Thread: Paging 'trollers/SAR: GMRS radios in the BC

Per this post, I was wondering if 'trollers or SAR people who used radios regularly had answers to my questions:

1) Is it necessary to have a FCC licence if you only expect to use the 462.675 or 467.675 frequencies for emergencies only? $80 ain't all that cheap.
2) How commonly are these frequencies used by patrol, SAR, etc? Others?
3) How prevalent are ridgetop GMRS repeaters in the BC, either here in Ootah or other places where I might conceivably use the unit (Cascades, Sierras, CO)?
4) If you expect to be utilizing a repeater (which I imagine is necessary in the BC), do you forego using 462.675?
5) Hear tell (I think it was flyk) that using the radio might interfere with a beacon rescue, especially with the new digital Pieps. Anybody else know more about this rumor?
6) Anything else this radio JONG needs to know?

BTW, Summit's post here is helpful, but I was wondering if anyone else had input on the matter.

1: No, but get it anyway, its worthwhile.
2: Check your local SAR teams/resorts.
3: I couldn't answer this, contact local SAR/fire/emergency response.
4: Depends
5: If the frequencies are close then yes, its possible.
6: Conterra chest radio pack. Worth its weight in gold, and depending on which one you have, your transponder fits nicely in the pocket.

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

but I was wondering if anyone else had input on the matter.

You probably should have specified that you were looking for "useful" input on the matter. Though I imagine being told to repeatedly "check with SAR" in a thread titled "Paging Trollers/SAR" was incredibly helpful.

Would the UAC/FS guys have any input on this kind of thing? Maybe drop them a line?

1) FCC licence?
Technically you need an FCC license to use GMRS channels at any power IS-GMRS/FRS shared channes above 0.5W PEP (thats FRS 1-7). Those are all 462 range

FRS frequencies (467 range, but not the 467 GMRS repeater inputs) and ISGMRS less than 0.5W PEP require no license.

In reality, nobody buys those licenses and nobody busts people for not using them unless you *REALLY* piss people off repeatedly in the same area. FCC has better things to do than triangulate GMRS pirates.

Don't bother with the license for general use.

No license is required to make a emergency broadcast on any frequency.

2) SAR and Patrol rarely if ever use FRS/GMRS frequencies. A select few patrol (maybe 2 or 3 in the nation) monitor a certain FRS channel. Most SAR teams have a pair of FRS/GMRS radios just in case they are informed that a missing party certainly is using them, but otherwise they do not use them.

3) GMRS Repeaters?
I have yet to see a GMRS repeater... ever. GMRS repetaer capable handsets are expensive and rare. ($120 Motorola T7200 or a $200+ fancy Kenwood).

4) Using a repeater?
If you are using the repeater you activate your GMRS HT's repeater setting which will +5MHz your Tx frequency to match the repeater input.

5) Interferes with a 457?
If you have the radio near your beacon it could theoretically interfere in the slightest way... otherwise it won't interfere unless you are transmitting.

6) Anything else this radio JONG needs to know?

Screw FRS/GMRS. Take your HAM Technician exam and buy a 5W HAM HT. There are likely many HAM repeaters in your area.

Originally Posted by Summit

A select few patrol (maybe 2 or 3 in the nation) monitor a certain FRS channel

It's becoming more common. Most of the major Tahoe resorts do, I imagine other resorts may start doing so as well.

Originally Posted by stump832

Though I imagine being told to repeatedly "check with SAR" in a thread titled "Paging Trollers/SAR" was incredibly helpful.

And I quote myself

Originally Posted by likwid

2: Check your local SAR teams/resorts.

Theres a bunch of SAR people on this board. Including from Utah, where he lives. Its pretty clear he was looking for their input, and not looking for an EC BC JONG to tell him to check with the exact people he was hoping to get a response from. Quoting yourself doesn't make your comment any more intelligent or any less useless than it initially was.

Originally Posted by stump832

Theres a bunch of SAR people on this board. Including from Utah, where he lives.

