Zero Retries Perspective on Emergency Communications (EMCOM) Capability in Amateur Radio
By Steve Stroh N8GNJ
Editor, Zero Retries Newsletter
Last updated 2026-04-05
This article / page is continually in development.
In the US FCC Amateur Radio Regulations, § 97.1 (a) is the most well-known justification of the continuation of Amateur Radio - emergency communications (EMCOM) in a disaster. In the 2020s, Amateur Radio EMCOM is… “in transition”.
From the Zero Retries perspective, three technology evolutions, which do not require Amateur Radio experience, or even experience with radio systems, have combined to render Amateur Radio nearly moot for its (traditional) role in providing emergency communications to served entries such as public safety agencies, government, and relief organizations, using Amateur Radio spectrum, services, and facilities (such as Amateur Radio repeaters).
Iridium
Iridium is medium-speed data and voice via Low Earth Orbit satellite network. Iridium user terminals can be as small as a handheld radio - think “walkie talkie” that works anywhere on the planet and doesn’t require any ground infrastructure. Thus Iridium is an ideal voice / low speed data system for use in emergency communications. In 2019, Iridium completed replacement of their satellites with new, much more capable satellites, which allowed much faster data speeds and made Iridium much less easy to saturate in intensive use.
FirstNet
FirstNET is First Responder Network Authority, a program of the US Government with AT&T as the infrastructure / service provider. FirstNET provides dedicated capacity, prioritization, and hardened cellular network capacity specifically for first responders and government agencies on AT&T’s cellular network. Unlike previous voluntary efforts of cellular service providers for emergency communications offered, FirstNET has enforced and monitored metrics for reliability, capacity, and features and thus is much more reliable than “civilian” cellular infrastructure and services.
Starlink
Starlink is a low earth orbit satellite system that provides Broadband Internet Access (roughly 200 Mbps downlink, 20 Mbps uplink) nearly anywhere on Earth. Current and future Starlink satellites work much like Iridium with inter-satellite links that will considerably reduce the requirement for regional earth stations for Internet service in a specific area. Example - there’s little demand in the middle of a desert (or ocean) so instead of an earth station, the traffic for those few users can be “handed off” to another satellite until there is an earth station within range. Starlink became a very viable option for emergency communications with the introduction of the Starlink Mini terminal which is a single integrated unit, can fit in a backpack, and be powered by 12 volts or USB-C.
Additionally, Starlink offers a compelling service tier - Standby mode which provides data transfer caped at 400 kbps (with unlimited usage), for $5 / month. This allows Starlink terminals to be on “hot standby” (including the daily software updates) with easy transition to full bandwidth use as needed, and then back to Standby mode. While 400 kbps might seem slow in the era of hundreds of Mbps Internet service, it’s usable enough for basic web browsing, email, and even Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).
Iridium, FirstNet, and Starlink evolved in the late 2010s and now in the mid 2020s are mature and well proven to be integrated into planning and usage scenarios for disasters by public safety agencies, government, and relief organizations. The combination of the technical capabilities of FirstNET (local voice and data), Iridium (regional / worldwide voice and data), and Starlink (regional / worldwide Broadband Internet) provides a good mix of emergency communications capability.
In addition, a new organization - Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) has evolved to provide emergency communications based on Information Technology services (rather than two way radio), such as providing Wi-Fi at disaster relief sites. ITDRC is centralized and supported by major corporate sponsors. ITDRC seems to appeal to a younger, technical demographic - “just bring your IT skills and you can help” instead of a requirement of an Amateur Radio license and the unique, hyper-local organizations common in Amateur Radio emergency communications.
Demographics
One trend working against Amateur Radio EMCOM is that the Amateur Radio population is that the portion of Amateur Radio Operators with the availability to volunteer for service with served agencies is aging. Thus t’s becoming increasingly difficult to rely on Amateur Radio Operators to be available for EMCOM to served agencies.
Requirement for Data / Internet Continuation
Another trend working against Amateur Radio EMCOM is that the primary communications need of served agencies has become higher speed / higher capacity data communications to communicate large files, photos, video, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), etc.
This requirement is problematic for many Amateur Radio EMCOM organizations, and Amateur Radio Operators volunteering for EMCOM because they’re generally unfamiliar, and uncomfortable with data communications in Amateur Radio1.
There are some Amateur Radio technologies and systems that can provide reasonable data communications speeds and capabilities:
VARA FM
New Packet Radio
AREDN
But these technologies and systems are unfamiliar to most Amateur Radio Operators and organizations for use in EMCOM, and thus not widely used.
Generally, what served agencies need most in emergencies is broadband Internet access. “Internet continuation” is / can be / perceived by some or many Amateur Radio organizations as problematic overall for Amateur Radio to provide given that Internet applications, services, and infrastructure require the use of routine encryption. Many Amateur Radio organizations, individual Amateur Radio Operators, and the US FCC consider any use of encryption over Amateur Radio spectrum to be illegal.
Thus, public safety agencies, government, and relief organizations are migrating away from involving Amateur Radio and are now using Iridium, FirstNet, and Starlink.
Amateur Radio is a Good Option for Personal and Neighborhood Emergency Communications
While Iridium can be used by individuals, the user terminals are expensive, as is Iridium service.
FirstNet access is generally unavailable to individual users unless they are employed by a public safety agency, government, or other entities that are specifically authorized for FirstNet access.
Starlink, especially the use of a Starlink Mini terminal and the Standby mode, is very viable for use by individuals for personal emergency communications such as between widely separated family members, neighborhood groups, etc.
For personal emergency communications, Amateur Radio, remains a viable option for personal emergency communications.
For neighborhood emergency communications, Amateur Radio is one option, but there are other options that don’t require an Amateur Radio license:
Family Radio Service (FRS) portable radios (North America) for voice,
PMR 446 portable radios (Europe) for voice,
General Mobile Radio Service (North America) which can use not just portable radios, but also mobile radios and repeaters for voice,
Citizens Band portable and mobile radios (North America and Europe) for voice,
Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah) for local area data communications (including mesh networking), and
Meshtastic (North America and Europe) for text messaging.
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One exception is the use of Winlink for sending and receiving email messages… but because of low data rates, it’s usable mostly for text emails, with limitations on the size and type of attachments.