Witch Well Emergency Response Network (WWERN)

One of the major risks of living in the high desert off grid is spotty communications.  At least for me, my property has almost no cell service.  We are completely dependent upon WIFI calling through our Starlink satellite system.  I have tried cell phone boosters attached to my barn and portable cell phone boosters in both of my vehicles.  They help but there are still dead zones on my drive to Saint Johns or Gallup.  Especially on the 191.  

This gap in communications was recognized by a fellow off gridder, Jim Leonard, former president of the board at Red Sky Ranch.  He has investigated many tools for enhancing communication capabilities and decided to create WWERN which ultimately will encompass Red Sky, Sierra Mountain, G-Bar, Woodland Valley and more.   WWERN uses GMRS technology.

GMRS, or General Mobile Radio Service, is a licensed two-way radio service in the United States that operates on UHF frequencies around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.  It is designed for short- to medium-range voice and limited data communication (such as text messaging and GPS) between handheld, mobile, and base station radios. 

Key features of GMRS include:

• Requires an FCC license for operation, which costs $35 and is valid for 10 years. 
• The license covers the licensee and their immediate family members, allowing them to use the system without individual licensing. 
• No exam is required to obtain the license—applications are submitted online via the FCC’s Universal Licensing System. 
• GMRS radios offer higher power output than FRS (Family Radio Service) radios: up to 5 watts for handhelds and 50 watts for mobile/base stations. 
• It shares 22 channels with FRS, enabling communication between the two services, but also includes 8 dedicated repeater channels exclusive to GMRS.
• GMRS supports repeater use to extend range (up to 25 miles or more), though repeaters cannot be linked via the internet or public networks. 
• Common uses include outdoor activities (hiking, camping), family communication, small business coordination, and emergency situations. 

GMRS is regulated under FCC Part 95 Subpart E and is intended for personal, non-commercial use by individuals and their families.

Jim installed a transmission tower on Red Sky last year and the transmissions do reach to some parts of Sierra Mountain Ranch.  Will Nelson has agreed to install a second tower on his property in Sierra Mountain Ranch which will extend the reach of the WWERN network to encompass all of Sierra Mountain Ranch.  

This is all done through hand held radios that are inexpensive to purchase (less than $50 on Amazon) and are programmable for emergency frequencies like Puerco Valley Fire Department, Saint Johns Police,  Apache County Sheriff and more.  Greens Peak has a repeater that allow you to communicate with other users as far away as the Phoenix area. 

Every Thursday at 7PM there is a "check In" which allows users to identify others on the network and to ensure their radios are working properly.  The intent of the network is to have a means to communicate emergency information such as a traffic accident, fire or other emergencies when cell phones are not working.    The transmission towers are solar powered so there is no dependency on the electrical grid.  

Jim is willing to program the radios for you.  It only takes about 10 minutes and he does this at Witch Well Church on Sundays after the morning service.

I encourage everyone to purchase these inexpensive radios and keep them handy in case of emergency.  

Brian