Radio channels / frequencies

[Turts]

This thread has made me think a little though. I'm going to get the local SAR frequency and program it into my dual band radio just in case. Be nice to be able to talk to them while they're searching for me.

Moyie, I have been searching for some local to Fernie, sparwood, elkford area SAR and the like radio frequencies.....
As you said, they would be handy to have programmed into the radios just in case,
If you have access to these, care to share?
Also, I keep meaning to attempt hit the repeaters in the areas but never remember to program them in ahead of time.

 

[fnDan]

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=4336


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FernieHawk]

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=4336


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice...thanks for the link!

 

[Vance Matheson]

a cheat sheet if you can find a better one print it out and keep it with your radios.

http://s15.postimg.org/icfz84wfv/FRS_GMRS_Chart.jpg

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlxK80QUYpk

[/URL]

 

[moyiesledhead]

Moyie, I have been searching for some local to Fernie, sparwood, elkford area SAR and the like radio frequencies.....
As you said, they would be handy to have programmed into the radios just in case,
If you have access to these, care to share?
Also, I keep meaning to attempt hit the repeaters in the areas but never remember to program them in ahead of time.

FnDan's reply was excellent information I didn't have, and will be putting in my radios. Repeaters I know nothing about, but it's on my list of things to learn before my brain quits working.

 

[Outdoor Ed]

Moyie, I have been searching for some local to Fernie, sparwood, elkford area SAR and the like radio frequencies.....
As you said, they would be handy to have programmed into the radios just in case,
If you have access to these, care to share?
Also, I keep meaning to attempt hit the repeaters in the areas but never remember to program them in ahead of time.

I'm probably going to wind up sounding like a stick in the mud, but here goes... I really should point out that SAR radio frequencies are really only used by SAR units for their internal comms during SAR operations, when there isn't an active SAR operation happening they aren't normally monitored by anyone so you can't rely on them as a means of calling for help.

And to be technical, it is illegal to program those frequencies into your radio without written permission from the Province of BC or the local SAR group depending on the frequency, same idea as punching RCMP or fire dept repeaters into your radio.

By far the best method for calling for help in an emergency is going to be a PLB/inReach/Spot or Sat Phone, so that's my recommendation. Radios are great for communicating within your group, but not reliable for a distress call because there's no guarantee that somebody will be on the other end to hear it. As a last resort you can try cycling through all the common logging/trucking/LAD channels in your radio and calling for help, we have had a couple cases in the past few years of people contacting help this way but it took anywhere from hours to days for them to finally reach someone. This was using VHF commercial radios, you'll have even less chance of success with FRS/GMRS. Keep in mind too that any radio is mostly line-of-sight so in general the higher up you are and more area you can see, the further your signal will go.

 

[fnDan]

I'm probably going to wind up sounding like a stick in the mud, but here goes... I really should point out that SAR radio frequencies are really only used by SAR units for their internal comms during SAR operations, when there isn't an active SAR operation happening they aren't normally monitored by anyone so you can't rely on them as a means of calling for help.

And to be technical, it is illegal to program those frequencies into your radio without written permission from the Province of BC or the local SAR group depending on the frequency, same idea as punching RCMP or fire dept repeaters into your radio.

By far the best method for calling for help in an emergency is going to be a PLB/inReach/Spot or Sat Phone, so that's my recommendation. Radios are great for communicating within your group, but not reliable for a distress call because there's no guarantee that somebody will be on the other end to hear it. As a last resort you can try cycling through all the common logging/trucking/LAD channels in your radio and calling for help, we have had a couple cases in the past few years of people contacting help this way but it took anywhere from hours to days for them to finally reach someone. This was using VHF commercial radios, you'll have even less chance of success with FRS/GMRS. Keep in mind too that any radio is mostly line-of-sight so in general the higher up you are and more area you can see, the further your signal will go.

Spot has a place in the account settings to add any information you think would be helpful during a rescue.
i put the frequency our group uses as well as the channel I've set my Rino for. I also included info like, no allergies and not on any prescription drugs. I would guess that InReach has the same feature.

 

[Outdoor Ed]

Spot has a place in the account settings to add any information you think would be helpful during a rescue.
i put the frequency our group uses as well as the channel I've set my Rino for. I also included info like, no allergies and not on any prescription drugs. I would guess that InReach has the same feature.

That's a good idea, and the inReach does have a similar "notes" box as well. If you're using FRS/GMRS/Rino radios you can just list the channel number as they're all the same between radios, if you use "privacy" codes/tones you should turn those off if you're expecting someone else to try and call you. If you're using commercial VHF radios you should list the actual frequency (ie. 154.100 for LAD 1) and common name for the channel you'll be on as channels aren't standardized on VHF radios, it all depends whose radio it is.

That information should also be put into your trip plan that you leave with someone back home, which is important to do whether you have an emergency beacon or not. The SOS button will only get you help if you're able to press the button and the device is working, so as a backup there should be someone who knows to contact the police if you don't return or check in by a certain time.