Local MURS Activity

[Golay]

Off topic:
I'm hearing a baby monitor on 49.830 MHz FM; probably within a few blocks of me.
I'll have to get my 5ch 49MHz RS walkie out and see if I can find it.

I'm hearing an uptick of dead air baby monitors. Don't hear any babies or people talking. Just a carrier. If I listen real close, I might hear outside noises. On one I can hear a train blowing at the same time I can hear it out the window.
Someone in the Lowe's said he uses a baby monitor to listen to his garage during the night. Might be what I'm hearing.

 

[AK9R]

Baby monitors and the 42 MHz band aren't MURS.

 

[spongella]

After several days of scanning the MURS frequencies not much to report except 151.94 - "Alert Zone 1" periodically.

 

[kc2asb]

After several days of scanning the MURS frequencies not much to report except 151.94 - "Alert Zone 1" periodically.

Here, it's mostly 154.600, which appears to be rail yard workers and a second user I can't identity. 154.570, there are brief data bursts several times per hour. Other than that, it's quiet.

 

[EAFrizzle]

What's the correct protocol for making a call on MURS? Is it "CQ" or "Breakity break break, Nobody, no how, no where, drop that maul like tall, tall, extra-good-lookin' Frizzle"?

 

[KK4JUG]

It's not CB. It's used mostly by businesses. Walmart has used it and I know of golf courses that use it. Wikipedia describes it as "a private, two-way, short-distance voice or data communications service for personal or business activities of the general public." It's VHF, limited to 2 watts and repeaters can't be used

 

[Coffeemug]

There's not much Multi Use Radio Service activity around here in Warminster Bucks County, except for Wal-Mart.
I hear more traffic on FRS/GMRS channels than MURS. I live less than 3 miles from Wal-Mart and Yet I can't hear their traffic unless I'm at the corner from Wal-Mart or at Warminster Train Station.

 

[KK4JUG]

...yet I can't hear their traffic unless I'm at the corner from Wal-Mart or at Warminster Train Station.

It's only 2 watts and they're inside the building so that's not a surprise.

 

[kny2xb]

It's only 2 watts and they're inside the building so that's not a surprise.

And all the metal shelving in the store
And the stock antennas on the radios

 

[mike619]

There is a school that uses MURS where I am also Walmart used to use it also but other than those two it's usually pretty quiet on MURS but FRS is highly active with businesses where I am.

 

[K6GBW]

Weirdly, I've used both MURS and FRS radios when backpacking. Way out in the woods both are pretty clear, but I noticed that the FRS radios actually have better coverage. Although that tends to go against most peoples thinking, I believe it has to do with the fact that on hand held radios the antenna and ground plane (you) is just better on UHF. I still use both and it kind of depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

 

[DeoVindice]

Weirdly, I've used both MURS and FRS radios when backpacking. Way out in the woods both are pretty clear, but I noticed that the FRS radios actually have better coverage. Although that tends to go against most peoples thinking, I believe it has to do with the fact that on hand held radios the antenna and ground plane (you) is just better on UHF. I still use both and it kind of depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

That lines up with most comparative testing I've seen. VHF portables just don't have a very efficient antenna system.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

Besides a ham that likes to hang around on MURS 1 and run P25, I've only ever heard MURS traffic by my home once and it was only for a few seconds, talking about a gas station down the road. Otherwise MURS is free and clear here. There's a decent amount of FRS traffic though, with businesses on a few channels and what sounds like dump truck drivers on another channel, and of course the tourists and kids every so often.

 

[DeeEx]

Rural Vermont here…

As far as I know, the closest Walmart is still using it.

A local elementary school and a construction traffic company do as well.

There’s a farm quite a distance from here that I’m guessing is running an old 100W+ mobile as a base station on 154.600, 67.0, because I can hear them almost anywhere in my area. Nice folks, but their base comes in over everything else on the frequency.

And my family uses our Dakota Alert MURS HTs for work around the property, mainly maple sugaring season which is right around the corner. We don’t own or use the sensors, just the radios, and they seem to last forever on one set of batteries (6xAA).

 

[n3obl]

If you are going to p25 at least run AES!🤣

 

[K6GBW]

If you are going to p25 at least run AES!🤣

Oi!

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

If you are going to p25 at least run AES!🤣

My guess is they don't own a loader. I agree though. Once secure, always secure.