Using a CB Radio to contact the Mountain Resue Service

Q. As an ex soldier, my friends and I regularly take part in the odd Mountain adventure, Snowdon, Black Mountains etc.

We are of various ability and always take extra clothing, water, rations, emergency storm shelters etc.

I was wondering if we ever actually got in to difficulty and couldn't get a mobile signal, could I contact the mountain rescue with a hand held CB radio or a marine VHF radio?

Is there any hand-held or portable radios that are recommended for climbers/ ramblers?

Even if it's just to say that the weather has turned but we are OK and bedded in for the night?

John Heavey, Coventry

A. Hi John

Well CB only good if you have another person to contact you, range can be anything from 2 to 20miles.

Your best bet is to carry a Marine VHF radio and put a emergency call out on CH16 marine if its a life or death situation, and before we get the backs up of the know it alls out there! if it life or death you can use any frequency, band, mode, radio it is not illegal.

The worst they could do is confiscate equipment and slap on wrist afterwards but I doubt it, but as radio will be used in emergency use and not general it's perfectly legal to own unless you transmit for general use.

Please bear in mind VHF is line of site and portable is a low power unit so height and clear surrounding will help when making that call!

I not sure if your aware but you maybe able to raise help on PMR 446 radios as lots of people use these and are very cheap as a extra backup to complement your VHF.

The other device you could carry is a marine 406mhzGPS ERIPB beacon and register it, just pull the pin and they come find you.

Good luck and stay safe.

Bob Parsons, Newport Gwent

A. The procedure for contacting the mountain rescue by telephone is to dial 999 and ask for the mountain rescue service - see Contacting the Emergency Services when Walking, Hiking or Rambling for more information.

If you have a CB radio or marine VHF radio with you then perhaps your best policy would be to contact a fellow CB/VHF radio enthusiast and ask them to call 999 for you.

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

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