SAR 160

[maus92]

Intresting that you mention a school bus - because one of the big bus companies here in New York use 155.160 aka "search and rescue common" as one of their main dispatch channels
It suprises me how they are "allowed" to use such a freq- but then again i guess it could be a good thing just in case they need to search and rescue a school bus

IDK, school busses would be useful for storm / mass evacuations.

 

[Darkstar350]

IDK, school busses would be useful for storm / mass evacuations.

Agreed and of course save the children

Anyway i follow a lot of the "common" rescue/emergency, etc freqs and i cant say i have heard any search and rescue type activity on 155.160
However i have heard some helicopter rescue type stuff on 123.100 which i think is also a search and rescue freq and thats where i think most search and rescue type freqs would be in the air band
I also have heard of "800mhz air to ground" but not sure if that would just be the standard 800mhz interop freqs...

 

[nd5y]

It suprises me how they are "allowed" to use such a freq- but then again i guess it could be a good thing just in case they need to search and rescue a school bus

Subpart B—PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO POOL
§90.15 Scope.
The Public Safety Radio Pool covers the licensing of the radio communications of governmental entities and the following category of activities: Medical services, rescue organizations, veterinarians, persons with disabilities, disaster relief organizations, school buses, beach patrols, establishments in isolated places, communications standby facilities, and emergency repair of public communications facilities. ...

eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations

 

[Thunderknight]

Intresting that you mention a school bus - because one of the big bus companies here in New York use 155.160 aka "search and rescue common" as one of their main dispatch channels
It suprises me how they are "allowed" to use such a freq- but then again i guess it could be a good thing just in case they need to search and rescue a school bus

Because it's only a SAR frequency by "accident". One team started, then another, then another so it became a de facto SAR channel. It is NOT an FCC recognized channel for SAR, just another public safety channel. Any team using it needs a license. Many existing (and new) entities are on it for non SAR purposes. In this area we have school buses and EMS dispatching on it (in addition to SAR).

 

[Darkstar350]

Because it's only a SAR frequency by "accident". One team started, then another, then another so it became a de facto SAR channel. It is NOT an FCC recognized channel for SAR, just another public safety channel. Any team using it needs a license. Many existing (and new) entities are on it for non SAR purposes. In this area we have school buses and EMS dispatching on it (in addition to SAR).

I figured as much
Any "official" SAR freq will most likely be on Air band
Looks like i have 123.100 and 126.200 down as some type of air emergency/search and rescue type freqs
Not sure exactly what their designation is but i definitely have heard helicopters looking for disabled boats and such on one of those freqs
And im sure most agencies will mostly use whatever their local aviation channels or trunk systems,etc...

 

[nd5y]

Looks like i have 123.100 and 126.200 down as some type of air emergency/search and rescue type freqs

126.200 is not a SAR or emergency frequency. It is listed as Air Traffic Control Military (Common) in http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC90-50D.pdf.

 

[w3acw]

...Any "official" SAR freq will most likely be on Air band....

SAR would really be on VHF or maybe low UHF FM. It would certainly be analog.
Air band wouldn't fit the needs of ground units. At least in Maryland, SAR is primarily a law enforcement function. With the exception of lost boats/boaters, USCG isn't involved. CAP assists law enforcement with SAR, as do some law enforcement helos but sixty ground units wouldn't shift to air band for one bird. Most SAR personnel are volunteers and affiliated with non-profit groups. With that being said, low cost radios (analog FM) would be key. Due to terrain and the remote nature of the work - repeaters aren't really feasible which leads to simplex operation. FWIW, ham radio is also used quite a bit in SAR work.

While 155.160 is common for SAR teams, it's not exclusive. Some teams in WV do not use that frequency.