FRS radios operate at a maximum of 1/2 watt and have a range of about 1/4 mile in cities; up to 2 miles over water.  They are free to use and there’s no per-minute charges as with cell phones.  GMRS radios operate at up to 5 watts and  have a range of about 1-2 miles in cities and up to 18 miles or more under ideal conditions in open spaces. They too are free to use and there’s no per-minute charges. The rule of thumb with radios is that a radio should reach 1 mile for every watt of power as a generalization. This varies greatly in cities with the density of buildings and structures greatly effecting the range.

All FRS radios have privacy tones or codes (also called CTCSS codes.) FRS radios generally have 14 different channels (frequencies) and 38 privacy tones or codes. This helps ensure that you can only hear the party you want to talk with. In an emergency, you want everybody to be on the same frequency, which is why we use channel 1, no privacy tone or code. For the technically oriented, channel 1 is 462.5625 MHz. FRS radios are very easy to use and once you have an FRS radio in your hand, you'll be able to see and understand how it works. 

FRS and GMRS radios use some of the same frequencies --including channels-- but GMRS radios are more powerful, and have a greater range: perhaps 5 or 10 miles or more. (Figure 1 mile per watt.) But you need an FCC license to operate a GMRS radio. License applications are included with most radios; you don't need to take a test to get a GMRS license. FRS and GMRS radios should be able talk to each other (on channels 1 - 7); however, because GMRS radios are more powerful, if an FRS and GMRS radio are talking to each other, it’s possible that the distance will be such that the FRS user will be able to hear the GMRS operator, but not vice versa. Some GMRS radios lower their power when using FRS channels, such as channel 1.

Some radios come with various features, including built-in GPS receivers, NOAA weather radios, call tones, vibrating alerts, digital compasses, and thermometers. These features add to the cost of a radio (and consume power.) Consider your personal needs when shopping for an FRS or GMRS radio.

Why use these radios during a disaster or emergency?


These radios make sense for several reasons.  First, many neighbors already have them.  Second, both of these types of radios are inexpensive and very portable; they’re also battery-operated.  Third, these radios are reliable and operate in the UHF band which is ideal for use in city settings.  Fourth, the FRS/GMRS channel 1, Privacy Tone or Code "0" has become the universally accepted for emergency communications. Channel 1 should be the same on both types of radios. You should verify and test your radio to be sure. The frequency should be 462.5625 for channel 1.

Keep in mind that people closest to you are in a better position to help than a person or responder trying to navigate congested streets during a disaster.

For more information about FRS and GMRS radios visit: www.gmrsweb.com/gmrsfaqa.html, www.gearreview.com/frsreview98.asp and www.commtechreview.net/frsradio/.  The FCC's official FRS website is http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=family


Which type of radio should I get, FRS or GMRS?

 
While GMRS radios give you more transmitting range, GMRS radios are slightly more expensive than FRS radios and you do have to get a FCC license (which costs $75 and covers an entire family for 5 years.) If you use a GMRS radio with more power, it is likely that people will be able to hear you but who you cannot hear. In addition, it's possible that on some brands of GMRS radios, or combination GMRS/FRS radios, the channel lineup may be different than it is on FRS radios. GMRS radios may give you that added range you want. If you're still uncertain, buy a GMRS radio. Now that many GMRS radios come with the ability to monitor NOAA weather radio, it makes sense to get a radio with that feature. After all, weather is a major cause of power failures and other emergencies.


Rechargeable or disposable batteries. Which should I use?

 
The only radios suggested use both interchangeably. If you use your radio a lot, use it's rechargeable battery, but store alkaline batteries for emergency use. If you don’t use your radio often, or plan to use it just in emergencies, do not keep your batteries installed in the radio and use alkaline batteries. Most FRS and GMRS radios that use disposable batteries, AA's or AAA's, can also use rechargeable AA and AAA-sized batteries, too. Rechargeable batteries, whether built into the radio or removable, have a relatively short shelf life and when you turn on your rechargeable radio that hasn't been charged in a few weeks, it may be dead. Using alkaline batteries allows you to take and use batteries from other devices to keep your radio going for a longer period of time. Plus most have a shelf life of more than 5 years. You should understand that some radios require an alkaline battery adapter when using regular batteries and that some radios don't come with it as a standard option. All of the radios listed on this site are ready out of the box to use either type of battery without the need for an adapter pack. A good option for extended use would be to have a few sets of rechargeable batteries and a small solar battery charger.


