ARFCOM SHTF/Calling frequencies?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ARFCOM SHTF/Calling frequencies?

Posted: 5/14/2008 3:05:55 PM EDT

How about picking some frequencies for arfcom contacts... both for things like the SHOT show or local gunshows, and also potentially for shtf/bugout type communications.

I picked a couple of easy-to-remember frequencies on 2m and 440:
145.560 (yes I know its in the "miscellaneous" area of the bandplan)
445.560

Selecting a CTCSS tone (87 isn't a choice

) would probably be a good idea, as well as freqs on other VHF bands and maybe some HF too (existing HF net?). And for non-amateurs maybe a MURS & GMRS freq/ctcss.

Posted: 5/14/2008 3:50:33 PM EDT

[#1]

Personally I prefer DCS since most folks probably use CTCSS instead.

Posted: 5/14/2008 8:06:58 PM EDT

[#2]

A lot of radios out there don't have DCS/DPL.

Posted: 5/14/2008 8:39:28 PM EDT

[#3]

this has been brought up several times in the past few years.
unless something has changed,
HF 14.283, 7.245/7.261, 3.900
VHF 146.475
UHF 440.975

edit: looks like 7213 has been popular for training might have that one handy too.

Posted: 5/15/2008 4:49:52 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
A lot of radios out there don't have DCS/DPL.

I don't wanna talk to them then.

Posted: 5/16/2008 1:07:56 PM EDT

[#5]

7213 Is usually pretty quiet. We try to link up here all the time.

Posted: 5/16/2008 2:26:33 PM EDT

[#6]

I think he means VHF/UHF.

Posted: 5/17/2008 5:12:38 PM EDT

[#7]

5560? I will try to remember that. Well actually, since I am legal, I should put it in the radios while the computer works. When the SHTF, the power will probably be off and I can't program it.

RS

Posted: 5/17/2008 7:19:10 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I think he means VHF/UHF.

VHF is useless during a BO. I am in a shitty location for VHF anyway so I tend to bash it. One BIG motivator to getting HF privileges for me.

Posted: 5/17/2008 7:36:59 PM EDT

[#9]

If you say so.

Now get off your ass and upgrade.

Posted: 5/17/2008 8:47:36 PM EDT

[#10]

Had my general for a while now. But I live in hillbilly territory is why VHF don't do it for me.

Posted: 5/18/2008 7:06:52 AM EDT

[#11]

HF radio for SHTF?

My son and I carry UHF HT radios daily as a backup to cell phones. We have access to two GMRS repeaters in the county along with the four or five Greenville 440 amatuer radio repeaters. One of the GMRS repeaters is at a 911 site and one of the 440 repeaters is on a TV transmitter site. Both have backup power. So my SHTF radio plan is business as usual, just the rest of the plan that is still up in the air. In the case of comm outage, my VHF/UHF radios are for getting people home safely. What is the HF survivalist ham radio for? Calling for help? Who then would be coming and from how far away? I haven't considered an HF ham radio to be that high on my list of things to get for said reasons.

RS

Posted: 5/18/2008 3:14:47 PM EDT

[#12]

Learned something new about a local SHTF event from last year. As some of you may remember, South GA and North FL experienced the largest wildfire in southeast history. Our ARES group provided communications for a neighboring county when their landline and cell services were overwhelmed and crashed. The fire radios weren't working reliably from the fire line to the EOC so we filled that gap also.

We had our district ARES meeting yesterday. This is where the 5 counties in our district get together to discuss what's happened in the past year and what's in the works. What I didn't realize is that the county has a single tower providing their police and fire comms. Fortunately the tower survived the fire but had it fallen victim they would've had neither communications anywhere in the county. Food for thought.

Posted: 5/18/2008 6:05:05 PM EDT

[#13]

We have had some Group Ideas on S/F emergency contact frequency’s:

Of course this will depend on time of day and time of year. But so far we have come up with a 61 theme that works fairly well so far.

We frequently use it on 40,80 and 160M. It allows us to know where to look for other S/F persons in the vast sea of frequency’s that is available to hams for communications. We have a weekly net on 40,80 and 160M every one is welcome. We usually have guys from all over the United States.

