Rallying Frequency used by Marshals

[germac]

Does anybody know the frequency used by Marshals or rally control?

 

[n2mdk]

Someone might but you don't give enough info, what type of rally, where is it held, etc.

 

[germac]

Rally as in World Rally Championship. I live in Ireland.

 

[Jay911]

I would suspect the radios for the marshals are provided by the organization running the rally. For example, the Automobile Club of Monaco would handle comms for Monte Carlo.

I remember seeing in a rally guide book for one of the official WRC events last year, talking about how teams must get licenses from the official government telecoms authority for their radios. For example, this excerpt is from this year's official rally guide for competitors for this weekend's Corona Rally Mexico (taken from the PDF at http://www.rallymexico.com/pdf/RallyGuides/RG2Mx08.pdf:

10. TWO-WAY RADIOS
Cellular phones, GSM mobile stations and FRS stations (Motorola Talkabout) are exempt from radio license, provided they comply with the national regulations. The use of all other kind of radio transmitters is regulated by the SCT (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes) and requires a radio license. Upon request, the SCT will grant the license for use of specific frequencies in the commercial UHF and VHF wavelengths.
The SCT will provide the use of frequencies if the request is done through the organizers at a cost of $150.00 USD per frequency (Duplex) requested.
Throughout the rally, the use of amateur radio frequencies is prohibited.

The Irish Rally isn't in this year, I think. It's alternating with either Jordan or Turkey for 2008/2009, isn't it? Or will you be going to GB? If so, steer clear of those Welsh cops.. they have a bad history of treating the rally poorly.

Who do you cheer for, if anyone in specific? I'm desperately trying to believe that Subaru will pull it out this year and get moving.

 

[germac]

You are on the right track!

I believe you are right. I read on another website that you must have a licence for these radios. But I have seen many fans at rallies with these radios and tuned into rally control. They are listening to what is happening on the stages. Thank you for your help. I am a big fan of Petter Solberg and hope his luck will change when they launch their new car later this year. Rally Ireland is back in 2009!

 

[Jay911]

I don't know if Ireland/UK/whatever you need to look for has a website lookup like we do in Canada and the US, for the government's frequency licensing organization (or, the places you intend to scan, if it's Mexico, Argentina, Spain, etc), but if you find such a beast, you need to look for companies such as "Prodrive" or "M-Sport", I'm sure. If I recall, some racing entities in the States even show up as personal licenses of the main man/woman in charge, i.e. "Richard Petty" (an example - not necessarily true). So you may even have to look for "Malcolm Wilson" or whoever the current team principal is for Subaru.. I don't remember who took over after David Richards.

 

[citylink_uk]

Hi we don't have an official website of listings in UK but there's a few unnoficial very comprehensive databases.

Obviously being in England im not sure how Irish rallies are run or who runs them but here 81.5750 is used as the Motorsport Safety Channel used by most of the safety marshalls.

Other VHF channels such as 169.3375 and lowband dual pair Output: 82.6875 In: 69.1875 also often can be found.

Worth checking around the VHF High band for on site repeaters/single allocations for the event. Also Most competing teams will probably be on VHF too.