Programing Forestry Roads in Radio in HAM?

[cmck]

Being rather new to the communication scene I had a question regarding HAM radios. I am wanting to get into ham radios and take my exam and was wondering,

For traveling on Forestry Roads here in BC Every road has its own frequency, so Can i program to transmit on those if i am using these roads , or at least to receive?

I know some ski guides carry VHF ? handheld radios that have local heli ski and maybe forestry freq programed for emergencies.

So i guess I am wondering what is the best communication if these are the areas I most often am traveling and would like to hear when trucks are coming my way and also tell others of my whereabouts as well.

 

[gary in ohio]

Being rather new to the communication scene I had a question regarding HAM radios. I am wanting to get into ham radios and take my exam and was wondering,

For traveling on Forestry Roads here in BC Every road has its own frequency, so Can i program to transmit on those if i am using these roads , or at least to receive?

I know some ski guides carry VHF ? handheld radios that have local heli ski and maybe forestry freq programed for emergencies.

So i guess I am wondering what is the best communication if these are the areas I most often am traveling and would like to hear when trucks are coming my way and also tell others of my whereabouts as well.

The simple answer is your buying a ham radio and the radio's are only certified for transmitting on ham frequencies. While you may be able to receive other frequencies transmitting would not be legal. The simple thing is if your permitted to use these frequencies then get a radio certified for use on those frequencies, If you just want to listen in then a scanner will work. (check local laws for use of a scanner in a mobile). My guess is you dont have the legal right to transmit. Your ablity to receive with a ham radio will depend on the ham radio you pick. Are the radio's really VHF or UHF are they in the clear or encrypted? Are they simplex, duplex or trunked

 

[angusdevil]

I would recommend contacting your forestry service and see if you can get more details on what freq's are used and what systems are used. This info will be needed before you can decide on what scanner or radio you need to get. As always, check local laws regarding any issues with operating mobile and be sure to get your license!

 

[mountainpete]

British Columbia is unique, so experiences in the USA don't necessarily apply.

Active forestry roads in BC have a frequency posted at the beginning of each road and at major intersections. Active logging trucks are required by the companies they work for to declare at intervals their km marker and whether they are loaded or empty. As a non-commercial passenger vehicle, you are not required to call out your location on these roads.

However, there is something to be said about the benefit of both calling out and listening to the locations of others. Many locals, especially in the Kootenays, install a VHF radio and call out locations and use the radios for communications and safety. Also with so many vehicles monitoring those frequencies that there is often chatter and a close ear.

The frequencies used are VHF, but above the legal amateur radio frequencies. They are not digital or encrypted - all open. Almost all amateur radios can LISTEN on those frequencies but none can transmit directly out of the box. According to Canadian law as I understand it, it is not illegal to modify an amateur radio to transmit on these features, however you can potentially be prosecuted for using it on a non-amateur frequency.

As for legalities, there are various shades of grey here. The frequencies used are commercial VHF and you need a license to transmit on those. The licenses are granted to the commercial entities in the areas (logging companies) and they extend it to their employees. However, there are thousands of radios out there and you can go into any radio shop and get a radio without any trouble. Enforcement is zero as active use of these channels potentially contribute to overall public safety. In fact, use of these radios by locals are often encouraged (this is from personal experience).

Personally, I find it very valuable to listen to logging frequencies while on a radio controlled road. If I hear a truck is coming, I stop and let him take the entire road. I feel safer and I hear a lot of "thanks" coming through.

Now whether or not you want to modify an amateur radio and transmit on it, that's a personal choice you have to make. However since this activity is illegal in most countries, you will need to take that discussion off ExPo and focused on a Google search.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[crawler#976]

Thanks for the clarification! This would also apply to US visitors as well.

 

[mountainpete]

Thanks for the clarification! This would also apply to US visitors as well.

Totally - anyone from the USA that comes up should use their VHF amateur radio to listen to posted logging frequencies. It's a great safety feature.

Pete

 

[mountainpete]

Here is the legal side:

Use of 2-way radio:

5 (1) A driver on a forest service road who uses a 2-way radio to communicate with other drivers on the road must announce, in accordance with any road markers posted at intervals along the road,
(a) his or her position, and
(b) the branch of the road being travelled, if the radio's signal can be received on more than one adjacent branch of the road.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to a driver only if
(a) the driver uses a radio frequency provided by the holder of a private commercial radio station licence, or other licence under the Radiocommunication Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act, to communicate with the other drivers, and
(b) the forest service road is posted with a sign that indicates the radio frequency that is to be used.

Statutes and Regulations - Forestry Roads

 

[Trail Monkey]

great info pete.. i didnt know that about your neck of the woods...:bike_rider:

 

[gary in ohio]

British Columbia is unique, so experiences in the USA don't necessarily apply.

The CRTC (canadian FCC) has very similar rules for using ham radio out of band. Like in the US modifying a radio to receive out of band or even modification to transmit out of band are not illegal.. Actually transmitting out of band is illegal. From what I have seen most of the logging road freq are int he 160-170mhz range. I think you will find many ham radio even modified will not transmit that high. You can get them into the high 150mhz range but not much further.

 

[mountainpete]

The CRTC (canadian FCC) has very similar rules for using ham radio out of band. Like in the US modifying a radio to receive out of band or even modification to transmit out of band are not illegal.. Actually transmitting out of band is illegal. From what I have seen most of the logging road freq are int he 160-170mhz range. I think you will find many ham radio even modified will not transmit that high. You can get them into the high 150mhz range but not much further.

Gary,

Note that I agreed with you half way through my overly wordy post. Not illegal to mod, illegal to use it though.

Pete

 

[cmck]

Great Information, thanks Pete. I guess I need to do some reasearch as to using the Ham for these frequencies to at least listen on. That way I do not need to have a scanner for just Listening to the FSR and a Ham that is for my general communiction..
(once I have a licence of course)

Thanks

 

[craig333]

Interesting. Many, but unfortunately not most, loggers in this neck of woods use CB radio for the same purpose. It is very handy. Been able to pull off to a wide spot in the road when I knew a truck was approaching. And you better get over, a logging truck can't stop, swerve or do much at all if you're in the way.

Don't forget, in a true emergency you can transmit on anything.