On land the best bang for the buck is the Amateur Radio Service, which requires a license. The 2-meter VHF band is most common for local area mobile and portable communications. A 50-watt mobile radio with 5/8 wave antenna mounted on the highest part of the vehicle is a typical install. Simplex range is line of sight to the horizon, so range depends upon terrain, antenna height of the receiving station and other factors. Using repeaters it is common to talk to other stations 50-80 miles away. Using VOIP and repeaters contacts of thousands of miles are possible using a mobile radio and linked internet remotes.
This link will take you to a free class you can download to study and take your FCC Amateur Radio Technician License test: W4AVA.ORG
If you have budget for a compact mobile rig, that can be used at home, in vehicles and in your go kit, like the Kenwood TM-V71As I use, their capability and performance power makes an HT look like a Cracker Jacks toy...
The most common question among enthusiastic new amateurs interested in EmCom is "what radio should I get?"
Hams fantasize about the perfect "one" rig, with "DC to daylight all in a box.” If you can afford only one radio, the HF+VHF+UHF rig “may” be a viable choice. But “do-everything” radios usually do so on only one band and mode at a time. They’re neither the best 2m nor the best HF rig. They work for some people, but I don't favor the “one-radio does all” concept. You must evaluate the validity of this for yourself.
Rigs for Emergency Copmmunications (EmCom) should have been on the market long enough to have established a reputation for reliability. If you follow the “one rig does-all" approach, the IC706 in its later versions has been in production a long time, is greatly improved from the original, and has few "bugs." Few Mk. II Gs linger for long on the used market, Over a million 706s of all variations have been sold. This speaks well for the basic model. You see more used Yaesu FT100s and FT817s, which suggests that impulse buyers of these rigs were less than thrilled.
Keep equipment that works and sell what doesn't. Don’t change just because a new model comes out.
Encourage others in your ACS, CERT, RACES or SAR unit to quasi-standardize on the same proven rigs, so it is easier to use each others equipment. Radios for EmCom should be simple to use, rugged and reliable. Controls should be intuitive. Some newer rigs are not user-friendly, because of their small displays, confusing controls, layered menus and obscure keystroke combinations defy anyone from guessing how to use one without the manual.
Practice Redundancy! Multiple radios are better than one. If the only rig you have fails, you can’t communicate unless you know smoke signals!
If you drive a car, get a mobile rig first. A modern 2m mobile costs little more than a HT, but has far better simplex capability. Newly licensed un-coded technicians should consider a sturdy 2-meter or dual-band mobile for a first rig.
If you don't own a car or drive or have impaired mobility, THEN get a handheld transceiver (HT) first. But for most people an HT is best for a second rig you get later. A portable is good as a spare, and for use solo foot assignments, such as CERT communications, storm damage assessment, SAR or neighborhood patrol away from your vehicle. Get the best one you can afford, dual-band VHF-UHF if possible.
In suburban areas a dual-band mobile radio makes more sense. If you can, find one which has DUAL RECEIVE. In high RF urban environments 2 meters may almost useable due to intermodulation distortion, which is caused by mixing productions from nearby public safety or commercial paging transmitters. VHF is also less effective in and around high rise buildings, and urban ground clutter due to shadowing, reflection and building attenuation. Having UHF 70 cm ham or GMRS or VHF 220-band capability makes good sense in urban areas. UHF has better building penetration, and in most urban areas good repeater coverage. Almost everywhere there are more unused 220 and 440 repeater pairs than on 2 meters, so it is much easier for your group to get a new coordination.
Emergency radio nets may require working from inside, out of and around steel-reinforced buildings where VHF simply doesn't work very well. Every urban ACS or RACES member should seek at least a HT, on either 220 or 70 cm. If you operate both voice and packet nets from locations in close proximity, assigning them on different bands reduces problems with receiver desense and interference.
The 220 band has a lot going for it for EmCom. It penetrates buildings almost as well as UHF, with better simplex range, similar to 2 meters. 220 works very well for simplex, with a low noise floor, and range much like 2 meters.
