AWIN & Other Emergency Services

[ArkansasFan30]

I've wondered for quite a while now if ham guys can physically receive and even transmit over AWIN and other emergency services systems. I've become interested in ham and have spent the last several hours here at work reading about what I need to do to get a technician's license.

I ask this because I'm a part-time police officer (formerly full-time but now a full-time RN) and am curious if I could pick up my work stuff over some type of ham radio - the likes of which are still above my head right now. Granted, that's not the sole reason why ham is interesting to me.

I'd appreciate some info. Thanks!

 

[Lifesaver2000]

The answer is no as far as transmit is concerned. There is no provision in the Amateur Radio Service rules for use of the AWIN or other public safety radio system. You could operate there if the licensee of that service was to allow it themselves, but in that case, you would not actually be operating as a ham, but just as a designated operator of the licensee.

I do know that many ham radio VHF radios will operate in the public safety bands at 150 mhz, but even with the permission of the public safety organization (such as a Sheriff's office) it is not legal to use a ham radio on these frequencies, unless it is one of the newer ones that is ALSO type accepted for use in the commercial or public safety bands.

There are lots of scanners out there that will receive and follow the AWIN system, so listening is not a problem. I don't listen to AWIN myself on a scanner, but there are plenty of people on here that can help you with that part.

I have been a ham for 35 years, at the "Extra" class for the last 26 of that, a firefighter for 25 years, and EMT/Paramedic for 14. I mention this just so you know I do have some background in this area and not just guessing at an answer.

 

[KB5ILY]

ArkansasFan30, what part of the state are you in. There are many clubs around the state that give exams on a regular basis (including mine). The Tecnician exam is only 35 questions, so studying for it should not take you too long.

As far as listening to AWIN you would need an 800 MHz trunking capable radio or scanner.

 

[ArkansasFan30]

I should qualify my earlier post in that I know AWIN is much more regulated than other radio systems. I know that there are few radio shops that can program them, and I know that getting on AWIN is much harder to do than say a VHF or UHF system. I've been using AWIN since 2006 and VHF radios professionally since 2002.

I recently sold a mobile VHF radio that I've had for about six years with numerous agencies programmed in it that I was authorized to transmit on if I so desired. In that time, I think I "talked on it" three times. I was just wondering if certain ham-style radios were technologically capable of transmitting on the AWIN system, i.e. are certain ham-style radios digital trunking? If they are, they're bound to be expensive as I know our AWIN radios are.

At any rate, I'd like to become a ham and get licensed regardless. I've been studying for the technician license. Honestly, the mechanics I understand, but the application is a bit more puzzling to me. Even though it's down the road I'd like to get the general license and HF authorization so I'd like to buy an entry level multimode HF/VHF/UHF radio, but what little I've read about them I seem to think having individual VHF/UHF and HF radios are a better set up. I'm really lost in this respect.

 

[ArkansasFan30]

I'm down around El Dorado and Magnolia, btw. The nearest test site I've seen is Arkadelphia, and I don't know a sole around here who has a ham hobby.

 

[KB5ILY]

I am the exam team leader at Arkadelphia, we had a guy from Stephens come up for our September session take the Tech and has already upgraded to General. The General exam also takes 35 questions.

There are several hams in both El Dorado and Magnolia. Send me a private message or email to kb5ily (at) arrl (dot) net and I can give you contact info for some of them.