Two Way Radio

The trucks have two-way radio systems installed.  These radios can use a repeater to contact the Salvation Army office on Champa (Sally Base), or be used to talk from vehicle to vehicle.

Remember that the radios must be turned off when the trucks are not in use, or they will draw down the truck battery.

The radio frequencies are shared with other users. You will not hear other users until you take the microphone off the hook.  If the frequency is in use, wait to make your call.

Your radio may scan the four channels when you turn it on.   If so, it will transmit on the last frequency that had activity, or perhaps channel 1.  Just be aware what frequency that you are hearing the traffic on, and what frequency that you are transmitting on.  Watch the radio channel indicator lights.



Channel 1 uses the mountaintop repeater, and is a good choice to call the the office or other vehicles if you are in the Denver area.  461.9125 MHz is the repeater output, the truck radio transmits on 466.9125 MHz (210.7 Hz tone).  The repeater is on a mountaintop.  Coverage is good to the north and east, and may extend as far south as Monument Hill.  However, coverage is spotty in Castle Rock or close to the mountains, and almost nonexistent in Boulder.

Channels 2 and 3 are "direct" (simplex) channels, and are a good choice from vehicle to vehicle if the vehicles are close together, or if you are out of range of the repeater.  Channel 2 is 464.5 MHz, Channel 3 is 464.55 MHz, (both 127.3 Hz tone).  If the repeater channel is busy, you can ask the other vehicle to switch to channel 2 or 3.

Channel 4 is the portable repeater.   451.8 MHz is the repeater output, the truck transmits on 456.8, (127.3 Hz tone).   We sometimes use the portable repeater to improve communications on extended operations, especially in areas where the mountaintop repeater does not work well.

Return to table of contents

RAF 7/11/11