GMRS Radio Test Result from August 4th, 2021
Date: August 4th, 2021
From: David Jamieson, NLCC - President
To: NLCC Members
Re: Communications Exercise - 8PM, August 4th, 2021
Background:
One of the key findings from the Echo Mountain Complex fires was a lack of communication for citizens in many locations around the county.
One way to help solve that is for North Lincoln County CERT (NLCC) to develop and test a communication strategy from a central “command” location to each “island” where our members live. This strategy could receive and transmit valuable information in an emergency.
August 4th, 2021, GMRS Radio Test:
Our next attempt will be at 8PM on August 4th, 2021, after the member (and guest) meeting. This will allow people time to get home from the Bob Everest station and get settled.
You will need a GMRS radio for the test. It needs to be a radio capable of receiving GMRS channels 1-22 but we will focus on channels 15, 18-22.
If you are interested in getting a more "feature rich" radio, one that a few of the people in NLCC already have, and is recommended by STCEVC, get the BTech GMRS V1. More here on Amazon. $59.89/radio. David can program it for you … which means adding quite a few public safety frequencies to listen to (e.g. NLFR, LCPD, Lincoln County Sheriff, etc) along with NOAA radio and FM radio. You can read more about it here on the NLCC blog.
We will use an “island” based GMRS Radio communications plan
Common Channel Across all Islands - channel 15
Otis and 3 Rocks Road Areas - channel 22
Roads End, Palisades - channel 21
Neotsu, Devils Lake (east, west) - channel 20
Wecoma, Oceanlake, DeLake - channel 19
Nelscott, Taft, Cutler City - channel 18
David Jamieson will act as “Net Control” from the Bob Everest station using Channel 15 as the "Command" channel to talk with everyone. That is the one and only channel he will use as "command."
At 8PM, the test will begin … process:
David will work north to south and follow the protocol:
“Hey RobC, this is DavidJ, are you checking in tonight, over?”
Then Rob would say, “Hey DavidJ, this is RobC, I am checking in tonight, over.”
To which DavidJ will say, “Copy that RobC, how quickly can you evacuate and where will you go?”
To which RobC will say, “DavidJ, I can evaluate in 15 minutes and will go to the Lincoln City Community Center, over.”
To which DavidJ will say, “Copy that RobC, 15 minutes, Community Center, over, out.”
If RobC is not available/can’t hear me, I will continue to contact other people in that island until I get someone and ask them to try and get in touch with people I could NOT communicate with (using their inter-island channel) then report back to me.
If I am not able to get anyone in Otis/Three Rocks Road, I’ll also ask someone I am able to speak with within an adjacent island to call them on their island channel.
For example, if I cannot communicate with anyone in Otis/Three Rocks Road (highly probable), I’ll ask someone in Palisades/Roads end to try (a relay). That is, to use Channel 22 and see if they can get through from Palisades/Roads End to Otis/Three Rocks Road.
Conclusion:
Be patient and listen on Channel 15. I suggest writing down everything you hear and plan to say on the radio. I also suggest turning your radio on (Channel 15/Island Channel) whenever there is a power outage or community alert. If you have a BTech GMRS V1, use the “scan” feature to listen to the public safety frequencies.
Test Results:
David Jamieson led the communications test. He was stationed outside the Bob Everest Fire Station in Oceanlake. David used his BTech GMRS V1 radio on Channel 15 and set at high (5 watt) power. (Note: Raul, Kate, Jamie/Diane, RobC, DebbieB, JoyceE, MackB, KimS, MarieL, LennyN also own BTech GMRS V1’s)
Communication Result:
Mapped Result:
Red = no success
Yellow = success with marginal signal
Green = crystal clear
Purple - via Relay
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