THE POCKET MARCONI

In times of panic or mass reaction to an emergency incident, telephone lines(Even Cell)tend to fill up their local trunks slow down or go down.

Communication over distance becomes difficult if not non existent. This is time for RADIO.

During the attacks of 911, New York's responding agencies such as N.Y.P.D. and N.Y.F.D. as well as others could not talk to each other. Every branch of emergency service had its own radio frequency. Thankfully that has changed, city planners have seen first hand the short sightedness of such "exclusivity" and now although these emergency service providers still have dedicated and secure radio frequencies, they also have "common" air space that can be used to communicate on a interdepartmental level.

THEY NEED THEIR RADIOS!

There will always be HAM radio, and thankfully operators eager to relay important information in and out of the effected area but what about the shopping House Wife / Home Maker, College Student, Office or Factory Worker? These folks may need to contact family and friends to confirm rondevu plans or just hear that voice that says "I'm Okay".

GMRS

General Mobile Radio Service is the way to go. No tests, license or special training. These "Walkie Talkie" type transceivers are easy to use, inexpensive to own and small enough to be carried with you in your go bag or glove box.

Transmitting / receiving distances will vary greatly depending on Model, Location and Atmospheric Conditions but if used on obscure selected channels (and there are many) as you approach your neighborhood, enter town (in smaller communities) or by way of relay (with other units in the vicinity) you can really reach out without much fuss.

These units are not FRS Family Radio Service frequency radios. They are singled out apart from those channels and unlike FRS require a licence for each user in the household.

No test is necessary to use GMRS just pay Uncle Sam his fee and go about your merry way.

Now, the facts are that Uncle Charlie (the FCC) just does not have the resources to locate and fine every unlicensed user of GMRS and I some how doubt they ever will. Remember the CB once required a licence and that got so out of hand they just gave up......Looks like we got us a CONVOY!

I believe GMRS will go the same route. Never the less, in an emergency I'm sure tens of thousand of these portable and in some cases base units will be on the air.

What really makes these units desirable is their low cost and availability. You can buy a pair at the local Mart store tonight and be on the air on the way home. Moreover, these units can talk to other units thanks to the common frequencies anywhere in the country. Now as a licenced user of an exclusive frequencies on the job, I can tell you, it's nice to be able to talk to others in your group without having to deal with outsiders "walking" on your conversation.

HOWEVER, lets look at the survivors needs, he may need to communicate with others that he has never even met before, the only thing they have in common is the frequency and the crisis at hand. Dozens or maybe hundreds of possible users within ear shot. That's useful and reassuring.

The other night I was watching our Troops in Afghanistan on CNN. I always study kit and equipment (I'll steal a good idea from anybody) when I noticed the Motorola GMRS clipped to some Sargent's MOLLE gear. Yup yes sir I guess these guys will use whatever is expedient and reliable. Good enough for our Troops in the desert - Good enough for me.

You can spend $30, $50, $90 and up for GMRS units, get the best you can afford and keep extra batteries for it with the radio. A special note: GARMIN the GPS people make units called RINO's, these GPS / GMRS radio hybrids allow you to navigate and communicate at the same time AND they transmit the user's location to other RINO users where it is displayed on the map screen.....way to cool. Talk about show and tell!

Watch your six
RJ