Communications for PPG using radios, Bluetooth intercom, and mobile phone calls.
In this post, each method will be discussed and in my opinion where each method should be used. There are specific use cases that depend on the number of pilots, location and proximity to other pilots for choosing the best communication method.
Bluetooth Intercom:
The typical PPG flight with another pilot generally means you want to use the best communication method for the flight. One is the Bluetooth intercom, a Sena or other Bluetooth headset that supports intercom functionality can be sufficient to maintain communications between pilots while in flight. Bluetooth intercom can generally support 4 user connections. If there is a need to communicate with someone at the landing zone or if the pilots separate more than 1 mile away from each other, then a longer range method will be required. I generally fly 15 miles away from the landing zone, so Bluetooth headsets would not reach the landing zone. So Bluetooth intercom is like carrying a phone call with the other pilot, but you do not need cell phone coverage to use Bluetooth intercom since the connection is made between the Bluetooth headsets using the intercom.
Mobile Phone:
If your helmet headset supports Bluetooth to your mobile phone, you have the option of calling another pilot or pilots on a conference call. Another cool thing about using the mobile phone is zoom and other video calls work as long as you are within mobile phone network coverage. This is also good for maintaining communications with someone on the ground at the landing zone or taking a phone call. There are so many use cases for this communication option, it is worth having during your flight. Calling a towered airport for permission to pass through airspace may be necessary, which would be possible if you have a mobile phone connected to your helmet. There are benefits from having certain helmet headsets while in flight and using a mobile phone, these differences will be discussed in another post. Another benefit for having a mobile phone connected to your headset is for listening to music.
Aviation Radio:
Aviation Radios are necessary when flying from or near airports. Local airport manager said I need to be able to listen to air traffic in for the airport so I can know where the approaching aircraft are located and their intentions. With this information, I have been able to confidently take off and land at my local airport. I can hear anyone approaching, who is in the pattern and whether they intend to land or if there are any aircraft preparing for take-off. I am able to stay clear of these aircraft and determine a safe time to launch or land. These radios are not cheap and require knowledge of aircraft position language, and how to announce your position if you plan to transmit on the radio. If listening for air traffic is all that is required for your use case, then there are other radios that will allow for 2 means of communications. Using Aviation Band radios for pilot to pilot communications is possible, but this means you will not be monitoring airport frequencies during that time. In my experience, using the aviation radio and another communication method for pilot to pilot communication allows me to keep the airport frequency tuned in and playing in the background of my flight. When I fly with the aviation radio tuned to the airport for listening, I can talk to other PPG pilots on the other comms method and inform them of aircraft taking off or approaching.
FRS/GMRS Radio:
Many pilots in training use the FRS radio to communicate from instructor to students. This method has been proven to work as it doesn’t have a delay like a phone call might, or the complications of Bluetooth pairing phones with helmet headsets. The best and sure way to set up communication is using an FRS radio with a cable to the helmet headset. From ground to air communication, this works very well. The instructor on the ground can communicate with the student either on the ground or inflight to guide them as they take their first 20 flights. Once the student is ready to fly on their own, they must decide how to communicate moving forward. How do you use FRS legally for communicating with other pilots? Just like the Aviation Band radio, there are FCC rules for using FRS and GMRS radios. The radio itself is very important when it comes to how the rules apply. Most of the radio services are based on which frequencies they can operate on. For example, a HAM radio has frequencies that are designated to the HAM radio band, but this can include HF, VHF, UHF frequencies. For using FRS, the radio is set up from the factory to only transmit and recieve on the FRS channels at the correct transmit power levels based on each channel. Similarly for using GMRS, the radio is set up from the factory to only use the GMRS channels and transmit within the allowed power settings. Using HAM radios on GMRS channels is prohibited, in order to be legal, the radio must be type accepted for FRS or GMRS.
FRS:
The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a private, two-way, short-distance voice and data communications service for facilitating family and group activities. The most common use for FRS channels is short-distance, two-way voice communications using small hand-held radios that are similar to walkie-talkies. The service is licensed-by-rule so the general public can use the devices without having to obtain a license and channel sharing is achieved through a listen-before-talk etiquette. FCC 47 C.F.R, Part 95
GMRS:
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz. The most common use of GMRS channels is for short-distance, two-way voice communications using hand-held radios, mobile radios and repeater systems. In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information.
Services that provide functionality similar to GMRS include the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS).
