MISSION STATEMENT:

"Our mission is to strengthen local resilience against natural and digital threats by operating a structured GMRS radio net. Through regular on-air check-ins and collaborative training, we establish operational competency, test equipment viability, and build a dependable network of operators ready to support our community during critical communication failures." 

Placer County ARES GMRS Net Frequencies: 

Primary: Auburn 21 Repeater Transmit Frequency is 

Secondary: Roseville 575 Repeater Transmit Frequency is 462.575 MHz + 

Third: Sacramento 625 Repeater Transmit Frequency is 462.575 MHz +

PCARES GMRS Net will meet the Third Sunday of Every month (excluding Holidays and Holiday weekends) on the above mentioned GMRS repeaters. At 1930 Hrs local time. This will be a directed Net. The use of these repeaters is possible because of  the support of Sac Valley GMRS Repeater Group & 

The use of this net will help Placer County ARES develop a more robust P.A.C.E Plan.  We encourage all Amateur Radio Operators with a valid GMRS license holders and just GMRS License holders to check in. If you are a Placer County ARES member with a valid GMRS Callsign your check will come first and after that will be visitor check in. 

If you want to be included on any Emails to the GMRS groups. Go to the contact section of the website and let us know, be sure to include your email address and Callsign. 

1. The Core Legal Requirements (FCC Part 95)

Before touching a repeater, you must comply with federal law:

• Licensing: You must hold a valid GMRS license (costs $35, lasts 10 years, and covers your immediate family). 

• Station Identification: You must transmit your FCC-assigned call sign at the end of every transmission session and every 15 minutes during extended conversations. 

• No Internet/Network Linking: Under FCC Rules 95.1733(a)(8) and 95.1749, linking GMRS repeaters over the internet (via VoIP, RoIP, or similar networks) to expand their geographic footprint is strictly prohibited. The FCC has actively cracked down on groups attempting widespread multi-repeater linking. 

• Prohibited Content: You may not broadcast music, advertisements, continuous loops, political campaigns, or obscene language. 

2. Repeater Access Policies (Open vs. Closed)

Even if you have an FCC license, you do not have an automatic right to use any repeater equipment you find. Opinions on community forums like myGMRS emphasize that owners retain full property rights over their systems: 

• Open Repeaters: Free for anyone with an FCC license to use. They usually publish their PL tones (Privacy Codes) publicly on directories like myGMRS.com.

• Permission Required (Closed/Club): These systems require you to request access, join a local club, or pay club dues to help maintain the site infrastructure. Operating on these without authorization is considered poor etiquette and can result in your transmission tones being blocked or reported. 

3. Essential Repeater Etiquette

To maintain a good relationship with local operators, follow standard over-the-air protocols: 

• Listen First: Always listen for a few moments to ensure you are not interrupting an active conversation or emergency broadcast.

• No "Kerchunking": Do not press the Push-To-Talk (PTT) button briefly just to hear the repeater tail click. If you are testing your signal, state your call sign and say, "Testing signal strength."

• Leave a Pause: Leave a 1–2 second delay between transmissions. This allows the repeater system to reset and gives other operators an opportunity to break in for emergency traffic.

• Plain Language: Avoid heavy police codes or confusing jargon. Stick to standard clear, conversational english

The maximum legal transmitter output power for GMRS stations on main and repeater channels is 50 Watts (as defined under FCC Part 95.1767). 

GMRS power limits vary depending on the specific group of channels and the type of station you are operating. 

Key Operational Power Details

• Handheld Walkie-Talkies: While the FCC regulates output limits by channel rather than explicitly capping handhelds on main channels, most certified GMRS handheld units push 5 Watts, though some aftermarket or multi-standard units drift up to 8W–10W (which may run afoul of type-acceptance rules if not properly certified). 

• Mobile & Base Stations: Installed vehicle radios or home base stations using external antennas can legally push up to 50 Watts on the main 15–30 channels.

• Fixed Stations: If a GMRS station is classified as a "fixed" station (permanently mounted structure that is not a mobile or temporary base), its output is legally capped at 15 Watts. 

