Programming HT ham radio

[Mrprez]

My question is not about how to program my radio, my question is what frequencies should I program? I’m thinking NOAA, GMRS receive only and a bunch of simplex channels and leave room for repeaters? My radio, TYT UV-88 has 200 channels. How should I divvy these up for best coverage? What am I missing? TIA.

 

[JeepingMike]

I typically put a group of my local repeaters in first, then a group(s) of repeaters in next common areas of travel, then simplex frequencies, then other stuff like GMRS/FRS receive, MURS receive, NOAA (if the radio doesn't have a function for weather channels), local fire/EMS dispatch receive (I'm a Paramedic), etc. If the radio has banks or groups, I separate these groups. Since I use RT Systems software for my HTs, I build and save program files for travel destinations as needed or for regular travel areas with similar layouts as well.

 

[RoarinRow]

I put favorites on top, e.g. US: Ham:146.460, GMRS:15, Open Ham Channel, Weather, Local Fire and Emergency, then several repeaters in the areas I think I might travel to, then all the remaining GMRS frequencies, APRS, and ISS just in case.

 

[Mrprez]

What do you do for simplex channels? I’ve seen img files with rows after rows of channels. Do you program channels from 2m and 70 cm? What spacing is commonly used?

 

[JeepingMike]

What do you do for simplex channels? I’ve seen img files with rows after rows of channels. Do you program channels from 2m and 70 cm? What spacing is commonly used?

I program the national simplex calling frequencies for 2m and 70cm (my radios are dual band) and a couple of locally used others (creating options for quick use in other areas as well). Of course I can add other simplex frequencies from the keypad if a situation calls for it.

 

[Prerunner1982]

If you have room Forest Service frequencies wouldn't hurt either.
Radioreference.com is a good resource for that kind of stuff.

 

[Prerunner1982]

If you are going on a trip you could put in repeaters along the way. I typically put in a dummy entry noting the county/city area so that I know that every entry after that is in that particular area.

 

[Oranger]

Here is how I laid mine out: Weather channels, 146.520, 446.000, 145.5625, local repeaters, nearby repeaters, places I see myself going in the near future repeaters.