For emergencies

[streaksf]

Anyone have emergency frequency gmrs channels and any repeaters for emergencies only frequency
I'm in Labelle Fl

 

[nd5y]

There are no emergency only GMRS frequencies.
All the GMRS and FRS channels are here.

FRS/GMRS combined channel chart - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[wtp]

the closest you might get is,
Calling frequency 462.675 MHz CTCSS 141.3 Hz (sometimes referred to as the "travel channel" - FRS channel 20)
and that is really unofficial.
think of it as CB channel 19.

 

[mmckenna]

I'd only add that 462.675MHz RX and 467.675MHz/141.3Hz TX will be what a lot of the old REACT and Travelers Information repeaters use. At one point, FCC actually mentioned that in their rules, but that was back when the GMRS license was only granted for 2 frequency pairs. You'd get your 2 frequency pairs, plus 462/467.675.

Most repeater owners that have been around for a while understand this and would be smart enough to know that using that frequency pair/tone will get some amount of travelers information type traffic. You -always- should ask permission from the repeater owner first, but if you look at the GMRS repeater guides (mygmrs.com) you'll often find that that repeater pair/tone are open to other users for information/emergencies.

Well, I lied, one more thing to add:
I'd not rely on making a GMRS contact as a way to get help in an emergency. 20 years ago, it was very difficult to get an answer on any of those 675/141.3 repeaters. You can try it, but don't rely on it.

 

[streaksf]

the closest you might get is,
Calling frequency 462.675 MHz CTCSS 141.3 Hz (sometimes referred to as the "travel channel" - FRS channel 20)
and that is really unofficial.
think of it as CB channel 19.

Thank you

 

[Peter_SD911]

I'd not rely on making a GMRS contact as a way to get help in an emergency. 20 years ago, it was very difficult to get an answer on any of those 675/141.3 repeaters. You can try it, but don't rely on it.

I would point out that many Ca. Highsite repeater owners are now incorporating "Disaster Tones" or "Dooms Day Tones" into thier repeaters. It's a set of tones only for preferred users and owners to keep from being flooded with unwanted "dispatcher wankers" that popped up during recent tropical storm Hillary and recent fires. It's a way to lock-out others who think it's their exclusive CERT channel.
Users radios are pre-programmed with the extra tones (mostly split and inverted DCS tones) so they can still use their own repeater.

Newbie GMRS users seem to think that all GMRS repeaters are supposed to be used for all local emergencies "on demand".

That just isn't true. Repeater owners still retain FULL control over their boxes. If they want to limit use during emergencies, they can.

 

[smittie]

I've been trying to promote in my county a PSA that advises hunters, hikers and other outdoorsmen to turn the GMRS/FRS radios to a specified channel (preferably one between 15 and 22) if/when they are lost. This so that SAR members can use the radios to help establish communication with the lost party. Even if they are carrying a bubble pack FRS that they bought at the gas station, if they are on one of the higher channels they would be able to hear us and know that we are looking for them.

Anyone have better versions of this?

 

[mmckenna]

I would point out that many Ca. Highsite repeater owners are now incorporating "Disaster Tones" or "Dooms Day Tones" into thier repeaters. It's a set of tones only for preferred users and owners to keep from being flooded with unwanted "dispatcher wankers" that popped up during recent tropical storm Hillary and recent fires. It's a way to lock-out others who think it's their exclusive CERT channel.
Users radios are pre-programmed with the extra tones (mostly split and inverted DCS tones) so they can still use their own repeater.

Newbie GMRS users seem to think that all GMRS repeaters are supposed to be used for all local emergencies "on demand".

That just isn't true. Repeater owners still retain FULL control over their boxes. If they want to limit use during emergencies, they can.

I was fortunate enough to have access to a high level repeater and had my own tone on it. Nice part was it wasn't one of the standard EIA/TIA tones, so I most had things quiet and to my family. I could leave the base radio on 24x7 and not hear any nonsense.

 

[mmckenna]

Anyone have better versions of this?

It's been tried many times. Not sure how well it works.
problems early on were that the channel numbers were not always standardized, so saying use "Channel 1" didn't always work.
Most people using these radios don't understand anything other than turning it on/off and selecting a channel number. Trying to get them to shut off the CTCSS/DCS tone on receive was usually too complicated for most.
Someone at one point was trying to get vendors to standardize on a common channel with a preset button, but I don't think any vendor wanted the liability of making FRS/GMRS users think the radios could be relied upon in an emergency.