The GMRS is available to an individual (one man or one woman) for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a system consisting of one or more transmitting units (stations.) The rules for GMRS limit eligibility for new GMRS system licenses to individuals in order to make the service available to personal users. (Some previously licensed non-individual systems are allowed to continue using GMRS.)
In 2017, the FCC updated the GMRS by allotting additional interstitial channels in the 467 MHz band, increased the license term from 5 to 10 years, allowed transmission of limited data applications such as text messaging and GPS location information and made other updates to the GMRS rules to reflect modern application of the service. FCC 47 C.F.R, Part 95 Subpart E
The FRS/GMRS Combined channel chart: https://wiki.radioreference.com
The differences between FRS and GMRS:
- FRS does not require a license, GMRS requires a license from the FCC.
- The FRS radio does not have a removable antenna, GMRS can have a removable antenna.
- The FRS radio is limited to 2W of transmit power for channels 1-7 and 15-22. GMRS radios are limited to 5W of transmit power for channels 1-7 and 50W for channels 15-22. GMRS and FRS are limited to .5W of transmit power for channels 8-14.
- The FRS channel bandwidth is 12.5kHz. GMRS channel bandwidth is 20kHz for channels 1-7 and 15-22
- Channel information for FRS and GMRS can be found here: https://wiki.radioreference.com
Word of Caution: The above information could be helpful, but might get you into trouble with the FCC when incorrectly using a GMRS radio. Suppose you decide to buy a HAM radio and program it for FRS frequencies with the intention to use it for communication while flying. The HAM radio offers higher transmit power and removable antenna. These features disqualify the HAM radio from being covered by FRS rules, plus it is a HAM radio. HAM licenses are required to transmit on a HAM radio. The vantage point from the sky offers line of sight communication for miles to anyone on the ground who may be using or listening to FRS or GMRS frequencies. This could result in interference for other FRS/GMRS users. These other users report the interference to the FCC indicating the transmission is coming from aircraft, this will make it possible to track you down and possibly be fined as stated on the FCC website. If the radio is operating as a GMRS radio, it would be better to get a $35 GMRS license and operate legally. Please consider getting a GMRS type radio and a GMRS license before using a non FRS radio while flying.
What radios are good to use for inflight communication?
Some pilots have used the Baofeng UV-5R HAM radio programmed with FRS frequencies, this might have worked well, but now there are Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios that can be programmed to use GMRS/FRS channels at their proper transmit power. The radio offers everything we need as pilots to operate legally on GMRS. FRS and GMRS radios will communicate with each other, for example FRS channel 1-22 works with GMRS channel 1-22. If you are establishing communications with other pilots without a GMRS license to legally operate the radios, then have some proper FRS radios available to use from the ground or in the air.
GMRS+Aviation Band Radio:
Now that we have the legal stuff out of the way, there is a new GMRS radio available that can listen on Aviation Band frequencies using dual watch mode. This means that we can communicate with other pilots using GMRS, while listening to Aviation Band frequencies on the same radio.
1. The Talkpod A36Plus can transmit on GMRS channels, and listen to Aviation Band frequencies.
2. The Quansheng UV-K5 or Quansheng K5(8) that can transmit on GMRS and listen to Air-band frequencies, but will require a custom firmware to clean up the sound quality of Aviation Band radio. For the modified firmware that fixes the Aviation Band sound quality go to https://github.com/egzumer/. If you modify the firmware, you will also need to update the driver for Chirp to configure the radio channels, the driver is available in the github link. There are youtube videos that show how these radios sound, operate, and how to program them. To program the radios, a Baofeng usb programming cable is needed.
3. Baofeng 5RM is a HAM radio, but can be programmed with GMRS channels and receive Air-band frequencies. Use dual watch for communicating over GMRS and listening to Air-band. Take special note while programming for GMRS channels, see the page: https://wiki.radioreference.com for frequencies and transmit power.
HAM Radio:
HAM is a good option for pilots who already posses a HAM operator’s license. To acquire a HAM license a test is required before using HAM radio. As pilots who do not have an interest in doing more than communicate with other pilots using hand held radios, a sufficient number of pilots would not likely become HAM radio operators.
For compatibility with PPG pilot communication, be prepared to use the following; FRS, GMRS, Air Band, Bluetooth Intercom, and mobile phone. These will cover the majority of communication methods commonly used in PPG.