FSR roads and radio's

medler

I love guns
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
17,637
Reaction score
8,120
Location
Stettler Alberta
Make sure you get the Ladd channels so you can get updates on road conditions and bear hideouts to :)
 

moyiesledhead

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
5,434
Reaction score
10,775
Location
Moyie B.C.

First, get a much better manual from here: The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project The one that comes with it is horrible.

If you got the programming cable and software with it that's the easiest way to program it. If not it's not as difficult as some people have said to do it from the keyboard with the above manual.

Here's what's in mine. 1-7 and 15-22 are the standard GMRS frequencies, so I can talk to the people in our group that are still using them. 24-28 are the new Multi-use Radio Service frequencies that are about to be adopted in Canada and have already been in the US. 30-32 are our local FSR frequencies. Those will be different depending on where you're riding.

If you have any problems programming them give me a shout. I spent a fair bit of time stumbling around them and have sorted out most of the quirks.


radio1.jpg
radio2.jpg
 

Stompin Tom

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
3,787
Reaction score
8,136
Location
BC
I have read a few pages in this thread but not all, but here is a simple break down as to how to call miles on FSR Roads in BC. WCB has taken over control of FSR radio calling and this is a coles notes version of what is expected.

1, empty or loaded call your position when entering and leaving a road.

2, it is now always "up or down", there is no more loaded or empty. Up or down indicates the direction your moving in relation to the mileage signs. Simply if you enter at KM 0 and the next marker is 1, you call "up at 0" (this is if your a logging truck, any other vehicle on a FSR road in BC is asked to indicate their vehicle, ie lowbed, pickup, fuel truck)

3, up vehicles only call when entering a road and at any "must call" sign. Must call signs are very visible and if you see one, you call it. Other than that up vehicles are to stay silent and clear all "down" vehicles. The only time you are to call is if you lose track of your road position or are concerned that you missed a "down" call.

4, Down vehicles call every 2nd km as well as any "must call" signs.

The only time a down vehicle clears for an up vehicle is if previous communication has been made, an example would be a loaded lowbed traveling up and a steep hill ahead of him, in that case he may ask the down vehicle if its ok to clear him so he can run the hill.

These are the simple basic rules instituted by WCB and all contractors have to follow them.
 

Stompin Tom

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
3,787
Reaction score
8,136
Location
BC
some good information in this link, and one line really stood out to me, I have not heard this before but:

"In accordance with local guidelines, every vehicle, private or commercial, traveling an industrial road, or rural resource road as outlined by the ministry of forests, and underwritten by WorkSafeBC, is subject by law, to have a mandatory VHF two way radio permanently installed and capable of communicating with other users on that road, on the same channel (frequency) in order to guide them and notify them of oncoming dangers and other vehicle traffic."

Take it for what its worth, I was not aware that it is now law, and I am not sure about the source of information, but rather interesting none the less.
 

moyiesledhead

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
5,434
Reaction score
10,775
Location
Moyie B.C.
some good information in this link, and one line really stood out to me, I have not heard this before but:

"In accordance with local guidelines, every vehicle, private or commercial, traveling an industrial road, or rural resource road as outlined by the ministry of forests, and underwritten by WorkSafeBC, is subject by law, to have a mandatory VHF two way radio permanently installed and capable of communicating with other users on that road, on the same channel (frequency) in order to guide them and notify them of oncoming dangers and other vehicle traffic."

Take it for what its worth, I was not aware that it is now law, and I am not sure about the source of information, but rather interesting none the less.

I underlined the important part. Doesn't apply to a guy out sledding, only those covered by Worksafe while they're there, ie: working. I think it SHOULD apply to everybody though.
 

Old Boy

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
358
Reaction score
351
Location
Windermere Valley
Thanks . All good info just learning. Went to buy a new vhf radio in Kalispell and they would not sell me one as from Canada. $400 bucks cheaper. Can any of you help me find marine channels that are used around east koot, also any other that should be put in a new radio.? I am in the bush from Golden, Revy, Invermere, Elko, Creston and Nelson. I will be getting a vhf 2 way just to stay out of the way of the big logging trucks it will also make them HAPPY I hope?. Thanks very much.
 

X-it

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Messages
7,370
Reaction score
16,519
Location
Prince George
Try coming down the road calling all your miles, you will notice all the empty trucks are sitting in the pull outs waiting for you to clear so they can carry on. Trucks you did not even know were on the road. Think about that one for a bit before you want to call all your miles going up and expect the loaded trucks to make concessions for you and your new radio.
 

moyiesledhead

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
5,434
Reaction score
10,775
Location
Moyie B.C.
Try coming down the road calling all your miles, you will notice all the empty trucks are sitting in the pull outs waiting for you to clear so they can carry on. Trucks you did not even know were on the road. Think about that one for a bit before you want to call all your miles going up and expect the loaded trucks to make concessions for you and your new radio.

Loaded trucks always have the right of way. They're usually big enough to exercise it too! :yikes:
 

moyiesledhead

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
5,434
Reaction score
10,775
Location
Moyie B.C.
Thanks . All good info just learning. Went to buy a new vhf radio in Kalispell and they would not sell me one as from Canada. $400 bucks cheaper. Can any of you help me find marine channels that are used around east koot, also any other that should be put in a new radio.? I am in the bush from Golden, Revy, Invermere, Elko, Creston and Nelson. I will be getting a vhf 2 way just to stay out of the way of the big logging trucks it will also make them HAPPY I hope?. Thanks very much.

