52.525, 146.52, 223.50, 446.00, 1294.50

Here is a section of the Wilderness Protocol.
The entire protocol is available at http://www.tcoek12.org/~tcarc/tcproto.html

# Montior the PRIMARY- 146.520 and any or all of the SECONDARY FREQUENCIES.(52.525, 223.500, 446.00, 1294.500)
# MONITOR TIMING- Every 3 hours from 0700 HRS ..from the hour until 5 (five) minutes past the hour.(7:00-7:05 AM, 10:00-10:05 AM, ..., 10:00-10:05 PM).
# ALTERNATE TIMING- 0655 to 0705, Etc 5 before til 5 after..(watch may be incorrect)
# ENHANCED MONTIORING- Fixed stations or portable stations with enough battery power levels LISTEN EVERY HOUR. (Obviously Continious Monitoring is also an option.)
# SCANNING MONITOR- Consider entering- 146.52 MHz , 52.525, 223.5, 446.0 and 1294.5 MHz in to your scanner radio, or extended scanning monitor radio.
# Bring this "Wilderness Protocol" up at ham meetings, mention it on the ait
# NOTE- 146.52 IS A CALLING FREQUENCY.... Make your Calls, and then move off the frequency so others can use the frequency. Suggested frequencies to move to; 146.55, 146.43, etc.
# PRIORITY TONE SIGNALS-Suggested Priority Radio Transmissions ONLY after 4 minutes after the hour. USE the LONG TONE ZERO (on Touch Tone Pad) Begin calls for assistnce with 10 or more seconds of TONE with the LITZ signal. ( LONG TONE ZERO )- This timing would help those in trouble not be covered up by the tone itself. MORE LITZ SIGNAL INFORMATION

The suggestion I make is to enchance this protocol with a simple method to eliminate the chatter (like it or not, it is there) which may increase the number of people that will monitor. No additional equipment needed, allows 7/24 monitoring instead of special "Timing", and does not inhibit the orginal plan. A lost person simply adds the T100 which increases the chance of being heard. When possible those monitoring may choose to go back to carrier Squelch as in the original protocol.

And two other points. I use alphanumeric tags for the frequency displays. The carrier squelch memory = 52 NT (for the obvious 146.52 no tone) and the CTCSS memory = 52 T100. Makes it very easy to see which mode you are operating in.

Also, battery life is considerably extended when using CTCSS as opposed to carrier squelch. In one test case the battery life was more than 3x !!!

Seriously, how many of us actually listen at the designated times? How many would monitor if we could use CTCSS to keep the radio quiet? My guess is that it would greatly increase the number of monitoring stations.

Thanks for considering the suggestion and for discussing it here. I have also posted a similar article on e-hams under the emergency communications section.

My suggestion to use CTCSS is intended to increase monitoring stations. Most folks I have questioned about monitoring say they quickly turn the rig off because of the intrusive chatter. I agree that it is better to call for help on an active frequency than an unmonitored one. It is the monitoring that is the issue.

I am guessing that the calling frequency use is quite different in various locations. Around here 146.52 is very quiet. I doubt it is monitored by anyone.

The Wilderness Protocol just is not part of our local use as far as I can tell.

I generally attempt to have a very good idea what repeaters I can use from the various places I go around here. Simplex calling frequencies are not really part of my plan....nor is monitoring these while in the backcountry.

Repeaters are fine if you can access them. In many areas, coverage is spotty or non-existent. But even where it seems the Wilderness Protocol would be useful, I find almost no one monitoring. Perhaps I am beating a dead horse.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Ron. N1AHH

If it's any consolation, there will be one more HAM monitoring from now on.