Looking into getting a Uniden scanner that has some 'bells and whistles' to hear weather or disaster announcements. I do lack much knowledge in the radio area and not sure if this particular model Uniden BC125AT is a good start. One review says it lacks 800 mhz and trunking, whatever that means. I live in a city, but very close to rural and mountains. So is it a good start for me? I'd like if I could communicate on it, have heard of HAM radios but have no knowledge of any of this if someone can simply break it down or direct me to a thread. There is always wiki and google, but would like your experience and knowledge. Looking into something portable to keep me updated and communicate if that's necessary. Thanks :thumb:
Bud_Dub
I don't know squat about scanners but I'm going to beat cbrambo to the punch...
Having a walkie talkie isn't going to do you any good.
I know you didn't ask about a walkie talkie, but he rants about that in every thread that mentions radios or scanners. Hopefully someone will now help you since I was of zero assistance. Good luck
Having a walkie talkie isn't going to do you any good.
I know you didn't ask about a walkie talkie, but he rants about that in every thread that mentions radios or scanners. Hopefully someone will now help you since I was of zero assistance. Good luck
I have a scanner from radioshack. It doesn't work with the new stuff the feds/cops are using.
The code free Technician ham license will let you run on a 2 meter rig. There are books from AARL or on line. I need to get mine, study, practice and then pay like $20 for the test.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009MAKWC0&linkCode=as2&tag=worlcomprepbl-20
The code free Technician ham license will let you run on a 2 meter rig. There are books from AARL or on line. I need to get mine, study, practice and then pay like $20 for the test.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009MAKWC0&linkCode=as2&tag=worlcomprepbl-20
I think my thought direction is all wrong. I assume it's been asked here, but couldn't find it. I want some form of communication in shtf with listening and talking if needed and have no idea what direction to research. New things can be a bit over whelming with terminology and starting point. I have some cheap 2 ways for family but want something a little more serious and portable. Thanks!
I'm going to point you towards ham radio. It is really fairly simple to get into and offers the most alternatives.
I would check and see if the local Public Service Sector uses a trunked system or not. There are as many, if not more, non-trunked signals you will want to monitor than there are trunked, but if you do want to keep a hand on things listening to local/county/state/fed law enforcement, you will need a trunking capable scanner.
If you do want that capability do, the scanner listed won't help much. For monitoring most of the other things, it should do okay. But even though it does get the weather band frequencies, the first radio I would get would be a NOAA NWS All Hazards Alert Radio with SAME capability. That is where most of the official information will come from in not only weather disasters, but most national disasters, too. And the weather ones are going to be a lot more common than the others.
With that scanner, and a good Weather Radio, you can monitor much of what you will want to hear. Add a good general coverall receiver so you can get HF Amateur (Ham) stations, you'll be in a position to hear just about all there is, except law enforcement, military, and government operations, which are often encrypted, anyway, which no current, legal, system will un-encrypt.
There are no medium to long distance handheld options that don't rely on repeaters, which, will eventually go down in a grid-down situation, unless they are totally off grid, which few are. For a no-license, base to base, base to mobile, and mobile to mobile two way communication, CB is about the only thing available. Up to 10 to 15 miles base to base on the good days. Less on bad days, and more when the skip is going or you are talking line of sight from two mountains or towers.
If you want some short range two-way comms, take a look at MURS band handheld and base radios.
For longer range you will have to go to either business band or Amateur Radio. Both require licenses. BB requires a lot of rigamarole, and you only get one or two channels for the most part. And they are expensive.
Amateur VHF radios, with repeaters up is the easiest method. Getting the license is easy and cheap, and there are cheap radios out there. For long range your only legal, viable option is to have everyone get an Amateur Tech license so they can use the VHF radios, get some experience, and then get General Class Amateur radio licenses and HF Amateur equipment for long range communications. The General Class ticket costs just a little more, and the test is harder, but 10-year olds and younger have passed it, so it is doable for most people now that there is no Morse code requirement.
If you want more details, such as equipment specifics, or more info on licenses and such, let me know. You'll probably get most of it from other posters, but feel free to lay the questions out and I'll throw in my $1.95 worth.
Just my opinion.
If you do want that capability do, the scanner listed won't help much. For monitoring most of the other things, it should do okay. But even though it does get the weather band frequencies, the first radio I would get would be a NOAA NWS All Hazards Alert Radio with SAME capability. That is where most of the official information will come from in not only weather disasters, but most national disasters, too. And the weather ones are going to be a lot more common than the others.
With that scanner, and a good Weather Radio, you can monitor much of what you will want to hear. Add a good general coverall receiver so you can get HF Amateur (Ham) stations, you'll be in a position to hear just about all there is, except law enforcement, military, and government operations, which are often encrypted, anyway, which no current, legal, system will un-encrypt.
