National Hiking Frequency/SAR

[mlmummert]

This sounds a bit like CB Channel 9 supposedly being the Emergency Channel and implying that someone will be monitoring that and answer it anywhere you happen to be.


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[scottbailey]

If you really want to get rescued and not just play radio, seems like a 406MHz PLB would be the ticket, assuming you're out of cell phone coverage. A VHF radio with at least ham radio frequencies would probably be a good #3, but is not a replacement for a cell phone and a PLB.

Read the Wikipedia article.

[kayn1n32008]

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Originally Posted by scottbailey

If you really want to get rescued and not just play radio, seems like a 406MHz PLB would be the ticket, assuming you're out of cell phone coverage. A VHF radio with at least ham radio frequencies would probably be a good #3, but is not a replacement for a cell phone and a PLB.

Read the Wikipedia article.

This is another rescue beacon my company uses as part of our safety program: https://www.findmespot.ca/en/

[2wayfreq]

Sounds like the PLB is a better way to go. Thanks for the help

[offroad94]

You can buy a handheld BAOFENG VHF radio on Amazon for $50. It will get you FRS frequencies as well as weather radio and 2m and 440 for ham repeaters. Get your ham license to use it legal, or feel free in a serious injury situation to use it any way possible.

[spd640]

Originally Posted by rapidcharger

But you can... for distress calls.
Which makes a ham radio a handy thing to have whether you are licensed or not.

Yes but you will have whackers thinking they can buy a radio and use it every chance they get or get into situations to where they will use it on purpose.I don't think you understood my response,maybe that comment cleared it up.BTW no one mentioned when unlicensed communications are allowed "when no other means are possible"

[k3td]

Originally Posted by KB7MIB

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Ham radio also has the "Wilderness Protocol". All stations should monitor 146.520 (and 52.525, 223.5, 446.0, 1294.5) every 3 hours starting at 7am, for 5 minutes.
See QST, Feb 94 page 100, Apr 94 page 109, May 94 pages 103-104.

Thanks for jogging my memory - didn't realize it was in QST that long ago - I believe it may have been re-run recently. Here is an excerpt from the Amateur Radio Emergency Services Field Resources Manual:

Wilderness Protocol
The Wilderness protocol (see page 101, August 1995 QST) calls for hams in the wilderness to announce
their presence on, and to monitor, the national calling frequencies for five minutes beginning at the top of the
hour, every three hours from 7 AM to 7 PM while in the back country. A ham in a remote location may be able
to relay emergency information through another wilderness ham who has better access to a repeater. National
calling frequencies: 52.525, 146.52, 223.50, 446.00, 1294.50 MHz.

Of the frequencies listed, 146.52 MHz is by far the most active.

[mmckenna]

Originally Posted by offroad94

You can buy a handheld BAOFENG VHF radio on Amazon for $50. It will get you FRS frequencies as well as weather radio and 2m and 440 for ham repeaters. Get your ham license to use it legal, or feel free in a serious injury situation to use it any way possible.

FRS is limited to 500mw and a non-removeable antenna, and requires part 95 certification for the radio, so while it may cover the FRS frequencies, it is not legal for use there.
Also, the HAM license only covers use on the HAM bands.

Buying a radio that transmits on public safety frequencies isn't the correct solution. Your responsibility is to have the correct tools for the job. If you went out into the back country ill equipped for the weather and started calling for help, search and rescue resources would be wasted because you were not prepared. Same thing applies here, carry a PLB or a sat phone if you expect to get into a situation where you may need to call for help. Suggesting that people should purchase the incorrect tool for the job as a valid solution is negligent. PLB's are the right tool for the job.

[kayn1n32008]

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Originally Posted by mmckenna

Suggesting that people should purchase the incorrect tool for the job as a valid solution is negligent. PLB's are the right tool for the job.

You hit the nail on the head.


Although I am an amateur radio operator, and along with my TK280, I would also take my company SPOT. Our company encourages us to take it with us even when not working if we feel we are going some where we could end up in a life threatening situation where there is no cell coverage. Although it is not a 406MHz PLB it does do the same thing. If I was out in the middle of nowhere and I needed a rescue i would use my SPOT long before I would try to summon help on my portable.

Where I live, it is easy to get into areas that have zero cell service, zero amateur radio repeater coverage, and little to zero people.

A cheap Chinese uv5r is the last radio I would take to depend on to get help. They are junk and I do not rely on junk to keep me safe. I would much rather use my SPOT.

Suggesting someone use a cheap Chinese crap radio as part of a personal rescue system is asinine. You need to take the correct tool for the job. To facilitate a self rescue you need one of the following: 406MHz PLB, SPOT or Irridiun/Globalstar sat phone.