In mobile ops 220 has less intermod than 2 m or 70 cm. Another advantage of 220 is that few scanners receive it, which makes it better to relay things you’d rather not read in the newspaper tomorrow. While no amateur mode is "secure" in the national security sense, using bands or modes not received on common consumer scanners, such as packet, SSB on 2m and any mode on 220 is more "discreet" if you want to limit who is listening.
2 meters SSB, if enough people have it, works well beyond repeater range when HF conditions are not in your favor. It is a viable alternative to HF for "short path" during high SFI or solar storms when even 40, 60 and 75 meter NVIS is unreliable for those “short paths” beyond repeater coverage. Using modest output power, such as 25w into a compact, horizontally polarized loop, 2 meter SSB is generally reliable for portable and mobile units to about 60-80 miles. This weighs in favor of the “do everything” radio, by providing long-haul capability which can be exploited by your un-coded techs.
If you have a General license, the one rig does all in the vehicle may make more sense for you than an FM only mobile. But you still have the disadvantage of listening and working only one band and mode at a time. Installing multiple antennas for different bands on the vehicle, getting power to the rig(s), addressing fuel pump and alternator noise to get decent HF mobile performance can be a challenge for new operators.
Any amateur equipment used for EmCom should be frequency agile and capable of being readily programmed from the keypad in the field and have not less than ten field- programmable memories and CTCSS encode.
Intermod rejection is important, but receiving outside the amateur bands is not. Many amateur rigs with wide receive fail miserably in intermod rejection, so carry a notch filter. The ones made by Par Electronics offer the best “bang for the buck.”
You shouldn't listen to anything except your assigned net. Don't use a transceiver needed for "Comm" as a "scanner" because you may be distracted by other events and miss important traffic to you. If your served agency really wants you to monitor their net they will issue you a radio.
FM Mobile radios should be simple to operate, rugged and have a large and easily read display. Transmitter output should be at least 25w output per band; with at least ten memories per band, and selectable CTCSS encode.
An HT for EmCom should ideally be able to operate from three power sources: 1) its NiCd, NiMh or Li-ion battery pack, 2) from AA batteries using a battery case which fits the rig, and…3) From an external DC source using an adapter cord capable of connection to a gel cell, cigarette plug or external power supply.
My HF rigs are Yaesu FT900CAT mobiles. These are discontinued, but common used. They are great rigs because the controls are intuitive; the ones you use on all the time are on the front panel, which can be remoted. The display is large, the rig has very loud audio, a built-in antenna tuner, an effective noise blanker, a sensitive receiver, IF shift and notch filters. If you know how to use almost any HF radio, you don't need the manual on an FT900. The only thing the FT900 lacks which newer rigs have is Digital Signal Processing. I recommend and use the ad-on Am-Com Clear Speech DSP units for noise cancellation, which are very effective.
I loved my FT900 so much I couldn’t bear the thought of being without it if it needed to go to the shop for repair, so got three identical HF rigs for base, portable and mobile. These are modified for 60 meters and programmed alike. The base radio is equipped with a Gregoire head set / boom mic with Heil HC-5 element. The hand mic and headset are connected to an MJ-89 mic switch and the Clear Speech DSP unit, which permits using either the hand mic or a boom mic headset connected to a foot PTT switch.
My portable HF is another FT900 stored in a quick-detachable mobile mount bolted into a waterproof Pelican box.
My field deployable HF antenna is a set of paired ham sticks on quick disconnects for 40, 60 and 75m. One of each pair may be used on-the-go; or when stationary, mounted horizontally on a dipole adapter with 25 ft. of military MS-44 mast on a tripod base.
If I know I will set up stationary and not need to move quickly, I carry end-fed quarter wave wires for each HF band with dog bone insulators, 100 ft of nylon cord and a weight to throw up into a tree. Then I just drive the Jeep forward enough to draw the wire out as a sloper, connecting it to the mobile antenna mount using a ham stick quick-disconnect. Use your jumper cables to bond your vehicle to a highway guard rail or wire fence for counterpoise.
