Trail Communications

Trail Communications

The Rubicon Trail by modern standards is an isolated place. It's the perfect place to get away from the world where everyone is a button press away from everyone.  However, this relative isolation does cause issues communicating with the outside world, particularly in such a dangerous place where nearly every year someone is lifted out on a helicopter. Over the last 10 years, there have been several fatalities and many life-flight helicopter lifts to deliver the injured to hospital care as fast as possible. How does one communicate with the outside world, when cell service is virtually non-existent? (Yes, there is a "Cell phone Tree near Walker Hill and the Benchmark, but the trail is 11 miles long).

There is also vehicle to vehicle communications.  How do you talk to your buddy that is 100 yards ahead of you that you've just broke something and he needs to come back?  What options are out there?  What is new?  What is old?  On this page we will talk about the two main options available: Ham Radio and GMRS

Ham Radio

Ham Radio communication is by far the best way to communicate on the Rubicon Trail.  Ham Radio is the only radio system that is able to reach outside of the trail in an emergency.  Many lives have been saved over the years, due to the ability of Ham Radio to communicate outside of the Rubicon Trail.

Why Ham Radio?

In 2007, Dennis Mayer of the Auburn Jeep Club was on site during a rollover accident where someone was severely injured.  Dennis felt frustrated that there was no Ham Radio repeater available on the trail to call for medical support.  A location was selected at Spider Lake, and the property owners agreed to the construction of permanent repeater site.  In 2009, this repeater project became the very first fully funded project for the Rubicon Trail Foundation. The "Rubicon Repeater", as its known, enables Ham Radio communications around the Rubicon Trail and outside the trail linking to the powerful 805 repeater system created by Frank Yost which stretches communication to primarily El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento Counties. Over the years this system has helped during many incidents that required helicopter flights, such as hornet bites, trees falling, heart attacks, strokes, rollovers and falls.

The Spider Lake Repeater.

Ham License Classes

The Rubicon Trail Foundation has taught and licensed over 700 users since 2009.  John and Barbara Arenz are the instructors. We typically have 2 full Saturday's for instruction. Saturday #1 includes all day instruction with Barbara Arenz that prepares you for passing your Ham License.  Saturday #2 follows where you can take your Ham Radio license exam and then John Arenz will teach for the rest of the day how to use your radio and practical applications on the Rubicon, including how to talk to a medical helicopter in an emergency. Contact John Arenz to get information on any future classes.

GMRS REPEATER

The Rubicon Trail Foundation has installed in 2022 a GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) repeater on the Rubicon Trail to facilitate in-trail communication.  It is important that users read about the repeater to fully understand the use cases and rules.

What is GMRS?

GMRS is the General Mobile Radio Service.  It is not ham radio and does not require you take a test to get a license.  Many OHV users are switching from CB radio (for the obvious reason that it doesn’t work very well) to GMRS, because it works!

Do I Need A License?

Strictly speaking, yes, though RTF is most interested in the below four rules being followed.  The FCC issues licenses with no test required for a fee of $70.  The license is good for your whole family.  The FCC website is daunting, we recommend Not A Rubicon’s guide if you are having trouble, it can be found here: How to get a GMRS License

What is the advantage to using a GMRS Repeater?

Simple…without the repeater you are limited to line of sight communications, typically folks that are nearby.  Using the repeater, you can talk from one end of the Rubicon to the other, from say, Rubicon Springs, to your friends at Loon Staging, for example.

Is GMRS Good In An Emergency?

It is better than CB, but not as good as ham.  On the Rubicon GMRS repeater, even though people outside the Rubicon will not hear you (like they do on Ham), others in the Rubicon are likely to and can summon help.  For example, if someone is near the cell phone tree or at Chipmunk Bluff they could make a call for you.  Or perhaps a Ham equipped Rubicon user who is also listening to GMRS could make a call for you.  Typically RTF Mid Trail Staff will be monitoring the GMRS repeater between June 1st and September 15th.

What Are The Rules Of The Repeater?

There are four rules on this repeater:

1. No foul language.
2. No playing music.
3. No interfering with other users (jamming).
4. Please use a non-repeated GMRS channel for talking to your nearby friends, this keeps the repeater clear for use across the Rubicon when needed.

How Do I Use It?

Set your GMRS radio to Channel 18 repeat and PL (CTCSS) tone 18 and it will work on the Rubicon GMRS repeater. For more advanced users, this is 462.625 Mhz +5.00 with a PL of 123.0.  Please follow the 4 rules!