It was my pleasure recently to present Don Lewis (KE0EE) and Pat Engstrom (W1PGE) with a plaque and Lifetime Membership to the Longmont Amateur Radio Club.

Don was the clubs treasure for a lot of years and has been an outstanding member of this club. Don mentors and is always steps in to help where he can.

Pat was the clubs secretary for a long time. His dedication to helping keep the board on track with meetings and getting things accomplished has helped keep this club functional.

Please, when you get a chance congratulate these two fellow hams on their accomplishments and their work for the Longmont Amateur Radio Club!

This net occurs every 22nd of the month at 1800 local. This net is for veterans but any one can join and listen to topics that involves Veterans.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences between Cell Phones, Amateur Radio, FRS, GMRS, and CB, including their general operating ranges.

1. Cell Phones

• Frequency Range: Varies by carrier (800 MHz to 2.5 GHz)
• Licensing: No license required (service provider subscription needed)
• Usage: Voice, text, and data communication via cellular networks
• Range: 1-30 miles, depending on tower coverage
• Pros:
  • Reliable in areas with good network coverage
  • Supports high-quality voice, text, and internet services
• Cons:
  • Requires a cellular network to function
  • May not work in remote areas or during network outages

2. Amateur Radio (Ham Radio)

• Frequency Range: VHF (144-148 MHz), UHF (420-450 MHz), and HF (1.8-30 MHz)
• Licensing: FCC license required (Technician, General, Extra)
• Usage: Emergency communication, hobbyist use, long-range contacts
• Range: 1-100+ miles (or worldwide via HF bands and repeater systems)
• Pros:
  • Can communicate worldwide on HF bands
  • Works in remote areas without reliance on infrastructure
• Cons:
  • Requires licensing and training
  • Equipment can be costly and complex

3. Family Radio Service (FRS)

• Frequency Range: 462-467 MHz (UHF)
• Licensing: No license required
• Usage: Short-range communication for families, businesses, and outdoor activities
• Range: 0.5-2 miles (up to 5 miles in ideal conditions)
• Pros:
  • Inexpensive and easy to use
  • No licensing required
• Cons:
  • Limited power (maximum 2 watts)
  • Interference in busy areas

4. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

• Frequency Range: 462-467 MHz (UHF)
• Licensing: FCC license required (no exam, just a fee)
• Usage: Personal and family communication, emergency use
• Range: 1-5 miles handheld, 5-25 miles with mobile/base stations and repeaters
• Pros:
  • Higher power (up to 50 watts) than FRS
  • Can use repeaters for extended range
• Cons:
  • License required
  • Can experience congestion in urban areas

5. Citizens Band Radio (CB Radio)

• Frequency Range: 27 MHz (HF)
• Licensing: No license required
• Usage: Truckers, off-roaders, emergency communication
• Range: 1-5 miles (handheld), 5-20 miles (mobile/base station)
• Pros:
  • No license needed
  • Works well in rural and off-road conditions
• Cons:
  • Lower power (4 watts AM, 12 watts SSB)
  • Interference and noise on busy channels

Comparison Summary

Final Thoughts

• Use cell phones for everyday communication, but they are limited by network availability.
• Use Ham Radio for emergency, long-range, or hobbyist communication—requires a license.
• Use FRS for simple, short-distance, unlicensed communication.
• Use GMRS for better range and repeater capability, but requires a license.
• Use CB radio for truckers, off-roaders, and situations where UHF/VHF signals might be blocked.

Thank you all who participated it was fun. This event was to build Antenna kits for sale at the LARCfest April 5th.

There are various scanner feeds for Los Angeles County available on Broadcastify at: https://www.broadcastify.com/lafire/

The first link (Consolidated Feed Dashboard) allows you to simultaneously listen to 6 feeds. You can pan them from left to right to make it a bit easier to differentiate them.

Note that these are actual firefighters, not ham communications.

• Only $25.00 per year
• Support of local repeaters
• Club only events
• Ability to create articles of interest on the website
• Access to other club members (via online)
• Access to club’s “Go-Boxes” (after taking online training)
  • HF / VHF / UHF Go-Box
  • DMR Go-Box (in process of creation)
  • Satellite Go-Box (in process of creation)
• First knowledge of events that need club support
• Ability to join the executive board to support our club
• Click her to sign up online