FROM THE DESK OF CHUCK CHADWICK -

Radios for your ministry:

We frequently get questions on radios for the church. Communications is one of the necessities of having an effective Security team and a hallmark of good emergency planning.

One of the growing pains of having more square feet of church is the problem of having radios that can be heard CLEARLY from one end of the campus to the other. Here is some information to help you make those important and costly decisions about radios.

Radio Licensing:

There’s this Federal Agency called the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulates who can transmit on what frequencies.

What type of radios: There are several types (or format) of radios. Handheld, Mobile (for installation in automobiles and golf carts etc.) or Base station (usually found in the command or Dispatch center). Usually Handheld radios are the most common for church applications.

Latest and Greatest:

There are new types of handhelds that use WIFI or Cellular signals. Most of those newer solutions have a radio about the price of a current Digital UHF radio but also come with a monthly $25 subscription fee (forever). They may work great, I don’t know, but I can’t see the sense in buying a radio and then having to pay a monthly subscription too.

Frequencies and Wattage Limits:

Some frequencies need a license to operate while others no license is required.

There are also wattage limits of the various frequencies and format.

Wattage limits for UHF and VHF radios are strictly regulated by the FCC in the US and vary based on the specific radio service (e.g., FRS, MURS, GMRS, Amateur/Ham) and whether the device is a handheld or a fixed/mobile unit. 

Here is a breakdown of the maximum power output (wattage) for common radio types:

Unlicensed & Personal Radio Services (Handheld) 

• FRS (Family Radio Service): Limited to 2 watts maximum, though many are sold with 0.5W to 2W.
• MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service): Limited to 2 watts VHF.
• CB (Citizens Band): Limited to 4 watts (AM) or 12 watts (SSB/Single Side Band).

Licensed & Commercial/Land Mobile Radio (LMR) 

• Handheld GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service): GMRS Handhelds are typically capped at 5 watts by manufacturers, though higher is allowed on some channels with a license. 
• Handhelds (VHF/UHF): Generally limited to 5 watts for UHF and VHF, although 4 watts is common for UHF, due to safety limits on RF exposure close to the body.
• Mobile/Base Stations: Generally authorized for 25 to 100 watts (or more, depending on specific land-mobile licenses).
• Marine VHF: Handhelds are limited to 5 watts (with a 1-watt low setting). Fixed-mount boat radios are authorized up to 25 watts.
• Aviation VHF: Aircraft transmitters are generally limited to 55 watts. 
• Repeaters UHF & VHF – Require licensing, Wattage 40-100 usually

Example radios might be Baofeng BF-888S 4 watt that transmit and receive on the UHF band, 16 channels.

Federal law states that you must have a business or individual radio license to transmit on these frequencies.

Warning from the FCC:

Transmitting UHF radio without a license carries significant penalties from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including potentially thousands of dollars in fines per violation (e.g., $10,000 for a single day/violation, up to $75,000 total), confiscation of equipment, and, for willful and knowing violations, potential criminal charges involving fines and/or imprisonment. Penalties are adjusted based on the violation's severity and duration, but unauthorized operation is considered serious. 

Potential Penalties for Unauthorized UHF Transmission:

• Monetary Fines: A base fine of $10,000 per violation/day can be assessed, with potential adjustments based on the violation's gravity, history, and duration.
• Equipment Seizure: The FCC can confiscate the radio equipment being used illegally.
• Cease and Desist: You'll likely receive a formal order to stop.
• Criminal Charges: Willful and knowing violations can lead to criminal penalties, including fines and jail time. 

Why it Matters:

• Interference: Unlicensed operation can interfere with legitimate, licensed users (like emergency services, businesses, or ham radio operators).
• Serious Offense: The FCC treats unauthorized broadcasting as a serious matter. 

What If I Choose To Operate Without an FCC License?

Suppose you are operating 4 or 5-watt radios right out of the box without an FCC license. In that case, there is a reasonable chance that you will be causing interference issues with licensed users in the area. If the licensed user reports interference on his licensed frequencies to the FCC, the FCC will investigate the issue. The FCC will pinpoint the source of the interference as your illegally operating two-way radios, and you will suffer the consequences.

The consequences could be fines of thousands of dollars per day for the days you were operating without a license. The consequences could also be confiscation of your equipment. 

END OF FCC WARNING

Regardless of UHF or VHF, you need to get a business licenses to comply with Federal Law. The process involves a FCC frequency Coordinator through a radio company.

When you need more power:

If you find that your 4 watt UHF radio will not give you clear reception the best legal options is to install a repeater. We have a longtime friend who is president and owner of Black Diamond/Custom Ear Piece. https://blackdiamondradio.com/ . Black Diamond has a package that includes a 40 Watt single channel UHF repeater, repeater install and Federal frequency coordination and licensing for approximately $10K. The repeater supports both analog and digital radios so if you want to change over to digital in the future we can.

Analog or Digital UHF radio decision?

The older technology is Analog while the newer is Digital. The primary differences are Price and Clarity.

Analog is susceptible to lots of static at extended ranges, where as the Digital is much clearer due to the digital nature of the signal.

Digital is also a bit more expensive. Baofeng BF-888S 5 watt UHF radios are around $15 each and good Digital radio like the D452 5-Watt Digital DMR Two-Way Radio is $260.

How many radios:

Access how many might be used by the various ministries including:

1. Security
2. Medical
3. Parking – on foot & golf carts
4. Youth/Student
5. Children
6. Ushers
7. Facilities
8. Hospitality
9. Dispatch or Control Room

Operational Notes:

Each department should have it’s own radio channel. Every department stays on their own channel.

If a department needs to talk to Security, they turn over to the security channel and:

1. Department needing help - Establish identity: “Security, this is Children’s area. COME IN?”
2. Designated Security responds – “This is Security, Go Ahead.”
3. Transmit need – “We need assistance locating a lost child.”
4. Recipient response- “ Age and description please? Last know location?”
5. Etc.

10 Codes and other codes

It is our advice that you NOT USE 10 codes or any other codes. Just say what the emergency is in plain ENGLISH. This leaves no room for misunderstanding.

Maintenance

There is very little maintenance. Antennas and belt clips break. Batteries are almost all Lithium-Ion nowadays, so they won’t have memory fade problems like the old Nicad batteries did.

Accessories

Ear pieces - I prefer the two wire Microphone / Ear piece with the clear squiggle ear tube.

Gang Chargers – Charging 6 radios at once.

Programming –

You may want to be able to program the different frequencies. Most radios can be programmed with a programming cable and a free PC program call “Chirp” or come with their own programming app.

Special Features –

All you need is a On/Off /volume knob and a channel nob. No other special features are needed.

Quality or Quantity?

Do you get the $10 Baofeng or the $350 Kenwood? I know churches that have gone the cheap way and not regretted it. They seem to last forever and they are cheap.

But don’t drop them or let them go swimming. The more expensive ones are usually MilSpec for drop and water resistance. Your choice. Buy once and forget or buy cheap and take your chances.

Try before you buy:

I would always advise you to test any radios and be satisfied before you buy and commit to thousands of dollars.

Hope this helps you understand the issues and decision that need to be addressed in Radio Land

God Bless and Highest Regards,

Chuck Chadwick

President

Gatekeepers Security Service, LLC

chuck@gatekeeperssecurity.com

(214) 305-5616

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• Online registration closes on August 1, registration at the door is $150.

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