Radio Communication When Phones Fail

1. Listen first: NOAA Weather Radio & AM/FM

A battery or hand-crank radio with the weather band is the single most useful radio for most families. It only receives (no license needed) and gets official alerts even when the power and internet are out.

• Range is about 40 miles from the transmitter, less in mountains (NWS). For alerts only for your county, buy a radio with SAME coding: Maricopa County is 004013.
• Emergency radio (EAS stations named by Maricopa County): KTAR 620 AM, KTAR News 92.3 FM, and KMVP 98.7 FM, plus NOAA Weather Radio from NWS Phoenix (Maricopa County: Alerting & Notification). KFYI 550 AM is another local news station. AM signals travel farther at night. Official instructions come from Maricopa County Emergency Management and AZ DEMA.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts on phones work only if a tower is up. Radio is the backup (Ready.gov: Alerts).

2. Which two-way radio?

*Typical in real conditions. Box claims like "36-mile range" assume mountaintop to mountaintop with nothing in between. Buildings, hills, and vehicles cut range sharply. Sources: FCC rules, 47 CFR Part 95 (FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB); FCC fee schedule.

3. CB ("trucker") radio

• 40 channels, no license needed. Channel 9 is reserved for emergencies and traveler assistance only. Everyone must give emergency traffic priority on every channel (47 CFR 95.931). Channel 19 is the informal highway channel for traffic, wrecks, and road conditions.
• AM vs. SSB: most CBs are AM (4 W). SSB radios (12 W PEP) reach farther and cut through noise, but only talk to other SSB radios (95.967). Linear amplifiers are illegal on CB.
• The antenna matters most. Mount it high, centered on the metal roof if you can. Tune it with an SWR meter (aim for about 1.5:1 or lower on ch 1 and 40) so you don't damage the radio. Handheld CBs with stubby antennas have very short range.
• Etiquette: listen before you talk, keep it short, no profanity, and give way to emergencies. Common lingo: "breaker 1-9" (asking to talk), "10-4" (OK), "what's your 20?" (location), "bear" (police), "rocking chair" (middle lane in a convoy).

4. Walkie-talkies: FRS, GMRS & MURS

• FRS (22 channels) is license-free. Most blister-pack walkie-talkies are FRS. Channels 1–7 and 15–22 allow 2 W, and 8–14 only 0.5 W (FCC).
• GMRS shares many of those channels at higher power with better antennas and can use repeaters (a hilltop station that rebroadcasts you for much more range). A license costs $35, lasts 10 years, needs no exam, and covers your immediate family (FCC GMRS, 95.1705). Apply through the FCC's online system (ULS). Local GMRS repeaters are listed on community sites like myGMRS.com. Ask the owner before using one.
• MURS: 5 VHF channels (151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 154.570, 154.600 MHz), license-free, 2 W. Good in open country (FCC MURS).
• "Privacy codes" are NOT private. CTCSS/DCS tones only filter out other people's chatter on your radio. Anyone can still hear you. Never say where valuables or supplies are stored.
• Pick a default for your family and neighbors, like "FRS channel 3, no code," plus a backup channel.
• Batteries in Phoenix heat: don't leave radios or lithium batteries in a hot car. Carry spare AA/AAA radios or a charged power bank, and store batteries cool.

5. Ham (amateur) radio

Ham radio is licensed, non-commercial radio with far more power and range, from repeaters across the Valley to worldwide on HF. Volunteer hams run emergency networks when other systems fail.

• Get licensed: Technician class. It's a 35-question multiple-choice exam from a public question pool. Study with the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual or free practice tests, then find an exam session (in person or online). You'll need an FCC Registration Number (FRN), and the FCC application fee is $35. Many local clubs offer one-day classes.
• Starter radio: a handheld dual-band (2 m / 70 cm) radio. Add a better antenna. A mobile radio in your car goes much farther.
• National simplex calling frequencies: 146.520 MHz (2 m) and 446.000 MHz (70 cm) for radio-to-radio contact with no repeater (ARRL band plan).
• Using a repeater: program the output frequency, the offset (usually −600 kHz or +600 kHz on 2 m, ±5 MHz on 70 cm), and the PL/CTCSS tone from a repeater directory. Listen first, then say your call sign: "KxXXX listening."
• Emergency groups: ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and RACES (government-affiliated) support emergency management. In Maricopa County, see the Maricopa County Emergency Communications Group. The Arizona Emergency Net, Maricopa holds a monthly net on the ARA linked repeaters. Check their site for current frequencies and times.
• Winlink lets hams send email over radio when the internet is down (winlink.org).

6. How to call for help on the radio

Phonetic alphabet (spell names and street names clearly)

A Alfa · B Bravo · C Charlie · D Delta · E Echo · F Foxtrot · G Golf · H Hotel · I India · J Juliett · K Kilo · L Lima · M Mike · N November · O Oscar · P Papa · Q Quebec · R Romeo · S Sierra · T Tango · U Uniform · V Victor · W Whiskey · X X-ray · Y Yankee · Z Zulu

7. Family comms plan

• Agree on channels now: a main channel and a backup for each radio type you own. Write them on the radios with tape.
• Check-in schedule to save batteries: radios off most of the time, then on at the top of every hour for 5 minutes (or every 3 hours in a long outage).
• An out-of-area contact: texts often get through when calls fail. Everyone texts the same person (Ready.gov: Make a Plan).
• Meeting points if no one can reach anyone: near home, in the neighborhood, and out of town.
• Practice once a month, for example during the NOAA weekly test (Phoenix: Wednesdays, late morning).

Use the personal field guide to print a fill-in channel plan.

Sources: FCC (47 CFR Parts 95 & 97, fee schedule), ARRL, NWS Phoenix NOAA Weather Radio page, Ready.gov, Maricopa County Emergency Communications Group. Related: Blackout · Unrest · Evacuation.