All about the HAMs

[89YJBuilder]

Indy I am sorry that I didn't remember your wife's name my memory sucks. I agree about not wanting just any body to be able to see where I am all the time but I do believe that the aprs feature is able to be turned on and off. I agree that the group here is a great one to wheel with!

I also go by myself on occasion but don't do anything serious when I do. As well I take survival gear make sure that my rout is known by a friend or family member and have a time that if I don't check in by they start looking.

[Casey]

I go by myself a lot, I give a general area that I plan to be in, but that's usually when I do my exploring so I can't give any exact routes. A lot of times I'll end up way off my plan but that's all part of the fun. I've thought about investing in some sort of radio in case of a problem, but it's never something I've been into so I'm completely clueless about them. To me, this thread looks like Chinese!

[Indy - KK6ONP]

Hahahaha ... It was ALL Chinese to me as well until I started reading about it. It's still mostly Chinese but now I know what are the advantages of a ham radio and the more I read about it the more I like it.

While hiking with a small walkie talkie ... you can use your Jeep as a repeater (middle man) to talk to someone VERY far away. Something like this ...

[89YJBuilder]

If you can pass the DMV test you can pass the tech level test just by memorizing. It is a great back up even if it is all you use it for. There are radios made specifically for back packing even. You could also look at a "Spot" gps emergency tracker. They are designed to let your loved ones know where you are when you choose to as well as letting them know that all is good or all went to crap and you need help. They are pretty cool. Just out of my price range for the service plan compared to how often I would use it. I have friends that have one for their 2 week back packing trips. They go several times a year to all parts of the world. I wish that I was still physically able to do enough to need and warrant having one.

Indy great depiction of using a mobile radio with cross band repeat to extend the range of a hand held!

[Casey]

That would be really handy to still have communication while your walking out. My jeep has only died completely to where it wouldn't start once, luckily I was right here in hopland. I always pack for that situation when I head out solo

[89YJBuilder]

I have called for assistance for others as well as myself several times using radio where there was no cell service.

[lowranger]

[Indy - KK6ONP]

You were using the same technology (radio waves). Ham radios can tune into Police frequency and listen to the conversation.

[lowranger]

[Casey]

I thought about one of those, they are a really good idea. But the yearly subscription kept me from pulling the trigger on it