There are no medium to long distance handheld options that don't rely on repeaters, which, will eventually go down in a grid-down situation, unless they are totally off grid, which few are. For a no-license, base to base, base to mobile, and mobile to mobile two way communication, CB is about the only thing available. Up to 10 to 15 miles base to base on the good days. Less on bad days, and more when the skip is going or you are talking line of sight from two mountains or towers.
If you want some short range two-way comms, take a look at MURS band handheld and base radios.
For longer range you will have to go to either business band or Amateur Radio. Both require licenses. BB requires a lot of rigamarole, and you only get one or two channels for the most part. And they are expensive.
Amateur VHF radios, with repeaters up is the easiest method. Getting the license is easy and cheap, and there are cheap radios out there. For long range your only legal, viable option is to have everyone get an Amateur Tech license so they can use the VHF radios, get some experience, and then get General Class Amateur radio licenses and HF Amateur equipment for long range communications. The General Class ticket costs just a little more, and the test is harder, but 10-year olds and younger have passed it, so it is doable for most people now that there is no Morse code requirement.
If you want more details, such as equipment specifics, or more info on licenses and such, let me know. You'll probably get most of it from other posters, but feel free to lay the questions out and I'll throw in my $1.95 worth.
Just my opinion.
I don't know where you live, so it is hard to give the best advice possible.
Where I live, the PA state police uses 800 MHz in a proprietary system called Open Sky.
Proprietary means that it is a closed system that uses a log in name and password - just like the internet.
I wouldn't worry much about 800 MHz - because the next generation of radio is going to be on a nation wide system on 700 MHz in the next 10 years.
FIRST NET
Most all of the scanner technology used today is going to be worthless if you want to listen to police / ambulance.
Fire might be different since most fire departments here are volunteer and you can't go to a system that cannot be listened to and still afford to have a radio for each fireman. Technically the only people here that is supposed to have a radio is the chief and the assistant chief.
Any scanner is better then nothing at all - but we have to know where you live to know what kind of system they currently use.
Not all localities uses a trunked type system. Many places are taking out the trunked system because it doesn't work, it looses vital calls when it becomes busy, and that is not good from a emergency standpoint.
Amateur radio would involve hundreds if not thousands of dollars of radio equipment. A investment of both your time and your money - because you would be obliged to take tests to get licenses and you would also have to learn how to talk on a radio.
JDBushcraft is right - a walkie talkie is literally useless in a real emergency.
Just the other day in Lawrence County, they had a F1 tornado.
The county EMA director started a Skywarn Net and the first comment he made was that he was going to run the net, but he did not know how long he was going to be able to hold the frequency - because all he had was a walkie talkie.
That was the most intelligent thing I ever heard him say!
Within 16 minutes his battery went dead and the air was silent.
If you rely on a repeater, and the repeater is forced off the air for any reason - your communications will be nullified to what ever or who ever can still hear you, and with a walkie talkie - that is practically Line of Sight.
You might as well send semaphores.
Do a internet search, find a amateur radio club in your location.
Attend a couple of meetings, make some friends, get some advice, look for a VE test session near you. Buy the books - you might be able to borrow them from a public library if the club donates those books to the library and study and pass the test and then get someone to teach you how to properly operate a radio and then you will be prepared for what ever happens.
If you don't want to do that, then the scanner with a good discone antenna above the roof of your house is the next best option.
At least you can listen.
I have been a short wave listener since 1972, I have participated in amateur radio activities since 1979 and I have been a licensed ham for a couple of years.
Yes, I did get my start with the Citizens Band in 1970 - but I had a call sign and a legal AM CB radio, not the smokey and the bandit type ordeal like most people or a illegal amplifier and big beam antenna or illegal freeband equipment like the Yaesu FT 101~!
Where I live, the PA state police uses 800 MHz in a proprietary system called Open Sky.
Proprietary means that it is a closed system that uses a log in name and password - just like the internet.
I wouldn't worry much about 800 MHz - because the next generation of radio is going to be on a nation wide system on 700 MHz in the next 10 years.
FIRST NET
Most all of the scanner technology used today is going to be worthless if you want to listen to police / ambulance.
Fire might be different since most fire departments here are volunteer and you can't go to a system that cannot be listened to and still afford to have a radio for each fireman. Technically the only people here that is supposed to have a radio is the chief and the assistant chief.
Any scanner is better then nothing at all - but we have to know where you live to know what kind of system they currently use.
Not all localities uses a trunked type system. Many places are taking out the trunked system because it doesn't work, it looses vital calls when it becomes busy, and that is not good from a emergency standpoint.
Amateur radio would involve hundreds if not thousands of dollars of radio equipment. A investment of both your time and your money - because you would be obliged to take tests to get licenses and you would also have to learn how to talk on a radio.
JDBushcraft is right - a walkie talkie is literally useless in a real emergency.
