GMRS.net.tc | Uniting FRS and GMRS radio users nationwide

Connecticut National SOS Emergency Radio Drill

I successfully participated in the National SOS emergency drill in Connecticut. National SOS was monitoring from Avon, CT (click here for a map) using a Maxon 210-3 FRS/GMRS handheld fed into a 4-foot vertical antenna and I was transmitting from various locations around the Hartford, CT area using a Midland GXT-300 FRS/GMRS radio. The table below shows the location which I called the receiving station from as well as an evaluation of the reception from that location on a scale of 1-10 (10=best, 1=worst).

Location (click for a map)	Evaluation of Reception
Intersection of New London Turnpike and Hebron Avenue(Glastonbury, CT)	6-I was able to clearly hear what they were saying; however, there was a little static and background noise.
Near Putnam Bridge (Glastonbury, CT)	5-Reception was once again very choppy here but I could still make out what the National SOS operator was saying.
Brainard Airport (Hartford, CT)	6 - Reception was still somewhat unclear here. I had to repeat my callsign phonetically a few times until the National SOS receiver fully copied it.
Near Charter Oak Bridge on I-84	4 - Reception was poor here. I could not hear what Naional SOS was saying.
Buckland Hills Mall	9 - Believe it or not, I had the best communication with National SOS here, even though this location is furthest away from Avon. I most likely received National SOS well here because I was at higher ground than the rest of the Connecticut River Valley east of the river. Avon is located at higher ground than the rest of the Connecticut River Valley west of the river. At this location, I had a brief conversation with the National SOS operator and also heard the National SOS operator receive a transmission from Londonberry, NH.