Programming HT ham radio

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Mrprez

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Enthusiast III

1,146
Wildwood, FL, USA
First Name
John
Last Name
Kennedy
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28913

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KJ4WMZ
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

Rank V
Member

Advocate II

1,902
Greencastle, PA, USA
First Name
Mike
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Stern
Member #

24021

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KB7THL
Service Branch
USN Corpsman Veteran
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.
 
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RoarinRow

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,771
Elk Grove, CA, USA
First Name
Rolando
Last Name
Nispiros
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17011

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KN6JJS
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.
 
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Mrprez

Rank IV

Enthusiast III

1,146
Wildwood, FL, USA
First Name
John
Last Name
Kennedy
Member #

28913

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KJ4WMZ
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

Rank V
Member

Advocate II

1,902
Greencastle, PA, USA
First Name
Mike
Last Name
Stern
Member #

24021

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KB7THL
Service Branch
USN Corpsman Veteran
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.
 
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Oranger

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Launch Member

Advocate I

3,798
Hastings, MN, USA
First Name
Dylan
Last Name
Lee
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23001

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KE0ZAU
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.