Just the other day in Lawrence County, they had a F1 tornado.
The county EMA director started a Skywarn Net and the first comment he made was that he was going to run the net, but he did not know how long he was going to be able to hold the frequency - because all he had was a walkie talkie.
That was the most intelligent thing I ever heard him say!
Within 16 minutes his battery went dead and the air was silent.
If you rely on a repeater, and the repeater is forced off the air for any reason - your communications will be nullified to what ever or who ever can still hear you, and with a walkie talkie - that is practically Line of Sight.
You might as well send semaphores.
Do a internet search, find a amateur radio club in your location.
Attend a couple of meetings, make some friends, get some advice, look for a VE test session near you. Buy the books - you might be able to borrow them from a public library if the club donates those books to the library and study and pass the test and then get someone to teach you how to properly operate a radio and then you will be prepared for what ever happens.
If you don't want to do that, then the scanner with a good discone antenna above the roof of your house is the next best option.
At least you can listen.
I have been a short wave listener since 1972, I have participated in amateur radio activities since 1979 and I have been a licensed ham for a couple of years.
Yes, I did get my start with the Citizens Band in 1970 - but I had a call sign and a legal AM CB radio, not the smokey and the bandit type ordeal like most people or a illegal amplifier and big beam antenna or illegal freeband equipment like the Yaesu FT 101~!
From the scanner side of things, specifically listening to traffic that exists today and would exist, at least for a while, during most disasters, I'd strongly recommend checking here and drilling down to your area...
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/
This should give you an idea what your local PD, fire, rescue, etc. use. Paying close attention to the frequencies themselves, and the 'type' column. You could be lucky and be in an area that is still using mostly analog systems, no trunking, etc. (such as the AZ highway patrol, Phoenix fire department, etc.) Or they could be using newer or more specific technologies like P25, trunking, etc. (like Phoenix PD.) Or, like Phoenix, a mix of everything.
That'll at least get you going in the right direction to see if you need some of the features and functions of the models you're looking at.
Don't expect to get your hands on much equipment that can TRANSMIT on the trunking and digital systems as that gear is pretty well obscenely priced (and of course it's highly illegal to do so short of a few exceptions involving life/death and available communication options.
As far as reaching out and transmitting at all, you need to consider WHO you intend to talk with. The average Joe has (if anything) some Motorola bubble pack FRS/GMRS radios they bought at Walmart or Costco to keep tabs on the kids at Disney World or to play with. They often have limited power options (beyond whatever AA batteries they have on hand) so long term most would be in the dark too.
Fewer people have CB, but those tend to frequently be vehicle installations that obviously generate their own power (until fuel is unavailable) but they're also mobile, so coverage has a *LOT* of variables involved. Range has already been pretty well covered by Jerry above too.
And that pretty much covers all of the 'common' comms methods that you could reasonably expect even a small percentage of the population to have at their disposal.
If you have specific people in mind that you plan to communicate with, that helps a lot. Determine where both ends of the conversation will be. Same neighborhood? City? Other side of the state? Short-range vehicular caravan? Each of these possibilities has their own obstacles that need to be planned for to approach any semblance of reliability.
Ham gear is usually the most flexible, but it does require putting in some effort vs. being a 'pop in the battery and set a channel' solution. Far more valuable than the actual gear you might choose, however, is the knowledge you can gain from the licensing/study process, and the following hands-on learning afterwards. Understanding HOW radios work and what your choices in modes, frequencies, antennas, etc. will affect the results opens up a whole new world of options.
Much like any other option though, you need the other end (whoever you wanna talk to) to get on the same page with you for it to work.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/
This should give you an idea what your local PD, fire, rescue, etc. use. Paying close attention to the frequencies themselves, and the 'type' column. You could be lucky and be in an area that is still using mostly analog systems, no trunking, etc. (such as the AZ highway patrol, Phoenix fire department, etc.) Or they could be using newer or more specific technologies like P25, trunking, etc. (like Phoenix PD.) Or, like Phoenix, a mix of everything.
That'll at least get you going in the right direction to see if you need some of the features and functions of the models you're looking at.
Don't expect to get your hands on much equipment that can TRANSMIT on the trunking and digital systems as that gear is pretty well obscenely priced (and of course it's highly illegal to do so short of a few exceptions involving life/death and available communication options.
As far as reaching out and transmitting at all, you need to consider WHO you intend to talk with. The average Joe has (if anything) some Motorola bubble pack FRS/GMRS radios they bought at Walmart or Costco to keep tabs on the kids at Disney World or to play with. They often have limited power options (beyond whatever AA batteries they have on hand) so long term most would be in the dark too.
Fewer people have CB, but those tend to frequently be vehicle installations that obviously generate their own power (until fuel is unavailable) but they're also mobile, so coverage has a *LOT* of variables involved. Range has already been pretty well covered by Jerry above too.