In a place like Northern Alberta(where I live) or Northern BC, a PLB or SPOT or even an air-band radio will get help to you long befor a UV5r will.

The problem as I see it is that people almost look for an excuse to TX on 1st responder frequencies, rather than invest in the correct tools for the situation they are going into.

[offroad94]

SPOT is a great suggestion. Used $50. New for $100 to $200 on amazon. Great product, but of course test it out. Amazon has a no questions asked return on products sold by amazon, (new only) so you could try it and see if it is to your advantage. Does the SPOT service require a subscription cost to be paid?

The previously mention BAOFENG radio is FCC approved and being sold by about ten different companies in the USA. Not sure why an FCC approved radio would have FRS or GMRS radio frequencies and not be able to be used, but valid point. Maybe they are for monitoring only. This is true of many legacy radios, they can do illegal things, and you find that out when you get a amateur license, so DON'T PUSH BUTTONS when you get a ham radio. Learn the radio laws. Thanks for the comments and admit am not an FCC regulator for these radios. You can also consider other user 2m HT equipment in the $50 range. Had a RADIO SHACK HT handheld 2m radio for years and they are still sold used for $50 or less.

Just overall leave a travel plan with a friend, who would check on you. Location, likely trails, etc. bring an emergency whistle. That's the best advice to stick to.

[rapidcharger]

Originally Posted by offroad94

The previously mention BAOFENG radio is FCC approved and being sold by about ten different companies in the USA. Not sure why an FCC approved radio would have FRS or GMRS radio frequencies and not be able to be used, but valid point.

That's because it isn't certified for part 95 which covers the citizen bands such as FRS, GMRS and MURS.
It has a part 90 grant but not for any emission type or power level anyone expects to use with it.

[KC2OBW]

I haven't done too much hiking in a while. But when I do go I bring a VHF portable with me loaded with 2 meter repeaters that are in the area. I usually hike areas with decent elevation so hitting a repeater isn't a problem.


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[n6hgg]

Emergency radio communications during threat to life and property. Hams should respond to anyone licensed or not, whose lives are in danger. Anyone who refuses communications with a life in danger is open to horrific consequences. Know when it's wise to communication outside the normal rules box, when life is being threatened. FCC 97.403 for all you hams out there.

I've seen hams refuse to communicate with victims of grave injury at sea before because the victim was not a licensed ham. Common sense out there folks. When a life is at stake, nobody is going to come after you for breaking a radio communications regulation.

[iepoker]

I hike a lot here in Southern California in the Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forests. I do indeed carry a 2 watt GMRS radio, as well as a cell phone and GPS.

The cell phone, rarely works. But when it does it does. The GMRS, is mainly... goofily, to radio down to my wife and son and have them wonder in amazement how I can be 50 miles away and hear them loud and clear.

For me, and I am a pretty experienced guy up there... these above described items are not for my rescue.

The best tool to help you, is your pre-planning before a hike. You leave a note. Then you make a phone call and have that person write a note. Here is a sample of what I would write:

Cucamonga Peak via Icehouse Cyn Trail. Out by dark. Monitoring 462.700 pl141.3.

My wife knows if she doesn't hear from me by dark, it isn't good. An hour past that she makes the calls. I know I need to make it through the night. I know they will be looking in the AM.

DONT change your mind on where your going...

[mmckenna]

Originally Posted by iepoker

I hike a lot here in Southern California in the Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forests. I do indeed carry a 2 watt GMRS radio, as well as a cell phone and GPS.

The cell phone, rarely works. But when it does it does. The GMRS, is mainly... goofily, to radio down to my wife and son and have them wonder in amazement how I can be 50 miles away and hear them loud and clear.

For me, and I am a pretty experienced guy up there... these above described items are not for my rescue.

The best tool to help you, is your pre-planning before a hike. You leave a note. Then you make a phone call and have that person write a note. Here is a sample of what I would write:

Cucamonga Peak via Icehouse Cyn Trail. Out by dark. Monitoring 462.700 pl141.3.

My wife knows if she doesn't hear from me by dark, it isn't good. An hour past that she makes the calls. I know I need to make it through the night. I know they will be looking in the AM.

DONT change your mind on where your going...

Well said. Call it a "flight plan", "float plan" or whatever, that is what is going to get you found. Relying on technology to solve the problem is just taking too much of a risk.