Regional GMRS & Emergency Repeater Directory: Placer, Nevada & Sutter Counties

GMRS repeaters in the Northern Sierra foothills operate as private or community-access systems rather than public utilities. Because private trustees frequently change PL/CTCSS tones or move sites, you should always verify live status on myGMRS.com or RepeaterBook GMRS before programming. 

1. Placer County (Western Valley & Foothills)

• Lincoln / Roseville Corridor

  • Ch. 22 / 462.725 MHz (+5 MHz offset): Local valley/foothills coverage pairing into surrounding ridges. Check myGMRS.com Placer Directory for specific private owner sub-audible tones.

• Auburn & Canyon Rim

  • Ch. 16–20 / 462.575–462.675 MHz: Ridge-to-canyon repeaters covering Interstate 80 corridor up to Colfax.

  • Amateur/AUX-C Backup Reference: W6EK (440.575 MHz + / 162.2 Hz  Auburn) serves as the primary PCARES UHF Monitoring 

  • Amateur/AUX-C Backup Reference: W6EK  (145.430 MHz - / Tone 162.2 Hz) in Auburn. Serves as PCARES primary monitoring.

• Foresthill & Todd Valley

  • Ch. 15 / 462.550 MHz & Ch. 18 / 462.625 MHz: Critical ridge relays above the American River canyons (often requiring directional Yagi or mobile 50W power).

  • Amateur/AUX-C Backup Reference: N6NMZ (442.875+ / Tone 131.8) in Foresthill.

• High Sierra / Tahoe Basin

  • Ch. 17 / 462.600 MHz: South Lake Tahoe / Truckee ridge systems.

2. Nevada County (Grass Valley & Nevada City Ridge)

• Osborne Hill / Banner Mountain Hubs

  • Ch. 22 / 462.725 MHz & Ch. 20 / 462.675 MHz: Primary elevated sites serving Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Rough and Ready. Most operate on restricted/permission-required trust.

  • Amateur/AUX-C Backup Reference: WD6AXM (52.600- / Tone 151.4 Osborne Hill) and local 2m/70cm repeaters on Banner Mountain (e.g., W6DD 147.015+). 

3. Sutter County (Sutter Buttes & Valley Floor)

• Sutter Buttes Elevation Anchor

  • Ch. 15–22 (Standard Pairings): Direct line-of-sight from the isolated volcanic peaks of the Sutter Buttes covers Yuba City, Live Oak, and the Sacramento Valley floor up to 40+ miles. Private landowner permission is mandatory.

  • Amateur/AUX-C Reference: Regional UHF links via Artsci Sutter County Listings.

4. Neighboring Regional Networks to Monitor

• • CERA Neighborhood Radio Watch (El Dorado / Amador / Lower Placer): Operates structured GMRS and transition networks like Pollock-1 (462.600 / GMRS 17) and Oak Hill-1 (462.725 / GMRS 22)

  • Coloma-1  (462.725 / GMRS 22) Arrowbee, Cameron Park (North), Cold Springs (North), Coloma, Cool, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Gold Hill, Greenstone, Greenwood, Kelsey, Lotus, Luneman, Pilot Hill, Rescue

  • Coloma-2 (462.725 / GMRS 16) (same as Coloma-1 above, join the net to test which Coloma repeater works better from your location)

  • Coloma-3 (GMRS 21) (same as Coloma-1 above, join the net to test which Coloma repeater works better from your location)

  • Coloma-4 TBA

  • Cosumnes (462.600 / GMRS 17) Fairplay, Grizzly Flat, Happy Valley, Mount Aukum, Nashville, Omo Ranch, Outingdale, Pleasant Valley, Sand Ridge (South), Somerset, Sweeneys Crossing, Tylers Corner

  • Placerville (462.625 / GMRS 18) Apple Hill (West), Cameron Park (South), Cedar Ravine, Cold Springs (South), Mosquito, Placerville, Smith Flat, Texas Hill

  • Pollock-1 (462.600 / GMRS 17) Apple Hill (East), Camino, Cedar Grove, Forebay, Fort Jim, Gold Ridge Forest, Lynx Trail, Newtown, Pollock Pines, Rancho Del Sol, Sierra Springs, Sly Park Hills, Starks Grade

  • Oak Hill-1 (462.725 / GMRS 22) Diamond Springs, El Dorado, Logtown, Oak Hill, Pleasant Valley (West), Sand Ridge (North), Shingle Springs

  • Oak Hill-2 TBA

5. Sacramento County 

• SHARP GMRS Repeater Frequency: 462.650 MHz (+5000 KHz offset), Details: Managed by the Sacramento Ham and Amateur Radio Program; see SHARP Repeaters. 