And that pretty much covers all of the 'common' comms methods that you could reasonably expect even a small percentage of the population to have at their disposal.
If you have specific people in mind that you plan to communicate with, that helps a lot. Determine where both ends of the conversation will be. Same neighborhood? City? Other side of the state? Short-range vehicular caravan? Each of these possibilities has their own obstacles that need to be planned for to approach any semblance of reliability.
Ham gear is usually the most flexible, but it does require putting in some effort vs. being a 'pop in the battery and set a channel' solution. Far more valuable than the actual gear you might choose, however, is the knowledge you can gain from the licensing/study process, and the following hands-on learning afterwards. Understanding HOW radios work and what your choices in modes, frequencies, antennas, etc. will affect the results opens up a whole new world of options.
Much like any other option though, you need the other end (whoever you wanna talk to) to get on the same page with you for it to work.
This guy has some info on radios.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GUERRILLAGEEK
These looks like a neat radio if you want to spend the money on it.
I've bought radios and stuff from these suppliers.
http://www.mtcradio.com/
http://www.wouxun.us/index.php
I read good reviews of these and plan to get some stuff from them in the future.
http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/index.php
This guy does reviews on a lot of CB radios and a couple of HAM HF rigs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cbradiomagazine
http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/
If you see any particular radio you would like to know more about search YT and the net for reviews and specks.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GUERRILLAGEEK
These looks like a neat radio if you want to spend the money on it.
I've bought radios and stuff from these suppliers.
http://www.mtcradio.com/
http://www.wouxun.us/index.php
I read good reviews of these and plan to get some stuff from them in the future.
http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/index.php
This guy does reviews on a lot of CB radios and a couple of HAM HF rigs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cbradiomagazine
http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/
If you see any particular radio you would like to know more about search YT and the net for reviews and specks.
This is all great info. I will digest all of it and begin to research and look into a local club. As with all my hobbies, there is ALWAYS sub categories of equipment dependent on a objective i.e. bike riding; a bike with suspension for trails, a light thin wheeled for roads, etc. Any situation can arise and don't know if there will be any service at all and unsure if this is the right direction. I need something to stay informed and if warranted to communicate with others if I need to relocate and change my plans when things get bad, but need more sophisticated stuff than standard means of scanner or 2 way walkies. I need to dissect all the info and begin reading and then can make questions. This is my county, looks as if it's not the new updated systems? So not sure if I should buy cheap now and buy more later after they upgrade if I'm right that it hasn't done so yet..Thanks to all for the great info and the more the better!
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=192
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=192
I would say get a less capable one now, upgrade later, and put the older one on secondary frequencies and let the new one handle the trunked systems, and the other things it will do well.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
If trunked systems are on the way "out" what is public safety moving to? Our local (very large urban city) public safety has been using trunking since the early 90's and is right now in the process of upgrading to digital trunking. That is why I am upgrading to a Bearcat BCD996XT scanner soon.
I was thinking about getting another scanner but given the price of the units, capable of receiving local trunking systems, I'm putting it on the bottom of the list. I can buy transceiver(s) and the associated hardware for the cost of one of those scanners. 
In my area, the larger cities and counties moved to a trunked digital system several years ago. Another county piggy backed with them not long after that. They were originally on a VHF analog duplex system. Another agency went from analog 800Mhz, duplex to digital 800 MHz trunking about three years ago.
I guess they all spent those MILLIONS of dollars in upgrades for a soon to be out dated system according to CB Rambo?
In my area, the larger cities and counties moved to a trunked digital system several years ago. Another county piggy backed with them not long after that. They were originally on a VHF analog duplex system. Another agency went from analog 800Mhz, duplex to digital 800 MHz trunking about three years ago.
I guess they all spent those MILLIONS of dollars in upgrades for a soon to be out dated system according to CB Rambo?
A scanner is a receiver, not a transceiver. You can transmit anything on those dude.
On another note, most of the country is going digital so those cheap analog scanners won't do you much good. I think digital scanners are still like $400
On another note, most of the country is going digital so those cheap analog scanners won't do you much good. I think digital scanners are still like $400
In order to get Firstnet to work, they are going to have to initiate the Broadband Over Power Line - as they did 10 years ago.
Just think of the power lines going to your home and being one big antenna.
Everything that is sent and received will be able to be sent and received via the power lines.
Once the power lines are resonant - all HF amateur radio activities in the USA will cease.
When you create noise - and you amplify it, all you will get is a louder noise.
The government is sucking us in right now with technology and the internet.
They have the people to the point of where they cannot live without their social media network and their cell phones.
They will tell the people that Amateur Radio is no longer necessary and that the internet is a necessary thing that we all must have and if they have to, they will even offer free internet to everyone in the USA if they allow them to destroy amateur radio as we know it today.
There are almost 700,000 licensed amateurs in the USA today.
