GMRS emergency channel?

[frao74]

Hello everyone!

 

Probably a dumb question, but here it goes... Is there a specific GMRS channel that could be considered "For emergency use only"  kind of an homologous to channel 9 in CB? I am aware that for the most part, GMRS is for local communications, but I was wondering if I happen to be somewhere, and there is an emergency, if there is a specific channel considered as such that I can use to call someone (assuming it is somehow monitored)...

 

Thanks!!

WRJA906

[Durake]

Howdy.

 

Most consider 675 to be the unofficial "travelers aid" or "emergency" channel. However there are certainly no restrictions on using it for anything. REACT where I live in Dallas, Texas has a 600 and 675 repeater in downtown, the 675 is open for anyone to use however it's reserved for REACT during events. During the downtown shooting where 5 Dallas Police Officers were shot and killed the 675 channel had emergency traffic on it for people downtown that were in the area, and it was heavily used. It was the only actual emergency I've ever heard over any radio service GMRS or amateur, I always have my base station at home and mobile in the car monitoring 675 for both simplex and repeater operation.

 

WQXR714.

[frao74]

Thanks! I will definitely keep this in mind when mobile! it is channel 20 and 28 on my GMRS-V1 HT

[berkinet]

Note that unlike other radio services (notably CB and Amateur) there is no general assumption about contacting strangers or about use while traveling away from home. In that respect, GMRS is more like business radio.  So, while you may well find emergency or other services in any given area, I would certainly not count on it.  If you travel a lot, CB and/or Ham would probably serve you better in an emergency situation.

[frao74]

Makes sense... For now, my major concern is mostly during local area commute... Usually keep two REACT repeaters in my HT just in case...  My major driver to get GMRS was for local comms, but definitely good to know options for emergency purposes!

[gortex2]

As stated above, no true designation. Back in my REACT days there was a push for .675. It never got too far but many maintain it in there minds. One of my GMRS repeaters is on 675 in a county park for this reason but is rarely if ever used. I still monitor 675 while I drive mostly out of habit. 

[mbrun]

I recently learned that there was some prepper movement towards establishing a channel to use for a future SHTF event. It does not address GMRS specifically, but it does address FRS, so since they share the same frequencies it may be worth a look. Here is a link.

 

https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/3-3-3-radio-plan-for-shtf-communications/

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

 

Edit. I reviewed list again, and they do advocate a GMRS frequency as well. 462.6000

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mikeam]

For me like with my CB when traveling I set my mobile unit on scan as it then scans all frequencies. If we are in the woods with our Jeeps I still prefer the scan set  up because if someone wants to talk to me and they key up I will hear them and be able to respond. This system on the CB has helped me avoid long freeway delays dur to accidents etc.!! I am sure the same will happen with my usage of GMRS with CB on trips.

[KPDoucette]

This is not exactly on topic, but this helped us locate a hiker on a recent SAR mission.
 

https://buckrail.com/state-launches-new-emergency-radio-channel-for-backcountry-use/

[dosw]

23 minutes ago, KPDoucette said:

This is not exactly on topic, but this helped us locate a hiker on a recent SAR mission.
 

https://buckrail.com/state-launches-new-emergency-radio-channel-for-backcountry-use/

The article says this:

• Buy an FRS/GMRS capable radio or walkie-talkie and program the 307 channel into the radio
• Program to UHF 462.6125 Privacy Code 85.4 or Channel 3 and Privacy code 07 (307)

Not exactly clearly written. It probably should have said:

• Buy an FRS or GMRS capable two-way radio.
• If it's a GMRS radio, get a license for your family.
• Set channel 3, or UHF 462.6125
• Set the PL tone (privacy code, CTCSS tone) to 85.4. (07 on some radios, 307 on others).
• Stop by any state parks station, sheriff, police, or fire station to confirm your radio setup with a quick radio check.
• Switch over to a different channel and tone for your group communications, and back to this setting for emergency use.
• Place this sticker on your two way radio reminding you what channel and tone to use for emergencies.

I wonder why they picked channel 3, limited to <=5w instead of 16, or 22, limited to <=50w. I know very few handhelds will transmit over 5w, but if a person in trouble manages to get back to their vehicle (possibly broken down), they may be able to get a signal out on 15-22 that wouldn't have been as clear on 1-7.

 

 

 

[WRXR255]

11 minutes ago, WRQW589 said:

wonder why they picked channel 3, limited to <=5w instead of 16, or 22, limited to <=50w. I know very few handhelds will transmit over 5w, but if a person in trouble manages to get back to their vehicle (possibly broken down), they may be able to get a signal out on 15-22 that wouldn't have been as clear on 1-7.

If it was a truly emergency situation, I would try 5w, and if that was not getting out, I would not hesitate to step it up to 50w FCC limitations be damned.  And more if needed/possible.

EDIT

And channels 15-22 while allowed 50w, are the repeater freqs, and I think are not generally used as simplex channels.

[back4more70]

12 minutes ago, WRQW589 said:

I wonder why they picked channel 3

The statewide area code for Wyoming is 307.  So, this agency thought 'let's advertise channel 3 with "privacy" code 07 to make it easy to remember.'

