TCARC WILDERNESS PROTOCOL- Monitoring for Stations in Distress
TCARC Hot Topics Series- de WB6FZH, Greg
Wilderness Protocol
VISIT: Trinity County ARES WEBSITE
The purpose of this operating suggestion is to offer stations that are in the wilds or in areas
that are not near repeater stations a chance to be heard when it is needed the most!
The Wilderness Protocol is a suggestion that those outside of repeater range should monitor standard simplex channels at specific times in case others have Emergency or priority calls.
The primary frequency monitored is 146.52 MHz; secondarily or alternatively 52.525, 223.5, 446.0 and 1294.5 MHz respectively. The idea is to allow communications between
hams that are hiking or backpacking in uninhabited areas, outside repeater range an alternative opportunity to be heard.
NOTE- This is NOT just for hikers, back packers, or similar situations....it is for ANYONE to use at ANYTIME...that you need assistance. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE BY NOTING THIS "WILDERNESS PROTOTYPE" AND USING IT IF YOU NEED IT.
Recommended Use of "Wilderness Protocol"
- Montior the PRIMARY- 146.520 and any or all of the SECONDARY FREQUENCIES.(52.525, 223.500, 446.00, 1294.500)
- MONITOR TIMING- Every 3 hours from 0700 HRS ..from the hour until 5 (five) minutes past the hour.(7:00-7:05 AM, 10:00-10:05 AM, ..., 10:00-10:05 PM).
- ALTERNATE TIMING- 0655 to 0705, Etc 5 before til 5 after..(watch may be incorrect)
- ENHANCED MONTIORING- Fixed stations or portable stations with enough
battery power levels LISTEN EVERY HOUR. (Obviously Continious Monitoring is also
an option.)
- SCANNING MONITOR- Consider entering- 146.52 MHz , 52.525, 223.5, 446.0 and 1294.5 MHz in to your scanner radio, or extended scanning monitor radio.
- Bring this "Wilderness Protocol" up at ham meetings, mention it on the ait
- NOTE- 146.52 IS A CALLING FREQUENCY.... Make your Calls, and then move off the frequency so others can use the frequency. Suggested frequencies to move to; 146.55, 146.43, etc.
- PRIORITY TONE SIGNALS-Suggested Priority Radio Transmissions ONLY after 4 minutes after the hour. USE the LONG TONE ZERO (on Touch Tone Pad) Begin calls for assistnce with 10 or more seconds of TONE
with the LITZ signal. ( LONG TONE ZERO )- This timing would help those in trouble
not be covered up by the tone itself. MORE LITZ SIGNAL INFORMATION
- These are CALLING FREQUENCIES, and the CALLING should only start at 4 minutes after the hour preceded by listeing for 30 seconds...LISTEN FIRST- CALL CQ with short transmissions, then carefully listen. LISTEN FIRST! always a good idea!
- NOTE: Many mobile, fixed station and hand-held radios have LITZ Features built in. In the 1970s and later, many articles were in Amateur Radio and other publications with OUTBOARD LITZ devices that provided contact closures for sirens, buzzers, speakers, etc.
There were also schemes to monitor remotely for LITZ signals, much like the EMERGENCY LANDING BEACONS FOR AIRCRAFT (ELT) are monitored by some Amateur Repeater Stations. GPS encoded signals for MARINE VHF DISTRESS and other technologies are saving lives world-wide.
Some consumer products that arrived on US market in 2004 and beyond, use cellular telehone technology, and special satellite relayed technologies
to summon help for individuals and vehicle emergencies.(Cellular Telephone equipment and other commercial satellite systems are usually not present, appropriate or practical for the scope of the technology/procedures in this article.)
The author of this page reminds you that most of this information appears elsewhere on the internet, and
in various printed publications, and it has been combined with other information for the purposes of this article.
Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH
OTHER USEFUL COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS IDEAS
- Trinity County Community Radio Plan- Model plan to integrate FRS, MURS, CB, etc and Ham Radio into a standard group of radio channels
dedicated to specific uses during emergencies and casual radio use.
Note: in 2006 some national attention to similar plans has been helped by manufacturers of FRS radios.
- Suggested Reading
VISIT Trinity County ARES Page
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Last Updated: Novermber 11, 2006
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