Modality

Merits

Disadvantages

Pager

Can be used to alert and mobilize team. Can be used to pass text messages back and forth to individuals or entire team. Individual units relatively inexpensive (under $100).

Service can be expensive, especially for 2-way paging/messaging.

Useless for tactical communications. Useless for emergency communications.

Wired telephone

Everyone has one. No licensing required.

Most useful for mobilizing CERT for advanced warning of impending disaster (e.g., hurricane, tornado, etc.)

Team must use a “telephone tree” to contact team members. Takes time and, in an earthquake will most likely be unavailable.

Cellular telephone

Tend to be ubiquitous (i.e., more and more people have them).

Portable

No license required (just a paid up phone bill!)

If NexTel, can be set up to operate like a portable “2-way” radio and for a “party-line” where everyone on the channel can hear what’s going on (extremely important).

Initial and continuing cost for those who don’t own one. In a major disaster, like a wired phone, wireless will be unavailable.   Short battery life. Fragile. Team must use a “telephone tree” to contact team members. Takes time and, in an earthquake will most likely be unavailable (if the event itself doesn’t disrupt service, the media will). Not all cellular providers give reliable service in the needed CERT coverage area. Frequently, providers have a single “back-haul” route (i.e., no redundancy) to their switching centers - a significant liability for earth quake-prone locales. Dialing 911 in California gets you the CHP; you must dial the local 7-digit direct number to get local emergency services.

“Personal Communicators” FRS (Family Radio Service) 2-way portable radios

Portable. Cheap ($50/pair). Easily available. No licensing required. Multiple channels available. “Party-line” where everyone on the channel can hear what’s going on (extremely important). Can be useful for intra-squad communications in areas of low-density population.

Limited output power which limits range – despite 2-mile range claimed by advertising. Radios will not reliably cover a neighborhood – building severely interfere with FRS radio signals. Fragile. Because these radios have become ubiquitous, expect lots of interference from many others that will be using them (“selective call” feature does not reduce RF interference during receive). Require periodic testing to ensure batteries are fresh.

CB hand-held radio

Portable. Cheap ($100 at Radio Shack). Easily available. “Party-line” where everyone on the channel can hear what’s going on (extremely important). No licensing required. Relatively flexible with 40 channels available

Lots of interference because of their ubiquitous-ness (e.g., virtually every trucker on the highway has one. The frequencies on which CBs operate carry very long distances (“skips”) during periods of moderate-to-high sun spot activity, contributing to their high level of noise. Requires civil authorities to have a similar capability if you are to communicate with. Radio itself requires periodic testing to ensure batteries are charged or fresh.

Commercial FM portable radios (“handie-talkies” like the Fire Dept. uses)

Noise-free operation (like your FM entertainment radio). Commercial equipment is typically quite robust. “Party-line” where everyone on the channel can hear what’s going on (extremely important).

Equipment can be expensive compared to other modalities (nominal cost: $250/radio). Requires FCC license ($75 station license) that can be onerous to get. Requires civil authorities with whom CERT communicates to have a similar capability. Limited flexibility (nominally only 8 channels[1] available).  Typically require commercial radio service to program/set-up equipment. Radio itself requires periodic testing to ensure batteries are charged or fresh.

Multiple Use Radio Service (MURS) and “Dot” portable radios

Noise-free operation (like your FM entertainment radio). Commercial equipment is typically quite robust. “Party-line” where everyone on the channel can hear what’s going on (extremely important).  Relatively inexpensive ($100 at Radio Shack if still available). No license required. Extremely easy to use (just turn on and push-to-talk for single channel models). At 2 Watts, adequate power to provide reliable communications throughout a neighborhood.

Only 5 MURS channels and 9 “dot” available. Radios are pre-programmed to one or two channels of the channels available. Require “fiddling” to re-program to different channels. Communications limited to Inter-squad and intra-team, only. Because of the absence of compatible equipment at the fire stations, traffic indented for Fire IC will need to be relayed via another means. Potential interference from others who are not CERT–related using same equipment. Radio itself requires periodic testing to ensure batteries are charged or fresh.

Ham FM Portable Radios

All as above for Commercial FM plus: hundreds of channels available (and, thus, minimal or no interference), all selectable from the keypad of the radio. Cost-effect ($100-150 ready to go), robust equipment available. Direct link to emergency authorities and cooperating relief agencies (Red Cross Chapters and shelters are Ham equipped and, frequently, County EOCs are already “Ham” equipped.) 

If wired telephone network still operational, can place a phone call through the radio, so long as Ham radio repeaters in the area are “phone-patch” equipped. Radio can be used anywhere and can take advantage of a dozen radio repeaters.

(Ham radio also offers other modes of operation that can be extremely useful for CERT. Not the least of these modes is packet radio where digital messages can be transmitted.)

Requires individual FCC license (no-cost license, about $6 for a no-code simple test). Certain inconvenience to study for and take test (Teams might face reluctance of members to take the time to study for and take a licensing exam). Radio itself requires periodic testing to ensure batteries are charged or fresh.