More then half of them only has a Technician Class License.
Those people do not care if they take away the HF bands, because they are not allowed to use them except for phone - 10 meters and CW.
The population of the USA is so large, the amateur radio community only makes up .015% of the population.
We actually have as many deer hunters in the State of Pennsylvania, that takes to the woods for the first day of deer rifle season as we have hams in the entire country.
The only way we got rid of BBOP the last time was because of the ARRL.
If you are not a member of the ARRL - then you have no voice.
Without the ARRL - the FCC and the Federal Government can do as they please.
The ARRL only posts topic's in their magazine QST that promotes Amateur Radio in a positive light. They are not going to tell you anything bad that is about to happen until it happens. The ARRL knows that the FCC and the Federal Government is about to do something, but until it happens, they cannot do anything to stop it.
The Federal Government is not going to tell you openly what they are doing or how it is going to affect you or communications, they are just going to do it, secretly and when it is done, we are going to end up in a dictatorship where there is camera's everywhere and big brother is watching YOU!
It's the thought of the government and public service that they can do the same job with camera's and technology as they can do with more police on the streets.
They actually let the perpetrators commit the crime and then use the technology to catch them. Video camera's, charge card transactions, cell phone triangulation, cell phone bills, cell phone GPS, IPOD GPS, IPHONE GPS - everything that has a camera or a GPS in it or uses the internet will be accessible to them.
The PA State Police has the cell phone number, the email address of every school kid in the district, along with every teacher and every person associated with the school.
If you send a picture, a text message, talk on the phone, they can look at it and listen to it in real time.
They can access every cell tower and every cell phone conversation and every text message for the last year if they want.
Everything is being recorded on a server someplace.
We are all being lulled to sleep by all this high tech garbage and by addicting our youth to it by making it so accessible to them. Every kid beyond the age of 8 here has a cell phone. Their crazy mothers thinks that they can use it like a pager, or a automatic baby sitter and that they can always find out where their kids are at and what they are doing and they can find them when they need them.
The bottom line for me came one day when my sister in law called my brother while we were hunting and wanted to know where we were at. When he told her, she started grilling him and said she wanted to know EXACTLY where we were - right down to the foot - as if we were doing something wrong - out in the middle of the woods!
I lost all respect for her at that point, and I swore that I would not own a cell phone or let someone dictate to me like that - like as if she was going to demand that he come home right now. She just needed to be slapped silly! I wouldn't put up with a Beotch like that!
Just think of the power lines going to your home and being one big antenna.
Everything that is sent and received will be able to be sent and received via the power lines.
Once the power lines are resonant - all HF amateur radio activities in the USA will cease.
When you create noise - and you amplify it, all you will get is a louder noise.
The government is sucking us in right now with technology and the internet.
They have the people to the point of where they cannot live without their social media network and their cell phones.
They will tell the people that Amateur Radio is no longer necessary and that the internet is a necessary thing that we all must have and if they have to, they will even offer free internet to everyone in the USA if they allow them to destroy amateur radio as we know it today.
There are almost 700,000 licensed amateurs in the USA today.
More then half of them only has a Technician Class License.
Those people do not care if they take away the HF bands, because they are not allowed to use them except for phone - 10 meters and CW.
The population of the USA is so large, the amateur radio community only makes up .015% of the population.
We actually have as many deer hunters in the State of Pennsylvania, that takes to the woods for the first day of deer rifle season as we have hams in the entire country.
The only way we got rid of BBOP the last time was because of the ARRL.
If you are not a member of the ARRL - then you have no voice.
Without the ARRL - the FCC and the Federal Government can do as they please.
The ARRL only posts topic's in their magazine QST that promotes Amateur Radio in a positive light. They are not going to tell you anything bad that is about to happen until it happens. The ARRL knows that the FCC and the Federal Government is about to do something, but until it happens, they cannot do anything to stop it.
The Federal Government is not going to tell you openly what they are doing or how it is going to affect you or communications, they are just going to do it, secretly and when it is done, we are going to end up in a dictatorship where there is camera's everywhere and big brother is watching YOU!
It's the thought of the government and public service that they can do the same job with camera's and technology as they can do with more police on the streets.
They actually let the perpetrators commit the crime and then use the technology to catch them. Video camera's, charge card transactions, cell phone triangulation, cell phone bills, cell phone GPS, IPOD GPS, IPHONE GPS - everything that has a camera or a GPS in it or uses the internet will be accessible to them.
The PA State Police has the cell phone number, the email address of every school kid in the district, along with every teacher and every person associated with the school.
If you send a picture, a text message, talk on the phone, they can look at it and listen to it in real time.
They can access every cell tower and every cell phone conversation and every text message for the last year if they want.
Everything is being recorded on a server someplace.
