U.S. Ham Radio Emergency Freqs

[vault72]

Most frequencies above 30 MHz are assigned on a local basis. To know where to listen for your local police or fire department, you'll need a frequency guide or directory for your locality. However, some frequencies, particularly those used for emergency or inter-agency communications, have been allocated nationally. The following is a list of some of the more widely used and active national frequencies.
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34.90: This channel is used nationwide by the National Guard during emergencies.

39.46: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state police forces.

47.42: This is a channel used across the United States by the Red Cross for relief operations.

52.525: This is a calling frequency used by ham radio operators in FM on their six-meter band. During periods of exceptional propagation, this frequency is filled with signals from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. If you're hearing distant signals here, then the 30 to 50 MHz range is also open for long distance reception.

121.50: This is the international aeronautical emergency frequency.

138.225: This is the prime disaster relief operations channel used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; it is active during earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophic events.

146.52: This frequency is used by ham radio operators for non-repeater communications on the two-meter band; it is very busy in many parts of the country.

151.625: This channel is used by "itinerant" businesses, or those that travel about the country. Circuses, exhibitions, trade shows, and sports teams are some of the users you can hear. Other widely used itinerant channels are 154.57 and 154.60.

154.28: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local fire departments; 154.265 and 154.295 also used.

155.160: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state agencies during search and rescue operations.

155.475: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state police forces.

156.75: This channel is used internationally for broadcasts of maritime weather alerts.

156.80: This is the international maritime distress, calling, and safety channel. All ships must monitor this frequency while at sea. It is also heavily used on rivers, lakes, etc.

162.40: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.425: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.45: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.475: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.50: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.525: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.55: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

163.275: This channel is used for NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

163.4875: This channel is used nationwide by the National Guard during emergencies.

163.5125: This is the national disaster preparedness frequency used jointly by the armed forces.

164.50: This is the national communications channel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

168.55: This is the national channel used by civilian agencies of the federal government for communications during emergencies and disasters.

243.00: This channel is used during military aviation emergencies.

259.70: This channel is used by the Space Shuttle during re-entry and landing.

296.80: This channel is used by the Space Shuttle during re-entry and landing.

311.00: This is an active in-flight channel used by the U.S. Air Force.

317.70: This is an active channel used by U.S. Coast Guard aviation.

317.80: This is an active channel used by U.S. Coast Guard aviation.

319.40: This is an active in-flight channel used by the U.S. Air Force.

340.20: This is an active channel used by U.S. Navy aviators.

409.20: This is the national communications channel for the Interstate Commerce Commission.

409.625: This is the national communications channel for the Department of State.

462.675: This channel is used for emergency communications and traveler assistance in the General Mobile Radio Service.

[King of the Wastes]

That is a lot of different frequencies. Do you operate a ham radio? Plan to have one in the bunker?

[vault72]

I have 2 complete sets for the bunker, one for long range commo and the other short to monitor emergencie freqs. That and I believe in having redundancies for critical systems.

[King of the Wastes]

Cool, I want to get one then get one of those giant antenna array's you sometimes see. Could you operate a radio station from one of those?

[vault72]

Yes, you could become the next "Three Dog" You also might want to check into a slinky antenna attached to your normal 12 ft antenna, gives you a greater antenna surface area so longer range and better quality, or you could just find a cache and have a lone wanderer set a large dish on a tower for you

[King of the Wastes]

Actually I wanted to get something.....a bit bigger. One of those 100 footers maybe, I want to be able reach across the world. Remember, I am making plans in case society collapses or what have you.

[imperator03]

How very useful. You know, I've never followed up on Ham Radio. Any ideas on primers for newbies?

[vault72]

That would all depend on your area of interest, my wife wants me to hook one up now so she can monitor the local fire department cause there has been alot of activity lately in our neighborhood and she worries to much. Funny actually cause she doesn't believe in TSHTF but she senses some changes coming and like rats she's starting to scurry about, much like cats do when a tornado is close You can have one set on local, state or the federal agencies emergency freq(fire,police,transpo,weather), or the operator band, it would depend on your area, of course you can set the newer radios to monitor multiple channels. If you live in an area where you are prone to tornados, earthquakes, or brush fires you may want to monitor your state emerg freq

[imperator03]

Mar 4, 2011 3:18:14 GMT -5 vault72 said:

That would all depend on your area of interest, my wife wants me to hook one up now so she can monitor the local fire department cause there has been alot of activity lately in our neighborhood and she worries to much. Funny actually cause she doesn't believe in TSHTF but she senses some changes coming and like rats she's starting to scurry about, much like cats do when a tornado is close You can have one set on local, state or the federal agencies emergency freq(fire,police,transpo,weather), or the operator band, it would depend on your area, of course you can set the newer radios to monitor multiple channels. If you live in an area where you are prone to tornados, earthquakes, or brush fires you may want to monitor your state emerg freq

I recently got a smart phone and can dial into the local emergency services radios. It's apparently set up by people who have an interest in this sort of thing. No sense in reinventing the wheel, when you can just listen in with others. There's even a chat function so you can stay in touch if something bad happens and share information.

[vault72]

That's pretty cool, I didn't know it could do that, is there an app or something for it? I'll get it for my daughters, but the only drawback I see is it's reliance on satellites for communication which the government tends to override private use for use for emergency government services and military communications.

[imperator03]

Mar 12, 2011 0:15:18 GMT -5 vault72 said:

That's pretty cool, I didn't know it could do that, is there an app or something for it? I'll get it for my daughters, but the only drawback I see is it's reliance on satellites for communication which the government tends to override private use for use for emergency government services and military communications.

It's an app in the android store called Scanner Radio. It's run by people who monitor local police scanners and the app allows them to share info with people over the cellular network. Now use of cell towers is a failure point, but just about any method of communication can fall prey to some sort of disaster. Look at Japan, there are still people who can't get through via cell or Internet and those are two of the most robust systems in existence.

[gojake]

Wow, this is awesome. I just purchased a radio and this list will be helpful.

[vault72]

Don't forget to put the 10 code and morse code either taped on your radio or as part of your operating book for your radio and...your welcome

[King of the Wastes]

Ok, I have a cb. Should I put it in my car? Always thought having one would be fun.

[vault72]

Just set it up for your car but keep a home station ready, which means just have a 12v DC power converter to run it at home along with a 2 meter antenna. This way you can monitor from home base and just unplug from your home and re-plug in your vehicle if you have to go, or, just get another one Remember, that a 10 meter trans/receiver unit (essentially your own radio station) requires a handle from the FCC in order to transmit, its a crime otherwise, unless TSHTF that is.