5 minutes ago, WRXR255 said:

If it was a truly emergency situation, I would try 5w, and if that was not getting out, I would not hesitate to step it up to 50w FCC limitations be damned.  And more if needed/possible.

Agree, if I was screwed, I would start with 50 watts, and then dial down lol

Here's another link:

https://hls.wyo.gov/307

[WRXR255]

16 minutes ago, back4more70 said:

The statewide area code for Wyoming is 307.  So, this agency thought 'let's advertise channel 3 with "privacy" code 07 to make it easy to remember.'

That was actually quite clever.

[dosw]

1 hour ago, back4more70 said:

The statewide area code for Wyoming is 307.  So, this agency thought 'let's advertise channel 3 with "privacy" code 07 to make it easy to remember.'

Agree, if I was screwed, I would start with 50 watts, and then dial down lol

Here's another link:

https://hls.wyo.gov/307

Ok that's a good reason to go with 3.

[amaff]

The Utah Avalanche Center did something out here for the Wasatch mountains this year. I really wish it was just 1 unified way of doing it instead of peace meal (and extremely local...having 1 statewide way to reach help, potentially, seems a lot better than a bunch of different once depending on where you are), but I have it programmed into my radios:

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/education/group-group-radio-channel-initiative

[BoxCar]

It would be better if they listed the tones used as not all radios use the same tone code scheme.

[amaff]

2 minutes ago, BoxCar said:

It would be better if they listed the tones used as not all radios use the same tone code scheme.

Also yes.

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, BoxCar said:

It would be better if they listed the tones used as not all radios use the same tone code scheme.

Absolutely or even better they shouldn’t use tones. If I am in a situation where I’m using a radio in an emergency I think I’d like to be sure anyone could hear the call. The idea that someone has to have a particular tone set for an emergency call added with the fact that one manufacturer numbers may well be different than another seems to be promoting a problematic situation. I imagine the thinking is with tones set specifically for an emergency that one only needs to monitor those transmissions but this only helps those that know and understand tones. My two cents at today’s discounted price of zero cents. 

[nokones]

22 hours ago, amaff said:

The Utah Avalanche Center did something out here for the Wasatch mountains this year. I really wish it was just 1 unified way of doing it instead of peace meal (and extremely local...having 1 statewide way to reach help, potentially, seems a lot better than a bunch of different once depending on where you are), but I have it programmed into my radios:

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/education/group-group-radio-channel-initiative

Channel 9 is an interstitial low-powered channel that can't exceed .5 watt ERP. Using a low-powered channel in any rural back country area doesn't make any sense at all. I think that was a poor choice.

[amaff]

19 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

Absolutely or even better they shouldn’t use tones. If I am in a situation where I’m using a radio in an emergency I think I’d like to be sure anyone could hear the call. The idea that someone has to have a particular tone set for an emergency call added with the fact that one manufacturer numbers may well be different than another seems to be promoting a problematic situation. I imagine the thinking is with tones set specifically for an emergency that one only needs to monitor those transmissions but this only helps those that know and understand tones. My two cents at today’s discounted price of zero cents. 

When I put the Utah bunch into my hiking-backpack radio, I put them in on Tx only, so I can hear everything).

 

7 minutes ago, nokones said:

Channel 9 is an interstitial low-powered channel that can't exceed .5 watt ERP. Using a low-powered channel in any rural back country area doesn't make any sense at all. I think that was a poor choice.

I agree completely. But they didn't ask for my input when they put this together. I've sent them a message saying essentially that. So we'll see.

[SteveShannon]

On 7/6/2024 at 10:13 AM, WRQW589 said:

Set the PL tone (privacy code, CTCSS tone) to 85.4. (07 on some radios, 307 on others).

85.4 hz isn’t CTCSS #307 on any radio. 307 was simply picked to denote channel 3, tone 07.

[kirk5056]

I like it idea of using PL filters on distress channels.  The reason is, if I want to monitor only distress calls then I will monitor a filtered channel.  If the channel I am listening to becomes too jammed with non-distress chatter I may well stop monitoring that channel.  Remember CB 19 got so cluttered that many people do not listen anymore.

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, kirk5056 said:

I like it idea of using PL filters on distress channels.  The reason is, if I want to monitor only distress calls then I will monitor a filtered channel.  If the channel I am listening to becomes too jammed with non-distress chatter I may well stop monitoring that channel.  Remember CB 19 got so cluttered that many people do not listen anymore.

I understand your point here which makes sense for radio geeks like us, the problem I see is thinking that non radio people will understand tones… I mean how many times do people come here asking questions about tones? Here is one just from today. Most people that get an FRS radio just use it out of the box with whatever tones are or aren’t there. This is a large percentage of people that could be excluded from emergency monitoring. 

Edited July 7 by WRUU653
fixed link

[WRWE456]

36 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

Here is one just from today.

That link comes back to this thread. Try again.

[amaff]

I believe he meant this one. But the point remains.