PREPCOM: A comprehensive radio coms Standard for UK preppers

7 comments to PREPCOM: A comprehensive radio coms Standard for UK preppers

• Fred

  27 August 2016 at 20:36

  Dangerous. Once you start following that up, you’re caught up in Nagoya NA-771 SMA Female antennae and the like.

• Charles Harris

  30 August 2016 at 17:16

  This looks like a great plan. I’m going to look it over more carefully with an eye to making adjustments suitable for USA ham and citizens bands, VHF, UHF, HF. Thanks for posting

  • Skean Dhude

    30 August 2016 at 19:10

    Feel free. If you do want to make mods can you discuss with Lightspeed if possible, if not then keep him up to date with them.

• Charles Harris

  31 August 2016 at 00:07

  Here for discussion purposes is a draft US frequency list following your concept which I am going to post on some US prepper sites with link-back to here to see if I can generate any interest.

  USA-PREPCOM: A suggested radio coms standard for USA preppers

  Original Concept By R-UK, as Adapted for US Band Plans by KE4SKY

  The objective of the USA-PREPCOM is to coordinate between licensed amateur and unlicensed citizens band, Family Radio Service, Multi-Use Radio Service and other USA based survivor radio stations following a major disaster in which conventional telecommunications have ceased.

  For easy mnemonics the standard is the RULE OF 3S
  3 is the important number. Remember it!

  The 3 parts to the Standard are:

  • 1/3:WHEN (Time coordination so we all know WHEN to call and listen)
  • 2/3:WHERE (Frequency coordination so we all know WHERE to call and Listen)
  • 3/3:HOW (Radio set-up so that everyone’s transmissions are compatible)

  What’s this document for?
  It is intended that this document be printed and stored in a water and light-proof pouch which is to be kept with stored radio equipment intended for disaster communications.

  PART 1/3 =WHEN
  Everybody looking to communicate needs to coordinate the time at which to do so.
  By coordinating times and limiting operational time window precious electrical power will be conserved

  Rule of 3s again:
  Start communication sessions On the hour
  Every 3 hours (starting 00.00h)
  For 3 minutes calling and listening, if nothing heard, close the station and try again at next scheduled time.

  Note, if a contact is made it is good practice to move communications to another channel / frequency so that the emergency calling channel is freed for other users
  There is no requirement to end it after the magic 3 minutes, it can continue as long as required, but bear in mind power consumption.

  PART 2 =WHERE
  Where relates to Frequency coordination so that everyone is also communicating on compatible frequencies, failure to coordinate frequency is like not knowing the direction in which to flash a torch to signal to someone at night. We need to know exactly where to send and where to look.
  Rule 2 is broken into two parts 2a for simple License-free transceivers (CB, FRS and MURS walkie-talkies), whereas 2b Ham is a full version incorporating both license-free and USA Ham frequencies.

  PART 2a =WHERE License free
  So for license free, the RULE of 3 continues. Set your radio to one of the following:
  • AM only CBs = Channel 03 26.985 Mhz AM US band
  • SSB capable CBs = Channel 33 27.335 MHz USB
  • FRS and GMRS = Channel 03 462.6125 MHz FM- NB (CTCSS/ DCS code turned OFF)
  • FM-NB only MURS = Channel 03 151.92 MHz FM-NB MHz (US band)

  PART 2b/3=WHERE Full version
  USA Emergency Frequencies: From ARRL Net Directory
  3723 MHz CW Emergency Response Communications Net CW
  3883 MHz LSB Emergency Response Communications Net SSB
  3907 MHz LSB Coastal Carolina Emergency, Missionary Radio Service
  3935 MHz LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net
  3940 MHz LSB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Net
  3950 MHz LSB National Hurricane Center
  7.137 MHz CW Emergency Response Communications Net CW
  7.238 MHz LSB Mobile Emergency and County Hunters Net
  7.240 MHz LSB Eastern Region NTS Traffic
  7.244 MHz LSB Tahoe Interstate Emergency Net
  7.251 MHz LSB North States ARS, South Coast ARS
  7.255 MHz LSB East Coast ARS
  7.258 MHz LSB Midwest ARS
  7.260 MHz LSB Baptist Disaster Relief Net
  7.265MHz LSB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Net
  7.284 MHz LSB Good Sam RV Radio Network
  7.292 MHz LSB Emergency Response Communications Net SSB
  14.244 MHz USB Emergency Response Communications Net SSB
  14.260 MHz USB Baptist Disaster Relief Net
  14.265MHz USB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Net
  14.280 MHz USB International Mission Radio Net
  14.300MHz USB Maritime Mobile Service, INTERCON Traffic, Pacific Seafarer’s Net
  14.303 MHz USB International Emergency Assistance and Traffic Net
  14.315 MHz USB Pacific Islands Disaster Net
  14.325 MHz USB Hurricane Watch Net
  14.336 MHz USB Mobile Emergency Assistance and County Hunters Net
  14.340 MHz USB California-Hawaii Traffic and Emergency
  26.985 MHz US AM CB Ch 03 Prepper Emergency Channel*
  27.065 MHz US AM CB Ch. 09 – Motorist Emergency Calling
  27.185 MHz US AM CB Ch. 19 – Highway Traffic Advisory
  27.555MHz USB CB FREEBAND ( Illegal frequency) but well populated.
  27.335MHz USB CB Ch 33 Emergency Channel*
  462.5625 MHz FM FRS Ch.1 – unofficial calling channel
  462.6125 MHz FM FRS Ch3 Prepper emergency channel***
  462.675 MHz FM GMRS Ch. 6 Unofficial Travelers Information /Repeater input 467.675 PL 141.3

• Lightspeed

  1 September 2016 at 13:57

  Good to hear you are doing similar things in USA Charles

  I’ve copied your standard as there are some frequencies on it that are hearable from Europe.

  SD: Please could you correct a small error on the final line of the recommended frequency listings on the UK standard.

  What reads: 446.03125MHz FM NB RAYNET PMR446 Ch3 emergency channel***

  Should read: 446.03125MHz FM NB PMR446 Ch3 emergency channel***

• Lightspeed

  1 September 2016 at 14:39

  Charles, your USA version appears to have left out part 3 of 3 HOW.

  ???

• Charles Harris

  1 September 2016 at 20:46

  OOPS@! Thanks for the catch, need to fix!