the radiating elements. The antenna works much better now, and is still used for occasional attempts on SSB. I had considered making a standard dipole, with balun; but for now, this little antenna is good enough for the occasional use to which it is put.

        My second antenna was a magnet mount 2 meter unit, stuck to a large piece of sheet metal. The antenna, and its sheet metal base sat on the table in my library. It actually worked acceptably well, far better than the little dipole (probably because of the vertical polarization, which is the same as that on most mobiles and repeaters) and I could hit most of the local repeaters. A number of radio operators do such things. Though it worked well enough, it was unsightly, and took up lots of room, that could have been used for other things. The table upon which the antenna was set up is my work table. With the antenna taking half of it up, mush of my projects spilled over to my desk. This antenna is now on my car, and mostly used by my Azden, which is my usual mobile radio.

        I have heard stories of magnet mount antennas being stuck to the top of refrigerators, metal utility shelves, and even bits of ducting or screening. As long as the square footage, can make a decent ground plane, and provide a good ground reflection, it is amazing what you can do. The sheet metal base sits in my basement until I find some use for it, probably as a ground plane for some home brew antenna of the future.

         My current antenna is a homebrew modification of the classic J-pole called a Slim Jim. It is presently mounted on the wall of my shack, but will eventually be going up in my attic. The extra five or ten feet of height could get me a few more miles of range. IN VHF/UHF, height is critical to range. For more information on this great antenna design, and how it was made,

I have set up an antenna page about it here.

        I heartily recommend this antenna, and it will probably be my last two meter antenna. It was easy to build, easy to tune (despite rumors that such antennas are not), and very inexpensive. Many make such antennas out of wire, or even out of feedline. I chose to use soft copper tubing, as it is easy to work and required no cutting or welding. The antenna sits on my wall, hanging by a bit of pull string. I have been very careful to mount it at least 20" away from any metal.

        Though a good radio is important, there is little argument that the antenna is the most important part of a radio system.  Since I have improved my little dipole, and particularly since I have put together my new Slim Jim, my friends on the air have made a number of comments asking if I have a linear, or have some sort of new radio. As much as the importance of the antenna is widely known and accepted, we are all still just a little surprised at how much difference these bent and folded lengths of wire and pieces of tubing can make.

• Remove the top cover and locate the control unit (X53-1410-XX)
• Cut diode D30, xmit now 141.000 TO 150.995 MHz.

        The problem with doing this mod is that there is no one you can legally talk to un the extended frequencies, you risk fine or loss of license, and there is the possibility of doing the mod wrong and damaging your radio. You don't even want to think about what will happen, if these frequencies are in use by local police or fire. The nearest civilian frequency is the MURS band, which starts at 151.82 MHz.

       Power tweak: 

       There are two other mods of which I am aware. I recommend neither. One is to tweak the final, so that 35 watts is put out, instead of 25 watts.  This will certainly shorten the life of your radio, and may blow the final one day. It is also pointless. Such a mod would add perhaps 1 db to output - not even noticeable. The final output transistor is a Mitsubishi M57727. A number of misled radio hackers have noted that this transistor is rated at 37 watts. Though power can be increased from 25 watts to 35 watts, while staying within the specs of the component, this allows for no reserve capacity, will wear the chip faster and will produce more heat. The unit also becomes more sensitive to less than ideal SWR when operating at higher power.

        The other mod permits doubling of the data transmit speed to 96K. It is a very involved mod, and I have yet to perform it.

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Repeater	Transmit (user receive)	Receive (user transmit)	Tone	Offset	Location
MRC	146.910	146.310	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
MAARS	145.130	144.530	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
WARC	147.390	147.990	127.3	600Khz +	Pewaukee
SEWFARS	146.820	146.220	127.3	600Khz -	Wales
MRAC	145.390	144.790	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
ORC	146.97	146.37	127.3	600Khz -	Cedarburg
MSOE	145.270	144.670	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
Mcares	147.165	147.765	127.3	600Khz +	Milwaukee
Ozares	147.33	147.93	127.3	600Khz +	Port Wash
group	147.21	147.81	127.3	600Khz +	Slinger