The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is promoting FRS (Family Radio Service) Channel 3 as “the default during backcountry search and rescue (backcountry SAR) emergencies.” FRS channel 3 is the same as GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channel 3. There is more GMRS info here. To keep things simple, no CTCSS (“privacy code”) is used…carrier squelch only. See the CSAR announcement here: FRS Radio Use for Backcountry.
For backcountry exploring, it is important to emphasize self-sufficiency and to avoid reliance on electronic gizmos that may fail. Avoiding an emergency situation is way better than having a device to call for help, which may be many hours away. See this article for a discussion of The Ten Essentials for Hiking.
Still, the FRS3 concept has merit. Many backcountry hikers already carry FRS or GMRS radios, so designating a preferred channel makes sense. My read on this is that randomly calling for help on FRS3 will not be very effective due to the limited range of FRS radios. However, it does not hurt to try. More likely, FRS3 can be used for local comms once Search and Rescue crews have been deployed and are within a few miles of the party in distress.
Ham radio operators may want to carry a handheld transceiver capable of transmitting on 462.6125 MHz. For emergency use only, of course.
73 Bob K0NR
Wyoming has the same recommendation, although oddly they suggest a privacy code:
https://hls.wyo.gov/307
I can’t think of any good reason for the privacy code, other than the odd reference to the State’s area code.
Thanks for passing this along.
Often people want to use the “privacy code” (really CTCSS) to suppress chit-chat from other users.
So, in theory, you can leave your radio monitoring all the time but still be available for a call.
In practice, it can create interference on the channel because not everyone hears everyone else.
For emergency use, its another thing that has to be set correctly on the radio, so probably not a good choice.