6. Radio Repeater Network (NRW Radio)

• Northern California Repeater Users Group (NorCal RUG), Frequency: 462.675 MHz (Repeater input: 467.675 MHz), Details: Coordinates disaster and emergency communications across regional hubs including Sacramento and the Bay Area; details available at NorCal RUG.

A PCARES-style GMRS net bridges the critical gap between technical amateur radio groups and everyday neighborhood preparedness, giving families and local HOAs a disciplined, off-grid voice network when wildfires or Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) take down cell towers. 

1. Low Barrier, Whole-Family Inclusion

• Single household license: One $35 FCC license covers parents, kids, and extended family.

• No technical exam: Unlike Amateur (Ham) radio, anyone can operate legally today.

• Neighborhood scale: HOAs and rural road associations can equip every household on a shared frequency. 

2. True Off-Grid Independence

• Survives power failures: Operates on 12V vehicle batteries, solar setups, or hand-crank generators.

• Bypasses overloaded cell sites: Commercial networks choke during mass evacuations or local fiber cuts.

• Immediate local relay: Portable repeaters deploy in minutes to cover dead zones. 

3. Local Topography Mapping

• Foothills to valley transition: Western Placer (Lincoln/Roseville) up to Auburn and Todd Valley features steep grade changes.

• Realistic signal profiling: Regular check-ins reveal exact mobile and handheld dead spots before a crisis hits.

4. Replacing Chaos with Discipline

• Directed net protocols: A structured script prevents "CB-radio" shouting matches during high-stress events.

• Traffic triage: Prioritizes life-safety breaks over casual check-ins.

• Operator literacy: Trains non-technical residents to state clear call signs, locations, and status.

5. The Two-Tiered Emergency Model

• Tier 1 (GMRS): Neighborhood-to-neighborhood and family status checks. 

• Tier 2 (PCARES / ARES): Licensed amateur operators relaying official traffic to county Placer County Emergency Communication or fire dispatch via VHF/UHF/HF. 

• The bridge: A GMRS Net Control operator who also holds an Amateur license can cross-patch critical intelligence into official emergency networks. Learn more about regional volunteer structures via PCARES. 

Get your household legally on the air and checked into the weekly net using a simple 4-step setup designed for non-technical residents.

Step 1: Get Your Family FCC License (No Exam)

• Cost & Term: $35 for 10 years, covering you, your spouse, children, parents, and siblings.

• Apply Online: Log into the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) and file for a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) grant.

• Get Your Call Sign: Issued in 1–3 business days (e.g., WQ12345). Write it down on every radio.

Step 2: Program Your Radio

• Primary Channels: Set Channel 15–22 (high-power interstitial/repeater channels) and Channel 1–7 (FRS/GMRS shared, lower power).

• Our Group Frequency: Program [Insert Channel / Frequency, e.g., Channel 16 or Repeater RPT 20] with Tone [CTCSS/DCS Tone, e.g., 141.3 Hz].

• Test Transmit Power: Set handhelds to High Power outdoors; use a mobile or base station with an external antenna if you live in a deep canyon or ridge shadow.

Step 3: Master Basic Radio Etiquette

• Listen First: Monitor for 5 seconds before speaking so you don't cut off active traffic.

• State Your Call Sign: Announce your call sign at the start and end of a conversation (or every 15 minutes during long exchanges).

• Use Plain English: Drop police 10-codes; speak clearly and calmly.

• Pause for Breaks: Release the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button for 2 full seconds between transmissions to let emergency traffic break in.

Step 4: Check Into the Weekly Net

• Tune In: Be on frequency 5 minutes before [Day of Week] at [Time, e.g., 19:30].

• Wait for Your Turn: When Net Control calls for check-ins, key your mic and say:
  "This is [Your Name], [Your Call Sign], [Your Neighborhood], Standing By."

• Choose Your Status: Say "Standing By" if you want to listen/comment, or "In and Out" if you are logging attendance and hanging up.