Other radio modes

[KD0NGX]

I've noticed not many people mention having other radio services than ham mentioned in boxes of radio equipment used for public service or emcomm. I've thought about buying a cheaper CB radio to throw in with all my other stuff. Thought it could work to liaison with non-hams if needed. Thoughts? Also, what are the thoughts on MURS? Anyone ever use it? It seems to me that Wal Mart is pretty much the only MURS user so I haven't seen value in spending money on a MURS radio. Wondering what other people have experienced.

[K1CJS]

I don't see why not.  I always did when I was working as an EMA volunteer--and I've still got an 11 meter CB rig set up in my shack.  It's not always on, but it's nice to be able to go directly to CB if you hear of something going on on a local highway.  Just remember that those rigs are only good for a couple of miles at best.  And yes, I get the occasional remark disparaging the CB set, but my comeback is "It's MY radio shack.  I have what I want in it.  If you don't like it, just don't listen to it."

Added--As far as MURS, you would have to buy a license for it.  Is that worth it to you?  It isn't to me.  FRS is another matter--that I DO have--but only a small handheld.  I find it's all that is really needed.

[LA9XSA]

I think some neighborhoods use FRS and CB as local commuications and let hams work as a bridge between the neighbourhood and the outside world. I also like to bring CB and PMR446 (European version of FRS) to field day or other events so that those who are not licensed yet can run around with a radio of their own in addition to them getting to use the amateur bands under supervision.

In more formal emergency operations for a served agency, there might be air band radios, marine radios (if they're at the coast), perhaps satellite phones, and the public safety radios that the emergency services use every day available in the communications trailer or operations center. Whether you have the training and authorization to use them is often a matter between the served agency who holds the license and the employees or volunteers themselves. Some places may train their volunteers as fully fledged dispatchers, other places the volunteer runs the amateur radio equipment and the regular dispatcher runs the equipment that they're used to.

With the new digital trunked public safety radio systems, there is a possibility of issuing a few of the volunteers with public service handsets. Thanks to call groups and encryption, these handsets can be used to communicate between public safety and lead volunteers, without worrying that the volunteers can eavesdrop on unrelated communications. Here in Norway, it's planned that leaders in the Red Cross, the radio league, the rescue dog volunteers, Home Guard commanders, and other such organizations will get a TETRA handset which the police can reach them on in case the phone system fails. This doesn't mean that every member of those services will get a TETRA set - they'll keep their existing systems, and use TETRA for coordinating with police/fire/EMS.

[KG4RUL]

I have an 11M CB radio in my vehicle and there is one in our EOC radio room.  When the feces hits the rotary air movement device, people will remember that old CB radio they have stored away, dust it off and use it.  It could be a great way to get "ground truth", as the military likes to label it.

[KO3D]

Part 95 VHF MURS does not require a license for 2 watt handhelds, but does require a type accepted radio, e.g. it would be illegal to use a ham radio modified to operate on MURS.

UHF GMRS still requires a license, which is not worth the expense in my opinion ($80 for 5 years).

I have a couple of FRS HTs I use for antenna adjustments (easier than saying callsigns) and alot of people are using these, so I think they are good to have.

I still have an 11m I leave off 99.9% of the time, but keep "just in case." Things are so bad on there it is virtually useless. If somebody offered me $5 for it at a yard sale I'd get rid of it.

[K1CJS]

Thanks for clarifying--I got MURS and GMRS confused.  Sorry!

[KF7VXA]

I try to have just about every type of radio service that I can afford at my station and a few in my vehicle.

In an emergency, I want to be able to monitor as many different modes of communication as possible so that I can pass info if needed to the right people.

I still have to get some UHF radios on a couple other freqs, but am slowly getting there.

We live in a rural area. There are those who use ham, CB, GMRS, and FRS. We have a very two good GMRS repeaters (two VHF and one UHF also) and a large group with used GMRS commercial radios who do not wish to become hams, but want to communicate throughout the valley, either with the repeater or simplex. Their radios do very well both ways. We have far fewer hams and still some CB stations are on the air.

I've been working hard to get more to get their ham tickets, but in the mean time, I can communicate with most in the valley and have VHF/UHF/HF, CB and GMRS as well as Echonet ect. at my station along with a good emergency power back up that I can use for quite a period of time if necessary.

I think people have to adapt to what the people in the areas use. I should add, most all of the GMRS users are licensed, hold a weekly net and are very well behaved, better than some 2 meter I have monitored in some other areas.

Some tend to turn up their noses at anyone who is not a ham, but it will work in our area if necessary. It may not work in other places. The important thing is that there are more than a few who are ready and able to summon help if necessary and many have emergency power.
The GMRS operators realize they are not hams or emergency personnel. I guess we are lucky as to the caliber of people we do have. Our hams are quite well prepared to help as needed and called apon, I just wish we had more.

In the end, as long as people know their places, what they can and cannot do, not to get in the way of emergency workers and to help as called apon by the Sheriff and first responders, having severeral different ways of communicating is not a bad thing. I only wish the GMRS operators would get their ham ticket, but many are set in their ways.
What we do here would most likely not work in many places, but in our case, 95% would be an asset if the time ever comes that they are needed.

My Best, John

[WB5ITT]

We have a very two good GMRS repeaters (two VHF and one UHF also)

AHHH GMRS is not on VHF NOR are GMRS repeaters...GMRS is the leftover from the original Class A/B CB days...and its 100% UHF......

[KF7VXA]

I agree and am not happy about the numbers of people where I live going to GMRS which is only good for local coms and is not Ham radio.
I'm glad that the locals who have it can at least communicate locally in an emergency, but am trying my best to convert as many as possible to getting their ham ticket. Showing them the benifits to Ham is the best way to do this by showing them the limitations of GMRS and the ever expanding different methods of coms both near and far that Ham radio offers. Wish me well, I'm trying.
Heck, it's now cheaper to get a Technician license and a Chicom VHF/UHF handheld than it is to get a half way decent GMRS set up.
People just need to be shown the advantages of Ham radio. The shame of all of this is that the GMRS people are a good group of people who would be an asset to Ham radio, they are not a bunch of X-CB, Good Buddy idiots.
The biggest problem is that this is a huge LDS area and the church seems to be pushing GMRS as a way to stay in touch and help church members. I hate religon and politics at times. Maybe it's best to let them do their thing and just find people who are interested in EMCOMMS with no strings attached.

My Best, John