My primary EmCom vehicle is equipped with two batteries. The single-band VHF and UHF rigs are connected directly to the Optima “red top” AGM battery which is the vehicle starting battery. The HF rig is connected directly to a Yuasa NP65-12, 65ah gel cell boxed and strapped behind the front passenger seat. The auxiliary battery is charged on the go through a 10A fused cigarette lighter plug using AWG14 gage wire from a dashboard power port which is “hot” only when the engine is running. I carry a military mast kit, two Group 27 batteries and two 20w solar panels for battery charging.
The family car has two stacked 2 meter and 70 cm radios. The 2 meter rig is a Kenwood TM255 all mode and the UHF rig is an ICOM F221 landmobile programmed both with GMRS for which I am licensed, and 70 cm ham band. The VHF and UHF mobiles are duplexed into a Diamond SG7200 dual-band antenna mounted on an NMO through the trunk lid. A mast mounted horizontal KB6KQ loop is also connected to the TM255 via an A/B switch into the 2 meter side of the mobile duplexer.
I have an extra spare power cord connected to the battery which exits the firewall through the glove box, out of the way and coiled up. This is quickly, accessible to get going again if the primary cable blows a fuse, or to enable the temporary installation of an HF rig using a 6-pin Molex to OEM-T pigtail.
If you run an HF rig using a standard mobile power cord, limit transmitter output to 50w with the smaller AWG 12 gage wire and 15A fuses.
My old Yaesu FT5100 dual-band is set up to carry for portable operation in a Pelican box with 17ah gel cell battery, 25 ft. of coax, dual-band mag-mount, extension cord and 10A power supply which can be deployed at a shelter or as a cross-band repeater.
For portable auxiliary power I carry either a pair of BCI Group U1 AGM batteries in .50 cal. M2A1 ammunition cans, which provide 64ah capacity, or a single Yuasa NP65-12 gel cell 65ah battery with retractable handles. I also carry a 20amp power supply, a 6A gel cell charger and 100 ft. heavy-duty UL-rated extension cord on a hose reel.
Good field deployable dual-band antennas are the Diamond X50N or Cushcraft AR-270, which are compact and fit easily in a vehicle for transport. While dual-band for 2m and 440, either "works" for low power on 220, with acceptable VSWR as an expedient tri-band antenna. I carry a mobile antenna adapter with mast clamp and radial kit as an extra field antenna.
My dual-band HT is an old but reliable Standard C558A with 200 channel expanded memory. In the go kit I carry two AA battery cases plus an external DC power cord and 7ah-gel cell battery. I like the old Standard better for EmCom than most new rigs because it is as solid as commercial handheld, with dual receive and the best intermod rejection of any ham HT I‘ve used.
In my go kit also keep a Mirage BD35 dual-band brick amp, Comet CX722A dual-band half-wave rigid antenna with BNC, an extra CX72A flexible dual-band antenna, fused 20 ft. AWG10 gage power cord with battery clips for connecting the brick amp to a car battery, a KPC-3 TNC, laptop and 17ah gel cell for portable packet operation.
I hope this article provides you with some good “thought starters" for your radio "go kit" planning.
A portable transceiver with its original flexible helical antenna should not be your primary rig for EmCom.
It’s true that many amateurs start with a "handy-talkie" or "HT" when they get their first amateur radio license. Having learned from my experience in doing so, today I recommend that new operators buy 2-meter or dual-band mobiles as first rigs. Mobile rigs cost little or no more than a good portable, but are much more useful. For portable operation, you may carry a compact mobile rig in a briefcase with a 17ah-gel cell battery and telescoping 1/2 wave or ź-wave magnetic-mount mobile antenna. Include 25 feet or more of RG8-X (or better) coax to get the antenna up high, away from people. This arrangement won’t work for everyone. So, if all you have is an HT, the following will help you to “make the most of it!”
