B. Dean Berry
EF4
- Joined
- May 25, 2014
- Messages
- 405
I am launching a new effort to get all of us on the same page in the field. I'm terming this "The 7's Initiative".
Storm chasers and spotters have long used two-way radio communications to keep in touch, most commonly amateur radio on a simplex channel of 146.550MHz. While this is well-known and universal, it implies that users have passed an FCC license exam.
This initiative uses incredibly cheap, widely-available equipment that is available at every sporting goods store, big-box retailer, and WalMart, anywhere in the country, and requires no license to use. This initiative is based around commonly-available FRS/GMRS radios.
This plan encourages all storm chasers and spotters to use FRS/GMRS channel 7, with a code of 7. All FRS/GMRS radios have the same channel 7, and the vast majority of all Cobra, Midland, Uniden, and Motorola radios of this nature feature the same code 7. These codes will be referred to as CTCSS, Privacy Codes, Quiet Codes, or Interference Eliminator Codes, but they all mean the same thing - CTCSS.
This is a medium that can be used for talkaround, safety, or information sharing. It would require no license test or fees, and is supremely easy to use.
For GMRS licensees, who also have access to these channels with commercial radios, the channel programming information is as follows:
Frequency - 462.7125MHz simplex
PL Tone - 85.4Hz
Bandwidth - 12.5KHz narrowband
Hope to hear people out there in the future!

Storm chasers and spotters have long used two-way radio communications to keep in touch, most commonly amateur radio on a simplex channel of 146.550MHz. While this is well-known and universal, it implies that users have passed an FCC license exam.
This initiative uses incredibly cheap, widely-available equipment that is available at every sporting goods store, big-box retailer, and WalMart, anywhere in the country, and requires no license to use. This initiative is based around commonly-available FRS/GMRS radios.

This plan encourages all storm chasers and spotters to use FRS/GMRS channel 7, with a code of 7. All FRS/GMRS radios have the same channel 7, and the vast majority of all Cobra, Midland, Uniden, and Motorola radios of this nature feature the same code 7. These codes will be referred to as CTCSS, Privacy Codes, Quiet Codes, or Interference Eliminator Codes, but they all mean the same thing - CTCSS.
This is a medium that can be used for talkaround, safety, or information sharing. It would require no license test or fees, and is supremely easy to use.
For GMRS licensees, who also have access to these channels with commercial radios, the channel programming information is as follows:
Frequency - 462.7125MHz simplex
PL Tone - 85.4Hz
Bandwidth - 12.5KHz narrowband
Hope to hear people out there in the future!