As amateur radio operators, when we hear “emcomm” we normally think of ham capabilities. But emergency communications operate on many platforms, one of which is the General Mobile Radio Service, or GMRS. I recommend that every ARES/EmComm member gets a GMRS license so we have the most in-depth capabilities possible. That was made easier a couple of weeks ago when our resident tower diva, Keri N2KNK, lit up a new GMRS repeater on Black Ridge. It’s called the Black Ridge 650 repeater and operates at 462.650 MHz with a 131.8 tone. If you look at the coverage circle (https://mygmrs.com/repeater/9683) you can see that it covers some areas likely to be in use by GMRS users in case of emergencies (especially hunters, hikers and 4-wheelers), so it’s a good idea to monitor this repeater if you have a GMRS radio. A big thanks to Keri for adding more emcomm capabilities to the valley.