An "HT" does make perfectly good sense: ˇ For use on solo, foot assignments ˇ For anyone who doesn't drive; ˇ For Commuters who use public transportation; ˇ For controlling a mobile rig as a cross-band repeater ˇ As a “spare,” backup or loaner.
The National Institute of Science and Technology tested Public Safety "high-band" VHF and amateur 2-meter antennas. Flexible antennas commonly used on portable transceivers have -5db, “negative gain” compared to a quarter wave whip held at face level. This means that a 5-watt portable VHF with flexible helical antenna has an effective radiated power of only 1-watt. Carrying a portable on your belt produces -20dB of attenuation, reducing EIRP to 50 milliwatts! UHF results are similar.
Flexible "rubber ducky" antennas are rubber covered helical springs, intended to withstand rough handling, but they are notindestructible. Flexible antennas used on California fire lines for several weeks showed a 60% failure rate. Flexible antennas should be replaced as soon as they show ANY apparent kinks, cracks, abrasion or other wear to visual inspection. For EmCom you should always carry a spare antenna of some type.
An expedient which improves the performance of a flexible antenna is a counterpoise wire (19." long for 2-meters, 11” for 222 MHz or 6.5" for 70 cm or 6” for GMRS) of stranded wire, crimped and soldered to a battery clip. Attach the battery clip to the shield of a BNC connector, or use a ring terminal which will fit over an SMA connector, enabling you to thread the antenna over it. Reinforce the soldered connection with heat shrink to resist flex. A counterpoise prevents transmitted RF from coupling with your body. Your antenna now performs like a center-fed dipole, instead of an "end-fed dummy load!" The main lobe of the radiation pattern can be "aimed" by, grasping and pointing the end in the direction where you need a stronger signal.
Some after-market and home-made antennas performmuch better than the standard helical "rubber duck." A J-pole antenna constructed of 300-ohm twin-lead rolls up easily and fits into your pocket. When thrown up in a tree, it increases both height and gain. Full-sized, flexible 1/4 wave and telescoping 2-wave antennas work very well. A quarter-wave provides unity gain when used with a counterpoise and held at face level. This represents a 5 dB improvement over a short flexible antenna, because most of the effective signal is radiated. If operating from a vehicle, connect your portable rig to a magnetic mount mobile antenna to provide a clear RF path outside the vehicle. This overcomes about -10dB attenuation which results from operating a portable unit from inside a metal vehicle. Always carry suitable adapters so that you can connect your portable transceiver to an outside base or mobile antenna, when one is readily available. Pre-position antennas at shelter sites, etc. for this purpose.
In marginal operating locations a telescoping, half-wave performs better, because it provides the same unity gain without a ground plane that a 1/4 wave antenna does when used with a ground plane. A half-wave antenna can be pulled up into a tree, dangled out a window, attached to a window pane with suction cups, or be used bicycle or motorcycle mobile, or in city driving on a window clip mount. A telescoping half-wave increases useable simplex range of a typical 5 watt, 2-meter portable in average suburban ground clutter from about a mile with the stock flexible antenna to 3 miles or more, depending upon your height relative to the terrain. Adding a counterpoise to a unity gain antenna enables a portable unit to keep in reliable contact within 5 miles of an EOC or base station equipped with a gain antenna on a tower.
Telescoping antennas are more fragile and work best when stationary or in the open. Avoid side impacts, rough handling or prolonged mobile use of telescoping antennas on window clip mounts at highway speed, because excessive flexing loosens their internal electrical connections. Never collapse a telescoping antenna by whacking it down with the palm of your hand. Gently pull it down with your fingers. If you note any wobbling or looseness in the sections, replace the antenna.
