Do you know what Channel 7-7 or Mountain Radio Channel is?

The #Canal77PMR is an initiative that aims to increase the safety of all those who carry out activities in the mountains, by establishing a single radio channel (channel 7 and subtone 7), free to use and without the need for a licence.

The truth is that this is not a new initiative; the beginnings date back to the end of 2014. However, for some reason, it is still quite unknown among the mountaineering community and its use is not as widespread as we would like it to be. From here, our grain of sand in spreading this initiative whose success depends on the more we are, the better.

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Index

Channel 7-7 or Mountain Radio Channel

The #Canal77PMR initiative encourages all people involved in mountain sports activities and professional rescue teams to carry radio devices (PMR446) set to listen in on channel 7 subtone 7 (446.08125 MHz; Subtone 85.4 Hz). The more people use this frequency and the longer the walkie is on listen-in, the more effective it will be.

In any case, Channel 7-7 is not an emergency channel and does not replace the mobile phone. It is just another tool to group all mountaineers who carry a walki, so that they do so on the same frequency.

The idea is simple. All we need is a PMR446 or compatible device to tune the channel. In other words, all we need is a walkie talkie that can be found in any electronics shop or department store. Cheap, easy to handle and easy to find.

The need to set up a single radio channel in the mountains

Over the last few years, the number of people who go to the mountains as a pastime and as another leisure option has not stopped growing. Along with this increase in the number of people who go to the mountains, there has also been an increase in the number of people who go to the mountains as a leisure and recreational option. increase in accidents and the interventions of the rescue teams.

The high difficulty of access to these places and the complicated orography of the terrain make each intervention a challenge for the rescue teams. Moreover, if we take into account the difficulty of communications and the lack of mobile coverage in many places, the existence of a free-to-use radio channel in the mountains makes even more sense. This does not mean that the radio replaces the mobile phone, nor does it mean that the procedure for notifying 112It only complements it.

On the other hand, another equally important consideration is communications within the group itself and with other groups in the vicinity, because in the end, it is a channel between mountaineers.

And to give an example of how useful it can be among groups, beyond asking for help and what a mobile phone can offer, imagine the situation when you arrive at a place and you wonder if there will be ice and if it will be necessary to use crampons. You pick up your walkie, ask the question and if there is someone listening in the area, you can get an answer immediately and change your plan if you are not properly equipped.

From all of the above and more, at the end of 2014, some mountain clubs, non-governmental organisations and individuals (radio and mountain enthusiasts) started this initiative that facilitates communication between our mountain group, other groups and rescue groups.

The objective is none other than to offer greater safety to all those who carry out any type of activity in nature.

The three purposes of the Channel 7-7 initiative:

Coordination within the same mountain group:

Particularly useful when hiking in a large group to coordinate all members of the group. Good communication between those in front and those at the back of the group is very useful to know the status of the group at all times and to be able to get together.

In the case of an activity such as climbing, it is very useful to carry out the different manoeuvres, as in many cases, due to the wind or obstacles in the terrain, it is very difficult to establish communication. This adds safety and avoids shouting. In the case of canyoning, it is very useful to know when the rope is available and when it is occupied.

Give or receive help from other mountaineering groups in the vicinity:

When help is urgently needed, having a radio channel for both distress and relief is extremely useful.

The more PMR devices that are carried in listening mode on Channel 7-7, the greater the likelihood that a person in distress will receive help quickly, from a nearby group or rescue teams.

Direct communication with the Rescue Groups

In addition, PMRs can be a direct channel of communication with the rescue services as they approach the accident site. The77PMR channel allows this communication with the rescue team to be established in a very simple way, providing a means of transmitting directions and guiding the rescue team to our position in a much more efficient way.

PMR 446 radio devices.

What are they?

The PMR 446 (Personal Mobile Radio) radio systems that are encouraged for use in the mountains are simple devices that operate in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, between 446.0 and 446.2Mhz (from 1 January 2018), at a maximum power of 0.5W.

In most EU countries they are authorised for amateur use without the need for a licence.

This type of walkie talkies are the ones you can find in any electronics shop or department store and they are quite cheap, much cheaper than the VHF (licence) ones.

Dual-band (VHF and UHF) walkie talkies, for which a licence is required, can be tuned to UHF in the 446-446.2Mhz band, and would therefore also be compatible with Channel 7-7.

Outreach

The range of this type of PMR446 device depends greatly on the obstacles the wave encounters in its path and other factors. It also depends on the quality of the walkie talkie, which is not necessarily more expensive. To get an idea, as a guide, it is best to look at some examples.

