Radio Resources

Phones and internet are often the first things to go down in a disaster. Radios keep working when the network doesn’t — and they’re one of the best ways to stay in touch with your block, your neighborhood, and the rest of Berkeley.

Covers the no-license and license-required radio services most useful for neighborhood preparedness, plus local clubs that train and organize emergency radio operators in Berkeley and the East Bay.

• Why radios
• Which service
• Getting a HAM license
• Local clubs
• NOAA weather radio
• Training materials

Why radios matter in a disaster

Cell towers can be knocked out, overloaded, or run out of backup power within hours of a major earthquake or wildfire. Landlines and internet depend on the same infrastructure. Two-way radios don’t — a charged handheld radio will still talk to another radio down the street or across the neighborhood when nothing else works.

• Radios let neighbors check on each other, share what they’re seeing (gas leaks, fires, blocked streets, injuries), and coordinate a response before help arrives.
• Trained amateur (“HAM”) radio operators are often the only reliable communication link between neighborhoods, shelters, hospitals, and the Berkeley Emergency Operations Center in a major disaster — this is a well-established role, not a hobbyist exercise.
• You don’t need a license to get started. Simple, license-free radios are enough for household- and block-level coordination; a HAM license opens up longer range, repeaters, and the ability to join organized emergency communication (ARES/RACES) nets.

Which radio service is right for you

All of these operate on different frequencies and are legally distinct. Match the radio to what you actually need — you can always add more capability later.

FRS — Family Radio Service

FRS radios need no license and no fee. They operate on 22 fixed channels in the 462–467 MHz band at up to 2 watts, giving roughly line-of-sight range — typically a few blocks up to about a mile in a neighborhood setting. This is the simplest way to get every household on the block talking to each other. Pick a shared channel (and note it somewhere everyone can find, like a printed card in your go-kit) so neighbors can reach each other immediately, no setup required.

GMRS — General Mobile Radio Service

GMRS shares the FRS frequency range but allows more power (up to 50 watts on some channels) and the use of repeaters, extending range to several miles or more. It requires an individual FCC license — no test, just an application and a $35 fee good for 10 years — and that single license covers you and your immediate family members, regardless of their age. Apply directly through the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS); you’ll need an FCC Registration Number (FRN), which you can create for free on the same site.

MURS — Multi-Use Radio Service

MURS is another license-free option, on a different set of frequencies (VHF, around 151–154 MHz) than FRS/GMRS. Range and use cases are similar to FRS. It’s less commonly used, which can mean less crowded channels, but also fewer people nearby using it.

Getting an amateur (HAM) radio license

Amateur radio (“HAM radio”) is the most capable option: it reaches the farthest, can use citywide and regional repeater networks, and is the backbone of organized emergency communications during disasters. It requires passing a written, multiple-choice exam — no Morse code required.

1. Study for the Technician-class exam. This is the entry-level license and covers everything most neighborhood operators need. Free study guides and practice exams are widely available online (search “Technician class HAM radio practice exam”), and local clubs (below) often run study groups and license classes.
2. Find an exam session. Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams run sessions regularly around the Bay Area, often through local clubs. Sessions typically cost around $15 (sometimes less for those under 18). Find a session through the ARRL.
3. Pass the exam and get your call sign. The FCC issues most call signs within a few business days after your VE team files your results. There’s a separate $35 FCC application fee, paid after you pass.
4. Get equipment and get on the air. A basic handheld (HT) transceiver is enough to start; local clubs can recommend radios and help you program local repeater frequencies.
5. Join a local emergency communications group. This is where the real neighborhood value is — regular practice nets, drills, and a role in Berkeley’s emergency response plan (see clubs below).

Local radio clubs and emergency communications groups

The East Bay has an active amateur radio community built specifically around emergency communications. Joining one of these groups is the best way to go from “I have a radio” to “I know how to use it when it matters.”

• N6BRK – Northern Alameda County ARES/RACES (NALCO) — provides emergency communications for Berkeley, Albany, UC Berkeley, and Alta Bates Hospital. Meets monthly and runs a weekly practice net; open to all licensed amateurs. This is the most directly relevant group for BDPNN neighborhoods.
• ORCA – Oakland Radio Communications Association — Oakland’s ARES/RACES-affiliated club, coordinates with the City of Oakland on emergency response; open repeater, weekly net.
• ARRL club finder — search for additional clubs anywhere in the East Bay or beyond, including Richmond/West Contra Costa groups.

Most of these clubs welcome newcomers, run study groups for the licensing exam, and hold regular practice “nets” where you can listen in or check in on the air — a great low-pressure way to get comfortable with a radio before an actual emergency.

NOAA Weather Radio

A dedicated NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver is a good complement to two-way radios: it doesn’t let you talk to anyone, but it broadcasts continuous National Weather Service alerts, watches, and warnings 24/7, including tsunami and other all-hazards alerts, independent of phone networks and the power grid (battery/hand-crank models work during outages). Berkeley is covered by the San Francisco Bay Area transmitter:

Station	Frequency	Coverage
KHB-49 (San Francisco Bay Area)	162.400 MHz	Broadcasts from Mt. Pise; covers Berkeley and the greater Bay Area
KZZ-75 (East Bay)	162.425 MHz	Broadcasts from Mt. Diablo; backup/alternate East Bay coverage

Look for a radio labeled “NOAA Weather Radio” or “NWR” with these frequencies (they’re outside the range of a normal FM radio); many models also include an alert-tone feature that automatically activates during a warning for your county. Check the NWS NOAA Weather Radio site for the current status of local transmitters — individual stations occasionally go offline for maintenance or repair.

Training materials

BDPNN has run hands-on radio trainings and drills for neighborhood volunteers in the past. These materials are a good starting point even if you weren’t at the original sessions:

• Neighborhood Communications Radio Training (PDF)
• Radio Drill (PDF)
• Radio Communications Exercise (PDF)
• FRS Radio Operation Guide (PDF)

Start small

You don’t need a HAM license to get real value from a radio. Pick up a pair of FRS radios, pick a channel with a neighbor, and try it out. If you want to go further, look into GMRS for more range, or reach out to N6BRK about getting your HAM license and joining Berkeley’s emergency communications network.