Posted by Mike D on 10/1/2006, 11:33 am ---------------- Emergency communications information. During emergencies - local, state, and national - the importance of our country’s communications system, including telecommunications, broadcast, cable, and satellite systems, becomes clear. We use our phones to call 911 or to call our family members to make sure they are safe. We turn on our televisions and radios to get information updates. While there is no doubt that our country has one of the world’s most extensive and dependable communications systems, unusual conditions can put a strain on it. The following information will help you better understand what happens with our communications system during an emergency and how best to use the various components of our communications system during a crisis or disaster. When the power is off, phones go out and the internet is down, when police, fire, and hospital services are overwhelmed, amateur radio operators are there to take up the slack as emergency communcations volunteers. They have, in fact, been there in virtually all disasters in recent memory .. Hurricanes, fires, ice storms, earthquakes, floods and so on. With a little forethought and a few bucks, you can prepare yourself for similar events in the future and avoid being incommunicado when you need it the most. Here are some criteria for setting up an emergency communications system: 1) It should be easy to operate General Mobile Radio Service There are 23 GMRS channels used on an unassigned basis and dependent on the cooperation of all users. The channels are split up for base, mobile relay and fixed station or mobile station use. Each license is assigned one or two of eight possible channels or pairs as requested by the license applicants. In order to avoid interference or conflicts in use, the FCC recommends monitoring existing frequencies in your area before making your application and requesting your channels. The advantage of the GMRS is that this is the most useful of the previously listed services, but brings with it disadvantages of government oversight and stringent frequency assignment. GMRS radios are bigger than FRS units and have more features. Higher power means more batteries (as many as 6 AAs) and a higher price. Expect to pay $200 for handheld 2 watt units and considerably more for 5 watt base station transceiver. Amateur Radio All hams and their stations must be licensed by the FCC, and in order to receive a license, you must pass a written exam. Any license above the entry level also requires a proficiency in Morse Code. There’s no fee for the license (which is good for ten years), no age requirement and operators are allowed to use any frequency for which their license qualifies them. A nationwide system of repeaters on the 144MHz and 440MHz bands allows nearly seamless communications as hams travel around the country. These repeaters are built, installed and maintained by active and well-populated local amateur radio clubs. Traditional amateur frequencies in the shortwave bands provide excellent coverage for local, regional, national, and even international, communications. Unfortunately, there’s not one radio for all of these capabilities which is why hams typically have three or four separate radios and antennas. The easiest way into ham radio is via the “Technician” class license which requires a written test based on a text available through many sources. This class allows the user to operate(among others) in the 2 meter band (144MHz). Small handi-talkies for 2 meters are relatively cheap and give a range of 20-50 miles depending on terrain, power and whether or not you’re using a repeater. Many repeaters provide access to 911 services through the handi-talkie. Expect to pay $200-$500 for 2 meter transceivers depending on features. If you’re planning to use Amateur Radio for your family, each member needs a Technician license and their own handi-talkie.
I thought this was interesting information and wanted to pass it along for your reading. You can find a lot of information on Ham Radio, GMRS and other communication modes in the website at: www.myworldpage.net
2) have effective range
3) have a modest amount of protection against interference
4) be inexpensive (i.e. low initial cost, low maintenance and no monthly fees)
5) be readily available
6) be able to operate “off the grid”
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is like the FRS in that it operates in the 460MHz region, uses small handi-talkies and is intended to be used by individuals to communicate with immediate family members. The big differences are that GMRS requires an FCC license with a fee and users must be 18 years or older. In addition, the output of these units is considerably greater (1 to 5 watts), allowing a range of coverage from 5 to 25 miles, depending on terrain and antenna position.
The great grandpappy of the two way radio scene is the Amateur Radio service whose operators are known as Hams and who have pioneered radio communications since the first decade of this century. AR is also the most regulated of the non-commercial services, it can end up being the most expensive, but it can also be the most versatile and powerful.
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