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Amateur Radio In the Backcountry?

Posted by kdawson on from the ham-on-the-hoof dept.

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?"

8 of 376 comments (clear)

  1. Re:depends on where the repeater is by sentientbeing · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes. Most frequently you're going to be talking to a repeater, so it depends somewhat on where you are in relation to the repeater.

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    beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
  2. Re:depends on where the repeater is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What? Is this someone's bot gone wild?

  3. Re:Nope by gyrogeerloose · · Score: 4, 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.)

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    This ain't rocket surgery.
  4. Re:VHF/UHF are mainly line of sight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Where are your NetCraft numbers to back that up?

  5. Re:depends on where the repeater is by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Funny

    whoosh!

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    No sig today...
  6. Re:Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    THAT'S THE JOKE

  7. Weenies. by fyngyrz · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have them chop off three of my limbs, have a Bothrops asper 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.

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    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  8. amateur radio rescue call. by nblender · · Score: 2, Funny
    I have my amateur radio license in Canada and use my transceivers fairly regularly out in the back woods... I have a mobile unit (Yaesu FT8900r) and a handheld (Yaesu VX-3R)... With the correct antenna on the handheld, at 2M and 1.5W, I was able to hit a repeater 75km away, line of sight. In the backwoods, not so wonderful. We usually set a truck to cross-band repeat for long distance simplex communication. There is a repeater in the area as well but it is not frequented by other hams since it is a private repeater which backhauls APRS to town. We use it also to talk to one another for an annual offroading event that we put on. In the past we have used it to relay medical status update information from town back to a group still out in the woods. One of our members lives within line of site of the repeater and can hit it from the truck in his driveway.
    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.