Posted: 3/28/2008 4:44:30 AM EDT
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As M.U.R.S isn't a widely supported radio setup, and few manufacturers make a M.U.R.S specific radio: can i buy any vhf hand talkie and program it so that it only uses the following bands: 151.820 MHz 11.25 KHz 151.880 MHz 11.25 kHz 151.940 MHz 11.25 kHz 154.570 MHz (also part of the business band) 20.00 kHz 154.600 MHz (also part of the business band) |
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You've probably already seen this, but just in case: MURS Radio LG. |
| i was surfing egay today looking at various VHF models, and i think (if it'll work) i'd rather go with like a 16 channel 139-174mhz radio. Have it preprogrammed for the 6 M.U.R.S. channels, some weather channels and an emergency channel. Primary use will be while back packing, with friends, and we'd like to be able to broadcast out in case of emergency. |
The PX-777 is relatively cheap(compared to most MURS radios I've seen) and and the VHF variant will cover the MURS allocation. See Bogie's thread "Cheap Radios". |
Any radio on any frequency can be used to call for help in an emergency without the need for any license by any person. PERIOD!!!! END OF STORY!!! AGAIN.......ANY FREQUENCY ON ANY RADIO CAN BE USED IN AN EMERGENCY That sheriff (if there was one) is WAY out of his jurisdiction. He has no more right to enforce federal communications regulations than I have to enforce federal mining laws. I'd sue his ass into oblivion if it were me. |
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Thats pretty good TG2000. I don't know if it would be worth paying an attorney to recover a $300.00 radio, but whatever toasts your muffin. The kid got his friend rescued and that is the important part. In this county, the sheriff doesn't allow his deputies to have personally owned radio gear. Some people are touchy about that sort of thing regardless of good intentions. I was just wondering what "emergency channel" he had in mind. If you are on the coast, then VHF Ch 16 obviously comes to mind. In the backcountry, just transmitting randomly is not going to get help if you are injured. I guess an aviation radio on 121.5 mhz might do it, but that isn't what the poster seems to be asking about. I have carried a 2 meter WT on backpacking trips and canoe trips for over 20 years. A check of the ARRL Repeater guide is a start, but doesn't always guarantee coverage of remote areas. RS |
+73 |
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If there is another means of communication, TXing on the local police frequency is 100% illegal. The FCC has already enforced this where a guy with a working cell phone went on the local police's repeater for help. You need to try other forms of communication if you have them. As for "suing his ass into oblivion", that kind of thinking sounds a lot like the whiny crybaby approach that is ruining this country. |
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I have taken a few calls for help over the police, and fire bands from Amateur Radio Op's with mod gear, and I cant think of one of them that got their gear taken. I have also taken calls for help in the Olympic Mt's from radios that were mod, or able to get out on our local SAR freq. ( Im not in the same county as where the call came from.) On VHF/UHF it is a crap shoot to say that you will be able to use your radio for Emergency situations unless you have some freq that is local. I would never bet my bacon on a 2way radio. If I were going to try that,I would think that AR would be your best bet due to being able to hit a repeater, but the MURS stuff for what you are talking about as far as group communications will do you just fine. |
 don't be holding your breath for this one to happen any time soon (ie- next 10 years+) |
As much as you are right about "All", the fact is a large number are doing the switch, and I dont know about you, but with my luck I would be dead meat trying to transmit out to nothing. 
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ain't nobody switching to anything 800 right now, except maybe a few here and there. new licenses for 800 are on hold rebanding and the auction have things all messed up. there are radios coming out (moto a little bit ago, and Thales just recently at IWCE) that are going to help interop problems. (mulitiband) there are NOT enough 800 MHz freqs to go around. |
So what is it, Nobody, or a few here, and there?  Honestly, I dont know about your area. But I do know about mine. We are all pretty much done, we have a few straggler VHF freq's patched into our system, but VHF is DEAD around here, the western, and pretty much the eastern side of the state. I also came from Southern California, and it is all but gone for a lot of them also. Hell we are getting ready for the rebanding around here. The question here was about MURS, and it's use in an Emergency, then the addition of Fire/EMS/LE type freq's.... when it comes down to it, It is still a Crap-Shoot. The Feds have thrown a lot of cash out to everyone to beef up their communications, heck we have Open Sky systems going in here already. |
Depends on the state... VA has a law saying you cannot posess a radio capable of transmitting on public safety bands. Bad law? Yes, but it is there until changed or beaten in court. I suspect several other states are that way. It also depends on the "emergency". If other means of communication are available and were not used, the FCC is not going to defend him. If it was not a real emergency but something like a flat tire, they are not going to defend him. Bottom line, if you intend to use the FCC emergency clause, be prepared to show that it A: was a real emergency and B: that you had no other means of commuincation available. |
Similar here. Most of the depts. have switched to the 800 mhz systems. Our sheriff's office is the only one left who still uses VHF. Other than that, everyone in a two to three county area is using the 800's. |
Do you have the specific code for that "VA law"? I've never heard of such a thing and I've lived here most of my life. I've searched for what you've written but I can't find anything about it. |
The whole emergency use is on the exams. But there are to many laws for the LE community to know. But this does also show again to never ask the police for help and do not invite them into you life. |
leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-190.1 It was used at least once against a ham with altered radios, although it was dropped as part of the plea: www.arrl.org/arrlletter/06/0908/ As poorly worded as that law is, it is very broad on what is technically illegal there. |
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There is a statewide 800 trunked radio system called the Palmetto 800 in South Carolina that has at least 67 sites. All a public safety agency has to do is pay the user fees and buy the radios. Where I hunt and backpack, the only agency having any radio coverage is the Department of Natural Rescources. However, there is a 2 meter repeater at the same location as the DNR one, so I have them on receive only in my commercial HT. Back to the original poster's comments on "putting MURS, WX, and a emergency channel in a VHF radio?" To meet the MURS requirement, your radio would not normally be keyboard programmable, so one would need to know in advance where you were going in order to get the correct emergency freqs or ham radio repeaters put in. OR carry a ham rig, a GMRS, and a MURS. Too much weight for backpacking. RS |
on low power they can meet the power output, they don't go narrow enough for the 3 narrpw freqs so I keep my transmitting to the two wide freqs. |
A1D: Double-sideband AM; One channel containing digital information, no subcarrier; Telemetry or Telecommand A2B: Double-sideband AM; One channel containing digital information, using a subcarrier; Electronic telegraphy, intended to be decoded by machine (Digital Modes) A2D: Double-sideband AM; One channel containing digital information, using a subcarrier; Telemetry or Telecommand A3E: Double-sideband AM; One channel containing analogue information; Telephony F**: Same as above, but FM G3E: Phase modulation; One channel containing analogue information; Telephony Ref: Types of radio emissions, Sec. 95.631 Emission types Someone with more experience can say where DTMF tones fall under. (OT: Garand_Shooter, I sent you a PM. I don't know if you received it or not.) |