Emergency Communications
FRS and GMRS are inexpensive radios (like walkie-talkies) that can be used over short distances and work best across level terrain. They are available for as little as $25 a pair. They are great for staying in touch with family and for neighborhood watch programs. FRS is lower power (shorter range) but requires no license. GMRS uses more power and can use repeaters to increase the range but a license from the FCC is required. The cost is approximately $75 for 5 years for the entire family. See more information about FRS and GMRS below.
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RACES
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) group of Amateur Radio Operators that is administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government. As a part of the Amateur Radio Service, it provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, power outages, floods, victim searches, air crashes, and many others.
Originally for wartime use, RACES has evolved over the years, as has the meaning of civil defense (which is also called civil preparedness), to encompass all types of emergencies. While operating in a RACES capacity, RACES stations and amateurs registered in the local RACES organization may not communicate with amateurs not operating in a RACES capacity. (Of course, such restrictions do not apply when such stations are operating in a non-RACES—such as ARES—amateur capacity.) Only civil-preparedness communications can be transmitted. Test and drills are permitted only for a maximum of one hour per week. All test and drill messages must be clearly so identified.
Although RACES and ARES are separate entities, the ARRL advocates dual membership and cooperative efforts between both groups whenever possible for an ARES group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility.
Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams REACT
Mission Statement: We will provide public service communications to individuals, organizations, and government agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give assistance wherever and whenever needed.
We will strive to establish a monitoring network of trained volunteer citizen-based communicators using any and all available means to deliver the message.
Objectives:
- To assist in any emergency by furnishing radio communications in cooperation with authorities and other volunteer organizations.
- To practice and encourage operating excellence through skilled communications techniques.
- To maintain equipment at peak efficiency and operate in accordance with all government regulations.
- To advise the public on correct, effective use of CB Emergency Channel 9.
National Association for Amateur Radio - Emergency Communications
“When disaster strikes, where do hams and interested others turn on the web for news and information? Check out the following information to find out!”
National SOS Radio Network Our goal is simple: To help create an easy, accessible-by-all emergency communications system freely shared by the public & emergency resources. In an emergency situation: CITIZENS: Use all standard communication options first (telephone, cell phone, etc.). Should standard options fail, and personal safety is at risk, tune your FRS radios to Channel 1 and coordinate your efforts with neighbors & community coordinators (refer to our general Guidelines).
Personal and Family Preparedness Equipment Recommendations
Arlington Virginia Radio Public Service Club
Frequently Asked Questions about The Family Radio Service (FRS) FRS uses narrowband FM (NBFM) with maximum effective radiated power of 0.5 watt. FRS is intended for hand-held, short-range local communications. No license is needed. FRS offers 14 channels. The range is approximately one mile. FRS radios are now available from dozens of manufacturers. FRS uses the 462 and 467 MHz spectrum. According to the FCC rules, an FRS radio may communicate with a GMRS radio except on the 467 MHz FRS channels 8 through 14. However, there are some “combo FRS/GMRS” radios that do combine both FRS and GMRS operations into a single model.
Frequently Asked Questions about General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) The General Mobile Radio Service (formerly known as Class A of the Citizens Radio Service) is a personal radio service available for the conduct of an individual’s personal and family communications. GMRS uses commercial grade, UHF-FM radios identical to those used by public safety agencies, businesses, and other governmental, commercial and industrial licensees in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services. Most radios intended for use in the nearby Amateur Radio band (420–450 MHz) and some older (especially tube-type) commercial radios are not permissible to use. Otherwise, some UHF-FM radios currently type certified for Part 90 use in the 450–470 MHz band which do not exceed 50 watts transmitter output power, and which do not include capabilities not permissible for use in GMRS, are also type certified for use in the GMRS. Channels 15–22 are available in GRMS but different channel configurations can increase the number of advertised channels.
At 460 MHz, communications range is determined primarily by the height of the antennas and the nature of the surrounding countryside. For a typical 2- to 4-watt handheld transceiver, the communications range directly to another comparable handheld unit is typically in the range of 1/2 mile to 1 mile. In rolling or heavily forested terrain, the range can be less. If the two units are on distant mountain tops with a clear “line of sight” contact, this range could be much further.
A repeater station is really just a special kind of base station which employs a very tall antenna. If a repeater with a tall antenna can hear a mobile signal 20 miles away (a typical distance for a well-sited repeater), then it can usually transmit to another mobile unit anywhere within that same 20-mile radius. The two mobile units themselves do not need to be near each other. They could be at opposite sides of the 20-mile radius of coverage of the repeater, or 40 miles apart from each other, and still be able to communicate through the repeater.
Although there is the obvious advantage of additional communications range in communicating through a repeater station, there are also disadvantages. When one repeater is transmitting, it can block out or interfere with all other communications on that same frequency within that same area. Since there are only eight frequency pairs available for repeater communications, GMRS users must cooperate in sharing the use of these frequencies.
One method of cooperating is to use the repeater only when it is necessary to employ its extended range. When the corresponding units are close enough to each other so that the repeater is not needed, then the units should communicate with each other directly, not through the repeater.
Repeater users should also keep their communications as short as possible (namely, only necessary and urgent communications). Furthermore, because signals retransmitted through a repeater travel much further, they are less private. Privacy is another advantage of shorter range “direct” communications.