Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:40:11 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: Walkie-talkies for birding In-Reply-To: <415D559270C6D5118D5B00C0F040831C0DE8D3@EXCHANGE> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi -- I was on an ABA committee to set up a national standard for use of FRS radios (the two-way radios being widely promoted at eletronics stores). After considerable discussion, the committee opted to recommend a standard code *and* a subcode (so-called provavcy code) as in some areas of the USA, se of FRS radios by other outdoors enthusuasts can cause interference on certain channels. The code/subcode selected was 11/22, easy to remember, already in use in west, and above the range of the powerful (to the point of interfering with FRS) GMRS radios also on sale. The idea for a universal standard was to facilitate communication in the field, especially in situations where there are a lot of birders, many from other areas of the country. The ABA website gives a longer intro to FRS radio use, and also, examples of communications etc. In reality, in most areas of the country there is relaively little FRS use now. Also, some birders still have older working radios which do not have the subcode option. In these cases, I personally would recommend just using the code "11" and not going to a subcode unless you start getting a lot of interference. This in no way means that groups, or folks birding together, shouldn't use a difference frequency for private communications -- (e.g. "Where the @%$##!! ARE you!! -- always popular in my family -- or "Let's blow this place and head for XX..") -- in fact, this is recommended. If you are contemplating bying a set of these little radios, be sure to get ones that have the subcode option, and also, one that does NOT have "alert" or "roger" tones that cannot be turned off. We just had to replace an older radio and bought some Bell Atlantic ones at Circuit City which appear nice, not too many bells and whistles. We shall see... Cheers, Gail Mackiernan p.s. These radios have proved invaluable in certain situations, in getting folks onto a rare bird without the usual yelling, having to run back and find someone, etc. They also work well to communicate between cars on road trips. On Fri, 28 Dec 2001, Hershberger, Wilbur wrote: > I think that Gail had said that channel 11 subcode 22 was the choice for > this area. > Gail? > > Wil Hershberger > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================