Where can I buy these radios and which models have been tested in our area?


You can buy both FRS and GMRS radios at Radio Shack, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy and other area stores—and, of course, on Amazon and eBay. We have tested several models in Lower Manhattan. These models support both types of batteries standard and most offer NOAA weather radio. Some of these models are: Motorola T5500R, T6550R, SX700R, SX800R, Midland GXT500 and GXT600. LoMaC only provides these models for reference and should not be solely relied on as a deciding factor in their purchase. You should test your radio of choice, as there can be differences in operation even with the same brand and model. The best way to test them would be to purchase a set of two and test the distance you get. If you can communicate over a 4 to 5 block area, you should be able to reach someone else in an emergency. LoMac or BPC CERT makes no guarantees whatsoever as to any radios fitness or performance or lack thereof.

If my cell phone stops working but  my home phone still works, do I still need a FRS / GMRS radio?

During an emergency, cell phone networks can fail or become overwhelmed at anytime.  Cell phone towers have backup batteries and or generators that may only last a few hours. In a crisis when everyone's trying to use their cell phones, most people's signals won't go through because the network was never designed for a large number of devices requesting a connection at the same. Text messaging is more likely to work as it's a shared store and forward system that doesn't require dedicated circuits or connections for each device. In  many cities emergency responders and government officials will have priority access to cell phone networks and civilians may not be able to use their cellphones. In addition, there's a special protocol in place not unique to Washington DC that in the event of a potential terrorist attack the entire area's cell phone system may be shut down to deprive terrorists of the ability to remote detonate a bomb or communicate. A British system has been developed to give priority routing and access to governmental cellphones called ACCOLC. Here in the United States it's called Wireless Priority Service (WPS).  Verizon Wireless turns on WPS . There are other concerns about the cellphone network and how text message overload could shut down the network. You can read more about how cellphone networks work here.

Land line phones, while more robust than cell phones, obviously won't work when you're outside or the network switch is overloaded or damaged. Most home and certainly all office phones today require independent electric power to operate and would not work when the power is out regardless of the telephone companies electronic switching system (ESS) being operational.  It is best to keep a cheap telephone that works without power. These are typically the $9.99 variety found at most retail stores and operate without a plug in transformers or batteries. The telephone company operates on DC Battery power that it supplies to their equipment, which is why telephones still work during power outages. 

Voice Over IP (VOIP) is another option, but DSL based services still terminate with the telephone company, which would be out if the telephone electronic switching system (ESS) is down.  Cable modems have routers in the field which require power, so they too may not work. In fact due to a cable modems shared infrastructure, cable companies may limit or block VOIP traffic for lack of bandwidth as more people hop on their network. Limiting bandwidth or blocking VOIP calling would ensure that email and other controlled broadband content reach and be more accessible to a larger number of users. 

Your FRS / GMRS radio can provide you with a way to communicate with your family, friends and neighbors if your primary methods are down. No method is perfect, but having options makes sense. Having access to your neighbors during an emergency, especially people who live within a block of you could be invaluable. It could be the best insurance you can get, starting at around 20 dollars per radio. No city dweller should be without one. 

If you need to evacuate your house or go outside during an emergency, take your FRS / GMRS radio with you.

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I have a radio.  When should I turn it on?

There’s never any harm in turning on your radio in an emergency -- or if you suspect an emergency.  One of LoMaC's purposes is to inform.  You can just listen, if you prefer:  Your neighbors or the police, if they have radios, may be on the air with news.

