FRS/GMRS Radios

[BikingBrian]

Not all of us are ham operators - but I bet that many folks in town have FRS/GMRS radios that they use on the ski slopes, etc.  Seems like they could have a use for communicating within town if a disaster cut off landline/cell service.  Has this been considered, and if so, has a protocol been set up for their use? (For example, leaving one channel open for medical emergencies.)

[Wrightwood]

Brian,
Wrightwood CERT has adopted FRS radio in conjunction with ham radio operators to pass radio traffic. Each CERT division has been assigned a specific FRS frequency to communicate within their division. Each division has at least one ham radio operator assigned to pass their division FRS traffic along.

A minimal amount of FRS training has taken place with CERT groups so far.

During today's phone outage, Wrightwood CERT was activated with FRS and ham radio operators communicating within the community. It worked well for so little training.

[ForestGal]

I heard this today, what does FRS mean?  And what does GMRS mean?

[Wrightwood]

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a radio system authorized in the United States since 1996. Requires no license and is limited to 500 milliwatts in power. (Only good for up to a mile or so in Wrightwood)

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed land-mobile FM UHF radio service in the United States available for short-distance two-way communication. It is intended for use by an adult individual who possesses a valid GMRS license, as well as his or her immediate family members. (Good for about 2-3 miles in Wrightwood) The license fee is $85

[Wrightwood]

I should add that there is a great deal of confusion on FRS/GMRS radios being offered at this time.

Most all radios offered today are hybrid FRS/GMRS combination radios. They have 22 channels, instead of the 14 channels associated with FRS. On this type of radio, channels 8-14 are strictly license-free FRS channels. Transmitting on all channels above channel 14 requires a license. Transmitting on the shared FRS/GMRS channels 1-7 requires a license, if using more than 1/2 watt. It is the responsibility of the radio user to read and understand all applicable rules and regulations regarding GMRS.

Wrightwood CERT only uses FRS frequencies so no license is needed.

[ForestGal]

OMG, I'm getting more confused with every post I read.  John, you know what radio I have.  Does this mean that I couldn't do CERT with my radio?  I listened to so much this afternoon/evening, about the situation up here.  I didn't chime in, cuz I don't know very much about what to do.  How much power does my radio have?  I think you told me 5 watts, but I can't remember how to change that.  Oh dear.....

[BikingBrian]

Wrightwood CERT only uses FRS frequencies so no license is needed.

OK, good to know.  One of the reasons I was asking was in case I needed to communicate with a family member who may have walked into town, for example, I didn't want to interfere with any emergency communications.

[ForestGal]

OK, I'm still confused.  It costs $85 to get that license, whatever it is.  It's $14 to take the exam to get your ham radio license.  Is the difference, that maybe you're not as nervous?   

[RobertW]

OK, I'm still confused.  It costs $85 to get that license, whatever it is.  It's $14 to take the exam to get your ham radio license.  Is the difference, that maybe you're not as nervous?   

ForestGal, you are just fine with your HAM radio.  FRS/GMRS radios are those two-way radios that everyone buys like Walkie-Talkies from BESTBUY and the like that cost between $20 and $70 for a pair.  These radios will often state that they will cover 14 miles or so.  This indicates that they include the GMRS band which is allocated much more power.  The GMRS bands offered on those radios are capable of accessing Repeters, similar to HAM repeaters but there aren't nearly as many and you usually have to pay to use them.  Like Ham, using the GMRS radio frequencies requires a license.  Unlike HAM anybody can get one just by paying the $85.  No test is required.

Unlike HAM frequencies there is a great misuse of the GMRS radios and few bother with getting a license.  The GMRS frequencies are allowed 5 watts of power, thus the extended range.  I was into GMRS radios for many years.  Now that I'm a HAM, I don't bother.  I have about 6 FRS/GMRS radios that I use when doing the Bighorn Sheep Ground Count in February with the CDFG.  Everyone in the group is required to have such a radio to keep in touch with each other.  But we stay on the FRS radio frequencies which do not require a license.  Even though these radios often have the GMRS frequencies with extended power, you are not allowed to use these legally without a license.

The reason the CERT team also utilizes these radios is because many are not HAM operators but do have these inexpensive radios that they can use to communicate over short distances.

As people use the FRS radios to communicate among each other because a lot of people have such radios, CERT members can then pass that info on via the more reliable HAM frequencies to Net Control.

[ForestGal]

Alrightey then.  I understand everything now.  NOT!!  I'm going to go to sleep now, and try again to digest this in the morning.  I'm trying to learn this, honest!  I really appreciate all your help, both here in writing and on the air.  This is just so brand new to me.......

[clint]

To add on to what Bob said, and he covered most of the points:

First off, GMRS radios do not work any farther than FRS radios except in open air. Like a Kansas plain with no hills. The extra power is almost entirely useless in a mountain environment.

Your Amateur License grants you the privilege to use many different bands and on most of them
up to 1500 watts. Not 5 watts.

There are many thousands of ham radio repeaters.

Your radio allows you to communicate at a much higher level with more people.

This an apples/oranges discussion. Anybody who wants to buy one can have FRS. Anybody who want's
to pay $85. can use GMRS. But they won't do what your ham radio will do.

And BTW, we did cover this in class.

[SkierBob]

To add on to what Bob said, and he covered most of the points:

First off, GMRS radios do not work any farther than FRS radios except in open air.

or when used through a repeater

[RobertW]

ForestGal,

These are the radios we are talking about...



Here is a link that explains the FRS and GMRS radio services...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service

We had a thread on FRS & GMRS Radios over a year ago...

http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,9256.0.html

[Wrightwood]

For clarification - the divisions were setup by the Wrightwood Communications Group, OK'd by Wrightwood Fire Station 101 and adopted by Wrightwood CERT.

During the past few months a committee was formed that has been working on developing a Wrightwood Cooperative Emergency Operation Plan (EOP). This initial planning committee consists of representatives from LA & SB Supervisor Offices of Antonovich and Mitzelfelt, LA County OEM, SB County OES, SB County Fire, Wrightwood Disaster Preparedness Team & CERT, Wrightwood Fire Safe Council and a few others.

The committee is reviewing how the area is divided into divisions and will likely be adding 4 additional divisions. Those new divisions will include organizational camps near Jackson Lake, Table Mountain/Mountain High, Desert Front Road and Horse Canyon areas.


Here's the current division map being used within the residential areas of Wrightwood



Here's the current CERT FRS channels used in each division

Div A    Ch 8  467.5625
Div B    Ch 9  467.5875
Div C    Ch 10 467.6125
Div D    Ch 11 467.6375
Div E    Ch 12 467.6625
Div F    Ch 13 467.6875

[ForestGal]

And BTW, we did cover this in class.

Well, I don't remember that part.  I think I was just so focused on getting my ham license, that I just couldn't remember everything.  I'm a very nervous student, always have been.  And I didn't know anything about any of this.

I'm trying to learn.  So, to join the CERT team, I would have to get a FRS radio and figure that out too?      I think it would just be easier to go crawl in a hole somewhere...   

[kew]

A FRS radio can be purchased for $30 to $90 at Best Buy. The set I have cost about $30 several years ago. I personally would go for the less expensive ones. They are EXTREMELY easy to setup and use. The learning curve is about 5 to 10 minutes.