Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 16:12:23 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "J. B. Churchill" Subject: Re: FRS radio channel/code standards In-Reply-To: <200106141709.NAA22824@umd5.umd.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Gail, I am not sure what FRS even stands for so please bear with me if I am totally in left field on this. I have a hand held two-way radio that I use to communicate with birders. It is relatively cheap and only goes up to channel 14 so typically folks like me, (and also Jim Stasz for one) have been using channel 5. If it were a Channel # greater than 14, I would not be able to communicate with other birders (and vice versa). J.B. At 12:54 PM 6/14/2001 -0400, you wrote: >Ospreyers -- > >I am currently serving on a committee which is working to suggest a national >standard channel/code for FRS radio use by birders (this at request of ABA.) >Such a standard would improve communication amongst birders in the field and >allow visiting birders to quickly get "up to speed." > >One of the committee's first steps is to survey local birders to see if there >is any existing local standard channel/code and also, to determine level of >FRS radio useage (and interest in same). For example, the channel/code 8/18 >is widely used in California and publicized on RBAs, and similarly channel/ >code 11/22 is used in the midWest. > >There were several basic criteria for a national standard: easy to remember >(like 11/22) and channels above 1-7 to avoid conflict with the more powerful >GMRS radios which are coming into wider use. Several committee members have >scanning their local areas as well, and find the most use (hence potential >interference) on the lower channels. > >It should be emphasized that a standard channel/code would be used to >facilitate communication between birders in the field and would not mean that >individuals or groups could not simultaneously use other channels/codes for >private communication (e.g.: "Where the *&$#!! are you??") > >I am asking anyone on this list who uses FRS radios or is interested in their >use to get back to me (OFF-LIST, please) and answer the following: > >1) Do you currently use FRS radios while birding? >2) Would you like to see a national channel/code standard for communication? >3) Is there a local standard channel/code used by birders in your area? (If >so, what is it?) >4) If you were to vote between 8/18 or 11/22 as a standard, which would you >prefer (or do you care?) > >Would appreciate a fairly quick response. I have been in Portugal >(non-birding) >for the last week and return to find that much has happened on the FRS >commitee since I have been away. > >Thanks for your assistance on this-- > >Gail Mackiernan >Silver Spring, MD >gail@umdd.umd.edu > >======================================================================= >To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com >with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey >======================================================================= ====================================================== John B. Churchill, M.S. Home (304) 292-5072 GIS Analyst Work (304) 293-4832 West Virginia University ext. 4456 Natural Resource Analysis Center Fax (304) 293-3752 P.O. Box 6108 Morgantown, WV 26506-6108 webpage: http://www.nrac.wvu.edu/users/jbc I'd rather be birding ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================