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Neighbourhood Emergency Communications
Hi, I’m Patrick, a local amateur radio operator in Roberts Creek. I'd like to introduce our neighbourhood to two modes of communications that do not require an amateur radio certificate, but could be very helpful in an emergency.
FRS
The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a walkie-talkie radio system offering 22 channels. In the ideal scenario (from mountain top to mountain top with a clear line of sight), the range could be as much as 60 km, but in most scenarios, it's around 1 km.
The area in blue is the range I get when I use the radio inside our house talking to someone in a car. If we were both outside, the range would increase a bit.
Do not believe manufacturer claims regarding the superior range of their particular radio. In Canada, all FRS radios are legally limited to a maximum of 0.5 W or 2 W of power depending on the channel used. What you pay for is build quality and battery capacity, not extra range.
The radio I personally use is a Retevis RB48 which goes for about $115 for a pair.
Do you live in the outlined area?
To practice this mode of communications, I will be conducting an FRS net on Channel 3 every Thursday between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm. I encourage anyone who can hear me to check in. And if you can't hear me but you can hear others checking in, ask them to relay your checkin. Then at 7:30 pm, I will checkin to our weekly ham radio net, and share how many FRS checkins I received.
MeshCore
MeshCore is a free messaging software that runs on small radio devices that connect to your smartphone or computer via Bluethooth. It lets you send private or group text messages and share your location without relying on cell towers, Wi-Fi, or the internet. No amateur radio licence or monthly subscription is required.
Messages can travel directly between nearby devices or pass through strategically placed repeaters to reach people farther away. At the moment, the coverage extends from Port McNeill down to Victoria and as far west as Maple Ridge and Langley.
There are currently four MeshCore repeaters in the Roberts Creek area, including mine, which covers the area in red on the map. Additional repeaters are also in the process of being added all over the Coast to increase the coverage.
How to Get Started
- Scan the QR code to see an extended version of this page
- Share this page with your neighbours
- Share this page with your neighbours
- For more information about FRS and the radios I personally recommend, see: https://scarcs.ca/ecomm/non-ham
- For more information about MeshCore and how to get started, see: https://scarcs.ca/meshcore/home
You can:
- Get a Companion device and start messaging.
- Talk with your neighbours about getting connected.
- Help identify suitable locations for additional repeaters.
- Join local MeshCore activities and practise communicating with others.