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	Hang Gliding and Paragliding in Humboldt County, Northern California	COMMUNICATION  BASICS

Radios, Cells Phones, and Shoutin' Real Loud

Communications have been an essential part of flying since Wilbur and Orville demonstrated their new-fangled flying machine to the U.S. Army Signal Corp in 1909.  Hang gliding and paragliding pilots discovered long ago that air-to-air, air-to-ground, and ground-to-air communication capability not only adds to the fun, but can add to the safety of a day's recreational flying. Our more remote sites (especially Mattole) place an additional emphasis on being able to 'get out' if there is a problem.

Not counting Shoutin' Real Loud (which works at Table Bluff reasonably well...), we use four basic means to communicate at our flying sites. These are in general use throughout the hanggliding and paragliding world today:

    1. Ham Radios:  The most used (except in Humboldt) communication tool within the hang gliding and paragliding community; usually with inexpensive 2-meter handi-talkies with a maximum 5-watt output in the 144.0 to 148.0 frequency range (in the US). While the 5 watts output limit and (usually) small antenna limit the range of these units, they can and do transmit more than an adequate distance, especially if you are 500 or more feet over launch. They can be particularly useful for calling for assistance in an emergency via use of hilltop mounted repeaters. The local site information on this web site contain club and repeater frequency information.

Use of these radios and the Ham band(s) requires a Ham License (Amateur Radio License issued by the FCC) good for 10 years and re-issued if desired. This used to be a real study, requiring knowledge of Morse code, but no longer.  A Technician's license has made it possible to attend a two-day workshop and get your 'ticket' and your ham call sign and be legal on the popular 2-meter radios in use at most flying sites. In Northern Humboldt County, the Eureka Fire Department conducts frequent ham study/testing classes, and there is HARC - the  local club. In Southern Humboldt, check out the SHARC  website for ham study classes and local repeater information.

Humboldt Wings strongly encourages getting licensed if you are using this frequency. It ain't that hard to get licensed, folks, and illegal use by pilots is not only bad PR, but subjects the offender  to serious fines if you are busted. Local hams take the privileges of use of the allotted airways very seriously. Thanks. Penguin KE6KKG.

    2. Family Band Radios:  These inexpensive handi-talkies are limited to 2 watt output, but do not require a license and have proved very workable for local site flying. The biggest limitation is the inability to use the repeaters in an emergency, but the cell-phone obliquity has lessened this disadvantage the last few years.

    3. Cell Phones: Coverage is getting better, but you have to be at the highest launch at Mattole and Shelter Cove to get out. Fine at Table Bluff.

    4. USHGA Business Band radio:  In 1988, USHGA applied for and received a license in the 1B business band frequency, for a single frequency (151.625). Several months later, two additional frequencies were granted (151.925 and 151.955). This license  was modified and two more frequencies and a new call sign assigned in 2004.

Present assignments are:

Use of these frequencies requires:

USHGA PORTABLE AND VEHICULAR RADIO AUTHORIZATIONS

Rogallo Members of the USHGA may be authorized to use or designate others to use (i.e. chase drivers) 158.4 MHz or 151.925 MHz, (call WPRY420) for the purpose of conducting USHGA business, cross-country meets, events and retrievals.

Authorization will be granted by an official USHGA Observer or Instructor after demonstration of adequate knowledge of the rules under which the license was granted and one-time payment of a $15.00 registration fee for a portable authorization (PA) and/or a $15.00 registration fee for a vehicular authorization (VA). This authorization becomes a 'Special Skill' sign-off on your USHGA License, and is good as long as you are a member.

Penguin can provide study material and administer the USHGA Radio Communications Quiz and provide the PA and/or VA sign-off.

You also, of course, need a business band radio. These are set up crystal-controlled so you can't wander off to other business band frequencies. Local California Department of Forestry dispatch and fire crews use some of the 151.xxx frequencies for their firefighting and other emergency work - be strongly advised to stick to the above USHGA frequencies.

USHGA RADIO AUTHORIZATION STUDY GUIDE:  http://www.ushga.org/forms/radio.pdf

Thanks to Jeff Morgan for organizing the USHGA stuff so nicely and sharing...

MORE GENERAL RADIO INFORMATION AND USE TIPS

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Page Created: 20 January 2006