On 29 Sep 2003 09:20:32 -0700, Google Mike wrote:
Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system
with 10 mile coverage or better?

What about something that is slightly secure?


- nuh uh! not according to the FCC! one cannot obscure the meaning of
a message (IIRC, the only exception is satellite control?)

Here's the need that is driving this:

I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of
relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each
morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone
tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would
love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned
on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication
among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that
could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I
could get.

mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the
car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice
questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later
everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base
station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either!

BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my
ignorance.