Develop a scheme where we set-up static and roving communications points around the border of our defined Multnomah boundaries. We attempted to communicate with one another and with a centrally located person at our primary staging area. From this first experiment, we got a pretty good idea what terrain problems we had and where there were gaps in communication. Topography (hills, trees and elevation definitions) pretty much limits our ability to communicate.
In addition, we defined a specific frequency and sub-channel (privacy code) that both the FRS and GMRS radio receivers can use. We have made FRS the standard radio that all NETs must provide in order to communicate. We publish the frequency & subchannel on each monthly newsletter.
All in all, I think we did determine that FRS was the best way to go for general NET usage simply because it was cheap, easily available, easy to replace batteries and works just as well as the more expensive GMRS (license required, too) radios. Despite the power, terrain pretty much rules the ability to communicate, especially on the hilly, westside. Choose a channel and subchannel that will work for your group. We choose channel 14, subchannel 7....with the hopes that this would isolate our conversation from the general public enough to give us a relatively quiet line from which to talk. Because of distance issues, we feel that use of that channel/subchannel could be used by other NET's just fine...with little likelihood that it would overlap our ability to communicate locally.
http://www.popularwireless.com/codetable.html is a link to a listing of CTCSS Compatability in FRS Radios.
FRS
Family Radio Service radios are the new walkie-talkies. Operating in the 462- to 468-MHz UHF band, they have a 2-mile range and don't require an FCC license.
the Family Radio Service (FRS) frequency range, which has 14 channels of its own. The radio also has 38 codes meant to eliminate interference and some basic privacy features, like voice scrambling to help reduce eavesdropping.
equipped to receive weather information broadcasts directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which operates a nationwide radio network of 560 transmitters that broadcasts nothing but weather reports 24 hours a day. Tune in and you're less likely to be surprised by rain. But the network is also the best source of information about natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes.
GMRS
FRS vs. GMRS
Pros and Cons