VHF Band in Cyprus

The VHF Band is the range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz.

Amateur radio is allocated in the range of 144–148 MHz 2-meter band. It’s the band mainly used for local communications . 

The band can also be used for satellite communications as a form of Long distance but for limited time windows. 

What VHF could be used for :

You can use portable handheld devices for VHF. So you will never be alone in the woods during your walks, if only someone was listening on the same frequency. 

VHF is mandatory in marine operations. You have to have a radio with you when offshore. Why not carry a radio with you inland in case of distress?

Testing your equipment. When there is no one on air who will give you a signal report. you get a new handheld and you dont know how well it performs. you get new antenna but again you dont know if its any better than the one you had before. you can answer to a call just for a signal report. Amateur radio its all about experimenting. 

Also with frequent use you can know where your equipment can work and where are the blind spots with no reception.

For fun!

 Radio amateurs in Cyprus are limited. They could form a close circle community and what better way but to use their special privilege to keep in touch 

Exchange of ideas and practices

Discussions on the hobby

Share local traffic reports or driving directions. 

Something like a discussion board who anyone available at the time can join in. Also with APRS you get much more from this. Even text messages, weather reports, directional beacons, emails etc. - but let’s leave that for later.

With frequent use of the VHF band you can be ready in case of Emergency.

You would be practicing it every day! You will know who the frequent users are and if someone has not been on air for some time you will look out for him. You would have an emergency network setup out of habit. 

Now you can drive some traffic through the internet to your local VHF space through echolink or IRLP which is a connection of nodes over internet. So you may have some QSOs with DX stations with minimal equipment to schedule a call over HF.

VHF is the first thing anyone would use once introduced to the Amateur radio hobby. 

The equipment is cheaper and easier to find. Also there are many radio amateurs that got their license just for a handheld device. If it were activity on the VHF they would most probably maintain interest and who knows maybe go to the next step once they would want something more. 

Of course if the VHF would be overcrowded it would make more experienced users to turn off their radios because of the constant noise and the irritating mistakes new users usually make ,so correct operation process should be followed at all times.

Usually for mobile operations you listen at the simplex frequency V40 145.500 MHz and from there once you establish contact you can move to a new channel (QSY) .

In Cyprus you may be listening on the local repeater of each city and QSY from there if your radio range permits it. 

In case of emergency or priority communication you may call “Break, Break” or if you listen “Break, Break” you stop transmition immediately and give priority to that call . You note down carefully the message transmitted. But do not respond for help except you are absolutely certain you can help. If you have noted the distress call you may relay it to the proper authority which is responsible to help. The information you need is Who is in need, where is he, What is the problem and what is the immediate needs. (some examples in greek)

The voice is not clear over the radio so you have to state your callsign every now and then during a call so that others know who is talking . when you are addressed to someone specific you have to state his call sign or name .maybe someone joined in in the middle of the conversation 

emergency communications (greek)