Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

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napper
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by napper »

I was off work one day a few weeks ago. I had my radio on and heard the usual bike school. For some reason this day the instructor was going mental on a student. The language turned the air blue. This student couldn't do a thing right and the guy was screaming! This went on for about 15 minutes and I decided enough was enough. I phoned the office of the school and explained what I'd heard. I told the woman that kids use these channels. She told me it was a private channel and I shouldn't be listening. I pointed out that it was the PMR446 band, and as it was the school holidays, there would be children using the frequencies.
She told me that I couldn't force them to change channels because kids wanted to use this one. I was like "what?" I explained that I didn't ring to tell them to change channels, I was reporting that the instructor had just had a 20 minute tourettes outburst, and beside what the people will have heard on the radio, what about the person using your school to learn to ride? Speak to a paying customer like that and they won't be a paying customer for long!

Anyway, we're way off topic here :roll:
The hill walking network sounds a great idea to me. People will say "why don't you use these or those radio's?" The fact is that loads of people own 446 sets, as they are cheap, easy to use and readily available. If a dedicated radio was brought out for the purpose of hill walking rescue, you can pretty much guarantee that it would not be widely used. Just like all the sea users who won't use VHF!
Since people holidaying up here in the Lakes bring their kids, it's a good bet they will have a pair of 446's with them anyway. So as a backup to your phone, I think it's a simple and genius idea.

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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by wind in the antenna »

I'd feel a lot more comforted by having an amateur radio transceiver out on the hilltops. If I were to mix metaphors, PMR446 has limited mileage both in its range and in the likelihood of anyone down on the ground keeping a watch.

It would be nice, however, if a licence could be created for walkers on a single channel within the UKSAR VHF band for walking parties to report an incident.

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radio_ryan
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by radio_ryan »

away to over come the above would be to call it family radio like in the US

also place it on the box, that it gives you no right of ownership of any channels,

But use of a VHF marine channel would be handly say a MRT one, most ham hand held would work ok there.

if you have the hight 446 work over a nice range on 0.5w
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by wind in the antenna »

Thanks for that Radio Ryan, I couldn't have put it better if i was stoned and pissed in a force 9 gale

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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by wind in the antenna »

I meant to say p i s s e d but the right wing christian movement got the better of me

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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by handyguy2002 »

yes it would be a great idea to have a channel incase someone got hurt and yes I would say that you would still get a nice range on the prm as thats been proven many times,,

if you did get a channel everyone agreed on, where then would you have base,
because if you had it at the top you would here everyone that was on these radios But if you had it at the bottom then you would just here the hill walkers
so maybe you cauld still have an emergency channel,
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by radio_ryan »

if we started talking base staion and repeters, there would be a big cost to this, for the up keep. would the power that be listen to it 24/7 too.

but the radio would be of a grate help to MRT and SAR for finding you.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by WATCHKEEPER »

VHF Short Range Courses are available throughout the UK, only takes one days training to become licenced to operate, and more importantly, LEARN THE CORRECT RADIO PROCEEDURE.

A look on the Royal Yachting Association, under training, specialist courses, will give you a choice of companies/ clubs offering the training.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by Guzzy »

WATCHKEEPER wrote:VHF Short Range Courses are available throughout the UK, only takes one days training to become licenced to operate, and more importantly, LEARN THE CORRECT RADIO PROCEEDURE.

A look on the Royal Yachting Association, under training, specialist courses, will give you a choice of companies/ clubs offering the training.
I'm pretty sure they don't offer marine VHF courses for hill walking purposes. Although there's nothing stopping someone from taking the course anyway.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by radiosification »

WATCHKEEPER wrote:VHF Short Range Courses are available throughout the UK, only takes one days training to become licenced to operate, and more importantly, LEARN THE CORRECT RADIO PROCEEDURE.

A look on the Royal Yachting Association, under training, specialist courses, will give you a choice of companies/ clubs offering the training.
What are these vhf short range courses for though? Is this marine radio you're talking about?
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by WATCHKEEPER »

Evening bben95, yes, it is marine radio.

The other alternative is , I think, check with the local mountain rescue group, about registering your intentions, not all groups offer a registration facility, but are happy to assist, as do Countryside Wardens / Rangers

take Care

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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by radiosification »

WATCHKEEPER wrote:Evening bben95, yes, it is marine radio.

The other alternative is , I think, check with the local mountain rescue group, about registering your intentions, not all groups offer a registration facility, but are happy to assist, as do Countryside Wardens / Rangers

take Care

Ian
I thought that it was illegal to use marine radio when not in a boat. Could someone confirm this or correct me please.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by Guzzy »

bben95 wrote:I thought that it was illegal to use marine radio when not in a boat. Could someone confirm this or correct me please.
Not quite, but not far off. Ship to shore use would be difficult if only the ship is allowed to TX! :lol:

Anyway, using marine VHF for hill walking would get you into trouble. However, better to be in trouble than dead.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by radiosification »

Guzzy wrote:
bben95 wrote:I thought that it was illegal to use marine radio when not in a boat. Could someone confirm this or correct me please.
Not quite, but not far off. Ship to shore use would be difficult if only the ship is allowed to TX! :lol:

Anyway, using marine VHF for hill walking would get you into trouble. However, better to be in trouble than dead.
Haha yeah thats what I meant, only to communicate with boats.

I think you'd be better of just using one of the business frequencies, you know that ones with 3 year licenses for something like £60. Is that called PBR or something?

I suppose it would be acceptable to use marine radios for emergencies when hill walking but if you use them just for chatting, I think ofcom might try and prosecute you, as I heard of other cases of people using them on land and this happening.
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Re: Hill walking network Safety Channel 8 PRM

Post by Guzzy »

If you 'just happened' to be carrying a Marine VHF while out hill walking, and something serious happened. No one would prosecute you if it was a serious 'safety of life' emergency.

Call them up and ask for a taxi because you're tired of walking though, and you can expect them to throw the book at you.
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