Ignorant hypothetical question from a non-radio person, but if I were floating down a street in the Ninth Ward of NO looking for survivors in my boat, would that be a legal use of the marine band even though I'm actually in a city? I know, a rather irrelevant technicality in such a situation, but I was just wondering about the general legality.
And if I were stuck on a flooded rooftop in NO (without a cell phone) with Coast Guard and National Guard helos flying overhead, which would they be most likely/able to hear: my FRS, GMRS, HT, or marine radio distress call? I know, I could wave my arms and such, but that's so primitive. I mean, there's no gear involved!
As long as the boat is afloat and under way, normal communications are authorized.
The Coast Guard is most likely to hear you on Marine frequencies (156.80 MHz, 2182 KHz GMDSS) National Guard, I'm not sure, but I'm beginning to think we need to establish a new inter-service emergency frequency.
Here's an interesting question...if you're in the middle of an emergency situation like the aftermath of Katrina, are the relevant agencies required to give priority to 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz distress calls? If so, I can imagine a run on PLBs and EPIRBs, causing massive disruption of rescue efforts in any similar situation. Has anyone even thought of this before?
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