Is it illegal for me to talk on the radio?

[FutureMedic09]

Hi. I am a Fire Explorer with our local Fire Department. I have a UHF radio that has transmit capabilities. I currently have all channels on "block" so that when I depress the PTT button, it does not transmit and just emits a steady beep.

I'm thinking about unblocking the "NO-TRANSMIT" feature on the radio. My only question is this...

Say I'm on a ride-along and we roll up on a unconscious person. If the Paramedics want me to notify the responding Engine (that's not on-scene yet) that this is a cardiac arrest...would I be violating any FCC rules if I were to transmit on our FD channels?

Of course, it would be proper communication and only used when necessary.

I havn't turned off the "NO-TRANSMIT" feature yet. I just want to know some opinions/regulations as I do NOT want to get in trouble. I know the FCC has some STRICT rules on transmitting.

Thanks a bunch.

[FWDbuff]

If you are not a member, then you have no business transmitting. Period.

[FIRE117]

Talk to the fire chief and inquire if you can use the radio. If he says yes, it will be OK. If he says no, then do not.

The fire chief will have the final say if you can or cannot.

[Just a new name]

This would most likely summon the FCC black ops squad. They have a crack unit that uses triangulation to track and locate people who think that they can and should talk on the radio but should not be on it. You can locate the under cover FCC van by simply looking for a beat up van with the words "free candy" written on the side. Be aware, they are the men in black.

[pvfd27]

I can't imagine there would be too many departments that would allow you to use a personal radio. Aside from obvious FCC licensing requirements, there will be department protocols to consider.

You can come up with many "what if" situations, but the bottom line is, unless you are authorized by your department, you shouldn't use the radio.

My $.02

[efd1524]

Talk to the fire chief and inquire if you can use the radio. If he says yes, it will be OK. If he says no, then do not.

The fire chief will have the final say if you can or cannot.

what he said

[pvfd27]

This would most likely summon the FCC black ops squad. They have a crack unit that uses triangulation to track and locate people who think that they can and should talk on the radio but should not be on it. You can locate the under cover FCC van by simply looking for a beat up van with the words "free candy" written on the side. Be aware, they are the men in black.

Hey pal, don't be givin' away our secrets!!!

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

If you are not a member, then you have no business transmitting. Period.

Sage advice from my Brother in Pee-ayy!

[nmfire]

Talk to the fire chief and inquire if you can use the radio. If he says yes, it will be OK. If he says no, then do not.

The fire chief will have the final say if you can or cannot.

This is the only legitimate and useful response in the entire thread. It is 100% correct and it is all you need to know. There is no FCC licensing matters or any other government technicalities. The department is the licensee of the radio frequency. The department can authorize whoever they want to transmit on that frequency. The owner of the radio or the age and affiliation of the use is irrelevant.

If the chief feels this kid is responsible and competent, then there is nothing wrong with the chief ok'ing his using the radio. In my own department, a few of our explorers have had their own radios, and they're programmed to transmit on our fireground channel. They're just as responsible and competent as anyone else if not more and its perfectly allowed.

As for some of the other responses to this, you know it isn't neccessary to be a jackass to everyone under the age of 18 in the fire service. I realize there are some real winners on here that deserve all the ball breaking you can dish out. But not all of them are stupid and don't all deserve dumb responses when a legit helpful response is in order.

[FutureMedic09]

As for some of the other responses to this, you know it isn't neccessary to be a jackass to everyone under the age of 18 in the fire service. I realize there are some real winners on here that deserve all the ball breaking you can dish out. But not all of them are stupid and don't all deserve dumb responses when a legit helpful response is in order.

A sincere...thanks.

It seems (from my perspective), that some of the users here on Firehouse have gotten to the point that instead of talking about the actual situation/question/etc, it's started to just be off-topic rants/"put-downs".

Just my 2 cents.

[ChiefKN]

Really? You had to ask that question?

Did you think people would support this?

[FutureMedic09]

"Really? You had to ask that question?"

Yes.

"Did you think people would support this?"

How would I know unless I asked?

[Dickey]

I am a Fire Explorer ...

would I be violating any FCC rules if I were to transmit on our FD channels?

I will answer your question. You are a fire EXPLORER...not a firefighter.

Your FCC radio license is issued to the FD which in turn, the Chief is the caretaker of. The license only allows so many radios to be in use. For example, my local radio license allows us 40 portable radios and 20 mobile radios for a total of 60.

Only the license holder can grant permission to use that frequency. The other frequencies that are in your radio are held by someone else. Most departments grants permission to mutual aid departments to use their radio frequency. First, you would need permission from your Chief, and then permission for every other radio frequency you wish to transmit on.

If your license is at capacity, the answer is no regardless of what the Chief says.

My suggestion.....Leave it as is....use it as a scanner until the day you become a firefighter and then you have permission. Explorers have no business being on the radio for things like that. Use a cell phone if you need it.

[snowball]

In California it is illegal for you to posess that radio.

[L-Webb]

This is the only legitimate and useful response in the entire thread. It is 100% correct and it is all you need to know. There is no FCC licensing matters or any other government technicalities. The department is the licensee of the radio frequency. The department can authorize whoever they want to transmit on that frequency. The owner of the radio or the age and affiliation of the use is irrelevant.

If the chief feels this kid is responsible and competent, then there is nothing wrong with the chief ok'ing his using the radio. In my own department, a few of our explorers have had their own radios, and they're programmed to transmit on our fireground channel. They're just as responsible and competent as anyone else if not more and its perfectly allowed.

As for some of the other responses to this, you know it isn't neccessary to be a jackass to everyone under the age of 18 in the fire service. I realize there are some real winners on here that deserve all the ball breaking you can dish out. But not all of them are stupid and don't all deserve dumb responses when a legit helpful response is in order.

He is right 100%. Just ask the chief, Yes or no either way your covered

[FireWA1]

In California it is illegal for you to posess that radio.

In California it is illegal to do anything, EVERYTHING causes cancer, and if you look at a city the wrong way it and/or the surrounding area catches fire and the government thinks the best way to fight it is reduce the number of firefighters. But that is a different story.

When I was an explorer I used the radio once when I was told to. All I did was say "Dispatch from Aid ## en-route to XXXXXXX Medical Center." Dispatch did not care or know I was an explorer. All they said was "Copy Aid ##." I used a department radio after I had been trained to and ordered to.

But the best advice is to ask your next in command and have it go up the chain of command.

[rm1524]

In California it is illegal for you to posess that radio.

Just about everything is illegal in California. If you posess the radio in California will it cause cancer?

[GTRider245]

The issue does not lie with an explorer talking on the radio. I talked on the radio plenty as an explorer. The lies with whether that explorer has the permission to or not.

As mentioned above, ask you chief.

[MarcusKspn]

As for some of the other responses to this, you know it isn't neccessary to be a jackass to everyone under the age of 18 in the fire service. I realize there are some real winners on here that deserve all the ball breaking you can dish out. But not all of them are stupid and don't all deserve dumb responses when a legit helpful response is in order.

Click on his name and read all of his 12 posts. That's pretty much explains everything.

[LVFD301]

In California it is illegal for you to posess that radio.

Cite? Illegal to possess a portable radio?

Insofar as the original question, the posters who state it is up the licensee holder are totally correct - and I know many explorers/student/juniors that I would rather have on the radio than regular firefighters!

I know firemedic09 has an "interesting" history here, but instead of slamming him, lets try to help develop the kid!