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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
from
PRWeb
on
October 6, 2005
Website:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/10/prweb293047.htm
View comments about this article!
'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
See the full story here:
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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by KB9WQJ on October 6, 2005
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Isn't Channel 1 with no PL already the default "channel 9" of the FRS?
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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by KA6GJN on October 6, 2005
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No, but the idea has been promoted by various entities for a while. It hasn't really gotten substantial traction, at least before now.
I think it's a basically good idea. I already have some FRS freq's programmed in my handheld -- planned to enter them all, but haven't gotten a round tuit (receive only). I do have a couple FRS radios, bought when they were $75 apiece, wouldn't you know, and always take them when going to a communications - type event.
Two cautions: Back in the 70's, when I was a Park Ranger, I was sent on a couple wild goose chases by CB'ers. I learned quickly that emergency calls received via CB were to be viewed with great skepticism. Not that we could ignore them. They just weren't trustworthy. I can easily see the same problem with FRS. The short range would help in this regard, but the fact that FRS radios are a "toy du jour" with the kiddies right now doesn't help at all.
Second, I have experience with FRS in crowded areas and events. They can become almost useless. I can easily see problems in a city, with "everybody" wanting help going to a single channel without PL.
That does not mean this program shouldn't be pursued. It probably should be.
KA6GJN
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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by NA4IT on October 6, 2005
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A few comments about the "false call" idea:
(1) With the push to go to "plain talk" (i.e. no 10 codes) even on public service frequencies, no one has to know a lingo to use the services, and everything will be plainly understood.
(2) When I call in an emergency to 911 from amateur radio, I am required (as everyone else) to give name, phone, and location.
(3) FRS is limited range, and I personally believe it needs to stay that way. If it does, then there's one thing for sure, the FRS caller sending the call for help will be within one mile or so of the ham that took it. It would be hard to give a false address with all the GPS technology available. If a ham relays the call, he gives his QTH also, and the officials can determine the proximity to the ham to see if it is a legit matter or not.
This idea for the National SOS WILL WORK! And, I believe, it WILL make for a safer America!
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RE: 'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by KE4SKY on October 6, 2005
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Unless there is more to it than the article indicates, I don't see this concept as explained working very well, except in dense urban areas.
Bill Adler worked with the District of Columbia Office of Emergency Preparedness to establish a "neghborhood alert network" in Washington, DC. This has been successful mostly because his nets include licensed hams and GMRS users who are involved in ARES and REACT. Civilian listeners tend to learn by the "monkey hear, monkey do" principle and will copy what they recognize to be efficient communications which follow the ABC's of Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity.
But if you bring in only hoards of untrained, undisciplined FRS operators, assisted by more undisciplined, mostly untrained, but over-enthusiastic ham wannabes who believe that they can save the world single-handed with their deputy dog badges and HTs, it will be pure chaos.
Our county does issue FRS portables to CERT members and encourages their use for Neighborhood Watch. But is apparent in operational environments and exercises that the effective range of FRS is only about 1/4 to 1/2 mile in typical suburban ground clutter. For FRS CERT to be effective teams must pre-establish a communications plan and train in good radio discipline. A common CERT communications template roughly parallels an FD incident comm plan, designating an OPS channel between the Incident Commander and team leaders, a MED channel between extraction teams and the traige control point and a LOGISTICS channel between the incident staging area and various resources checking in, being assigned a task, or being checked out of service.
It would be helpful if the FCC could allow the coordinator of emergency services in a locality to broadcast emergency public safety information at an adequate EIRP similar to that used for fire and police dispatching, to enable FRS users to monitor throughout a city or county.
Otherwise it may be feasible to enable FRS radios to receive-only on a transmit inhibited channel within the UHF public safety band, nationally designated for broadcast of emergency public information. A god application would be to take the mostly unused PMARS 453.55 frequency and use it to simulcast local EAS alerts which are already broadcast 24/7/365 over NOAA weather radio!
Then let them use the FRS to talk among families and neighbors. If designated ARES or RACES operators could get GMRS licenses to enable them to operate small base stations of 5w EIRP using commercial grade equipment with a gain antenna mounted on the hose tower of their local fire house, they could use the seven GNRS interstitial simplex frequencies which are common with FRS and talk to families and CERT units within the fire company first-due radius.
Having a proper GMRS license and a type accepted mobile rig in the vehicle which enables interoperability with GMRS repeaters used by REACT as well as the interstitial simplex frequencies shared with FRS is also a plus.
But anyone who really thinks that 500mw FRS radios by themselves are anything other than a neighborhood communication resource with limited utility is serious mistaken.
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RE: 'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by K0AZV on October 6, 2005
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I thought Cobra (or maybe Midland) was one of the manufacteurs who were originally trying to push the idea of FRS ch 1 as an emergency channel. It never got full support by the FCC as far as I know. I can't find reference to it on either of those companies website at the moment either.
Personally, as nice as this sounds in a PR release, the reality will be something we might not ever see.
Max...
K0AZV
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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by KA8VIT on October 7, 2005
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A nice idea but I doubt it will work.
I have been to a number of places where there were a number of FRS radios in use, like amusement parks, state parks, county fairs where I have monitored the FRS/GMRS frequencies.
The frequencies were unusable as dozens of people all tried to use the same few channels.
People keying on top of people... shouting... people telling others to get off of "their" channel.
Except for the capture effect, it sounded just like the 27 MHz CB frequencies.
Without some type of training in net operations or even basic radio manners, emergency communications will never survive on FRS.
73,
Bill KA8VIT
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'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by PATRICK526 on October 7, 2005
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I think this idea would work if FCC would allow police, firemen, and other emergency groups to operate FRS channel 1 with more power than the others to modulate the crowd in a real emergency. It's like a UN peacekeeper with a megaphone, shouting to the Somalian crowd to keep in line for food distribution. It's hard though, but I think it will work.
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RE: 'National SOS Radio Network' Ready to Start:
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by K1DA on October 13, 2005
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Not only is FRS turning into a CB "all babble at once"
zoo (as expected) but the advent of cheap marine band
radio gear has turned CH 16 (where one could at one time call the Coast Guard directly) into an "anyboat anyboat radio check" mess where one would hope someday one of the anyboat radio checkers will drown while trying to get through the mess they have created. At least on FRS there was never a "better day" when a radio band plan was respected by the general public.
No reason not to give it a try though. I'll put CH 1 in my scanner.
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