On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 03:56:36 -0700, mike belch-spoke these words:

Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Harvey White wrote:

[big snip]

Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community
to have a license?



Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing
the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a
cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it.

And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.


To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous.

He was presented with several alternatives.
How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous!


=== === ===
FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

(5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be
furnished alternatively through other radio services.

=== === ===

I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by
a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented.
I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you...


Haha, love the trolling. FCC rules are outdated since the advent of cellphones.
The thing is, I cannot reasonably afford a cellphone, and ham radio, after the initial expenditures,
is FREE, FREE, FREEEEEEEE (bar repair costs which shouldn't pop up unless you or the manufacturer
screws up the equipment).
From what I hear about CB, its a garbage band where nobody can depend on consistent, unhampered
communications.
FRS? It's range is 1 mile AT BEST. Yes, I use FRS with privacy tones when appropriate.

But I'd rather set up a phone patch over 2m for any radio-telephone use away from home, if at all.

John