I'm always amazed how people will spend thousands of dollars on gear, or in this instance, 2 way radio equipment, but won't take the obvious/easy steps. Too many people go into the back country ill prepared.
My extended family and I will take our ATV's out into the back country on long 80+ mile rides. There are a couple of standard things we do.
1, we NEVER go out alone, ever. Ever. EVER.
2, we go properly equipped for the weather/season. Doesn't matter that it was sunny and warm this morning, in the mountains it can drop below freezing, start snowing, or thunderstorms kick up in short time.
3, Every person carries a hand held radio. Every UTV has a mobile radio mounted in it. Before we head out we agree on a certain repeater to switch to if we get separated.

Most of all, everyone has some level of first aid training. We have two guys that are part of CERT. I have first responder certifications, we have one retired fire department paramedic, ex-army, ex-navy, ex-Coast Guard. We take the proper supplies along, not a $20 first aid with a bunch of bandaids, but real trauma kits.

We take the tools, extra fuel, things for lighting a fire, signal flares, extra food, way too much water, extra cloths, fire extinguisher on each UTV, axe, shovel, chain, tow straps, winches, more tools.

Taking a $100 (or less) radio in place of the correct training and equipment is just stupidity. Relying on a VHF simplex frequency that someone may or may not be monitoring as your solution is idiotic at best.
Wanting to save the day by playing radio is just pointless. I agree, some people are just looking for any reason to key up on a public safety frequency. IF that is your last choice and you have fully exhausted everything else, and the end is near, then fine, but calling into the Sheriff on their own frequency because you didn't prepare is just going to cause problems.

[iepoker]

...if you leave your gmrs freq, I bet ya that SAR uses it looking for you.

Kind of like in Empire Strikes Back.

=)

[offroad94]

mmckenna - well said. hope people know their limits too. if you are a AARP member eligible you might think twice about getting yourself into the wilds too far, without keeping others informed.

[RKG]

For inveterate hikers, a better idea is a service called SPOT. It is based on the system used by offshore racing sail events, now adapted to terrestrial applications. Basically, it transponds to commercial satellites; you leave a "flight plan" with a trusted person, and if you get into trouble, the SPOT will send an email to that person with your distress message and GPS-based lat/lon. The trusted person then calls Fish & Game (or whoever does SAR where you are) and passes that info along. In some places, SAR forces have arrangements with SPOT for position updates.

[SteveC0625]

Originally Posted by RKG

For inveterate hikers, a better idea is a service called SPOT. It is based on the system used by offshore racing sail events, now adapted to terrestrial applications. Basically, it transponds to commercial satellites; you leave a "flight plan" with a trusted person, and if you get into trouble, the SPOT will send an email to that person with your distress message and GPS-based lat/lon. The trusted person then calls Fish & Game (or whoever does SAR where you are) and passes that info along. In some places, SAR forces have arrangements with SPOT for position updates.

SPOT doesn't get such good reviews from places like REI out on the net. The reviews I read on REI's website listed a lot of negatives about the SPOT system. PLB's get much better reviews on REI.

I have no specific interest or leaning toward either type of device but at first glance, some of the outdoor community isn't very happy with SPOT. But I also saw some comments from SAR folks that weren't glowing about either system.

FWIW, I was unable to connect to the SPOT website at all, but found plenty of info on PLB's. Best I can determine, SPOT requires a $100 annual fee while the PLB's do not.

For those considering getting something like this, I'd urge you to do a lot of research for yourself before plunking down any money on either device. I'd also suggest that if you plan to use either device regularly in just one area, check with the local SAR folks to see if they have any helpful information on the issue.

Seems to me this is one of those "caveat emptor" situations.

[mmckenna]

Originally Posted by SteveC0625

I have no specific interest or leaning toward either type of device but at first glance, some of the outdoor community isn't very happy with SPOT. But I also saw some comments from SAR folks that weren't glowing about either system.
Seems to me this is one of those "caveat emptor" situations.

I've read the same reviews about the SPOT. There seems to be two issues, the device itself it easily damaged if dropped, and that isn't covered by the warranty. The other issue seems to be with very poor customer service.

Unless you really need the check in features, a PLB may be a better choice for some. $100 a year for a Spot is a lot of money. Considering the SPOT is anywhere from $100 to $150 for the unit, then another $50 to $100 a year for service, it doesn't take long to make up the difference in price between the PLB and the Spot unit.

PLB's have no annual fee, once you buy the device and register it, the only cost is batteries. Considering you can find basic PLB's for $250, it could be a much better solution for someone who just needs the emergency functions.

I really wish the SPOT had received better reviews. I like the idea of the product, and the annual fee I could sort of justify.

On the flip side, I have an Iridium satellite phone at work. The phone and accessories was about $1200. We pay about $50 a month for service with NO minutes. A really expensive solution, but being able to call and talk to a human is pretty handy. Getting a clear shot to the satellites can be tricky in the woods, however.