1.961, 160M
3.861, 75M
7.261, 40M
14.261, 20M
18.161, 17M
21.361, 15M
24.961, 12M

145.61, 2M

GMRS Repeater Output / Simplex 462.625 For the people with high end gear.
FRS Ch 3(GMRS 5 w. allowed) 462.6125 Medium range.
FRS Ch 10 (GMRS not allowed) 467.6125 Short range tac traffic.
At this point we use mostley

1.961, 160M late evening to late night
3.861, 75M evening to night
7.261, 40M early afternoon
All on thursdays

that was copied from a early 2006 post from scoutmaster (haven't seen him around in a while) and Jaxshooter.

Do you guys still keep this one up?

Posted: 5/19/2008 9:44:37 AM EDT

[#14]

Learned something new about a local SHTF event from last year. As some of you may remember, South GA and North FL experienced the largest wildfire in southeast history. Our ARES group provided communications for a neighboring county when their landline and cell services were overwhelmed and crashed. The fire radios weren't working reliably from the fire line to the EOC so we filled that gap also.

We had our district ARES meeting yesterday. This is where the 5 counties in our district get together to discuss what's happened in the past year and what's in the works. What I didn't realize is that the county has a single tower providing their police and fire comms. Fortunately the tower survived the fire but had it fallen victim they would've had neither communications anywhere in the county. Food for thought.

It is pretty much the same in my county with 90% of the public safety repeaters in one place. This includes sheriff, EMS, rural FD, and the local node for the statewide 800 radio system.

RS

Posted: 5/19/2008 12:01:38 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
SNIP...that was copied from a early 2006 post from scoutmaster (haven't seen him around in a while) and Jaxshooter.
Do you guys still keep this one up?

We tried to standardize on 7.213 for 40m since 7.261 always seemed to have foreign broadcast interference.

For a while there, we just maintained a nightly sked of 7213 at about 8-9pm Eastern. I'll check my notes tonight. Haven't been keeping it up recently, but it's easy enough to reinstate.

Posted: 5/19/2008 2:39:34 PM EDT

[#16]

What he said. Like the Echolink net, the HF sked is kind of hit and miss. But the 7261 area was blowing us out with broadcasters. Now if everyone will get their Extra upgrade we can move even lower.

Posted: 5/19/2008 5:12:26 PM EDT

[#17]

I promise I'll try to get it in the next few months

Posted: 5/19/2008 5:14:38 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I promise I'll try to get it in the next few months

Don't forget the pool is changing soon.

Why aren't you on Echolink?

Posted: 5/20/2008 2:55:44 AM EDT

[#19]

sorry, wasn't on long last night. I had to go and get my kid from his grandparents house. He's not been being a good boy lately.

Posted: 5/20/2008 4:27:05 AM EDT

[#20]

I had some minor issues with my son last night too. Then I had to jump off for a bit when he wanted me to say goodnight to him again. No worries.

Posted: 5/20/2008 6:01:20 PM EDT

[#21]

BTW, wear your helmet, I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for one. I hit head first, and really screwed up my hip.
Someone already made a pic of it and had it posted on lightfighter before I got to see it:

Posted: 5/20/2008 6:14:31 PM EDT

[#22]

edit. doh, wrong thread.

Posted: 5/20/2008 6:18:02 PM EDT

[#23]

double tap

Posted: 5/20/2008 6:19:31 PM EDT

[#24]

I think a sticky is in order for an ARFcom communications plan.

It should list calling frequencies/tones, public encryption keys, gunshow/hamfest simplex, nets and times, rules for IDing other ARFcommers on the air, etc...

Posted: 5/20/2008 8:09:53 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I think a sticky is in order for an ARFcom communications plan.

It should list calling frequencies/tones, public encryption keys, gunshow/hamfest simplex, nets and times, rules for IDing other ARFcommers on the air, etc...

Well first we need to establish those plans, hence this thread.

I still think the "5.56" frequencies would be best and easiest to remember, for those two common bands anyway.

Posted: 5/21/2008 8:22:59 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I think a sticky is in order for an ARFcom communications plan.

It should list calling frequencies/tones, public encryption keys, gunshow/hamfest simplex, nets and times, rules for IDing other ARFcommers on the air, etc...

Well first we need to establish those plans, hence this thread.

