Coordination Test Results

On Tuesday the 14th a few of our net members participated in the County frequency coordination test. The goal was to see if the amateur, FRS and GMRS frequencies selected by each group of communicators in the valley would overlap enough to result in communications disruptions.

We started on the primary net frequencies at 6:00 p.m. with a roll call check-in. From the EOC radio, I did not notice any interference on the amateur frequencies we have been using for our monthly radio nets. When all who could participate were checked in, we moved to the FRS/GMRS frequencies I had requested through the coordination process - channels 6, 10 and 12.

In an emergency, when the goal is to make contact with each household in the ward to determine status of persons and property damage, realizing we are limited in the number of amateur licensed operators, the help of persons using FRS and GMRS radios may increase the speed of gathering that information. This is why we have requested frequencies in these bands, to allow for use of low power FRS radios among the wards, who will then report their findings to the Stake via amateur radio frequencies - if normal modes of communication are not possible.

As background, In the FRS/GMRS band plan, channels 1 - 7 have a maximum output power of 2 watts on a FRS radio and 5 watts on a GMRS radio; channels 8 - 14 are limited to 0.5 watts transmit power regardless of the radio type used. Follow this link to view the current frequency chart for FRS and GMRS.

Additionally, there are repeater channels authorized for GMRS licensees, with transmit power of up to 50 watts. Locally there are 7 GMRS repeaters available for use in an emergency. Those repeaters will be shared by all of the groups who use GMRS in their emergency communications plan, making them very busy.

While most emergency communications groups in the area will use amateur radio frequencies when normal modes of communication fail, many of these groups have also requested frequencies in the FRS and GMRS band. With only 14 non-repeater frequencies available in these bands, avoiding overlap was impossible, but hopefully the distances between users would minimize the interference.

From our participation in the exercise Tuesday, we learned that the 3 frequencies chosen in the FRS and GMRS band had significant interference. I expected this on channel 6 which has a 5 watt limit for GMRS users on that channel, but I was surprised by the interference on channels 10 and 12. This was largely due to operators transmitting way outside the power limit of 0.5 watts. 

If this were duplicated during an actual emergency, there would be too much interference to use these frequencies without applying tone squelch, however, tone squelch in an emergency is not recommended. While tone squelch can filter out unwanted interference, it will also prevent you from hearing anyone who is not using the exact same tone code, and in an emergency, you need to hear all potential rescuers or fellow survivors.

I am hopeful there will be constructive discussion regarding transmit power on FRS and GMRS frequencies during the next frequency coordination meeting in November. If necessary I will look into changing the FRS and GMRS frequencies that would be used in our communities by users with FRS radios or GMRS licenses.

October 14 Coordination Test

Cache County ARES has been actively working on frequency coordination in the valley for over a year now, hoping to keep interference from happening between the numerous city, town and faith based radio groups who will be on the air during an emergency. After all this work, there will be an opportunity this Tuesday, October 14, 2025, to get on the air on the frequencies we have selected to see if there is any interference from other groups in the valley.

This linked file includes the list of frequencies we hope to test. As you will see on the attached list, we hope to test Family Radio Service frequencies as well as amateur frequencies. 

At 6:00 p.m. this coming Tuesday, October 14, 2025 we will begin with a roll call of amateur licensed operators on the primary net frequency.

For amatuer licensed operators: I will have the cross-band repeater operational, which will especially help those stations on handheld radios. If you are not able to key up the cross band system using the split frequency, try again using the straight simplex frequency 147.420 transmit and receive.

After taking check-ins on the net frequency, for those who are able to transmit within the power limits of the FRS band (0.5 W), the frequency progression will follow the list in the attachment, and detailed below:

FRS channel 6: 462.6875

FRS Channel 10: 467.6125

FRS Channel 12: 467.6625

At approximately 6:30 we will return to the NWCV net frequency to close out the net.

If you know of persons in the area who use FRS radios, please invite them to join us for the test.

For operators in Clarkston or the other towns in the stake, it is unlikely those of us in Newton will hear you on the low power FRS frequencies, but that is okay because those frequencies are intended for the wards and local government to use over short distances as they coordinate efforts such as household evaluations. When the information is gathered at the ward/community level, reporting to the County EOC or to the Benson Stake will be completed over amateur radio frequencies with higher transmit power limits that carry longer distances.

Those with radios that will operate within the power limit, please program the 3 FRS frequencies on the list into your radios. If I can help with that please let me know. After the initial roll call of licensed amateur operators on our usual net frequency, handheld users will be asked to switch to those frequencies as we see if we can hear each other on the FRS frequencies, or have interference from other groups in the valley.

If we have participants from Clarkston or any other towns in the Stake who want to follow the progression to the FRS band, we will assign one of the operators from those communities to attempt to contact others in their community on the FRS frequencies, again, to see if there are conflicts from other groups on those frequencies, returning to the amateur net frequency at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Please reach out if you have questions.