Emergency Communications (Voice) for Everyone

What is Emergency Communications? Emergency Communications is when a critical communications system failure puts the public at risk.

September 11, 2001

Northeast US Power Outage 2003

Hurricane Katrina 2005

Hawaii Earthquake 2006

Wireless Voice Communications  Cell Phone  Satellite Phone  CB  FRS  GMRS  Amateur Radio

Cell Phone  Shared infrastructure with Telephone (landlines)  When telephones are out, cell phones usually are too  Short range (Cell tower must be relatively close)  Battery life limited  Call volume overload very common in emergencies  Cell phone inexpensive $  “Air Time” usage can get expensive

Satellite Phone  Utilizes Satellites orbiting Earth  Requires working telephone at other end  Battery life limited, cannot receive calls when “off”  Call volume overload possible in emergencies  Coverage includes entire United States  Cannot be used indoors  Satellite phones expensive $$$  “Air Time” usage is very expensive

CB  Citizens Band Radios  Been around for years  Radio Equipment: not expensive $$  5 watts legal limit  Range: 4-5 mile range (normally)  40 Channels  Channel 9 – for Emergencies only  FCC license not required  Most conversations not fit for family consumption!

FRS  Family Radio Service  Radio Equipment: Inexpensive $  Millions in use!  Very low power – ½ watt  range (1-2 miles unobstructed)  14 channels  No FCC license required

GMRS  General Mobile Radio Service  Readily available  Radio equipment: Not very expensive $$  Power: 5 watts maximum  Range: 5-25 miles Extended by Repeaters  Channels  7 shared FRS channels plus…  8 GMRS Repeater channels  FCC License required  Covers the whole extended family  $85 for 5 years

Amateur Radio (‘Hams’)  FCC License and call sign required to transmit on Amateur Radio Bands (no cost)  Written Examination ($14) required for license  Technician  General (plus Morse Code requirement)  Amateur Extra  Lots of Amateur Radio Frequencies  Power: 1,500 watts on some bands  Range: worldwide on some bands  Wide range of cost for equipment, hand held radio can be relatively inexpensive $$$

Emergency Communications Amateur Radio in Action  Hurricane Katrina - September 2005  Northeast blackout - August 2003  Shuttle Columbia recovery effort - February 2003  World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks- September 2001  Hurricane Floyd - September 1999  Oklahoma City Bombing - April 1995 Amateur Radio Operator WTC 2001

Radio Basics (GMRS)  Repeaters  Duplex vs Simplex  Privacy Tones (PL)  Normal Radio Etiquette  Emergency Communications Etiquette  GMRS Call Sign Required  GMRS Net  GMRS Radio (one example)

What is a Repeater? A Repeater rebroadcasts the radio signal, thus increasing the distance you can communicate.

Duplex: GMRS Repeaters Channels Listen Freq Talk Freq  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz  MHz MHz

Simplex: GMRS & FRS Shared Freq Channels Listen Freq & Talk Freq FRS MHz National SOS Channel FRS MHz FRS MHz FRS MHz FRS MHz FRS MHz FRS MHz (GMRS 5 Watts Allowed )

Privacy Tones  Privacy Tones or Privacy Codes or PL or CTCSS or Tone Squelch  Like an Electronic Filter You do not hear them But they can still hear you

Privacy Tones Repeater (Duplex) Standardized for LV Valley PT: Hz on Talk Freq (Required for Repeaters to Hear You!) PT: Hz on Listen Freq (Filters out others talking) FRS Shared Channels (Simplex) No Privacy Tones – Recommended

Las Vegas Valley GMRS Repeaters GMRS Repeater Channel #6  National Calling Frequency  REACT (LVMPD Volunteer Org) Monitoring Dispatch REACT personnel  Not for normal chit-chat  Move to another GMRS Repeater Frequency

GMRS Repeaters GMRS repeaters are private property  GMRS frequencies are shared frequencies, but repeaters are not  Use of repeaters is with owners permission

GMRS Communications Etiquette Listen before you transmit. Make sure you aren’t interrupting a conversation.

GMRS Communications Etiquette Do not use the radio to advertise the sale of goods or services.

GMRS Communications Etiquette Use lowest power needed to communicate  FRS (1/2 watt)  GMRS simplex  GMRS repeater

GMRS Communications Etiquette Do not use obscene, indecent, or profane words, language, or meaning.

Emergency Communications Etiquette Good News - You’ll be heard by anyone monitoring the radio frequency! This increases your chances of getting the help you need. Bad News - You’ll be heard by anyone monitoring the radio frequency! No radio communication is truly private, so don’t broadcast sensitive information.

Emergency Communications Etiquette Use plain language. Although you may know the meanings of all the “10 codes” and other radio jargon, the folks you’re trying to talk to may not, or they may know a different meaning altogether.

Emergency Communications Etiquette If you must interrupt for a bona fide emergency, say “Break for a medical emergency” or other appropriate language. The other parties should yield the frequency to you or attempt to assist.

GMRS Call Sign Requirement  GMRS requires FCC Call Sign Every GMRS station must transmit a station identification: (1) Following the transmission of communications or a series of communications; and (2) Every 15 minutes during a long transmission. ( FCC code Part )

GMRS Net  Every Monday night  Check-ins start around 7:15 pm  Currently on GMRS Repeater channel #7 ( MHz)  Great time to test your radio equipment on the GMRS repeaters  Get to know other GMRS operators  Some are with Volunteer Organizations  Some are even Amateur Radio operators

GMRS Radio Equipment  ICOM IC-F21GM Radio  16 channels 8 GMRS Repeater Channels 7 GMRS / FRS shared channels Channel 16 – Scan all Channels  $130 at Amateur Electronics Supply  Optional: Extra AA Battery Pack Lithium-ion Battery Pack Headset with Microphone

Emergency Communications is Teamwork

THE END QUESTIONS???