Radio Communications

Handheld Ham Radio unit

CB-Radio – Does not require a license to operate and provides great short distance communications (1-2 miles), perfect for talking between vehicles.  Select a channel that will be used by all the vehicles in your group, or scan the frequencies for information provided by other drivers.

Amateur (Ham) Radio – Requires an FCC license to operate, HAM radio offers a much broader range of communications and over many more frequencies (depending upon the class license the operator holds). Range may be further extended through the use of “repeaters” that are typically set up by local clubs in the area. For Ham license information see www.qrz.com

For Local trail coverage from Loon to Tahoe staging area, use:
444.9875 (+) PL 156.7
The repeater is located in the Rubicon so coverage is great.

For communications out of the Rubicon, use:
444.9875 (+) PL 107.2
This is linked to 146.805 (-) PL. 123 on the west side of the sierras.

There are many other Simplex frequencies to choose from for Jeep to Jeep communications. For a directory of local repeaters Google, Eldorado County ham repeater directory, there are many sites to choose from.

Emergency Helicopter operation-

  • CALSTAR is on 156.075

Frequencies

  • 805 El Dorado 146.805 -.600 PL123.0 The KA6GWY repeater, covers the west slope of El Dorado County and the Sacramento area and is linked into the Rubicon Repeater
  • 805 Tahoe 145.350 output, 146.205 input PL123.0 The Tahoe Basin KA6GWY repeater, linked 24/7 to the 805 ELD repeater, coverage in the Tahoe Basin.
  • 805-S 146.805 simplex, no PL This is the repeater output frequency of the KA6GWY repeater. Nice to have so that you can talk to your friends right in front of you, still listen to the repeater, but not tie it up when simplex will work just fine.
  • Rubicon repeater, no link 444.9875 +5.00 PL 156.7 The Rubicon repeater located near Spider Lake, coverage on all of the Rubicon Trail except east of Barker Meadows OHV trail.
  • Rubicon repeater, linked 444.9875 +5.00 PL 107.2 Same as Rubicon Repeater except that when using this PL it links to 805 El Dorado and 805 Tahoe
  • Rubicon simplex 444.9875 simples, PL107.2 This is the repeater output frequency of the Spider repeater. Nice to have so that you can talk to your friends right in front of you, still listen to the repeater, but not tie it up when simplex will work just fine. Note: PL is used because some users decode PL on their handheld radios.

For communications out of the Rubicon, use: 444.9875 (+) PL 107.2 This is linked to 146.805 (-) PL. 123 on the west side of the sierras. There are many other Simplex frequencies to choose from for Jeep to Jeep communications. For a directory of local repeaters Google, Eldorado County ham repeater directory, there are many sites to choose from.