Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Radio Bands
FRS
GMRS
CB
Amateur Radio
Commercial
Commercial Trunking
Aircraft
Cell phone
FRS
Family Radio Service
A sub-set of GMRS
Very low power
watt (read short
range!)
Millions in use!
CB
Citizens Band
Been around for years
Antennas very inefficient
on portables
Most conversations not fit
for family consumption!
Bad choice for ballooning
Amateur Radio
Operation of an amateur station
requires an amateur operator license
grant from the FCC. Before receiving a
license grant, you must pass an
examination administered by a team of
volunteer examiners (VES) to
determine your operator class.
Fees: None to FCC
Amateur Radio
Bands of interest are VHF and UHF, can be high
Commercial
DOT or Itinerant
Frequencies VHF or
UHF
Specific, shared channels,
limited numbers
Anyone can be on your
channel
Can privatize by PL or
DPL coding
5 watt maximum
Assigned Frequencies
VHF or UHF
Single, assigned
frequency
Protected within a
certain geographic area
Can privatize by PL or
DPL coding
High power available
Commercial
A company or organization can obtain license for all
members
Anyone can use your radios under your individual
or group license
Equipment medium priced, a lot is available used as
business users switch to other communication
methods
Radios must be programmed by licensed Radio
Shop
Commercial
Fees: FCC application fee of $100
Frequency Coordinator fee of $200
Good for 10 years
Commercial Trunking
Works through repeaters on a mountain or tower.
Private only your radios hear or talk to each other
Covers a large area if you can see the tower, you
can talk to any other radio that can see the tower
No license required, the system operator has them
Requires a monthly fee per radio, usually about $15
Due to the monthly costs, probably only for
commercial operations
Aircraft
October 26, 1996-----eliminated the individual licensing
Aircraft
TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION COMMISSION
--PART 87--AVIATION SERVICES--Subpart K
Aviation Support Stations Sec. 87.323
Frequencies. (a) 121.500 MHz: Emergency
and distress only. (b) The frequencies
123.300 and 123.500 MHz are available for
assignment to aviation support stations used
for pilot training, coordination of lighterthan-air aircraft operations, or coordination
of soaring or free ballooning activities.
Aircraft
Balloon is covered as aircraft, no license is
needed
Cell Phone
Pilot cannot legally use while in flight
Passengers cannot legally use while in
flight.
Should be carried by pilot, and should be in
chase vehicle for emergency situations.
Emergency numbers should be available
both in balloon and chase vehicle.
When in doubt, call 911.
Comparison
FRS
GMRS
CB
Ham
Com.
Com
-Trunk
Power
Watts
5 (ha!) 2000
5 portable 5
50 mobile portable
20
mobile
Channels
14
8+7
40
Lots!
Assigned
Yes
Free
Yes
$300
No
Shared FRS
License
????
FRS
GMRS
Questions
CB
Amateur
????
Commercial Aircraft
NEWS
FLASH!!!!
NEWS
FLASH!!!!
NEWS
FLASH!!!!
NEWS FLASH!!!!
NEWS
FLASH!!!!
NEWS
FLASH!!!!
NEWS
FLASH!!!!