"Ham Radio in your own neighborhood." WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED? Requisite Amateur Radio equipment is rather minimal but can be as elaborate as you wish. Handheld or mobile transceivers capable of operation on the 440 Mhz band - specifically, on the Benicia repeater frequency of 442.750 Mhz (PL 100 Hz) - is required, but a dualband or triband radio operating on 2m, 440 and/or 1.2 Ghz would obviously suffice. For those using handheld radios, an additional battery, cigarette cord adapter and possibly a magnetic mobile antenna would be encouraged. Whether a higher gain rubber antenna or a mobile antenna would be needed can easily be determined by conducting on-the-air tests over the repeater while you walk your neighborhood. For those new to Ham Radio, the cost of a 5 watt handheld transceiver would probably be between $150 and $300, depending on your other objectives and interests. An extra battery, cigarette cord and mobile magnetic antenna could add $75 to $125, once again depending on your needs. The additional choice of a higher power 30-50 watt mobile transceiver ($300-$450) operable in a vehicle could be advantageous in an emergency, as long as your vehicle can be driven from its parking spot or garage onto roads that are not destroyed. Activate and test your Amateur Radio equipment during the monthly Siren Tests at 11:00 AM local time on the first Wednesday of the month. Please check in on 442.750 MHZ (PL 100 Hz), when you hear the siren. | Benicia Emergency Response Training | Medical Reserve Corps | Neighborhood Watch Program | Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Corps | Volunteers In Police Service | Volunteer Fire Department | Meetings | About Us | Contact | Home