In a city where there are large buildings, the range is reduced to a few hundred metres, perhaps 1 or 2 kilometres.
In a wooded area but without obstacles, the distance that can be reached is more than 1-2 kilometres.
At open fieldwithout obstacles or trees obstructing the signal, it is possible to exceed 3 kilometres.
At ideal conditionsThe distance between the summits of two mountains visible to each other can be several tens of kilometres.

How to choose a walkie talkie (PMR 446).

When choosing a radio device (PMR 446) compatible with Channel 7-7, it is essential that it has channels and subtones and is CE certified. From here, you can delve into the different characteristics of each model (water resistance, power, batteries, batteries, etc.) and choose the one you like best.

ESSENTIAL

Channels and subtones: is fundamental the walkie talkie has channels and subtones. It will have them if it is not a toy. We will look to see that the walkie talkie has at least 8 channels (increasingly, since the band expansion in 2018, they are 16 for analogue or 32 for digital). Whether a walkie talkie has 8 or 16 channels, it does not in any way affect mountain radio channel 7-7.

On the other hand, the walkie talkie must (absolutely) have subtones. These can be of two types: analogue or CTCSS (Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System) type, or digital or DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) type.

Not all walkies include DCS subtones (not essential), usually with less interference than CTCSS.

TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

Power: The maximum power of PMR446s in Europe is 0.5W by law, but this does not mean that some devices have less power. Pay attention to this when buying one.

Analogue or Digital: As with all technological devices, digital is replacing analogue. Among its advantages are supposedly better voice quality, greater communication distance, greater privacy and longer battery life.

Autonomy: the better the greater the autonomy. We will preferably choose a model with sufficient autonomy for a full day of activity (+12h).

Batteries: the best option is a battery-powered walkie talkie that is compatible with normal batteries (easier to replace in any situation). If batteries are used, rechargeable batteries are recommended. Some models allow battery charging via USB port.

Double listening: An important feature that we must value but that raises the price is the Dual Channel Monitor. This allows us to maintain an exclusive communication channel with our group and another listening channel (channel 7-7) with the rest of the groups and with the rescue services. And not to disturb the rest of the people with our conversations.

Dust and water resistant (IP rating): Among the technical characteristics of the walkie talkies we can find the IP rating followed by two numbers indicating the resistance to dust and water. Example: IP67. The first number refers to dust resistance (0-6). The second number refers to water resistance (0-8). The dust resistance is often not specified and is marked with an X. For water resistance, the most typical values we usually find are: IPX4 (protection against splash water) and IPX7 (immersion to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes in fresh water). The higher the values of these ratings, the more waterproof the walkie will be.

VOX (hands-free): This allows communication without pressing the PTT button the whole time, which frees up your hands. It is automatically activated when the device detects that you are talking. Keeping VOX mode on channel 7-7 is not recommended. (it can be on other channels), as it can simply be activated by the wind and override any distress communication from someone who really needs it.

How to communicate by walkie talkie

Positioning of the walkie talkie:

As we have already mentioned, the range of a walkie talkie and the quality of the signal that we receive depends to a great extent on the obstacles that the wave finds on its way, and among them, our body. That is why, in order to have a better voice quality and a longer range, we should place it in a place where our body does not "shadow" it. An ideal place would be the shoulder pad of the backpack, next to the chest.

Basic rules of communication.

There is a (proven) tendency on the part of the user to start talking just before pressing the PTT button and to release it before finishing talking. If you want to be heard on the other end, follow this basic rule: 1) press button, 2) wait one second, 3) speak, 4) wait one second, 5) release button.

And remember, when talking on a walkie talkie, keep a distance of 10-15cms from the microphone, protect it from the wind and be clear and concise in what you have to say.

Rule of conduct:

Nowadays, the 7-7 channel is far from being saturated in any part of our geography and communicating through it and letting people know that we are there is a good practice. Of course it should only be used for what is necessary, or it will end up being annoying to other people who may be listening, or worse still, override the communication attempt of someone who is calling for help. For these other hobby communications or within our group, it is advisable to communicate using another channel (double listening).

If you are interested in this topic and want to keep up to date:

If you are interested in finding out more about the Canal 7-7 PMR initiative, you will find these links very useful:

http://www.canal77pmr.com/ Official website of this initiative.

https://www.mendiak.net/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=57263 A huge thread on the well-known mountain forum mendiak.net (as of 4/5/2021 with 339 posts on the subject, since 2017), in which any doubts you may still have have have already been dealt with.

https://twitter.com/Canal77PMRBiz Twitter page of the Canal 7-7 PMR initiative in Bizkaia.

https://www.facebook.com/canal77cyl/ Facebook page for dissemination and promotion of the 7-7 PMR channel in Castilla y León.