I still think the "5.56" frequencies would be best and easiest to remember, for those two common bands anyway.

I agree.

Here's a list of frequencies that have been proposed. We need to decide on which ones to solidify, as well as choose some for the less-used bands, (~~1.25m~~, 33cm, etc.)

160 meters
1.961

80 meters
3.861
3.900

40 meters
7.213 [I think this one is already standardized]
7.245
~~7.261~~ (Too much interference/too busy)

20 meters
14.261
14.283

17 meters
18.161

15 meters
21.361

12 meters
24.961

10 meters
28.445 (My SWAG proposal...)

6 meters
52.560

2 meters
145.560 (Miscellaneous and experimental modes)
145.610 (Miscellaneous and experimental modes)
146.475 (Simplex)
147.445 (Simplex)

1.25 centimeters
223.560

70 centimeters
440.975
445.560

Posted: 5/21/2008 9:28:36 AM EDT

[#27]

I suppose 445.5625 is close enough for gov. work?

RS

Posted: 5/21/2008 10:44:33 AM EDT

[#28]

OST

Posted: 5/21/2008 12:41:44 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
60 meters
5.560

That's not a valid channel/frequency for 60m. There are only 5 discreet channels on the 60m band... see here -> www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/Hambands_color.pdf
60m has ideal propagation characteristics for SHTF and public service comms, it's a shame that there isn't a more usable band here. Of course the qualities of that band are why NTIA wouldn't let it go for amateur use.

10 meters
28.445 (My SWAG proposal...)

How many novice or tech plus operators are still out there at this point? 28.556 would be easy to remember but outside the novice/tech plus band. One plus is that above 28.5 tends to be very low activity so little chance of interference up there.

2 meters
145.560 (Miscellaneous and experimental modes)
147.445 (Simplex)

I'd probably try to stay with one or two freqs. I'd recommend these two on 2m, with the 145.560 as primary.

For 222MHz I'd suggest 223.560 and 52.560 on 6m. Both of those are in the simplex area on ARRLs bandplans and close to the national simplex freq on 6m for antenna bandwidth. I would suggest a standard ctcss tone on all the VHF/UHF frequencies, but none of them stand out to me as having any kind of arfcom connection. DPL 223 would be easy to remember but I'd strongly recommend staying with pl/ctcss rather than dpl/dcs for maximum equipment compatibility.

My thought for this exercise is to have something that people could preprogram into radios (especially important for folks using commercial gear that can't be field programmed) & scan lists.... to have as an established meeting place.

I notice the pattern of "61s" on the HF freqs, I am curious where that came from...

Posted: 5/21/2008 2:30:13 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:
60 meters
5.560

That's not a valid channel/frequency for 60m. There are only 5 discreet channels on the 60m band... see here -> www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/Hambands_color.pdf
60m has ideal propagation characteristics for SHTF and public service comms, it's a shame that there isn't a more usable band here. Of course the qualities of that band are why NTIA wouldn't let it go for amateur use.

Thanks! I completely forgot about the 60 meter channelization.

Quoted:

10 meters
28.445 (My SWAG proposal...)

How many novice or tech plus operators are still out there at this point? 28.556 would be easy to remember but outside the novice/tech plus band. One plus is that above 28.5 tends to be very low activity so little chance of interference up there.

From what I understand, when the FCC removed the code requirements, that gave all Techs the same privileges as Tech-Plus. 10m phone privileges are allowed for Tech between 28.3MHz and 28.5MHz.

Quoted:
I notice the pattern of "61s" on the HF freqs, I am curious where that came from...

Those are just from a repost on the first page by Orbital-Burn. I just grouped the suggested frequencies together so we could all see them in one place.

I also agree on using CTCSS rather than DPL. Looking at the standard list, 110.9 just popped out of the page, for no apparent reason... 203.5, as well

Posted: 5/21/2008 4:52:37 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
From what I understand, when the FCC removed the code requirements, that gave all Techs the same privileges as Tech-Plus. 10m phone privileges are allowed for Tech between 28.3MHz and 28.5MHz.

I'm certain that is not correct. Existing novice and tech+ licensees have those privileges grandfathered, but no-code technician licensees never had privileges under 30MHz and the removal of the code requirement AFAIK didn't change that.

