Community Communications

We learned during the massive wildfires of 2003 that normal communications systems are prone to failure. Here in the Campo area we lost our power for 6 days as the main transmission lines were lost. Telephone and cellular communications were on and off during the same period.

Telephones. The AT&T land line phone system is battery powered and usually works quite well during a power failure if you have an old style, hard line telephone. The new wireless handset phones plug into a wall outlet and are worthless in a blackout. Find a hard wire phone for your disaster kit, one that plugs into your wall jack and is wired directly to a handset with a dial pad.

2-way Radio. I would bet every family, especially ones with children, has at least 1 FRS radio. Advertised with a 2 to 30 mile range these "walkie talkies" will usually travel 2 miles if you are out in the open. Here in the Mountain Empire (Far East San Diego County) the Campo Fire Department and the Mountain Empire CERT has designated FRS Channel 1 as our monitored FRS frequency in an emergency. Use this channel to contact your local community volunteers for information and assistance during disasters. Remember, if your phone is working and you have an immediate emergency Call 9-1-1. Our FRS network is not an official communications system but a way for community members and volunteers to communicate in a emergency with equipment we have on hand.

Scanners. In the Mountain Empire Area fire and law enforcement agencies are dispatched on multiple frequencies and bands. For a list of these frequencies and information on equipment required to monitor these agencies in an emergency follow this link.

Amateur ( HAM ) Radio. San Diego County and the Mountain Empire Area are well covered by Amateur Radio Systems and operators. The San Diego County Mountain Empire Disaster Preparedness Council and local area CERT Teams have representatives from the San Diego County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) group and the Mountain Empire Amateur Radio Club. ( MERC ). Click here for my Ham Radio page.

If you are an Amateur Radio Operator you are encouraged to contact us and become a part of our local disaster preparedness groups. If you are interested or wish further information on our local Amateur Radio activities please contact Craig Williams, at . Also you can usually find us at 7 AM on the local SANDRA VHF Repeater. ( 146.640, minus offset, 107.2 PL )

Mountain Empire Emergency Communications Plan

During a local or area-wide emergency the Campo / Lake Morena Disaster Committee and our local CERT Teams will use the following radio frequencies for in and out of area communications. Amateur frequencies will be manned by licensed operators.

Communications at Local Sites/shelters/ evacuation points
FRS Channel #1. Family Service portable radios (W/T)
Red Dot "Jobcom" low power W/T, 151.625 MHz
Amateur Radio National Simplex, 146.520 MHz

Between Sites - Between any staging location
FRS Channel #1. Family Service portable radios (W/T)
Amateur Radio, National Simplex, 146.520 MHz, 80 Meters 3.960 MHz.
"Red Dot" low power VHF, 151.625 MHz.

Between Sites and Communities in San Diego County
Amateur Radio Repeaters

Campo, MEARC KK6FBC, TX-146.010/RX-146.610, PL 100.0 Primary for Mountain Empire Area
Lyons Peak, SANDRA, TX-146.865 /RX-146.265, PL 107.2 (Secondary)
White Star (Boulevard), SANDRA, TX-144.68 /RX-145.28, PL 107.2
Otay Mountain, SANDRA, TX-146.04 /RX-146.64, PL 107.2
RACES/County EOC, Primary VHF - RACES, Red 1, RX-147.195. A voted system.
80 Meters 3.960 MHz. 40 Meters 7.233 MHz, 20 Meters 14.300 MHz international center if interest frequency.

Radio Frequencies, Details.

Repeater Location, Owner	Receive	Transmit	Offset	Direction	PL Tone	Assignment
Campo MEARC KK6FBC	146.610	146.010	600 kHz	Minus	100.0	Primary HAM Net Control
Otay Mt. SANDRA	146.640	146.040	600 kHz	Minus	107.2	Secondary HAM Net Control
Lyons Peak SANDRA	146.265	146.865	600 kHz	Plus	107.2	Secondary HAM Net Control
Hi Pass (Boulevard) SANDRA	145.280	144.680	600 kHz	Minus	107.2	Secondary Campo Area
White Star (Boulevard) RACES GOLD 7	448.780	443.780	5.00 MHz	Minus	Controlled	RACES Mt. Empire Area
RACES RED 1 Voted System	147.195	147.795	600 kHz	Plus	114.8	RACES 1 Primary Voted
2 Meter Simplex	146.520	146.520		Simplex		Local short range
Community Radio Frequencies	Receive	Transmit	AKA		PL Tone
Red Dot "Jobcom" low power W/T	151.625	151.625	Red Dot		None	Local Site and Site to Site
Family Service Radio (FRS) W/T Channel 1	462.5625	462.5625	Channel 1		None	Local Site and Site to Site

15m - 21,360 kHz
17m - 18,160 kHz
20m - 14,300 kHz
40m - 7,060 kHz
80m - 3,760 kHz

updated 8/4/2019

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