Posted: 12/12/2011 7:28:26 AM EDT
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I have downloaded the PDF of ARFCOM emergency frequencies but I was wondering are those frequencies unique to ARFCOM or are they considered the universal frequencies for emergencies? I'm looking specifically at 145.560 and 147.445 on 2m and 440.975 and 445.560 on 70cm. They are listed on the cheat card as ARFCOM frequencies, not as nationally recognized like the calling frequencies listed farther down (146.520, 147.420, and 446.000).
If they are not, is there a national standard for emergency frequencies other than the calling frequencies? |
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not that I know of either locally there may be an ARES/RACES/SKYWARN simplex freq.... bout as close as you'll get most VHF+ traffic will be on repeaters I'd think anyway - for area comms... of course point to point you can get away with simplex if you're close enough
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Those are ARFCOM frequencies. I just did a quick check on the ARRL web site, and there's no apparent fixed frequencies ––
the RACES guides are actually fill-in-the-blanks. I know Alaska has a primary emergency frequency on 60M, and there's a couple fixed RACES frequencies intended for interoperability with the military, but otherwise, no national standard that's regularly monitored within ham bands. So... find an active QSO and drop the "emergency traffic" bomb on them. I know during actual emergencies there's usually published net frequencies, and there's always the NTS nets. |
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Quoted: I may be much mistaken but I believe these are frequencies the a couple of our sharper tools in this shed pulled up because they were not too busy. AR-Jedi? If I am wrong, let me know. correct for the ARFCOM freqs (which will be in your rigs btw.....) I'm working on your list now....
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The 5.56 frequencies I picked because they would be easy to remember and are completely out of the way of most other activity. If you're looking for a general calling frequency to contact other amateur operators they would be a poor choice.
The closest to an "emergency" frequency that exists on VHF/UHF is 146.520. Many will monitor it while traveling, and people leave it on at home also. I've made one random contact ever (outside of a VHF contest) on 446.000, it's completely dead most places. |
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Quoted: The 5.56 frequencies I picked because they would be easy to remember and are completely out of the way of most other activity. If you're looking for a general calling frequency to contact other amateur operators they would be a poor choice. The closest to an "emergency" frequency that exists on VHF/UHF is 146.520. Many will monitor it while traveling, and people leave it on at home also. I've made one random contact ever (outside of a VHF contest) on 446.000, it's completely dead most places. long trips get 2m calling on one side of my radio in my truck always on at home if I'm not on the radio
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Quoted:
The 5.56 frequencies I picked because they would be easy to remember and are completely out of the way of most other activity. If you're looking for a general calling frequency to contact other amateur operators they would be a poor choice. The closest to an "emergency" frequency that exists on VHF/UHF is 146.520. Many will monitor it while traveling, and people leave it on at home also. I've made one random contact ever (outside of a VHF contest) on 446.000, it's completely dead most places. ^^^ read this. ar-jedi |
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This is pretty much what I figured. I was asking basically so I knew what frequencies to use or listen to in the event of a large emergency that would limit standard communications. I know the local repeater frequencies, but if they are down I don't really know of any frequencies to use to contact folks other than the standard simplex calling frequencies and those listed on the ARFCOM Emcomm sheet. Looks like that will be the way to go.
I will touch base with the local ARES group, I'm sure they have some procedure set up. It would be good for them to be able to communicate with us (the PD) and vice versa but as far as I can tell there is no provision set up for that kind of situation. I was surprised when I learned we didn't have any official contact or liason with them. Perhaps that will be me when I have some experience under my belt and actually know what I'm doing. As always, thanks for the help. |
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Quoted:
I will touch base with the local ARES group, I'm sure they have some procedure set up. It would be good for them to be able to communicate with us (the PD) and vice versa but as far as I can tell there is no provision set up for that kind of situation. ARES here has predetermined simplex frequencies in case repeaters go down, and an interop frequency for public service. That was organized by the state, so your area may be different. If ARES/RACES there hasn't figured that out yet, maybe they will if you ask them about it. 
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Something that many don't think about for local emergency/SHTF use is to simply use the local repeater output frequency on simplex, what on public safety would be called "talkaround".