I also agree on using CTCSS rather than DPL. Looking at the standard list, 110.9 just popped out of the page, for no apparent reason... 203.5, as well

M203 would be an arfcom connection, but I tend to prefer lower frequency tones, some radios don't do a very good job of filtering out the higher ones (175+ Hz or so).

Posted: 5/21/2008 5:27:42 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:

Quoted:
From what I understand, when the FCC removed the code requirements, that gave all Techs the same privileges as Tech-Plus. 10m phone privileges are allowed for Tech between 28.3MHz and 28.5MHz.

I'm certain that is not correct. Existing novice and tech+ licensees have those privileges grandfathered, but no-code technician licensees never had privileges under 30MHz and the removal of the code requirement AFAIK didn't change that.

Take a look here. I believe Tony-Ri has it correct.

Posted: 5/21/2008 7:26:15 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
From what I understand, when the FCC removed the code requirements, that gave all Techs the same privileges as Tech-Plus. 10m phone privileges are allowed for Tech between 28.3MHz and 28.5MHz.

I'm certain that is not correct. Existing novice and tech+ licensees have those privileges grandfathered, but no-code technician licensees never had privileges under 30MHz and the removal of the code requirement AFAIK didn't change that.

Take a look here. I believe Tony-Ri has it correct.

It would appear so... as of February 23, 2007 you are correct.

Staying within the upper end of the novice/tech subband would be better then.

I'm reprogramming my commercial rig right now for some skywarn stuff... I'll make a decision

. Putting in 145.560 and 147.445 with a ctcss of 110.9 as arfcom 1&2.

Posted: 5/27/2008 2:14:23 PM EDT

[#34]

I would like to suggest 50.60 as the ARFCOM 6m calling freq to accomodate miltary type radios. Thats where I'll be.

EDIT: Cancel the suggestion, its out of the band plan for 6m voice ops.

Posted: 5/27/2008 2:39:26 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
I would like to suggest 50.60 as the ARFCOM 6m calling freq to accomodate miltary type radios. Thats where I'll be.

Well... 50.60 is in the packet/nonvoice section of the bandplan, plus most people using FM mobile are going to have radios and antennas tuned further up the band as the national simplex freq is 52.525 with repeater frequencies above and below that. Antenna bandwidth does become an issue trying to cover the full 6m band with simple antennas.

What is the frequency range of your radio?

Posted: 5/27/2008 4:11:03 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I would like to suggest 50.60 as the ARFCOM 6m calling freq to accomodate miltary type radios. Thats where I'll be.

Well... 50.60 is in the packet/nonvoice section of the bandplan, plus most people using FM mobile are going to have radios and antennas tuned further up the band as the national simplex freq is 52.525 with repeater frequencies above and below that. Antenna bandwidth does become an issue trying to cover the full 6m band with simple antennas.

What is the frequency range of your radio?

You're right, my mistake. I thought it said "NOVICE".....but it says NONVOICE. Need better glasses.

What I have for portable limited 6m use is a PRC77. The prc77 will not do the narrow channel spacing that the modern 6m sets will, so anyone using one or other similar military radio is going to have to use a freq that falls within its channel spacing.

I guess I'll just use it for local internal commo.

Posted: 5/27/2008 8:37:12 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I would like to suggest 50.60 as the ARFCOM 6m calling freq to accomodate miltary type radios. Thats where I'll be.

Well... 50.60 is in the packet/nonvoice section of the bandplan, plus most people using FM mobile are going to have radios and antennas tuned further up the band as the national simplex freq is 52.525 with repeater frequencies above and below that. Antenna bandwidth does become an issue trying to cover the full 6m band with simple antennas.

What is the frequency range of your radio?

You're right, my mistake. I thought it said "NOVICE".....but it says NONVOICE. Need better glasses.

What I have for portable limited 6m use is a PRC77. The prc77 will not do the narrow channel spacing that the modern 6m sets will, so anyone using one or other similar military radio is going to have to use a freq that falls within its channel spacing.

I guess I'll just use it for local internal commo.

Those old military radios use wideband FM IIRC and aren't going to interoperate with modern equipment anyway.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ARFCOM SHTF/Calling frequencies?

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