Since the 462/467.675 141.3Hz thing already existed, it didn't seem to need to be redesigned, however.

In other words, it's not the radio that's the issue, it's the operator (it's almost always the operator…).


Back in the late 1990's when FRS was getting popular, there was a very vocal group trying to get FRS channel 1 as the default emergency channel.
There's the Channel 3 nonsense
Someone in Wyoming tried to use the area code (307) as "Channel 3, tone 7"
Cool idea bros, but for anyone outside the area that doesn't know the area code, it might get misinterpreted. And as above, so many users don't know how to actually operate the radio. Then add in non-standardized channel numbers and squelch codes, and all it does is give a few small group of individuals a false sense of security.

If you want hunters/fishers/adventurers to have a tool to get help in an emergency, encourage them to get something like a Spot or InReach type device that will get a latitude/longitude to a professional that can dispatch someone directly to that point.

 

[smittie]

If you want hunters/fishers/adventurers to have a tool to get help in an emergency, encourage them to get something like a Spot or InReach type device that will get a latitude/longitude to a professional that can dispatch someone directly to that point.

Spot and InReach also have their limitations. Most radios out of the box (Midlands, Cobras and Motorolas that I've checked) channel 15 is clear voice. Midland adds a bunch of "channels" that have CTCSS/DCS set but the first 22 channels are typically unsquelched.

Most importantly, as SAR members we have no control over what people spend money on. Sure, we wish everyone that went out into the wilderness carried a PLB, a SPOT, an InReach. There a lot of people out there that do not have that but do have a cheap FRS radio. Often, the radio is on a channel between 7 and 14 because they are the quietest. It would be a help to us searching if we could inform the public to turn to a particular channel if they are lost. It simply adds a tool.

 

[mmckenna]

It simply adds a tool.

It's better than nothing, but I think the challenge is user education. If you can solve that, I think you have a chance.

 

[K6GBW]

Both Wyoming and Colorado have put out a flier to hikers and backpackers instructing them to use GMRS/FRS channel 3 if they become lost. The idea being that if they are lost or injured the searchers will monitor for them on channel 3. The idea is similar to what the military does when looking for a downed flyer. The general area to search will be known, but if you've ever searched for someone in a wooded area you know that you can be almost on top of them and still not see them. So the searchers can use the 2 watt FRS channel to help them zero in. Wyoming also adds a PL tone of 85.4, but Colorado omitted that, believing that it just complicated things. There have already been a couple of rescues that have been expedited by using this method. Of all the radio "emergency" plans this one seems the most pragmatic so far. Hopefully it will catch on in other states as well.

"Be 307 Aware" Boosts Backcountry Communication Across Wyoming — Teton County Search and Rescue

Being able to communicate in the backcountry is a key pillar of safety, especially during an emergency. Thanks to a statewide effort, that is now much easier in Teton County and across Wyoming. Backcountry users equipped with two-way radios are now able to communicate directly with first responders

www.tetoncountysar.org

 

[smittie]

It's better than nothing, but I think the challenge is user education. If you can solve that, I think you have a chance.

It's a crap shoot for sure. The sheriff talked about getting a note put on one of the permit documents that hunters need to have.

So the searchers can use the 2 watt FRS channel to help them zero in. Wyoming also adds a PL tone of 85.4, but Colorado omitted that, believing that it just complicated things. There have already been a couple of rescues that have been expedited by using this method. Of all the radio "emergency" plans this one seems the most pragmatic so far. Hopefully it will catch on in other states as well.

I never understand the fascination with sticking PL/DPL on public use communications. What possible purpose does that serve?
I would really prefer one of the higher frequencies that would allow search teams to use high powered radios. The victim might only have a low powered FRS radio and searchers may not be able to hear the victim's xmits. However, the vic can hear the more powerful broadcasts and therefore become more active in being found. Moving out into to open, listening and watching for searcher. Even if they have gone unconscious searchers can use transmitted alert tones to help find locate at least the radio.
Still, knowing what channel the vic might be on is useful, even if the chosen channel/freq isn't perfect in @smittie's opinion.

 

[K6GBW]

You really don't need a lot of power to be located. The military CSAR radios are only 1 watt UHF and a mere 100mw on VHF. If talking to an aircraft at 500 feet that 1 watt can give you miles of range.

I say 500 feet because my entire time in the Army I don't think we ever flew higher than that. The running joke used to be, how can you tell its an army pilot...because they're scared of heights!