Flexible antennas are safer when working in close quarters around people and are more durable when walking through dense vegetation for wildfire suppression, CERT or search and rescue operations. They better for dual-band transceivers because telescoping antennas are usually mono-band. Most dual-band flexible antennas approximate a 1/4 wave on 2 meters and a 5/8 wave on 70 cm, are optimized for one band and may resonate poorly on the other. How efficient a particular antenna is can be determined only by testing. Atelescoping half-wave, or dual-band-mobile antenna with magnetic mount, which will work either with or without a ground plane, offers the best “bangfor the buck.”
Any emergency antenna for your portable transceiver should be rated to handle up to 25 watts of RF output. This enables it to be used as an expedient antenna to use with a mobile radio in portable operation, or to permit use of an external "brick" amplifier with your portable.
A magnetic mount works best on a car, but an improvised ground plane can almost always be found around the home or office, such as a metal filing cabinet, metal trash can, cookie sheet, rain gutter, refrigerator, window air conditioning unit, balcony railing or any other large metal object. On boats, motorcycles, fiberglass truck caps or wooden balcony railings use a half-wave antenna, which does not require a ground plane. If you need to place an antenna on a bus or other vehicle where a mag mount won’t stay, use a suction cup mount such as at http://www.w5fc.org/pse_docs/KNOWLEDGE/qst_p56.pdf
BATTERY POWER BASICS
A common error of new operators is failure to carry enough battery power to last through a full 12-hour operational period. As a minimum always carry at least one spare charged NiCd pack and a AA battery case, which enables you to keep operating when the power goes off, if you can't recharge your NiCd pack. Gel cell batteries for auxiliary power should be sized to provide not less than 1 amp-hour of current capacity for each watt of transmitter output, for each 12-hour operational period.
Cycle and recharge dry NiCd or NiMh packs monthly. Write the recharge date on a strip of tape on each pack. In cold weather keep NiCd packs warm by keeping them in an inside coat pocket and not exposed on your belt. Do not store NiMh packs in your vehicle above 120 degs. F if you expect them to hold charge more than a few hours.
An adapter cord to power your transceiver from an auto cigarette lighter plug or a gel cell battery is needed for extended operation. Cigarette lighter cords are often unreliable because auto sockets aren't the best conductors, due to contamination and size variations, which cause the plug to vibrate loose. As an alternate power source, you should still have one, because they are ubiquitous and in a pitch, much better than nothing!
If all you have is a portable transceiver, the above information will help to ensure that you can provide an adequate signal for reliable emergency communications.
Amateur Radio License is Free..You just have to pass a 35 question multiple choice test, and you are issued a 10 year Ham License for VHF/ UHF/ Microwave/ 6 meters, etc...Gmrs radio License are free as well.
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[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
Amateur Radio License is Free..You just have to pass a 35 question multiple choice test, and you are issued a 10 year Ham License for VHF/ UHF/ Microwave/ 6 meters, etc...Gmrs radio License are free as well.
Unlike a FCC Amateur Radio License, which you don't have to pay for, only the exam fee...
...a FCC GMRS license is fee based and cost $85 for a five year period.
This info is based on the last financial transaction I authorized for such...
I heard that the LEO's ,fire, em was going to go to new frequencys??? I dont know a thing about any radios ,would like to learn. This is a very informative thread.
I heard that the LEO's ,fire, em was going to go to new frequencys??? I dont know a thing about any radios ,would like to learn. This is a very informative thread.
This all the result of 911, Wild West, nice handle BTW!
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God bless and our Men and Women In Uniform. RIP Arkansas Hunter e
...BTW, unless you are a large user, just forget this high priced license fee...
Sorry wrong answer.
It doesn't take long to find you with DF equipment and a spectrum analyzer.
We will DF you, record your audio and transmitter characteristics, forward the information to the FCC, and assist the local public safety agency or business radio LMR coordination group by testifying in court. Go to jail, go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
The 22-channel hybrid FRS/GMRS radios require a license.
According to the FCC use of 22-channel hybrids on anything other than the low power 500mw FRS only channels 8-14 requires a license. The interstitial simplex channels 1-7 in these radios are shared with GMRS and transmit at higher power on these radios. So their use requires a license.