We are all being lulled to sleep by all this high tech garbage and by addicting our youth to it by making it so accessible to them. Every kid beyond the age of 8 here has a cell phone. Their crazy mothers thinks that they can use it like a pager, or a automatic baby sitter and that they can always find out where their kids are at and what they are doing and they can find them when they need them.
The bottom line for me came one day when my sister in law called my brother while we were hunting and wanted to know where we were at. When he told her, she started grilling him and said she wanted to know EXACTLY where we were - right down to the foot - as if we were doing something wrong - out in the middle of the woods!
I lost all respect for her at that point, and I swore that I would not own a cell phone or let someone dictate to me like that - like as if she was going to demand that he come home right now. She just needed to be slapped silly! I wouldn't put up with a Beotch like that!
Public Safety
In February 2012, Congress enacted The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, containing landmark provisions to create a much-needed nationwide interoperable broadband network that will help police, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals and other public safety officials stay safe and do their jobs. The law’s governing framework for the deployment and operation of this network, which is to be based on a single, national network architecture, is the new "First Responder Network Authority" (FirstNet), an independent authority within NTIA. FirstNet will hold the spectrum license for the network, and is charged with taking “all actions necessary” to build, deploy, and operate the network, in consultation with Federal, State, tribal and local public safety entities, and other key stakeholders.
The Act provides $7 billion in funding towards deployment of this network, as well as $135 million for a new State and Local Implementation Grant Program administered by NTIA to support State, regional, tribal and local jurisdictions’ efforts to plan and work with FirstNet to ensure the network meets their wireless public safety communications needs.
In addition to carrying out its new responsibilities under the Act, NTIA is engaged in variety of other activities to advance public safety communications and support first responder needs:
The Public Safety Communications Research program (PSCR) is supporting improvements in public safety communications through research, development, and testing to advance public safety communications interoperability. Housed within the Department of Commerce Labs in Boulder, Colorado, the PSCR program is a joint effort between the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Office of Law Enforcement Standards and NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security Office for Interoperability and Compatibility and the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services.
NTIA oversees the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program, which helps first responders better communicate during disasters. NTIA, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded nearly $1 billion to fund projects nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and NTIA awarded grants to the states and U.S. territories to improve 911 services and implement next-generation technologies. Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, NHTSA and NTIA are tasked with administering an additional $115 million in grants to further support improvements to 911 services. That funding is not yet available.
In addition, many of NTIA’s broadband Recovery Act projects benefit public safety.
In February 2012, Congress enacted The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, containing landmark provisions to create a much-needed nationwide interoperable broadband network that will help police, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals and other public safety officials stay safe and do their jobs. The law’s governing framework for the deployment and operation of this network, which is to be based on a single, national network architecture, is the new "First Responder Network Authority" (FirstNet), an independent authority within NTIA. FirstNet will hold the spectrum license for the network, and is charged with taking “all actions necessary” to build, deploy, and operate the network, in consultation with Federal, State, tribal and local public safety entities, and other key stakeholders.
The Act provides $7 billion in funding towards deployment of this network, as well as $135 million for a new State and Local Implementation Grant Program administered by NTIA to support State, regional, tribal and local jurisdictions’ efforts to plan and work with FirstNet to ensure the network meets their wireless public safety communications needs.
In addition to carrying out its new responsibilities under the Act, NTIA is engaged in variety of other activities to advance public safety communications and support first responder needs:
The Public Safety Communications Research program (PSCR) is supporting improvements in public safety communications through research, development, and testing to advance public safety communications interoperability. Housed within the Department of Commerce Labs in Boulder, Colorado, the PSCR program is a joint effort between the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Office of Law Enforcement Standards and NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security Office for Interoperability and Compatibility and the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services.
NTIA oversees the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program, which helps first responders better communicate during disasters. NTIA, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded nearly $1 billion to fund projects nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and NTIA awarded grants to the states and U.S. territories to improve 911 services and implement next-generation technologies. Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, NHTSA and NTIA are tasked with administering an additional $115 million in grants to further support improvements to 911 services. That funding is not yet available.
In addition, many of NTIA’s broadband Recovery Act projects benefit public safety.
CBRambo, I do actually listen to my scanner for more than police/fire activity. I have lots of 2 meter frequencies programmed in, and listen to the Skywarn nets when we have bad weather. The amateurs get warning information specific to the street block out several minutes before anybody else does.
I work with LAN and WAN connectivity and have implemented Ethernet of powerline systems. I remember when DSL was being rolled out, there was some concern that it would render some amateur bands useless, but I never heard of any wide-spread problems.
The IP traffic over powerlines is another thing, though. With the millions of miles of powerlines criss-crossing the country, I can see it having a much more pronounced effect on amateur and other radio services. In my area, they rolled out "smart grid" technology starting 15 years ago. They put these repeater boxes all over the area, mounted on telephone poles, pulling power from street lamps. They are actually nodes that communicate with each other and with smart meters, switches, etc. The network is what is called a "mesh" network. I can't wait for hackers to get into that network.....
