MURS as a disaster communications solution

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

emergency assistance. It does not give an individual any other right to use any other radio service or any other frequency. If you use an unauthorized channel, and/or an uncertified radio, be prepared to face any potential consequences after the fact.

[n6hgg]

All radio operators, whether ham or not, need to be aware of a very important regulation. It's the one that allows the regulations to be thrown out the window when threat to life or property are at stake.

In the amatuer radio regs in the United States, it reads something like this: Rule 97.403, which states: "No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available."

As a net controller for the Pacific Seafarer's Net on 14300 khz years ago on field day, we had to move a mayday situation outside the ham bands to 14355 to get out of the mayhem of the field day communications going on. It was an unlicensed radio operator guy who was gravely injured at sea 600 miles north of Tahiti and we held him on 14355 for 26 hours until the French Coast Guard could get to his location. Totally legal under the definition of the FCC rule on emergency radio communications.

You should be aware of this rule if you are not a licensed amateur too. It depends on the "emergency communications" at hand. If it's a disaster dealing with loss of life and property, you all would do well to not get tangled up in what you think the rules are and if you are going to get into some kind of trouble. If life and property is at stake during the disaster, then you can use "any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available." The rule above is for radio amateurs but a radio amateur can communicate with unlicensed operators in this type of emergency, so the unlicensed person is also covered by the emergency rule.

It's something to think about and there could be some mistaken points but when there are threats to life and property, you can pretty much throw the rules out the window during the time the emergency is in progress.

[jhooten]

Federal law on this subject:

"47 CFR § 2.405 Operation during emergency.

The licensee of any station (except amateur, standard broadcast, FM broadcast, noncommercial educational FM broadcast, or television broadcast) may, during a period of emergency in which normal communication facilities are disrupted as a result of hurricane, flood, earthquake, or similar disaster, utilize such station for emergency communication service in communicating in a manner other than that specified in the instrument of authorization: Provided:

(a) That as soon as possible after the beginning of such emergency use, notice be sent to the Commission at Washington, D.C., and to the Engineer in Charge of the district in which the station is located, stating the nature of the emergency and the use to which the station is being put, and

(b) That the emergency use of the station shall be discontinued as soon as substantially normal communication facilities are again available, and

(c) That the Commission at Washington, D.C., and the Engineer in Charge shall be notified immediately when such special use of the station is terminated: Provided further,

(d) That in no event shall any station engage in emergency transmission on frequencies other than, or with power in excess of, that specified in the instrument of authorization or as otherwise expressly provided by the Commission, or by law: And provided further,

(e) That any such emergency communication undertaken under this section shall terminate upon order of the Commission.

Note: Part 73 of this chapter contains provisions governing emergency operation of standard, FM, noncommercial educational FM, and television broadcast stations. Part 97 of this chapter contains such provisions for amateur stations."

(bold added)

[spd640]

Originally Posted by jhooten

CFR › Title 47 › Chapter I › Subchapter D › Part 95 › Subpart J › Section 95.1315

47 CFR 95.1315 - Antenna height restriction.
§ 95.1315
Antenna height restriction.
The highest point of any MURS antenna must no be more than 18.3 meters (60 feet) above the ground or 6.10 meters (20 feet) above the highest point of the structure on which it is mounted.

Well excuse me things must have changed over the years...

[jhooten]

1. No need to get pissy.
2. Been that way since the service was first announced.