TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 14.33 DATE: August 17, 2014
SUBJECT: WHAT ARE SPLIT FREQUENCIES?
In Bulletin NR 14.32, the word Split Frequency was mentioned. A split frequency is when you are transmitting on one frequency, and receiving on another. There are times when you may need to use split frequencies. You may be having a receive noise problem on the frequency you are transmitting on, and the person you are in communication with is having noise on the frequency they are transmitting on. You both find a frequency that is quiet to each of you and have the other person transmit on it, and vice versa.
Other times that you may need to operate on split frequencies is when you are talking to an Amateur in another country. They may not be allowed to transmit on the same frequency you are on, and you may not be allowed to transmit where they are at. There are problems that can occur when operating split frequencies.
Since you are transmitting on a frequency that you are not receiving on, you can't hear if someone else is on that frequency. You may be interfering with their communication. If you are transmitting on one frequency and receiving on another, the best thing to do is announce every so often what frequency you are receiving on. That way if you are interfering with another communication, they will know what frequency you are receiving on, and they can let you know about the interference.
It's not illegal to operate on split frequencies, but it is illegal to interfere with another communication.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV