Comments on: Family Radio Service, An Option for Neighborhood Emergency Communications

By: ke4sky

ke4sky — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:54:20 +0000

In my experience as a Scout leader most of their training and outdoor adventure activity is merit badge and program driven. Some councils do better than others encouraging thinking “outside the box.” The Blue Ridge Council has a model program which includes ham radio, rifle marksmanship and wilderness survival in addition to the standard scouting fare.

http://brmcreservation.org/eventregistration/

By: JohnyD

JohnyD — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:58:03 +0000

It best brings to light that there should be consideration that there are more reliable alternatives to the cell phone infrastructure. Everyone else would be happy to assume that the cell phone is enough to pull them through. I have to say that a good amateur radio far outweighs the benefit of the un-licensed radios. Not bashing the content of the original post. It’s not hard these days to get a Tech license in a weekend of study in basic electronics and a few rules and regs. Most repeater systems in the Amateur service are designed to operate with major power outages and many repeater stations are linked across states, so there’s plenty of coverage. Knowing the freqs and locations when you are remotely based only increases reliable back up communications. Explore your options, there are many to choose. Lots of SAR groups require a simple amateur license. I have experienced how coordinated efforts are maintained with the use of the services; both FRS and Amateur in SAR operations. My local county SAR group has saved lives relying on this gear. Just keep in mind that with reliable communications taken into consideration, and the additional factor added into your fly away kit, there is an alternative way of getting through. -when all else fails. Whatever your emergency needs, there is some cool gear out there to get you through. Just an afterthought, being in the military communications field and knowing that we rely extensively on satellites, I can say our military has not been asleep when it comes to the knowledge that the modern infrastructure is not without its vulnerabilities. Just think death ray- our commanders know that there are contingencies to train for, if that capability is ever lost. I still keep the old gear (better known as boat anchors) in the back room dusted off.

By: theotherryan

theotherryan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:48:08 +0000

We used to use them while hiking and skiing. My observation is that the range is absolutely dependent on what is in between the two radios. I once talked to someone 5 miles away on an FRS radio. It was hilltop to hilltop with nothing in between. However if buildings or obstacles are present range under 1/4 is not unheard of.

By: Blake Mims

Blake Mims — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:14:10 +0000

I gotta say… I’m an eagle scout, always held to the “be prepared” thing, and yet… I didn’t know about this. Strange what gaps of possibly vital knowledge you leave yourself open too if you get all your information and training from one source… which is scary, cause I always trusted the Scouts. And yet, I somehow got through Wilderness Survival and Citizenship in the Community/Nation/AND World without knowing about RACES…

By: gilligan0211

gilligan0211 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:35:30 +0000

I have several radios… I am FCC licensed though… KE5HLQ is the sign they gave me. A good 2-meter is a great piece of equipment to have in an emergency!

By: James G

James G — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:41:04 +0000

I have a few pairs of FRS radios but I mostly use them for playing around. I was lucky enough to get a free sat phone a few years ago so that is my primary emergency commutations tool. Lots of good info guys.

By: ReactGear

ReactGear — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:18:49 +0000

This is a really great piece of information.

During a crisis don’t waste time with cell phones or land lines, they are going to be overloaded. Find another means of communication asap. If not a radio as described above you might be able to try email, IM or another internet based from of comms. The internet is much better equipped to handle the spike in communications traffic that a catastrophe produces. The sooner you get your message out the better. After it’s out, move on to the next phase in your emergency plan, seconds count.