Amateur Radio In the Backcountry? 376
bartle writes "I spend a lot of time hiking in the Colorado Rockies. Cell phone reception is very unreliable and I'm curious if carrying a small amateur radio would make any sense at all. I don't want to add too much weight to my pack; from what I gather, a radio weighing a pound would give me at most 5 to 10 watts of transmitting power. I have no idea if this is enough to be effective in a mountainous region, and I'm hoping some experienced Slashdot hams could give me a clue. I'm only interested in acquiring a radio and license if it is a lot more effective and reliable than the cell phone I already carry. Otherwise I'll just wait for Globalstar to bring back their duplex service and buy a next-generation SPOT messaging device. (I know some Slashdotters will want to suggest a modern SPOT or Personal Locator Beacon; these are suitable for the worst kinds of emergencies, but I'll point out that reliable communication can help prevent small crises from becoming big ones.) Are small amateur radios effective in the field, or are vehicle rigs really the only way to go? Or am I better off just waiting for satellite?"
Re:depends on where the repeater is (Score:5, Funny)
Re:depends on where the repeater is (Score:1, Funny)
What? Is this someone's bot gone wild?
Re:Nope (Score:5, Funny)
So what he needs is a 27MHz Citizen's Band radio? Besides rednecks and freaks, who still uses CB?
Truck drivers. Oh, wait...
(Disclaimer: I am a truck driver, so I'm allowed to make that joke without being modded troll/flamebait.)
Re:VHF/UHF are mainly line of sight (Score:1, Funny)
Re:depends on where the repeater is (Score:3, Funny)
whoosh!
Re:Nope (Score:1, Funny)
Weenies. (Score:3, Funny)
I have them chop off three of my limbs, have a Bothrops asper [wikipedia.org] bite me on the remaining one a couple of times, encase me in several feet of ice, and drop me in a deep, 33f mountain lake attached to a 40-ton anchor on a short chain.
You kids just don't know the meaning of challenge anymore. You probably still wear shoes in your own house. Weenies.
amateur radio rescue call. (Score:3, Funny)
My only reason for having a ham license is to communicate with my club members as outlined above. I don't involve myself with the greater 'ham' community other than to pay my membership dues in the local repeater society to help support the ongoing maintenance of the repeater network. In listening to some of these guys talk while on my way to work, I envision a rescue call going something like so:
- K2BRK Mayday Mayday Mayday. Anyone listening
+ K2BRK K2HLP what is the nature of your emergency
- I've injured my back and I'm trapped under a log in the Shwitzer valley. I need help.
+ Wow. The Shwitzer valley is a long way away. What rig are you using?
- A yaesu vx-3r and a yoyodyne G8 SMC antenna. Please send help.
+ Oh, I have one of those antennas. It's a good unit. I paid $38 from YingCo on eBay. Thank you for the contact K2BRK. K2HLP clear.
Just kidding. I suspect most basement Ham radio geeks are literally waiting for the day where they can assist in some sort of emergency situation.