Yep, and none replied and this ended up on page 2.

So does moving to Utah from the EC (nevermind it being for work or leaving your SO behind) automagically give you a BC PhD?

But I digress.

I like the way you've worked your cluelessness into your personal attacks. Very nicely done. Carry on.

Originally Posted by stump832

I like the way you've worked your cluelessness into your personal attacks. Very nicely done. Carry on.

Go drink some drano and fuck a goat you suck faced dicksmacker.

Then kill yourself and die.

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

5) Hear tell (I think it was flyk) that using the radio might interfere with a beacon rescue, especially with the new digital Pieps. Anybody else know more about this rumor?

I've forgotten a bunch about it, but from what I remember it was when you transmitted from the radio it reset the pieps dsp. So it was like you had turned off the beacon and it was going through its startup procedure again.

I'll be seeing those guys again soon so i'll see what i can find out.

Originally Posted by flykdog

I'll be seeing those guys again soon so i'll see what i can find out.

You mind asking them what the deal is with the firmware upgrade?

Thanks guys, and yes, thanks likwid for rescuing this thread from page 2 oblivion. I'll look into the Conterra.

The radio/GPS arrived yesterday and I've been messing with it - its pretty cool, at 5W and repeater-capable. Early season, I plan to go check to see if I can hear patrol transmissions upcanyon and ask around with the guys in the shack, etc. Plus, Trackhead will be stationed at Alta clinic and I have other peeps at Snowbird clinic I can ask as well. I'll report back if anybody's interested.

I was starting to suspect that the GMRS wasn't as cool as I'd hoped (at least relative to ham) for BC use, but maybe as more people use the frequencies they'll become more widespread and useful. I have learned that patrol and SAR uses a similar 70 cm wavelength as GMRS, but probably discrete channels, so again not much help, but maybe there'll be some overlap or workaround.

I'll also see if transmission at 5W fucks with my Pieps DSP and report back on that for you flyk. What channels (frequencies) are you guys using up at the Basin?

I keep meaning to call the Liberty Mountain guys here in SLC to ask about the firmware upgrade, and will report back on that too once I find out the shizz.

Originally Posted by mildbill.

Go drink some drano and fuck a goat you suck faced dicksmacker.

Then kill yourself and die.

Bill hates drano... and goats.

Anyone seen my SO? I left her behind, most likely with the ted williams tee-shirt my brother gave me for my birthday. Turbo weak.

Ted Williams just bitchslapped your SO with his frozen robotic hand, you fucking N00B!

Now go die.

So can someone explain to me exactly who I'm engaged to? Moving is such a pain in the ass.

Originally Posted by stump832

So can someone explain to me exactly who I'm engaged to? Moving is such a pain in the ass.

wait... I thought you and Bill moved to Vermont and got engaged. When did you move to Utah?

Okay. So Bill is my SO. And I was automagically forced to leave him behind. That would explain why he wants me to drink drano and die. But that still doesn't explain who I'm engaged to now.

Originally Posted by stump832

Okay. So Bill is my SO. And I was automagically forced to leave him behind. That would explain why he wants me to drink drano and die. But that still doesn't explain who I'm engaged to now.

Someone in Utah? A nice mormon girl perhaps?

I think I might have left my fiancee behind too. Blast!

Originally Posted by stump832

That would explain why he wants me to drink drano and die.

as soon as the battle with Cryobot Ted Williams begins, you go running off. that's why i'm pissed.

Originally Posted by mildbill.

as soon as the battle with Cryobot Ted Williams begins, you go running off. that's why i'm pissed.

Its not like I had any choice in the matter, mang. I HAD TO.

Originally Posted by stump832

Its not like I had any choice in the matter, mang. I HAD TO.

FUCK YOU

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

I'll also see if transmission at 5W fucks with my Pieps DSP and report back on that for you flyk. What channels (frequencies) are you guys using up at the Basin?

I'm pretty sure they're using a 900mhz system, i doubt that a consumer model handheld would disrupt the pieps.