We've had several minor SHTFs in my area in the last couple of years, widespread power outages from windstorms/thunderstorm complexes as well as winter ice storms that left many without power for 48 hours... we haven't had the repeater backup battery go dead yet. |
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Quoted:
Something that many don't think about for local emergency/SHTF use is to simply use the local repeater output frequency on simplex, what on public safety would be called "talkaround". We did that a lot here, when one of our repeaters had a piece of hardline on it that was doubling as plumbing. |
| Get involved with your local 'ham club'. That's what I did here at home. We have a nightly (M-F) net meeting on the local repeater and then one on Sunday night that is simplex. Just about all of the guys I know their call from the sound of their voice after many nights of meeting and chatting. It also is a sort of 'practice' using your gear and the repeaters, and then Sunday if the repeaters were down sort of practice. We practiced SSTV last night before the net. This was good practive for the digital side of the comms, so in case of emergency, I will be proficient in that, also. |
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For 2 meters, the emergency frequencies usually utilize the local repeater systems and the national simplex calling frequency, (146.520). Therefore, these generally vary by geographic locale. On HF, there are usually designated 'rally frequencies' depending on organizational affiliation, ie. ARES, RACES, etc. There are also more and more ARES organizations putting Airmail/Winlink 2000 PMBOs up with a fixed frequency. Sometimes a PMBO will have frequencies on several different bands so an operator can 'hook up' given the propagation variables. One can address messages via the Winlink system that will allow the message to be delivered via email or via radio...depending on which mode checks the 'post office' first. One addresses the message to [email protected] and it goes into que in the Winlink system until WG6XXX checks his Winlink account e-mail box via an Internet connection OR links up to the PMBO via radio. If you guys don't have a Winlink address, I highly recommend signing up...it's free. http://www.winlink.org/ The guys here on this forum have put together a list of SHTF 'rally frequencies' that are for our use. I applaud their efforts. |
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Quoted:
For 2 meters, the emergency frequencies usually utilize the local repeater systems and the national simplex calling frequency, (146.520). Therefore, these generally vary by geographic locale. On HF, there are usually designated 'rally frequencies' depending on organizational affiliation, ie. ARES, RACES, etc. There are also more and more ARES organizations putting Airmail/Winlink 2000 PMBOs up with a fixed frequency. Sometimes a PMBO will have frequencies on several different bands so an operator can 'hook up' given the propagation variables. One can address messages via the Winlink system that will allow the message to be delivered via email or via radio...depending on which mode checks the 'post office' first. One addresses the message to [email protected] and it goes into que in the Winlink system until WG6XXX checks his Winlink account e-mail box via an Internet connection OR links up to the PMBO via radio. If you guys don't have a Winlink address, I highly recommend signing up...it's free. http://www.winlink.org/ The guys here on this forum have put together a list of SHTF 'rally frequencies' that are for our use. I applaud their efforts. Just saw the local ares/races group has a winlink setup.... wonderful,another thing to learn Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
For 2 meters, the emergency frequencies usually utilize the local repeater systems and the national simplex calling frequency, (146.520). Therefore, these generally vary by geographic locale. On HF, there are usually designated 'rally frequencies' depending on organizational affiliation, ie. ARES, RACES, etc. There are also more and more ARES organizations putting Airmail/Winlink 2000 PMBOs up with a fixed frequency. Sometimes a PMBO will have frequencies on several different bands so an operator can 'hook up' given the propagation variables. One can address messages via the Winlink system that will allow the message to be delivered via email or via radio...depending on which mode checks the 'post office' first. One addresses the message to [email protected] and it goes into que in the Winlink system until WG6XXX checks his Winlink account e-mail box via an Internet connection OR links up to the PMBO via radio. If you guys don't have a Winlink address, I highly recommend signing up...it's free. http://www.winlink.org/ The guys here on this forum have put together a list of SHTF 'rally frequencies' that are for our use. I applaud their efforts. I took a look at the Winlink site but it is currently over my head. I don't even know how to do packet radio transmissions, so I have a lot of learning to do before I get into anything like that. Thanks for the info though, I will look into it as my skillset grows. |
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Quoted: Quoted: For 2 meters, the emergency frequencies usually utilize the local repeater systems and the national simplex calling frequency, (146.520). Therefore, these generally vary by geographic locale. On HF, there are usually designated 'rally frequencies' depending on organizational affiliation, ie. ARES, RACES, etc. There are also more and more ARES organizations putting Airmail/Winlink 2000 PMBOs up with a fixed frequency. Sometimes a PMBO will have frequencies on several different bands so an operator can 'hook up' given the propagation variables. One can address messages via the Winlink system that will allow the message to be delivered via email or via radio...depending on which mode checks the 'post office' first. One addresses the message to [email protected] and it goes into que in the Winlink system until WG6XXX checks his Winlink account e-mail box via an Internet connection OR links up to the PMBO via radio. If you guys don't have a Winlink address, I highly recommend signing up...it's free. http://www.winlink.org/ The guys here on this forum have put together a list of SHTF 'rally frequencies' that are for our use. I applaud their efforts. I took a look at the Winlink site but it is currently over my head. I don't even know how to do packet radio transmissions, so I have a lot of learning to do before I get into anything like that. Thanks for the info though, I will look into it as my skillset grows. Using winlink via the Airmail program is pretty easy. I've been using it for several years....but I'm in the same boat as you regarding packet. The Airmail software does all the work. No 'code' to remember like DIR, LIST, and BYE. |