Our city also has a mesh network, with a grid of cameras, including license plate readers all over the city. Any patrol car can access the network and be able to track any car and thier movements thru the city. There is no privacy.
I have several business-band VHF radios I use, and they are simplex, and really work well. They get up to 5 miles in optimum conditions, but I would basically use them car to car if having to bug out, or just road trips (in nemergency situations). I use them in my business and am very strict about how my people use them and paying attention to the rules. We also use the voice-inversion scrambling to cut down a little on the hobby scanner listeners or others, although I know it's easy to defeat for people with knowledge.
For general, everyday, family use, we just use GMRS when we are at amusement parks, or doing road trips or ballgames. Once, a long time back, when FRS/GMRS was a new deal, I had 3 300mw FRS radios we took on vacation and we talked all over Branson Missouri, with virtually no problems!!
I know you are a big proponent of HF amateur communications, and I see it as being fairly useful in a full-out SHTF situation to get outside information. Most all of the emergencies I have had to deal with though, have been weather-related in one way or another and fairly immediate area. I have actually seen 6 tornados from my house, and had several more near enough to be concerned, over the years. Whenever that happens, cell phone service goes down, mostly. At that point, being able to listen in on the spotters as they give coordinates of flooding, large hail, heavy winds, and even tornados is life-saving. I know you are not fond of the 2-meter walkie talkies alot of folks use, but being able to listen in this area and get that kind of information is very valuable.
I have never heard of the "Open Sky" system, but it sounds like it sucks for the scanner monitor who wants to listen. I used to be very active in monitoring, but got away from it. I am getting back into it, as I feel we need to be vigilant about what our government is doing. Thanks for posting the info on the new federal requirements. As is typical in government, I don't realistically see them rolling the system out nationwide in the time table listed. I see that the BCD996XT scanner I have been looking at, gets some of the 700 mHz stuff, but not all. I currently have a couple of Icom digital computer controlled scanners that get all but cellular, BUT they are only analog AM, FM and WFM. Are you aware of a decent scanner that gets all-band coverage in analog and digital modes and supports trunk tracking?? The thing I like with my Icoms, I can pull in SW, HF and amateur bands fairly well, even with the crappy magnetic-mount scanner antenna. I can fairly regularly listen to Alex Jones during the day on 12.160.
To the OP, sorry we hijacked your thread. As you see, there is TONS of information about radio communications, locally, regionally, nationally and globally. You can spend a little and be able to listen to alot of that content, or you can spend a fortune and be able to listen to almost all of the content. As CBRambo states, and states often, good antennas are a key to not only good transmission, but good reception, even if you are just monitoring for information's sake.
I work with LAN and WAN connectivity and have implemented Ethernet of powerline systems. I remember when DSL was being rolled out, there was some concern that it would render some amateur bands useless, but I never heard of any wide-spread problems.
The IP traffic over powerlines is another thing, though. With the millions of miles of powerlines criss-crossing the country, I can see it having a much more pronounced effect on amateur and other radio services. In my area, they rolled out "smart grid" technology starting 15 years ago. They put these repeater boxes all over the area, mounted on telephone poles, pulling power from street lamps. They are actually nodes that communicate with each other and with smart meters, switches, etc. The network is what is called a "mesh" network. I can't wait for hackers to get into that network.....
Our city also has a mesh network, with a grid of cameras, including license plate readers all over the city. Any patrol car can access the network and be able to track any car and thier movements thru the city. There is no privacy.
I have several business-band VHF radios I use, and they are simplex, and really work well. They get up to 5 miles in optimum conditions, but I would basically use them car to car if having to bug out, or just road trips (in nemergency situations). I use them in my business and am very strict about how my people use them and paying attention to the rules. We also use the voice-inversion scrambling to cut down a little on the hobby scanner listeners or others, although I know it's easy to defeat for people with knowledge.
For general, everyday, family use, we just use GMRS when we are at amusement parks, or doing road trips or ballgames. Once, a long time back, when FRS/GMRS was a new deal, I had 3 300mw FRS radios we took on vacation and we talked all over Branson Missouri, with virtually no problems!!
I know you are a big proponent of HF amateur communications, and I see it as being fairly useful in a full-out SHTF situation to get outside information. Most all of the emergencies I have had to deal with though, have been weather-related in one way or another and fairly immediate area. I have actually seen 6 tornados from my house, and had several more near enough to be concerned, over the years. Whenever that happens, cell phone service goes down, mostly. At that point, being able to listen in on the spotters as they give coordinates of flooding, large hail, heavy winds, and even tornados is life-saving. I know you are not fond of the 2-meter walkie talkies alot of folks use, but being able to listen in this area and get that kind of information is very valuable.