This effectively limits users of these radios without a GMRS license to FRS channels 8-14, because these are the only channels in which software defaults to low power on transmit. Channels 15-22 are split frequency repeater pairs only used in GMRS, and their use requires a license.
Neighborhood Watch and Community Emergehncy Response Teams (CERT) should seek 14-channel FRS-only radios so that they may use all 14 channels legally without any license requirement. FRS-only radios are becoming harder to find, because the manufacturers and mass market distributors "push" the hybrid radios, often with ludicrous range claims.
There is a growing interest among large and small organizations to use the inexpensive “bubble-pack” GMRS radios for neighborhood emergency response teams, including CERT. Misconceptions are common regarding the purpose of GMRS and the potential for volunteer groups to operate their radios which results in misuse in violation of FCC rules and incompatible with the services. These questions are designed to help you understand the role the GMRS can play for these groups and exactly what the responsibilities of the licensee are operating a GMRS system.
Offices of Emergency Management, CERT teams, and other organized neighborhoods, and neighborhood watch groups are the best places to set up very-local FRS supplemental, emergency communications. Please take into consideration the following points as you set up your program.
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) Definition
FCC R&R 95.1 [Definition of the GMRS]: "The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). (a) The GMRS is a land mobile radio service available to persons for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a system consisting of one or more stations."
FCC R&R 95.143: "Managing a GMRS system in an emergency. (a) The stations in a GMRS system must cease transmitting when the station operator of any station on the same channel is communicating an emergency message (concerning the immediate protection of property or the safety of someone's life). (b) If necessary to communicate an emergency message from a station in a GMRS system, the licensee may permit:
(1) Anyone to be the station operator and (2) The station operator to communicate the emergency message to any radio station."
An emergency is not a planned or anticipated event, practice drill, exercise, day-to-day routine radio traffic of a service club or volunteer group. Nor is it disaster related tactical communication not immediately associated with the immediate protection of life or property.
No group organized to provide assistance to the public in an emergency is not permitted to monopolize, “own” a GMRS channel for routine tactical communication. Groups may not discourage authorized users others from sharing the frequency or interfere or preclude others from conducting useful personal or family communication. Groups may not reserve channels by busying-out channels through the use of frequent drills, network-like activity, dispatch operations, or conducting public safety training activities, networks etc.. Such activity is inconsistent with the definition of the General Mobile Radio Service.
GMRS licensees are required to share (FCC R&R 95.7) a tiny allocation of eight repeater pairs and seven interstitial frequencies. Sharing cannot occur unless public-safety-oriented volunteer groups and their volunteers use the spectrum responsibly.
The Frequently Asked Questions
"As a CERT volunteer may I use a GMRS radio?" Yes, as long as you have a GMRS license.
"I have been told that since I am a CERT volunteer I do not have to obtain a GMRS license to use my twenty-two channel GMRS/FRS hybrid radio. Is that true?" No. You must obtain a GMRS license to use a twenty-channel hybrid. The misconception that no license is required is perpetuated by irresponsible retailers so they can sell the more expensive “hybrid” twenty-two channel radios.
FCC: "If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license. FRS radios have a maximum power of ˝ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power and integral (non-detachable) antennas. If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license. GMRS radios generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas. The current fee for a new GMRS license is $85"
"I was told that as long as I use the FRS channels on a twenty-two channel GMRS/FRS hybrid radio that I do not need a GMRS license. Is that true?" The FCC website clearly states that if a radio was approved/certified by the Commission as a GMRS radio then the operator requires a GMRS license to operate that radio. The presumption is that you will use all of the channels in the radio not just the FRS channels. There would be no requirement to use a GMRS call sign on FRS channels 8-14 on a twenty-two channel radio; however, there may be a requirement to use a GMRS call sign on FRS 1-7 IF the 22 channel radio you own uses more than the FRS legal power of one-half watt on those channels. An FRS-ONLY radio requires NO FCC license.