Turn your radio on if:

• There’s a power outage
• There’s a terrorist attack and you can’t access the Internet
• When you're uncertain about what's happening outside
• You and your neighbors need to evacuate your homes because of explosions, fire, floods, chemical spill or some other emergency
• When helping to search for a lost child
• When you need to communicate with neighbors and you can’t be at your computer

The first rule of surviving an emergency is to get away from the danger. You are number 1.  In a crisis you may need to leave your office, your home, your car.  Your family may be separated.  Plan to have your radio with you.

When you turn your radio on, you can announce that you are on the air and listening.  Say, “This is John Doe on Liberty Street near West Street.  I’m broadcasting because I heard a loud bang and I see smoke down the street.  Is there anyone else on the air?”  Say what you need to say.  Remember -- the purpose of this emergency network is to share information. 

Don’t feel constrained by formality in an emergency, but do confine your communications to things about the emergency:  Don’t tie up the frequency with unnecessary chatting. Using the radio during an emergency for general conversation will drain your battery quickly as transmitting uses the most power.

Leave your radio on during the entire emergency.  It pays to have some extra batteries.  By leaving your radio on, you may hear things from neighbors as the situation changes.  Think of LoMaC as a place to meet your neighbors in an emergency.

Who will be on the radio during an emergency?

Your neighbors will be on the radio during an emergency. Battery Park City CERT will also monitor the frequency. 

One word of warning, though:  Don’t rely on LoMaC, your neighbors and or Battery Park City CERT to summon the police:  It is not meant to be a way to summon emergency services as 911 is.  If you need the police, an ambulance, or the fire department, call 911.  But if your land line phone or cell phone doesn't work, then by all means, use whatever means of communication you have, including the LoMaC Network. You may be able to reach someone who can call 911 for you.
  

Just because you can’t hear anyone, doesn't mean that nobody can hear you.  If you have important information to impart, transmit -- somebody may hear.

Get to higher ground:  The top floor in your house or building, or your apartment’s roof, if access is allowed.  Transmission and reception range increase dramatically with height.  In fact, the height of your radio is more important than your radio’s power when it comes to transmission range.  You may be able to double the range of your radio by going up one story. Being outdoors also increases the range as the signal doesn't have to travel through cement and metal, therefore not being reduced.

Leave your radio on.  Not everyone will be part of an emergency net throughout an emergency.  If you can’t hear somebody now, you may be able to in another five minutes.

Make sure you have the privacy channels turned off; if it's on, that will prevent you from hearing others on the emergency radio net.  For many models of FRS radios --but not all-- the display will show a large "1" and a smaller "0" when set to channel 1, no privacy tone or code.  Depending on your radio it may look something like this:

1₀

If you want to use your FRS radio specifically to talk with a particular neighbor or your family in an emergency, pick a specific channel and privacy tone or code in advance and know how to tune your radios to that channel. You can always go back to channel 1, the emergency channel if you can't raise or communicate with the person you are calling.

LoMaC can work like a relay, but not a straight line relay. Their is no repeater, so the network is not dependent on one relay point.  The emergency channel may be busy, or quiet, depending on the nature of the emergency and on how many people in your area have radios. 

Who runs the radio network during an emergency

The LoMaC  Emergency Radio Network isn't run by any specific individual or agency, partly because in an emergency we never know who will be around. Because these radios are FM, they will capture the strongest signal, so you'll only hear the person who's talking at that moment and who has the most powerful signal at any given moment. Battery Park City CERT who's members number more then 250, will monitor and assist where possible. BPC CERT members are trained and certified under FEMA's national CERT program.

Wait for a pause in communications before talking.  It’s possible that you’ll “step” on somebody else’s transmission now and then, but that’s expected.  Don’t worry if you think that your transmission hasn't gone through, transmit again. Always press your transmit or push to talk button (PTT) for 1 second before speaking so that your communication will not be clipped at the beginning.

Sometimes it’s useful to establish communications with somebody else before transmitting specific information.  But if you’re not sure if anybody is listening and you have something important to say, say it anyway.  Chances are that a neighbor will pick up your transmission. Make sure you give your location and reason for calling even if you can't hear anyone respond. Someone may hear you and could relay your position to send help.

