bgum wrote:
For HAM Elmers: Is it still true that no license is required in case of a emergency transmission?
Actually it's never been true. People misunderstand what the law actually says about emergency use on amateur radio. Here's the section people don't read and understand.
ยง 97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.
No provision of these rules prevents the
use by an amateur station of any use of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.
People read thru that and overlook the highlighted part. It's talking about an amateur radio station (person) using any radio. But people respond "It says station." It means person. Amateur radio stations are not licensed by the FCC. Amateur radio operators are. You the licensed amateur radio operator are the station.
Why is that specific to amateur radio operators? Because amateur radio operators have studied and taken a test showing they have some competence in what the govt use to call "the art of radio".
Here's an example of what it means. Let's say you're a Technician Class operator. That's the very basic level of licensure in the US. Technicans are limited to the frequencies they can use in the amateur radio spectrum. An Amateur Extra Class can operate on all amateur radio frequencies.
You're a Technician (amateur radio station) and see a true emergency. Under Part 97 you (the amateur station) can use any other Amateur Radio frequency even tho you are not licensed for those frequencies.
When people say they will get a ham radio, not a license, for an emergency I always ask them "And if you are in an emergency what frequency are you going to transmit on expecting someone to answer?"
I have always gotten the same answer. "I don't know."
So you just expect to pick up a radio, transmit on some random frequency, and expect someone to be listening? Good luck with that. If you happen to get anyone to answer then buy a lottery ticket but you have a better chance of winning the lottery. Even if you by dumb luck would tune in to the VHF or UHF national calling frequency the chances of getting anyone to hear you is pretty minimal to impossible.
The handhelds, even ham radio, have a very short range. Having a ham license doesn't automatically make that ham radio VHF-UHF frequency travel any farther.
Sure, you could hit a repeater with your ham VHF-UHF. Maybe, if a repeater is in range. And if you'd happen to just get the correct frequency and off set programmed. But when I've asked those not familiar radio about such programming their eyes glass over. They don't have a clue about programming a frequency or even what an off set is. +? or -? How much?
Think you'll get a ham operator to answer you in an emergency? Consider this. In the US only .2% of the population is a licensed ham. About 700,000 hams. That's not 700,000 people sitting by their radio with it tuned to a random frequency someone may be transmitting on. Of the 700,000 licensed way fewer ever operate. They may play with it after they're first licensed then when the fun wears off the radio goes in a drawer. Even an active ham operator will not be sitting by his radio 24/7/365 listening to every frequency in the amateur bands.
The other part is what is an emergency. Most people never experience a true emergency in their life. They have situations that are uncomfortable for them to handle. They have situations they aren't equipped to deal with. But most of those are not not emergencies. A flat tire on your car is not an emergency. It's aggravating. It's a pain to deal with. But it's not an emergency. Same if you run out of gas. Making a wrong turn and getting lost is not an emergency. And for Pete's sake, if you only get a 1/2 bag of french fries at McDonald's - that is not an emergency. Having spent 42 years in LE people think a minor irritation or inconvenience is an emergency.
Camped in every state
