Post by va3css on Jan 31, 2008 0:25:40 GMT -5
Search and Rescue Inter-Agency Frequency info page
This is a GREAT idea, in my opinion.
In most of Canada, 149.080Mhz was most often used by Ambulance squads or Paramedics, and pager systems for same. Since most of those have already converted to trunked radio systems, this band is going quiet - but certainly still has use.
According to the link above, Industry Canada wants Radio Amateurs to get involved in this effort. There is a license to be obtained for the use of this frequency, and that license is NOT free, but I doubt it's costly, either.
Also, and most importantly, to use this frequency, Amateurs must have "type-accepted" commercial gear. In other words, no modified Amateur gear will be allowed for use on this frequency.
This should pose little problem, as all the Ambulance squads who moved up to trunked systems all have their old gear available for sale. It is commercial gear, type-accepted for use on this band already. I'm sure it's available fairly cheaply, and some hams are already using this type of gear.
But the BEST part of this idea, is that the intention is to have ALL emergency and public safety agencies equipped with this frequency, along with Radio Amateurs. It's really the first time a single frequency was proposed for both public safety and radio amateur use.
'Bout time.
The SAR-IF is a Very High Frequency (VHF) simplex radio communications channel located in the land mobile band at 149.080 MHz.
The SAR-IF is intended to provide a communications link between front-line responders during interagency SAR operations. For example, if a police force coordinating the search for a group of overdue canoeists requests the assistance other resources - such as a military aircraft, a volunteer ground search team, and a park patrol boat -- all of these responders could establish and maintain direct contact in the search area if they were equipped to use the SAR-IF. Each group, however, would continue to use their own communications systems to coordinate amongst themselves. Radio traffic on the SAR-IF would therefore be limited to front-line operational contact between the different groups.
The SAR-IF is intended to provide a communications link between front-line responders during interagency SAR operations. For example, if a police force coordinating the search for a group of overdue canoeists requests the assistance other resources - such as a military aircraft, a volunteer ground search team, and a park patrol boat -- all of these responders could establish and maintain direct contact in the search area if they were equipped to use the SAR-IF. Each group, however, would continue to use their own communications systems to coordinate amongst themselves. Radio traffic on the SAR-IF would therefore be limited to front-line operational contact between the different groups.
This is a GREAT idea, in my opinion.
In most of Canada, 149.080Mhz was most often used by Ambulance squads or Paramedics, and pager systems for same. Since most of those have already converted to trunked radio systems, this band is going quiet - but certainly still has use.
According to the link above, Industry Canada wants Radio Amateurs to get involved in this effort. There is a license to be obtained for the use of this frequency, and that license is NOT free, but I doubt it's costly, either.
Also, and most importantly, to use this frequency, Amateurs must have "type-accepted" commercial gear. In other words, no modified Amateur gear will be allowed for use on this frequency.
This should pose little problem, as all the Ambulance squads who moved up to trunked systems all have their old gear available for sale. It is commercial gear, type-accepted for use on this band already. I'm sure it's available fairly cheaply, and some hams are already using this type of gear.
But the BEST part of this idea, is that the intention is to have ALL emergency and public safety agencies equipped with this frequency, along with Radio Amateurs. It's really the first time a single frequency was proposed for both public safety and radio amateur use.
'Bout time.