Marine???? Is that really what you meant?

This radio is cheap and will do you just fine, as long as you're OK with the illegality of a modified user programmable HAM radio. One simple modification (the illegal part!) you can find with Google will allow you to transmit on FSR frequencies. You can already recieve them the way the radio comes in the box.

Yaesu FT-2900R | FT 2900R | FT2900R 75W 2M FM Mobile Transceiver|FT-2900R [YA-FT2900R] : @ Radioworld Toronto

This is a list of the FSR commercial frequencies used in BC.
 
Last edited:

X-it

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Messages
7,370
Reaction score
16,519
Location
Prince George
I was not referring to a loaded logging truck at all, just joe blow snowmobiler coming down the road calling miles.
 

ferniesnow

I'm doo-ing it!
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
109,049
Reaction score
83,353
Location
beautiful, downtown Salmon Arm, BC
I have read a few pages in this thread but not all, but here is a simple break down as to how to call miles on FSR Roads in BC. WCB has taken over control of FSR radio calling and this is a coles notes version of what is expected.

1, empty or loaded call your position when entering and leaving a road.

2, it is now always "up or down", there is no more loaded or empty. Up or down indicates the direction your moving in relation to the mileage signs. Simply if you enter at KM 0 and the next marker is 1, you call "up at 0" (this is if your a logging truck, any other vehicle on a FSR road in BC is asked to indicate their vehicle, ie lowbed, pickup, fuel truck)

3, up vehicles only call when entering a road and at any "must call" sign. Must call signs are very visible and if you see one, you call it. Other than that up vehicles are to stay silent and clear all "down" vehicles. The only time you are to call is if you lose track of your road position or are concerned that you missed a "down" call.

4, Down vehicles call every 2nd km as well as any "must call" signs.

The only time a down vehicle clears for an up vehicle is if previous communication has been made, an example would be a loaded lowbed traveling up and a steep hill ahead of him, in that case he may ask the down vehicle if its ok to clear him so he can run the hill.

These are the simple basic rules instituted by WCB and all contractors have to follow them.

It seems like a typical governmental paper pushing, job justification BS thing. A couple of points:

1. for the up vehicles, the only "must call" sign I have seen is at the beginning of the road. So that must mean only at the beginning or when they lose track of markers.

2. It is funny that the loggers are still calling out the up markers for the courtesy of their fellow workers and probably for what they think are safety measures.

3. I have never sign a "must call sign" going down. Are the sign putter-upper guys behind or industry doesn't think they are necessary?
 

ferniesnow

I'm doo-ing it!
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
109,049
Reaction score
83,353
Location
beautiful, downtown Salmon Arm, BC
Thanks . All good info just learning. Went to buy a new vhf radio in Kalispell and they would not sell me one as from Canada. $400 bucks cheaper. Can any of you help me find marine channels that are used around east koot, also any other that should be put in a new radio.? I am in the bush from Golden, Revy, Invermere, Elko, Creston and Nelson. I will be getting a vhf 2 way just to stay out of the way of the big logging trucks it will also make them HAPPY I hope?. Thanks very much.

Kootenay Communications in Cranbrook or Burnaby Radio (they have a web-site so you can google that one) were the most reasonable. Burnaby Radio sells the programmable mic (which are illegal) but my buddies who have them seem to like them.
 

Old Boy

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
358
Reaction score
351
Location
Windermere Valley
Moyiesledhead . Thanks Yes I was looking for few Marine channels that they use around here on big water like Kimbasket lake. Thanks for link to FSR.
 

X-it

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Messages
7,370
Reaction score
16,519
Location
Prince George
You must call every kilometer going down so must call signs going down are pointless.
 

pfi572

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
6,064
Reaction score
15,262
Location
Grande Prairie
OMG
I have travelled radio controlled roads for years and I can't believe some of you can keep going on and on?
It's not rocket science boys. If your communicating with road users you will figger it out in a few seconds.
Kiss
 

Stompin Tom

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
3,787
Reaction score
8,136
Location
BC
It seems like a typical governmental paper pushing, job justification BS thing. A couple of points:

1. for the up vehicles, the only "must call" sign I have seen is at the beginning of the road. So that must mean only at the beginning or when they lose track of markers.

2. It is funny that the loggers are still calling out the up markers for the courtesy of their fellow workers and probably for what they think are safety measures.

3. I have never sign a "must call sign" going down. Are the sign putter-upper guys behind or industry doesn't think they are necessary?
must call signs are dependant on your roads. The roads I travel on right now have 3 must call signs, loaded or empty. If your calling correct and call every second KM, there are times when a loaded must also call the "must call" signs.

if there is a "must call" sign there is a reason for it, usually a bad corner or a bad hill. If you dont have a must call sign on your roads then either your dont have any bad enough corners or hills or your maintenance contractor isnt doing their job.

Often times when you have a busy logging road, you will hear loggers call up at certain points, that is usually done when there is a bad spot or a long stretch with no pull out, it alerts the on coming down truck where you are so they can vary their speed to give you time to make the longer stretch to the pull out.

on thing is for certain, if your on an active logging road but your not regular traffic, dont tell them what to do, they are running the road every day, often 3 to 4 times a day with the same trucks and they know what is needed for their safety. The most dangerous thing to them is non-regular traffic and beleive me, within minutes of you entering the road they know your there.
 
Top Bottom