Directions on use of GMRS radios in Stake Communication

[retiredtech]

Mikerowaved, A great "handle"! I get the same comment on my retiredtech as it displays a little of the persons background and/or training. I fully concur with your remarks and have experienced many of them over the years. Knowing Mel I can see where the "BOB" concept came from - a very valid approach to delivering emergency communication. Pigeons next? One good point you brought up was the forgotten CB band on 27 MHZ. I guess we still associate that band as a noisy "good buddy" band with all manner of trash etc. As a secondary communication we need to consider it. And thank you for bringing to our attention the Extreme Radio Service at 900MHZ. I was not aware of that band and will surely be one that I look into as a viable alternative. I'm beginning to notice the various routes the different stakes are taking in addressing this emergency communication needs. Some have next to none while others are completely set up. The biggest issue is that each stake seems to approach the problem differently even though we have been somewhat guided by the brethren. I would like to see posted some of these methods these successful stakes have used so they can be duplicated without having to "reinvent the wheel" again. Comments would surely be welcome...

[edwardwhite442]

Have you considered getting a few people licensed with technician class ham radio licenses? My Stake is over 125 miles wide, and there's no way in the world GMR-anything is going to traverse that. We have technician class operators in every unit, and use line-of-sight and existing amateur VHF/UHF repeaters to cover our Stake nicely. We also have a few operators with General class licenses for HF, and we regularly have Church nets that cover the entire Mid-West of the US. Amateur licenses are only $15.00 (test fee).

[retiredtech]

Yes we went through the Amateur Radio approach several years ago in our Stake and got 3 new licensed hams. They then lost interest in ham radio and/or couldn't "afford" an HT so the whole thing really flopped. But because of the GMRS license issue I am going to get the Stake presidency to drive the importance of having adequate communications and using ham radio as the primary mode of operation.
Appreciate the responses on this issue...

[Mikerowaved]

Richard, (and/or others in the Wasatch Front area of Utah involved in emergency communications) this might be a very interesting meeting, considering the last sentence of the bulletin. You might even have a chance to ask about GMRS at the meeting, I really don't know.

[font=&quot]Bishops' Storehouse Emergency Communication Specialists:[/font]

[font=&quot]Please announce to all emergency communication specialists in your bishops' storehouse area by email and over the air, that we are conducting a training meeting for all ERC personnel on Saturday, October 15, 2011. The location is the stake center at 4700 South and 2600 West, just west of I-215 West. The meeting begins at 10 am and will last approximately 2 hours. All ERC personnel and Church leaders interested in emergency communications are invited. You do not have to be a resident of the Wasatch Front to attend. Some of the material presented will represent a change in the focus of ERC.[/font]
[font=&quot]
Doug Reneer[/font][font=&quot]
Headquarters Emergency Communications[/font]

Just to clarify, the meeting will be held at the Taylorsville Utah Valley Park Stake center, with the actual address being 2603 W 4700 S, Taylorsville, UT, 84118. [MAP]

I am going to try to attend, if I'm not tied up with JOTA, which is running the same weekend. (Look for a ham in a wheelchair. )

[kisaac]

It's important to let your stake know that while these radios may work during their weekly or monthly drills, having them work successfully during a real event might be a whole different story.

Well...
Many of us in Utah had a "trial run" during the last windstorm this month, with lasting power outages and REAL emergencies. Any communications success stories? Failures?

[Mikerowaved]

Well...
Many of us in Utah had a "trial run" during the last windstorm this month, with lasting power outages and REAL emergencies. Any communications success stories? Failures?

While I don't have any direct report on the success or failure of using FRS/GMRS radios for the windstorm, ham radio was used quite a bit, especially with the long delays experienced by users of the 800 MHz UCAN system, which included police, fire, public works and others.

HERE'S a a KSL news article & video on the usage of ham radio for the event, featuring my good friend, Gary Johnson (N7DND).

[sammythesm]

Thanks to all for sharing your expertise in this area! This was a great educational thread.

Just thought I'd add a relevant side note: we got an email forwarded from our FM Group from the Meetinghouse Facilities Department stating that the guidelines were being amended such that "Wards and stakes should not purchase or accept donated satellite telephone or amateur radio equipment for use in an emergency or for installation in a meetinghouse. Leaders are encouraged to identify individuals who may already have their own equipment to assist with specific ward and stake communication needs. No permanent installation of equipment, including antennas, is to be made in any Church meetinghouse."

Looks like this is how they dealt with the licensing issue brought up earlier in this thread. I guess removing equipment was the only way to completely remove the liability problem.

[kreeve]

Lots of success here in Logan Utah - Cache Valley with Emergency Communications. Using both Ham Radio and GMRS. My stake alone has 40 Amateur Radio operators, with about 15 of them really active and participating on a regular basis. We have focused our efforts on a few of things.
1. Checking on the conditions of members, meeting houses, and missionaries. Thus block captains etc.
2. Working with other groups - CERT, City Emergency Management, local ARES group for help with training, etc. Do not reinvent the wheel.
3. Preparing the radio operators to get communication from point A to point B. Things change in an emergency, so communicators need to be flexible and be able to go where needed.
4. Get the radio operators involved with more than just LDS church. If they sit around with their radio in the drawer hoping for an emergency, they will loose interest, and will not even know how to operate their radio, or with dead batteries.

happy to visit with anyone about our efforts, including what works what does not.

Kevin Reeve
Mnt Logan Stake Emergency Communications Specialist
N7RXE@ARRL.net


The key to our success has been a Stake Emergency Preparedness Committee that was put together by our Stake President, and has Priesthood oversight. It has worked well for us.

[FXBUILDER]

A few years ago my leader asked me to come up with a way to communicate in the ward. Lots of canyon areas here. I told him about ham, but he wanted a non-technical mode. I suggested GMRS. Pay the fee you have your license. Since then the Stake has latched on as well as the other local Stake. We have two repeaters to service the area. We use the "bubble pack" radios for frs use and GMRS for major communications. All the leaders and users of GMRS are licensed. A local Firesafe Council found out about our system and have joined for extended communications. They are all licensed too. Has been good PR for the church for the 700+ homes served by that firesafe group. The day after we rolled out the system a major fire came roaring through and the system worked great. The interest in Amateur Radio just doesn't seem that strong right now. I have a few hams in the Stake but not enough to make it functional. GMRS does work here in SoCal.

[californiagmrsnetwork]

Ok So I really don't know who to talk to about this??
We are the California G M R S Network.
And we would love to try to use the repeater you have! we would like to link it into our network sometimes and have it for Emergency's.
I can and have tried it and we can link in! But (I) want to do it right and ask!
I got some one Mad at me and he Cursed Me out saying he was from LA and didn't want to hear me or our other people In San Joquin valley.
Can we work together??
(I) am working on another link in southern UT. As well!!
Lee Young
Californiagmrsnetwork dot org
Californiagmrsnetwork dot com
Californiagmrsnetwork at gmail.com