"But our university CERT program leaders wrote in our radio instructions the following, "Since only channels 8–14 have transmission power of 0.5 watts, we will limit our use to those channels. The other channels on the radio have 1 watt of transmission power, which requires a license from the Federal Communications Commission for use. They will not be used except in exceptional cases, as described under Channel Allocation. Channel 7, Subcode 53 This is a 1 watt channel, which will not be used normally by CERT. It should be used only when a person finds themselves in a truly emergency situation and cannot get a response on the normal CERT channels. This channel will be monitored by the Incident Commander." No.Your CERT leaders do not have this authority. The University, in this case, has no authority to use or issue GMRS radios to anyone. Anyone using a radio approved as a GMRS radio must have a GMRS license, and the University has NO authority to allow anyone to use GMRS without a license no matter how well intentioned.
From the FCC:"Before any station transmits on any channel authorized in the GMRS from any point within or over the territorial limits of any area where the FCC regulates radio services, the responsible party must obtain a license. The FCC usually grants GMRS system licenses for a five-year term. To apply for a GMRS system license, you may file online through the Universal Licensing System (ULS), or file FCC Form 605 manually. New filers can learn more about ULS in its getting started tutorials. See Fee Requirements for FCC Form 605 for current licensing fee information.
“What are the benefits to obtaining a license? “
The benefits of licensing are many.
• You may use up to fifty-watts transmitter output power FCC R&R 95.135 on base stations and mobile units with home rooftop or vehicle rooftop antennas.
• You may use up to five watts effective radiated power on FRS 1-7
• You may have a Small Base Station FCC R&R 95.139on FRS 1-7. (Five watts ERP or less and antenna height not to exceed twenty feet.)
• You may use radios with removable antennas. Such antennas are forbidden by FCC Rules on twenty-two channel hybrid radios because these include FRS frequencies eight through fourteen.
• You may use radio repeater stations to increase your range.
"Can my CERT group reserve a GMRS channel for our use in a specific area?" No. You have no specific right to a channel. You are required to share this resource with other users just like everyone else does.
"May we do CERT emergency drills on GMRS?" Unlike the Amateur Radio Service, GMRS users may ONLY drill when asked to do so officially at the direction of a civil emergency organization. (FCC R&R 95.181(d)(3) During drills you must continue to share the radio frequency you are using.
"We want to set up a repeater for CERT. Is that a good idea?" Your group repeater would be more compatible with GMRS if all licensees in the area were allowed to use the repeater for family business as defined in the rules. It could then be used in time of emergency by those same families that are also CERT volunteers. This is common practice among REACT groups across the United States.
"Can the local jurisdiction issue GMRS radios to volunteers." Only if those volunteers are licensed in the GMRS. This would preclude issuing radios for practice drills unless every user is licensed in the GMRS. Any radios issued to volunteers must also be radios approved for use in the GMRS. (FCC R&R 95.603, 95.129) The licensed operator of that radio is also responsible for the proper operation of that radio.
"What is the most efficient way to use my radios before, during, and after an emergency?" Plan ahead, use appropriate identifiers (tactical call signs, first names) so you know who is who, agree on a communications protocol and relay mechanism for your neighborhood. Get your local Amateur Radio Service operators and GMRS licensees involved in the planning! Be polite, listen before transmitting, and communicate quickly and precisely so that others can also use the channels. Use your FRS radios to stay in touch with your children as they play and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Always listen carefully before transmitting. Never yell or shout into a radio and avoid the use of call tones.
"What is the best way for me to get communications for my CERT group?” Don't reinvent the wheel and “KISS." Hopefully your group agency sponsor has a committed leader with disaster planning experience, knowledge of communication systems, the ability to manage resources and supervise volunteers to accomplish the mission. Leadership makes all the difference in disaster planning. The biggest mistake any jurisdiction can make is allowing poor leadership to Balkanize critical communications resources.