How will the LoMaC Network be operated during an emergency.

The short answer is that nobody knows.  The nature of emergencies is that they are unpredictable:  A tornado and a terrorist attack are two very different events, for example, and may affect New York City in different ways.  Nobody expected all forms of communication --the Internet, land line phones and cell phones-- to fail in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit, but they did.  In the Northeast blackout of 2003, nobody expected the cell phone system to collapse after a few hours, but it did. The nation's first test of this type of emergency network was just recently completed, read about the results here. Connecticut Public Emergency Communications Drill.

Traditional emergency nets --amateur radio emergency nets for instance-- are run by somebody who assumes the position of net control, and who helps organize the radio traffic.   The LoMaC emergency radio network isn't run by any one person -- it is run by everyone on the network.  LoMaC using GMRS / FRS radios, is the only emergency communications system that is for ordinary citizens that is free. 

Unlike traditional emergency radio nets that use a centralized repeater (control station), LoMaC is decentralized, making it robust and nearly invulnerable.  Like the Internet itself, if parts of the LoMaC network fail --that is, if some of your neighbors' radios aren't working-- other people will be able to transmit a message.  Remove one part of the Emergency Radio Network, and the network itself still continues to work. 



Channel 1 is very busy and I really need to discuss something that doesn't have to do with the emergency.

It’s okay to leave channel 1 and have a direct one-to-one conversation with somebody else. In fact, if you want to talk with somebody else about something that does not pertain to the emergency at hand, you should select another frequency to do that. 

If you leave the net, there are three things you should keep in mind:

1.  If you can, announce that you are temporarily leaving the emergency net to go to channel 2 (or whatever channel).  It’s standard procedure for emergency communication nets to let everyone know if you are going to be off the air for a while or are leaving permanently (but only if you have been actively talking on the net.)

2.  Make sure that you and the person you want to talk with both arrive at the same new frequency.  If you don’t, then return to channel 1 and try to coordinate a new frequency again.

3.  Return to channel 1 when you are finished with your off-net conversation.

How can I use my FRS / GMRS radio for  communications with my family?

It's a good idea to have a pre-planned channel, other than channel 1, that your family will use in an emergency.  In a crisis, the LoMaC emergency channel, 1, will be busy.  But if your family has pre-selected, say, channel 7 with a privacy tone/code of  12, you'll have a way to communicate.  Write your family channel/privacy tone or code combination on your radio.  In fact, the more you use your radio, the more comfortable you'll be in an emergency.

There are 14 FRS channels and 38 (some radios have even more) privacy tones or codes (also called sub channels or CTCSS codes) -- that's a total of 532 discrete channel / privacy tone or code combinations, more then enough to give you and your own family a personal line of communications in all but the most crowded environments.  On your radio, the channel may appear as a large number and the sub channel as a smaller number:  Perhaps something like:

7₁₂

This would mean you're on channel 7, privacy tone or code 12. 

What these 532 different channel and tone configurations do is let you talk without being interrupted by somebody else on the same channel.  (The privacy tones or codes do not make your conversation secure.)  GMRS radios offer 7 different frequency channels and 38 privacy channels -- a total of 266 different channel configurations.  Different brands of radios may have different privacy tones or codes, so it's best to stick with the same brand of radio if you plan on using a privacy tone or code. 

You can ask your children's teacher if they (the teacher) can keep a radio at school.  If there's a widespread emergency all area schools will be locked down -- nobody goes in and nobody goes out.  A FRS radio may be your only way to communicate with them at school. It could also allow the school to communicate with the community. 

Remember, if cell phone networks fail, land line phones won't do you any good if you're outside.  FRS radios can be used in cars and they're  portable.

Why would I use an FRS radio and not a cell phone?

You should use both.

