Search & Rescue Dogs

Hi

I have recently bought two HYT radios, is there anyone out there that can programme the SAR channels into them please?

Ask Dave or Mel to put you in touch with Paul from Bucks Dogs

Thanks Seamus.

Check that you are allowed the SAR channels on them.

Not being approved by the Comms working group may mean that they shouldnt really even be on the radio?

Hi

I'm not sure what you mean here, they are for SAR use and to compliment the team radios, why would they not be allowed?

The way that I understood it was that it wasn't an offence to have the channels programmed onto your radio, but it is an offence to transmit on a LANDSAR frequency unless licensed to do so, and for standalone LSDogs units this is the problem unless an ALSAR radio control is being used and they have allowed you to transmit on the frequency.

That being said, if you have a PBR licence from Ofcom, you can normally transmit on the channels designated to the PBR frequencies within the ALSAR Channel Band Plan, which should be the same on all ALSAR radios.

As yet, to the best of my knowledge (bearing in mind I've handed this project back to LSDogs) LSDogs are not recognised by UKSAROG hence the reason why we cant use LANDSAR autonomously.

Thank you for explaining Daryl. I will have an Ofcom licence as soon I can get them programmed.

Does this mean as a dog unit, technically we shouldn't be using them, unless we are out with an ALSAR unit

As a dog unit, you shouldn't be using the LANDSAR frequencies when out training or on a call out. However, you can use the frequencies that are licensed by Ofcom that are in the LANDSAR management plan assuming your licence allows you access to that range.... You (should) need a licence before the radios are programmed.

OK thanks

Its a fairly simple process (and fairly inexpensive) to apply for a UK Simple license, which covers 15 Frequencies within what is reffered to as the UK General Band. It so happens that 3 of these frequencies are the ones that ALSAR units tend to use as well, however, if you hold what is now reffered to as a UK Simple license, you have access to 15 different frequencies, which technically means if an individual/business has a UK Simple license, they are perfectly entitled to utilise the 3 frequencies that ALSAR units tend to utilise as they are within the UK General Band plan. Under a UK Simple license you are not allocated frequencies that only you can use, but rather a range of general frequencies and it just so happens that ALSAR units tend to use 3 of these.

One other thing which is important to remember, is that PMR radio's which one can buy in shops (Argos, etc etc), use a set of 8 "free" frequencies. These radio's do not require a license and operate at a much lower power usage, normal 0.5 watts. The radio's ALSAR type units use, mostly transmit around 5 watts (hand helds that is), so about 10x the power (but it does not mean they get 10x the distance, there are a number of factor when it comes to distance). Additionally, these radio's operate on licensed frequencies, which requires approval from Ofcom, either directly (Business type license) or indirectly (UK SAR Operators Group, etc etc). So Daryl is right in saying you cannot transmit on any frequency unless you are "licensed" to do so, the frequencies SAR groups use cannot "just be used", and unfortunatelly until LSDogs is approved either by UK SAR Operators Group, or officially by ALSAR (in terms of usage of radio frequencies that is) LSDogs specific units cannot use LANDSAR Frequencies. (What is interesting to note though, from what I know, is that SARDA are approved by ALSAR/UK SAR Operators Group, so they can!!) For clarity, as Daryl said, when on a training excercise/callout with an ALSAR unit, you can use these frequencies as you are doing so under their "license", but technically it has to be their excercise.


from Ofcom :-
What is UK General?
The PBR UK General Licence allows customers to use hand-portable or mobile radio equipment anywhere within the UK without the need to inform RA. The licence for this service has been designed to allow customers access to one or more of fifteen frequencies spread across four PMR bands. As this is a "go-anywhere" type of service, the use of base stations is not permitted unless prior authorisation has been obtained from RA. There is no limitation on the number of sites where a licensee can use radios covered by the UK General licence, or on the duration of use at any location. The maximum permitted effective radiated power of equipment used under this licence is 5 watts.