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]

FCC 97.403 for emergency radio communications

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)

 

[SCPD]

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.

 

[KB7MIB]

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

Ran across a youtube video by Ben the bondsman (or something close to that) promoting MURS ch 1 as a prepper calling/chat channel. Looked like there were 2-3 other videos also promoting it. I don't know if that will lead to more use of 151.820 or not.

 

[KB7MIB]

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And I believe that spd640 was confusing the rules regarding antenna height limitations for a GMRS small base/control station, with the MURS rules. (Regular GMRS base/control stations are limited by local zoning ordinances, private CC&R's, and the FAA.)

 

[Darth_vader]

formatting issues yet again

"I have never even heard anyone use MURS channels 1-3."
"nobody even uses MURS channels 1-3 on a good day."

1 and 3 are occasionally active around here. Mostly some of the "nice boys" from CB (and contrary to how the one-dimensional "HAM-is-the-saving-grace-of-the-universe" crowd likes to stereotype it, there are many) who want to escape the noise.

(Heh, guess I'll have to remember to throw my Baofeng into wideband mode at 5 watts and turn on the roger beep, key up on MURS 1 and say "hi" next time I'm driving through rapidcharger's area. ;o)

 

[N9DUC]

Just a quick reply as iam to busy at the moment but i thought i would mention my experience with
MURS.
The external antenna exceptions make for quite excellent distance.
I have two Motorola Maxtracs programed with MURS 1 through 5 in them and the power level is programed within legal limits using VHF Base to Mobile Unit with Gain antennas has given me
comms up to 40+ miles and that is in sierra mtn range,with lots of mtns etc.
I will return to this thread later.

What antenns exactly to you use? I would love to use your set up as a model. Thanks

 

[Logan005]

I noticed a member mention he monitors MURS for emergency call's for help. he also mentioned he monitors a half a dozen other emergency Band channels. If I called out for HELP on MURS, I would hope the person on the other end, is operating a radio with enough power to maintain communications through out the event to facilitate saving of my life. I believe an over powered capable radio for emergency workers is a must. 99.9% of the time the radio only monitors. you are only breaking the law, in a life saving event. in other words why take chances with emergency communications. Just sayin...

 

[Logan005]

"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."

Man saves family wile camping. is later arrested for unlawful use of radio equipment.

 

[bill4long]

I mean, get real. If life or property is in jeopardy, use any radio you can, worry about the fall-out later. Only Barney Fife would object.

 

[W2NJS]

MURS is a great medium...until some kid steps on your transmission when you're saying something important. You have NO protection against anyone doing so, and no basis for complaint if it happens.
You're better of with a frequency that has some degree of protection, meaning that the lids and kids probably won't be messing with it.

 

[bill4long]

MURS is a great medium...until some kid steps on your transmission when you're saying something important. You have NO protection against anyone doing so, and no basis for complaint if it happens.
You're better of with a frequency that has some degree of protection, meaning that the lids and kids probably won't be messing with it.

I've never heard anyone on MURS channels 1 thru 3 around here, Indianapolis area. Walmart and restaurants and some other local businesses use channels 4 and 5. Just FYI. I don't think many "kids" have access to MURS since no bubble pack radios for MURS exist (that I've ever seen.)

 

[rapidcharger]

"I have never even heard anyone use MURS channels 1-3."
"nobody even uses MURS channels 1-3 on a good day."

1 and 3 are occasionally active around here. Mostly some of the "nice boys" from CB (and contrary to how the one-dimensional "HAM-is-the-saving-grace-of-the-universe" crowd likes to stereotype it, there are many) who want to escape the noise.

(Heh, guess I'll have to remember to throw my Baofeng into wideband mode at 5 watts and turn on the roger beep, key up on MURS 1 and say "hi" next time I'm driving through rapidcharger's area. ;o)

That's kinda the problem.
People using wideband and way more power than is allowed will render the service useless to people who play by the rules.
So much for preparation.

 

[Darth_vader]

That's not the problem at all.

What IS the problem is the go-into-defensive-mode-at-the-drop-of-a-hat radio cops who don't recognise sarcastic facetiousness when they read it. I thought the wink at the end of that sentence would have been a dead giveaway, but... guess not.

 

[rapidcharger]

I thought the wink at the end of that sentence would have been a dead giveaway, but... guess not.

That's not a wink.

Nah...

That's a wink.

 

[robertmac]

Well, I don't think anyone has mentioned that to be an effective emergency comms. tool, you need organization, consistent frequency to monitor, a wide area with all the same frequency, people that are willing to volunteer time to monitor said frequency, a decent antenna set up, and be legal to do. Oh, I know, the horse of legal transmit in an emergency has been beaten to death.

 

[Logan005]

That is a whole nutther topic, i agree, needs to be addressed, but the person here is just getting started, he will need to develop a well organized and effective emergency communications plan, after testing radios and antenna setups first. He should already have a plan that will need to include the radios and the repeater freq. as assigned to the emergency plan. in due time.

 

[Logan005]

If family doesn't volunteer, Force them.