TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATERUS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 12.19 DATE: May 6, 2012
SUBJECT: SHARE THE FREQUENCY
With the Federal Communications Commission, (FCC), making available the new General Mobile Radio Frequencies called FRS, or Family Radio Service, about every radio manufacture is making these radios at a reasonable price. By having access to so many sources of radios, just about everyone is getting, and using them for everything. The problem with so many radios is the amount of frequencies available. There are only 14 simplex frequencies in the 462 and 467 MHz bands. Most of the radios have the same features available, depending on the price. Some of the radios have stripped down versions with just carrier squelch and three channels. Some of the radios have all 14 channels with carrier squelch. The more expensive radios have all 14 channels with scanning capability, and as many as 38 tone frequencies that allows only those set up the same frequency and tone hear each other.
No matter what kind of radio you might get or own, there is one thing in common, they all use the same 14 frequencies, and only one person, or group can use the same frequency at the same time. Since there is no licensing or frequency coordination required, no one has exclusive right to a particular frequency or channel. It's always been a gentleman's agreement on most frequencies that is shared by many users, the first person or group that is on the frequency have the right of no interference, and others should find another frequency, or channel to go to.
The FCC says the users must accept the possibility of interference. The worst thing that you can do when using a frequency is to tell someone that you were there first, and they need to find another frequency. All this does is cause hard feelings and starts an interference battle. If you are using radios that are carrier squelch only, you may hear others using the same frequency. If the others on the same frequency are using tone squelch, they may not even know that you are there and may not know they are interfering with your communications. The best thing to do is either find another frequency, or channel and move to it, or just accept the interference. By causing an interference battle, doesn't do your communications any good.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV