I’ve been thinking of a few emcomm-related posts to put up, emphasizing some of the basic-basics of being prepared for the unexpected. Here’s another one:
Today’s brief excursion into emcomm is about the importance of the 2 meter calling frequency, 146.52 MHz. If there is no communications plan, then the plan is “five-two”.
I have nothing bad to say about the highly organized and technically sophisticated practices that command the heights of modern emergency communications, but the simpler the tool, the fewer the moving parts, the more resilient and less failure-prone the final product will be. Nowhere is reliability and resiliency more important than in an emergency situation.
To get local communications up and running, 146.52 is without peer; once in contact with others it’s easy to move up 3 or down 3 to continue, or move to a repeater or any other simplex frequency.
More about 52
I have 52 simplex programmed (usually as #1) into every HT and mobile rig I own. I listen to it a lot. Met a few POTA operators that way!
The ARRL Wilderness Protocol specifies listening for 5 minutes on 52 at the top of every hour for emergency, priority, or other messages from other hams who may be in the field and in range. The ARRL Repeater Directory (in print form) contains more information; I am looking for a link to this …
and while looking for that link I found this: An Incredible Amateur Radio Rescue Story. There are many more like that.
Best I can do at the moment: band plan
I remember driving to Dayton Hamvention years ago and being in an almost continuous round-robin on 146.52 with others going that way … some would go out of range, others would appear, it helped the time and the miles pass … several people talked about the justly famous key maker, Pietro Begali, who was going to be there, we all wanted to see what he had brought. The next day I was the proud owner of a Begali Traveler which I thought (and still do!) was one of the most amazing blends of form and function ever!
Long time ago, an ARES group we were organizing was going to meet with our section Emergency Coordinator. When he didn’t turn up as scheduled, and no one knew his phone number, I went outside and called him on a local repeater, and another repeater; nothing. By sudden inspiration, I called him on 146.52, there he was! A little bit of description of our location had him there in minutes! Pat was an advocate for using the calling frequency as needed. I have wondered if the whole thing wasn’t some sort of a subtle test of our new organization; if it was, we passed!
In closing, it’s worth mentioning that every VHF / UHF band has a designated calling frequency.
There’s also something like a National Adventure Frequency I’ve seen mentioned here & there …
The North American Adventure Frequency is 146.58. I’ll program it sometime.
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