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Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-14 / 03:53 UTC GMT +00:00
by jsae
After reviewing information about FRS/GMRS radios at Fleetwood Digital, I learned:
fleetwood digital wrote:For best results, and maximum "range", you must use channels 15-22, and have at least one radio a distance above the ground.

We use these for maintaining good team coordination and admin coordination.

Fleetwood Digital supplies amateur radio enthusiasts, commercial radio operators and marine radio operators.

Let's try to remember to use channels 15 to 22 in our events to cover more of the field.

So, the best way to remember this is:
  • Squads on the low channels
  • Command nets and admin nets on the high channels

How about for simplicity, doing game admin on the last channel, 22? Maybe for regular game days we just use the following assignments:
  • Channel 22 = game coordination
  • Channel 15 = faction or team #1
  • Channel 18 = faction or team #2
  • Channels 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 for special event use

Looking into it further, the main reason for this is that Channels 1 to 14 are limited to 0.5 W emitted power in GMRS radios.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-14 / 05:08 UTC GMT +00:00
by jethro
ch 22 wont work for some teams such as my own team as the puxing only goes to ch 25 and we have the last of the channels as team freq#.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-14 / 06:19 UTC GMT +00:00
by CAV
I learn something new e every day. Thanks for the info Jesse.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-14 / 13:57 UTC GMT +00:00
by Meatshower
Make Channel 3 admin/game co-ordination. That's what we've been using primarily since i've started playing

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-14 / 15:36 UTC GMT +00:00
by CAV
We would want 15 or higher for admin if the lower channels are limited to .5 watt.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-15 / 20:06 UTC GMT +00:00
by DrunkenTeddy
I think there is some confusion here.. If someone is using a GMRS radio such as your typical Motorola, Cobra, etc... then the channels from 1-14 are FRS channels and those radios limit themselves to 0.5W for use on those FRS channels. The higher number channels, above 15 are GMRS channels (or in some cases FRS and GMRS mixed channels), the radio then uses it's higher wattage output.

The radios practically all of us use are UHF radios. These radios don't care what frequency you select, they always output at the wattage you've selected as your output wattage, if it is adjustable in your radio, or at the maximum output wattage if it is not adjustable. A Puxing/Baofeng/Other Chinese UHF radio can output it's maximum wattage on any channel.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-16 / 03:00 UTC GMT +00:00
by CAV
I think your holiday made you even smarter teddy lol. Thanks for clearing that up

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-16 / 03:36 UTC GMT +00:00
by jsae
DrunkenTeddy,

Some notes:
  • Perhaps Jethro's unaware of his radio config. He may have a UHF/VHF radio
  • Many players use plain GMRS radios, particularly beyond the well-established teams
  • To bring together both sets of users, I am recommending the aforementioned channel use
  • Programmable radios technically require amateur radio license, as do radios above 2 W output
Reiterating:
  • Channel 22 = game coordination (freq = 462.7250 MHz)
  • Channel 15 = faction or team #1 (freq = 462.500 MHz)
  • Channel 18 = faction or team #2 (freq = 462.6250 MHz)
  • Channels 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 for special event use (refer to frequency table)
This way we are helping all players use the best combination of their gear to cover our larger site. The MRP site may have some things in it's favour (elevation gain) but it does have some against it (thick brush) for radio propagation. Let's help everyone get the most from their radios.

73
VE7DET

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-16 / 07:04 UTC GMT +00:00
by DrunkenTeddy
There are some players that only have FRS radios, some of these radios only have 14 channels. I think we would want to include everyone possible in the communications within the assigned teams. This is just my opinion but I think team channels need to stay below 14 despite the shorter range. Admin channels can go above 15 but as I mentioned I think all admins use UHF radios anyways so the point is somewhat moot.

Re: Preferred radio channels

PostPosted: 2014-04-16 / 19:31 UTC GMT +00:00
by bushman
I have to agree with Drunken Teddy on this.