Wasn't there a campaign on BIRDCHAT to make Channel 11/subcode 22 the
national birding channel? Does anyone know if this has caught on? It
seems like a reasonable approach, unless FRS-birding becomes EXTREMELY
popular.

I have only had my FRS radios a few weeks. I monitored OneOneTwoTwo
for
about an hour one Saturday at the Samish flats, and heard no traffic.
Of course, if the advertised 2 mile range is accurate, there must be
room from Fir Island to Samish Island for a couple of non-overlapping
circles of broadcast.

Where are FRS communications NOT among pre-arranged groups of birders
popular? Or FRS, period?

Seems like a birding area would have to be very crowded and compact to
need more than one code, if people use the channel responsibly, i.e.
report notable sightings between groups or ask if anyone has seen a
bird you want to list, not endlessly call out every duck on the pond
between two cars. For that sort of intensive, in-group use, you should
just pick another code, at least if there seems to be any other traffic
on 11-22, IMHO. OTOH, if the channel is empty, a group could start off
on 11-22 and see if anyone else wanted to join in, then go off-code if
needed.


=====
Mike Wagenbach wagen13ATyahooDOTcom
wagenATuDOTwashingtonDOTedu Seattle WA

"When I hear postmodernist jargon, I reach for my pistol.".

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