But there are times when a hand held two-way radio is better than a cell phone.  In an emergency, such as a terrorist attack, odds are that cell phone networks will be jammed and you may not be able to make or receive calls.  On 9-11 cell phone towers and switching centers were destroyed here.   In a blackout lasting more than a few hours, many cell towers will stop working.  And how are you going to recharge your cell phone during a prolonged power outage?  (FRS/GMRS radios can run indefinitely with an ample supply of batteries.)  If you want to find out what is happening in your neighborhood, an FRS/GMRS radio is a better tool than a cell phone, because it connects you instantly with your neighbors. Network independent. You can’t talk into your cell phone and say, “Can anybody tell me why the power is out?”  But if you transmit that question on the LoMaC network, you’re likely to get an answer.

A FRS/GRMS radio may help you evaluate whether or not it's safe to go outside.  With a FRS/GMRS radio you may be able to receive information about what's happening down the block or across town.

Think about how vital your cell phone has become and how difficult it would be to live and work without one.  Now think about having no phone for an extended multi day period. It already happened here.  During that period if there's been a terrorist attack, major power outage, hurricane, earthquake, the start of a flu pandemic, flooding, or some other disaster, being able to communicate while outdoors and with others in your area is essential.

Will using an FRS radio on channel 1 in my neighborhood interfere with other neighborhoods?

Not only will your using an FRS radio not interfere with other neighborhood communications, but we encourage people around New York City to use FRS channel 1 during an emergency.  It’s possible that emergency information can be relayed around the city this way. 

Is there anything I need to do to join LoMaC?  

No.  There's no membership fee or membership roster.  All you need to do is tune your FRS/GMRS radio to channel 1 during an emergency.

Can I volunteer to help LoMaC?

Yes.  Among other things, we're looking for volunteers to help encourage more people to get FRS and GMRS radios. We can also use help from time to time with neighborhood education programs. If you would like to actively help your community, you can enroll in the CERT program and be certified. Please contact us by email if you can help or need additional information. 
 


How do you know that real information and not rumors will be transmitted through the LoMaC network?

It is possible that rumors rather than facts will permeate LoMaC during an emergency. But it's also true that rumors can cross the television airwaves, too -- witness the rumor on 9/11 that the State Department had been bombed. With email lists, it's the same thing:  Is that fact or rumor?  Many times you don't know if something is correct until you receive confirmation from another source -- and that's the case for the media, email lists and LoMaC.

LoMaC is not a substitute for normal sources of information, such as television, radio, the Internet, and email and pager alerts.  But during a crisis these sources may be unavailable for a variety of predictable and unpredictable reasons; LoMaC is meant to be a redundant means of communicating.

One of LoMaC's purposes is to communicate information. But LoMaC also has as its purpose to foster a sense of community during a crisis. When we're literally in the dark, it will be comforting to be able to hear our neighbors' voices. 

I’m a police officer / fire fighter / paramedic.  Should I be involved in LoMaC?

Yes.  When there’s an emergency --a terrorist attack, chemical spill, tornado, power outage-- normal modes of communication may fail.  LoMaC is fail-safe means for people, including residents and emergency responders, to be able to communicate in an urgent situation.

LoMaC is not meant to replace 911, cell phones, or official radio communications -- people should use regular emergency communications systems first.  But when normal communications falter, LoMaC can fill in the gaps.

Lower Manhattan residents will be glad that local police officers, paramedics, firefighters and other officials are on the emergency network during a crisis.  And you may find that reports from local residents are helpful, too.  Have your FRS/GMRS radio charged and handy.  It couldn't hurt.

What should I be doing with my radio in the meanwhile?

Always keep your FRS/GMRS radio charged.  If your radio also uses disposable batteries, a supply of fresh ones is a good idea.  It's helpful to use your radio regularly to become familiar with it's operation.  While FRS and GMRS radios are easy to use, the more practice you have, the better. Remember, unlike cell phones, you don't pay minute changes with FRS and GMRS radios. 

Our neighborhood would like to utilize this  network even more, can we?

Some neighborhoods may elect to monitor FRS channel 1 all the time, in case somebody needs help.  That is a perfectly acceptable use for the Emergency Radio Network, and is, in fact, what REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams) suggests. BPC CERT will not monitor unless we are activated into service. 

What other radio communications should I be thinking about?

