[pct-l] Emergency radios

[AsABat at 4Jeffrey.Net (AsABat)]

While CB and marine radios have emergency frequencies, ham radio does not
(except in limited cases). The abuse you speak of is probably CB channel 9,
as well as the use of ham frequencies by illegally modified CB radios.
 
Hams are licensed for any frequency allocated for ham radio use, and Search
and Rescue members are sometime authorized to on SAR frequencies as well.
This is very different from commercial radios where the licensee is
allocated one or more specific frequencies. The USFS frequencies are
licensed by the FCC to the USFS, for use by authorized personnel only. Just
because I buy a radio with USFS capability does not mean I have a license or
can do so legally.

There may occasionally be USFS personnel on ham frequencies, as some
backcountry rangers use ham radio as a backup or for personal use. I've
found both on the PCT.
 
Ham radios cannot legally be used outside the ham radio frequencies. Do some
do this? Yes. Is it legal? No. 

This is probably getting a bit off topic, so I'd be happy to continue the
discussion off-list. 

AsABat


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Richard Woods
 
Isn't knowledge of emergency frequencies part of the radio license 
testing? If my old and moldy memories serve me, there are 
frequencies/channels on just about every band designated as emergency 
channels, although I've heard the one used by the HAM bands is abused 
somewhat.  If you have a radio capable of transmitting on a USFS 
frequency, you'll probably have/will need a license.