#29814 - 08/05/04 12:30 AM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/13/02
Posts: 905
Loc: Seattle, Washington
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Our repeater systems are very similar out here. Most have some battery backup, some have excellent backup including generators. My RACES groups practice simplex relays in case everything goes out.
Unfortunately the Ham license is just hard enough to keep people out of the service, but actually requires only a few hours of study to pass. A book, a few hours of reading, a couple of on-line practice tests and just about anyone can get the Technician ticket. This allows full use of the best local VHF and UHF frequencies for community service.
I highly recommend a HAM license to everyone who wants an alternative communication method. The best thing about HAM is that it has had emergency use as a part of its plan from the very beginning. The infrastructure and training is all a part of the "hobby". It is a rare community of any size that does not have an ARES or RACES group with an emergency plan in place and depending on volunteer HAM's.
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#29815 - 08/06/04 06:26 AM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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Addict
Registered: 02/18/04
Posts: 496
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FRS works fine in cities, with a range of a few blocks. That's plenty for many purposes and completely inadequate for many others. Ham repeaters have much more range. In a real emergency, ham communications can switch over to a message handling mode with emergency traffic (medical stuff etc., where someone will die if the message doesn't get through) taking priority. Stuff like coordinating family movements (what it sounds like you have in mind) would be lower priority.
I've been thinking for a while that the ham world needs a good, portable, text-only communications device that would use very low bandwidth (up to several minutes to send a 100 character text message). Because of the low data rate, it could cover long distances with very little xmit power. I'd been thinking of it more as a cheap alternative to a satellite phone for remote locations, but it could also be good in those urban situations.
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#29817 - 08/06/04 02:27 PM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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new member
Registered: 08/19/02
Posts: 91
Loc: Kansas City area
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APRS?
_________________________
He who sits still in a house all the time may be the greatest vagrant of all... Thoreau
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#29818 - 08/06/04 03:11 PM
FRS/GMRS/NOAA/CB Radio??
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Veteran
Registered: 07/28/04
Posts: 1468
Loc: Texas
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Is there such a thing as a single handheld radio that can operate on FRS, GMRS and CB as well as receive NOAA Alerts? More specifically what I'm looking for is simply a radio that can use CB channel 9 and also receive NOAA alerts. Having other CB channels and/or GMRS/FRS capabilities would be considered a bonus but not necessary. Licensing is not any issue. I can and am willing to get a license.
_________________________
Learn to improvise everything.
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#29820 - 08/06/04 03:14 PM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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Veteran
Registered: 07/28/04
Posts: 1468
Loc: Texas
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So in order to get NOAA alerts and also have access to CB channel 9, my only option would be to carry two radios?
_________________________
Learn to improvise everything.
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#29821 - 08/06/04 04:23 PM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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Veteran
Registered: 07/28/04
Posts: 1468
Loc: Texas
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I guess I am getting a little off topic in this already large thread. I will address my question more accuratly in a new thread. Sorry.
_________________________
Learn to improvise everything.
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#29822 - 08/09/04 07:00 AM
Re: FRS/GMRS radios in urban environment
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Newbie
Registered: 09/23/03
Posts: 27
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Thanks all for your insight. I thought this might be a little more complicated than going to Wall-Mart and picking up a couple of radios. Looks like I need to do more research. Thanks again.
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