You might want to get a NOAA weather radio.  NOAA weather radios will alert you if there's a severe storm, tornado or other disaster heading your way.  NOAA weather radios now can be tuned into specific counties, so that you will only be alerted for emergencies in your specific area. 

There are several free internet-based emergency alert services that can send a message to your email address, cellular telephone or pager in the event of an emergency.  One that works well is the Emergency Email and Wireless Network.

To receive announcements about LoMaC, you can subscribe to the LoMaC email list (Coming Soon) forum here, this way as the network becomes more robust, you can be updated without monitoring this site. Your information is private and will never be sold or shared without your permission. You can also remove your email address anytime by yourself.

If you want to take communications to the next level, consider getting an amateur radio license.  Like FRS radios, amateur radios are free to use, but you do need to be licensed (and take a test) to use ham radios.  A satellite telephone is another option.  Satellite phones use satellites in low earth orbit rather than terrestrial towers, as cell phones do.  Satellite phones are a bigger and much more expensive to use than cell phones. 

A final word on LoMaC.org

LoMaC is a temporary emergency communications system.  It's not meant to replace the Internet, cell phones or land line phones for the long haul. It's meant to stand in until normal modes of communication can be reestablished.  The Stargazer Foundation is planning long-term communication strategies for individuals and organizations.  Communications is multi-faceted, and there's no single network or system or technology that will do everything everywhere.

What is the relationship between LoMaC and DCERN?

The DC Emergency Radio Network is an outgrowth of the Cleveland Park email list.  Both are non-profit, community-oriented organizations.  DCERN was started by list founder Bill Adler, who, as an amateur radio operator and pilot, has considerable experience in radio communications.  He has participated in amateur radio emergency communications nets. BPC CERT is adopting and expanding on the program here in New York City through the LoMaC network. The National SOS Network, is national emergency communications network that the DCERN network has now joined. 

The Cleveland Park Emergency Radio Network quickly became the DC Emergency Radio Network -- connecting people and neighborhoods in an emergency.  Through word-of-mouth, DCERN has spread throughout the Washington, DC metro area, encompassing not only the District, but suburban Maryland and Virginia, too.  A number of DC-area email lists, community groups, citizen's associations and unaffiliated individuals are participating in the region-wide emergency radio network.  


Reference:


It is important that users of multi-channel FRS / GMRS radios (such as those typically found at department stores and in catalogs) make sure that the output power of Channel 1 is 500 milliwatts or less. Some radios automatically toggle down to that power level. Read the device's instruction manual for details. If the device does not toggle down to 500 milliwatts (or if you cannot do so manually), then you are required by law to get a GMRS license (which is $80 for a five-year term) and covers your entire family regardless of the number of radios.


To confirm for yourself that "no license is required" for FRS / GMRS combo units if they are operated on Channel 1 and do not exceed 500 milliwatts, call the FCC with the same question. The easiest way is via the FCC's Consumer Information Bureau at 1-888-CALL-FCC.

Please note that ham radio operators are not licensed to transmit on any FRS / GMRS frequency during non emergencies. Amateur radio operators can operate on any FRS / GMRS frequency (or any frequency at the operator's disposal) during an emergency. For additional information read the FCC regulation below.


The following is verbatim from FCC regulations:

 
Subpart E--Providing Emergency Communications

§97.401 Operation during a disaster.

(a) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged, or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions. (b) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged, or disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is not regulated by the FCC, a station assisting in meeting essential communication needs and facilitating relief actions may do so only in accord with ITU Resolution No. 640 (Geneva, 1979). The 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 2 m bands may be used for these purposes. (c) When a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in a particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of communication emergency. The declaration will set forth any special conditions and special rules to be observed by stations during the communication emergency. A request for a declaration of a temporary state of emergency should be directed to the EIC in the area concerned. (d) A station in, or within 92.6 km of, Alaska may transmit emissions J3E and R3E on the channel at 5.1675 MHz for emergency communications. The channel must be shared with stations licensed in the Alaska-private fixed service. The transmitter power must not exceed 150 W.

§97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.
 
No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.