Service providers such as Salvation Army, Red Cross, and CERT should benefit primarily from communications service provided by the Amateur Radio Service and that should be organized in concert with the local OEM/OES as part of a local disaster communications plan. Your jurisdiction's disaster plan should have the Amateur Radio Service volunteers provide you with links back to your OES/OEM headquarters.
Hams can also advise new CERT volunteers on organizing communication at the local level showing you how to use GMRS and FRS radio equipment properly. Many Hams also hold GMRS licenses. There are GMRS licensees in a community that would be happy to help your group.
Someone in your neighborhood could become a Ham if a Ham volunteer cannot be assigned. Your local Ham Radio Operator can relay important radio messages back to an OES or OEM headquarters if your neighborhood is cut off in an emergency. Your neighborhood and CERT team should be a part of a Multi-Hazard Functional Plan and everyone's role should be defined. Setting up a communication system on your own won't help you if it is not part of the larger plan.
Setting up competing communications groups is not productive. Setting up neighborhood communications plans IS productive; however, you need to use existing resources effectively. Plan a very-local method of communicating between your neighborhoods. Do it wisely and work within the FCC Rules.
SevenŠ: Sir; like most things; compromises; ICOM M72 cover a broad specturm; 'with license of course' Very good choice; for outside weather
ke4sky: information; is outstanding; ''but'' goes back to 'compromises'
todays 'radio's' aren't home-brew fixer friendly; {bad} for out-back hikes
todays 'radio's' are so much better; i.e. 'cheaper' than ever before
For; mobile outdoor walk abouts; M72; will be forgiving; needing re-charging or replacement 'charged' batteries; outstanding unit
Within range of a 'repeater' you ?can? cover 20-50 miles with M72 or about any 2 meter radio; you too; can 'link';
Car/Truck mobile ?fixed? pick a model; at that; we can discuss
Simple; 2 meter is what is the most prevelant to hand-held users; most common; many repeaters available. ''no charges''
With ?dual band? or tri-band; you have some optional bands to 'yak' on; and some repeaters are available to ?cross-band?
{ I use these ??? to express ''some radios will cross-band'' transmit/recieve }
From this point on; you decrease the number of users; the upper bands are available; requiring different thoughts.
follow up when you can))
big shrek: Sir; many felt that 'tooooo' much garbage; It is still around and available; they may even have calmed down?
Last but not least; use the minimum amount of "power" to enjoy your conversation; it will "equal'' more battery life.
__________________
Craig
Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
Find out what communication resources are used by your community. Most localities have an Office of Emergency Management. This may either be a separate agency or sometimes it may staffed be under the Sheriff's, Police or Fire Department. In order to qualify for Federal Preparedness Grant funds localities are required to have and maintain emergency response plans which meet requirements in the FEMA template.
Emergency Support Function 2 is Communications, in most plans it has two components.
Emergency Public Information conveys preparedness, mitigation and incident situation information necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare. This enables residents and businesses to cope with all hazards which may occur in the community.
Public Safety Communications includes the public safety answering point or Emergency Communications Center which receives 911 calls from the public, and which dispatches resources to manage incidents. It will also suport the Emergency Operations Center to faciliate communications with coordinating agencies, businesses and nongovernmental organizations to provide resources in support incident action plans developed by incident commanders in the field.
Volunteer communications resources - such as ham radio operators, Red Cross, REACT, Neighborhood Watch or Community Emergency Response Teams, or auxiliary communications services such as the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service are ideally integrated within the public safety communications structure, so that everyone reads from the "same sheet of music."
For instance, in Arlington County (VA) the Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) is the designated communications reserve of the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management under Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 - Communications. Its mission is to provide a variety of professional unpaid volunteer skills, including administrative, technical and operational, for emergency tactical, administrative and logistics communications; with served agencies, and participating jurisdictions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, §44-146.28:1 of the Code of Virginia, within the National Capitol Region, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
and our Men and Women In Uniform. RIP Arkansas Hunter e 
Interference with public safety communications 
HAM Radio 2-meter 