We used to use the radio to get the birds close, but sometimes they could be right over you and still not see you, so we used VS17 panels and Chem lights as signals. Bottom line, a 2 watt UHF radio can be really helpful if they're trying to find you.

 

[smittie]

True, you don't need a lot to be located. I want the higher power in order to allow the vic to hear SAR xmits at greater distance and/or buried in RF dense conditions. The vic's radio need not be at all powerful.

My county SAR has limited air resources so we're typically on the ground. Again, being able to inform the vic that we are looking and to become active and obvious as possible would be helpful. As it is right now, we find a lot of vics who have radios that are turned off. Another helpful tip would be, if you have a radio turn it on, pick a freq/channel and xmit periodically (as battery permits). When I'm searching I carry a GMRS radio on scan in the hope that the vic is doing just that.

 

[K6GBW]

Yeah, the power level isn't nearly as important as just knowing what to do with it. I like the channel 3 procedure because it's just stupid simple. I know if I'm out in BFE and I break a leg or something, about four hours after I'm over-due I'll turn mine on.

I had a conversation with my sister the other day about this. She's also a long-time backpacker like me. She said that REI Co-op has marketed the outdoors in such a way that people with very little actual training and experience take off into some pretty rugged areas with little idea of how to act in outdoors. I kind of agree. Last year I was doing a backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon and ran across two sets of people that clearly had no idea how to act in the back country. One of them was throwing rocks off the side of the Kaibab trail (a huge no-no, because it's dangerous for those below and ecologically irresponsible). The other was a mother with two small kids wearing tennis shoes that were heading up with no gear and only a water bottle. Seeing things like this make me cringe.

 

[smittie]

Yeah, the power level isn't nearly as important as just knowing what to do with it. I like the channel 3 procedure because it's just stupid simple. I know if I'm out in BFE and I break a leg or something, about four hours after I'm over-due I'll turn mine on.

Channel 15 is just as simple as 3. Unless I'm missing something.

I had a conversation with my sister the other day about this. She's also a long-time backpacker like me. She said that REI Co-op has marketed the outdoors in such a way that people with very little actual training and experience take off into some pretty rugged areas with little idea of how to act in outdoors. I kind of agree. Last year I was doing a backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon and ran across two sets of people that clearly had no idea how to act in the back country. One of them was throwing rocks off the side of the Kaibab trail (a huge no-no, because it's dangerous for those below and ecologically irresponsible). The other was a mother with two small kids wearing tennis shoes that were heading up with no gear and only a water bottle. Seeing things like this make me cringe.

Now add bears and hunters into the mix. We get them all out here. Two years ago we had a search that involved a man and wife out hunting. They were traveling a contour line about 50 yards a part. The woman came into thick brush and turned up slope to go around it. She never reoriented to original line of travel. She ended up in a ravine, realized she was lost and panicked.
The husband was carrying all the food, all the water. The woman had only recently recovered from COVID, and had been out drinking the night before. She felt too hungover to eat anything so she had only coffee that morning.
Long story short, took us almost four hours to get her out and she ended up in the hospital for two or three days.

I work the other side of the lost and injured equation. I want the vic to be able to hear us even when we might not be able to hear them.

 

[vagrant]

Carry a whistle. It is waterproof. Anyways, a radio battery will not last.

I carry an inReach device, but there is also the Motorola Defy for $150 with a $5/month basic plan.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

You really don't need a lot of power to be located. The military CSAR radios are only 1 watt UHF and a mere 100mw on VHF. If talking to an aircraft at 500 feet that 1 watt can give you miles of range.

I say 500 feet because my entire time in the Army I don't think we ever flew higher than that. The running joke used to be, how can you tell its an army pilot...because they're scared of heights!

We used to use the radio to get the birds close, but sometimes they could be right over you and still not see you, so we used VS17 panels and Chem lights as signals. Bottom line, a 2 watt UHF radio can be really helpful if they're trying to find you.

Its "tactical"!

Nap-of-the-earth - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[KK6HRW]

Channel 15 is just as simple as 3. Unless I'm missing something.

Channel 3 is 462.6125MHz
Channel 15 is 462.55 MHz

How about something numerically even simpler:
Channel 17 is 462.6 MHz

This would enable simpler tuning of certain ham radios that are supposedly purchased only for
“emergency use” of GMRS frequencies, and would also help clarify the correct frequency for any FRS/GMRS that employ a non-standard channel numbering system.