[MarinTeams] GMRS/FRS

Saul Godinez saulg at canalalliance.org
Fri Sep 26 12:12:24 EDT 2014 

My experience with multiple radios, is that the technical assistance is very difficult to support at the local level. If you guys agree on the type, brand and model  of radio to get; then the community should buy it. Then make a plan to meet and support each other on how to program the radios. A million dollar apparatus is useless, unless you have the proper knowledge to use it under stressed out situations. 

I also believe that getting the license is the best way to go. I got it on the first try without any knowledge of Ham Radios.

Thank you

Saul Godinez • Family Resource Coordinator
Direct: 415.306.0441  • Office: 415.454.2640
www.canalalliance.org
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-----Original Message-----
From: MarinTeams [mailto:marinteams-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Steve Hill
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2014 8:44 AM
To: leejohn7 at gmail.com
Cc: MarinTeams at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MarinTeams] GMRS/FRS

I'm very to these radios, and neighborhood communication plans, but here are my thoughts.....

Get your Technician License, and consider your General License.  I got both in ~60 days this year, by using the study guides, and taking the online tests.  I worked at it for 20-30 minutes a day on most days.

I've participated in a couple of neighborhood nets (one member is in Corte Madera, and we pick her up here in San Rafael), and there is lots for me to learn, to be effective in an actual emergency.

We are very lucky to have a wealth of knowledge around us, with very professional, and friendly,and experienced armature radio operators like Paul and Bill.  Both of whom are experienced in emergency planning for our Marin cities and neighborhoods,  so I would definitely join the "group" so you are not an" isolated community group" in Corte Madera in an emergency.

When I studied, I used the following materials;

I used different study guides (Technician & General) by Gorden West, the first was ; Technician Class 2014-18 FCC Element 2 Radio License Preparation <http://www.amazon.com/Technician-2014-18-Element-License-Preparation/dp/0945053797/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1411745068&sr=8-14&keywords=Ham+Radio>
 by Gordon West, $19 on amazon.
And I used http://www.qrz.com/ for practice tests.  I'm sure they are all very similar, but this site continues to insert you "wrong" answers into the question pool until you get it right.

I also purchased a slightly different Radio, I got the UV_5RA ~$30 on amazon, it is a great radio for this purpose.

Good luck,

Steve

On Thu, Sep 25, 2014 at 6:54 AM, Luke Teyssier <luke4tamvalley at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I agree. If you get a technician license, you can talk on ham radio 
> and have all the others at the same time.
>
> Then, if you buy the Bao-Feng UV5R handhelds for $50 on Amazon or 
> Ebay, you can talk on 2 meter, 70 cm, _and_ also talk on FRS and GMRS 
> frequencies. While you are not allowed to do FRS/GMRS on non-approved 
> radios normally, you can during an emergency.  You can also get the 
> commercial frequencies that Marin county fire uses, too.
>
> Marin county fire and many CERT teams have a strategy of:
> - FRS at the immediate structure for the immediate team
> - GMRS at the neigborhood (good luck with this one in the valleys)
> - 2 m in the vicinity
>
> RACES seems to be planning:
> - 2m in the neighborhood
> - NVIS regionally (80m sky bounce)
>
> Technician is about two weeks of studying in your spare time a couple 
> of hours a day, and a saturday to take the test. Well worth it.
>
> Be sure to get the free "No nonsense guide"
>
> http://kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2011-No-Nonsense-General-C
> lass-License-Study-Guide.pdf and take the free hamexam.org tests until 
> you can ace them every time.
>
> Luke
>
> On Sep 24, 2014, at 10:18 PM, geoirishbox via MarinTeams < 
> marinteams at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
> > I am not fond of gmrs radio as there is no prohibition for chaos.  I
> think better develop ham radio licencees to create real networks.  
> Just listen to CB radio and experience chsos.  Get a technician 
> license and join Bill Smith Marin wide network with radio discipline and have fun too.
> >
> >
> > Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
> >
> > <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Lee&John 
> > Howard <
> leejohn7 at gmail.com> </div><div>Date:09/12/2014  11:09 AM  (GMT-08:00)
> </div><div>To: Pauldavmd at aol.com </div><div>Cc: "
> MarinTeams at mailman.qth.net" <marinteams at mailman.qth.net>
> </div><div>Subject: Re: [MarinTeams] GMRS/FRS </div><div>
> > </div>Paul
> > My wife Lee and I have been working hard to establish neighborhood
> response
> > teams in Corte Madera and Larkspur. Most have elected to use these 
> > radios to communicate within themselves, between neighborhoods, and 
> > to a higher level of coordination.
> > I'd like very much to talk with you about this, as would I'm sure a
> couple
> > of folks in our effort far more radio-wise than I.
> > Let's find a way to talk about this.
> > John Howard
> > 891-8406
> > Corte Madera
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 10:58 AM, Pauldavmd--- via MarinTeams < 
> > marinteams at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> To  all,
> >>
> >> I have been involved  in setting up a GMRS/FRS disaster plan with a
> group
> >> of neighbors in the lower  Mt. View and Linden Lane area in San Rafael.
> If
> >> any of  you are involved in a similar activity in your area and 
> >> would
> like
> >> to
> >> share  ideas, please let me know.  Bill Smith suggested  that this
> would be
> >> helpful for all of us.
> >>
> >> Thanks in  advance!
> >>
> >> Paul  Davidson
> >>
> >> WB6YHT
> >>
> >> WQRK275  (GMRS)
> >>
> >> Email:  _pauldavmd at aol.com_ (mailto:pauldavmd at aol.com) 
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--
Capt. Steve Hill, KK6JTW
o 415.453.4390
c 415.847.7270

COYOTE
Beneteau First 42
www.sailcoyote.com
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