I have never heard of the "Open Sky" system, but it sounds like it sucks for the scanner monitor who wants to listen. I used to be very active in monitoring, but got away from it. I am getting back into it, as I feel we need to be vigilant about what our government is doing. Thanks for posting the info on the new federal requirements. As is typical in government, I don't realistically see them rolling the system out nationwide in the time table listed. I see that the BCD996XT scanner I have been looking at, gets some of the 700 mHz stuff, but not all. I currently have a couple of Icom digital computer controlled scanners that get all but cellular, BUT they are only analog AM, FM and WFM. Are you aware of a decent scanner that gets all-band coverage in analog and digital modes and supports trunk tracking?? The thing I like with my Icoms, I can pull in SW, HF and amateur bands fairly well, even with the crappy magnetic-mount scanner antenna. I can fairly regularly listen to Alex Jones during the day on 12.160.
To the OP, sorry we hijacked your thread. As you see, there is TONS of information about radio communications, locally, regionally, nationally and globally. You can spend a little and be able to listen to alot of that content, or you can spend a fortune and be able to listen to almost all of the content. As CBRambo states, and states often, good antennas are a key to not only good transmission, but good reception, even if you are just monitoring for information's sake.
This is my first visit, and post on this forum, and I am concerned that there is alot of misinformation about cb radio being useful in an emergency situation. First off, anyone can have one, they are inexpensive, and very reliable. They can be run from any 12 volt power supply.. wind, battery, solar. Antennas are everywhere, and they are not subject to repeaters going down, or priority services taking first place in the pecking order. For immediate need to know traffic info, you will never beat it. For short range communications... 10miles and less, they work exceptionally well. All of the talk about amplifiers is a non issue, since most people wont be buying an 8 pill amp to drive around town with. A little 2 pill mrf 454 amp will do 50 clean watts, and talk for about 30 miles. With any radio system, the antenna is the heart, and a 1/2 wave antenna can be put together in 5 minutes. Even an imaxx antenna can be disassembled, and remounted in just a few minutes, and is easily transported. Modified yeasu 101e's can be used in a mobile with 12 volts,and also have the ham bands when you get to a point where you need a base. There is nothing special you need to know about using a cb radio, plug it in, and talk. Most now come with weather monitoring, and sideband, and can be had for 150.00 bucks new. Lets face it.. something is better than nothing, and for what its worth, you are far more likely to get info, or help from a cb'er than a ham operator 500 miles away. I am not implying that ham radio is not worth having, but to the average person who is looking for a reliable means of information, and communication, the cb is the most reliable. Does anyone think a ham operator is going to tell you if the highway is a parking lot? Of course not, but just tune your cb to 19, and you find out pretty quick.
We are now in the solar maximum cycle, and I talk all over the country with my 4 watt radio.. yes I have big amplifiers in my home, and in my suv, and yes I understand the implications, but its sort of like carrying a firearm...better caught with it than without it.
So for the sake of the layman who isnt going to get a ham ticket, and invest what can be some pretty big dollars in a ham rig, the focus should be on reliable, easy to use, common, everyday devices that require no special knowledge or understanding. If anyone has any questions regarding the use, set-up of a reliable cb radio, please feel free to ask me. I am not a ham operator, but I do have ham rigs, both mobile, and base. In a situation where I am in need of emegency long distance communication, I am not going to worry about having the proper bit of paper, and no ham worth his salt should deny that information because someone doesnt announce their call every 5 minutes. Simple is often times better.
I am not trying to offend anyone, nor am I condoning any illegal activity. I am just trying to let those who are looking for a comm source not to be put off by those advocating ham radio. I dont think I know any ham operator who doesnt have an 11 meter rig in his, or her shack, with a switchbox, and a legal limit amp with a 10 meter mod done to it.
We are now in the solar maximum cycle, and I talk all over the country with my 4 watt radio.. yes I have big amplifiers in my home, and in my suv, and yes I understand the implications, but its sort of like carrying a firearm...better caught with it than without it.
So for the sake of the layman who isnt going to get a ham ticket, and invest what can be some pretty big dollars in a ham rig, the focus should be on reliable, easy to use, common, everyday devices that require no special knowledge or understanding. If anyone has any questions regarding the use, set-up of a reliable cb radio, please feel free to ask me. I am not a ham operator, but I do have ham rigs, both mobile, and base. In a situation where I am in need of emegency long distance communication, I am not going to worry about having the proper bit of paper, and no ham worth his salt should deny that information because someone doesnt announce their call every 5 minutes. Simple is often times better.
I am not trying to offend anyone, nor am I condoning any illegal activity. I am just trying to let those who are looking for a comm source not to be put off by those advocating ham radio. I dont think I know any ham operator who doesnt have an 11 meter rig in his, or her shack, with a switchbox, and a legal limit amp with a 10 meter mod done to it.
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