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REPOST on HOW TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN USING GMRS RADIOS

  HOW TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN  USING GMRS RADIOS The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines to create a plan for local emergency communications using General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios. We recommend that you print this document and the webpages referenced, purchase your radios, and begin to practice with them as soon as possible. It is Lealso wise to take notes on any videos you watch. An index is provided on page 6. Important : We explain why GMRS is a good option for many people, however, learning to use radio technology is by nature a very self-directed effort. Unlike cell and landline phones, there are no technical support groups to call about programming or using your radios. Further, GMRS radios are not considered ham (amateur) radios because they operate on different frequencies and under different Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations; therefore, most ham radio clubs do not directly support GMRS. Please carefully consider these fact...
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What is a GMRS Repeater?

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What is a GMRS repeater, and what does it do?  Wikipedia tells us a   radio repeater  is a combination of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter that receives a signal and retransmits it, so that  two-way radio  signals can cover longer distances.  A repeater sited at a high elevation can allow two mobile stations, otherwise out of  line-of-sight propagation  range of each other, to communicate. [1]  Repeaters are found in professional, commercial, and government mobile radio systems and also in  amateur radio .  The 462.625 and 462.675 GMRS repeaters sit on High Potosi at 8050'. It's  those snow-covered mountains we see Northwest of Dolan Springs. The repeaters are about 80 miles away yet you can hit both repeaters with a handheld radio.  These repeaters extend the range of a $35 handheld radio from one mile or so to over 100 miles, with the 462.625 repeater covering from Dolan Springs to Santa Clara Utah. How...
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GMRS Communications in Dolan Springs, Kingman, and Vegas for Emergency Communications

We have several ways using the easy to license General Mobile Radio Service or GMRS repeaters for everyday as well as emergency communications.  The Dolan Springs GMRS repeater is currently located at the water company on Ironwood. The frequency is 462.675 with a PL of 100.0...  Kingman now has an active GMRS group with over 80 people and a new GMRS repeater  Mohave ARC - Dashboard  The Kingman repeater is located in the Hualapai Mountains at 7000' and has a wide coverage area including the west side of US93 across from Dolan.  Las Vegas has a very active group with over 100 people checking into the 462.625 repeater from Vegas to Dolan Springs, Pahrump, and Utah   Las Vegas – Las Vegas area GMRS Information  Las Vegas GMRS Facebook Page  Las Vegas GMRS | Facebook   How to get your GMRS license from the FCC  The license costs $35 and unlike the ham license the GMRS license covers you, your wife, kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc...
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Using CTCSS or PL tones on receive so you don't hear the repeater's ID

We know the CTCSS or PL subaudible tones on the transmit side access various repeaters so we can communicate. The problem is you hear the repeaters ID every time it goes off about every 15 minutes, this can be annoying especially at night.  To stop hearing the repeaters ID yet receive calls using the proper PL tone you need to enter the same PL tone on the transmit to the receive side of your radio.  On my Wouxun handheld the setting for the transmit tone on our local 462.675  repeater  is 100.0 for the T-CTC setting. To stop hearing the repeater ID enter 100.0 in the  R-CTC setting. On other radios the settings should be similar. Using the receive tone allows you to monitor the repeater for traffic without hearing the repeater ID every time it ID's. I have two channels set for the local repeater one says Home the second says Home QT for quiet tone.  In the future I'll post how to enter an emergency tone so you won't be bothered by normal communications yet...
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Understanding How to Monitor Local Scanner Frequencies.

How to Monitor scanner frequencies in Dolan Springs, Meadview and Kingman, and it's not easy. LMRFD Most people want to monitor the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District. The  LMRFD  covers US93 from Hoover Dam to MP50, and the reservation north of Meadview to the Colorado River.  In  Dolan Springs you'll want to listen to  154.160, it's  the local repeater on the hill above the fire station. If you're heading into Kingman and want to hear  Dolan Springs fire calls, about the time you pass milepost 50 on US93 you'll need to switch to the Kingman Fire frequency 155.055. If you're in Meadview you'll need to listen to the Meadview frequency 155.265 V-Fire21  154.280  is used for fire mutual aid and communicating with medical helicopters...  You can watch  medical helicopters come and go on calls on this Map of Aircraft in Flight.  The two  Mohave County Sheriff frequencies of interest for people in  Dolan Springs are Distric...
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Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of PoC or Push-To-Talk Over Cellular

 PoC or Push-To-Talk Over Cellular use apps to turn smartphones into walkie-talkies. Many of these apps can connect with two-way radio repeaters extending the range far beyond that of the local repeater.  Many rugged smartphones like the Sonim XP8 Handheld and Siyata Uniden UV350 Mobile Mount smartphones include a dedicated PTT button for PoC. The Uniden UV350 also has external celular and GPS antennas and it's hardwired to the vehicle, so never a dead battery. Another advantage of PoC or Push-To-Talk Over Cellular is the r educed capital expenditure for companies.  Push to Talk Over Cellular can operate on any device, Android, iOS and even desktop PC's using a PoC App or software.  There is no need for the company to invest in expensive repeater systems and two-way radios. PoC Apps can be easily integrated into an employee's personal device saving the expense of $5000 Motorola handheld radios in some cases. Some of the disadvantages of PoC is limited battery l...
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GMRS Radio For Beginners How to FInd local Repeaters & Program Your GMRS Radio

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This is a good article for people just getting into GMRS radios.  Quick Start Guide to GMRS Radio For Beginners GMRS radio is one of the most versatile and powerful communications tools a family can use for keeping in touch in places where cell phones aren’t an option. Whether they’re used for keeping a family connected while hiking and exploring the back-country or simply as a backup to have on hand should the cellular ever network fail, these radios are now affordable enough that everyone in the family can have access to one if needed. As users of this radio service for over twenty years now, we’d like to share just how easy it is to get started using GMRS radios. Link to Article This article has links to GMRS Repeaters including a map of GMRS Repeaters and h ow to connect your GMRS radio to GMRS Repeaters in your area.  How to Connect to GMRS Repeaters in Your Area GMRS Radio Term Glossary
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