"Steven L Umbach" wrote
..... Otherwise consider getting your ham license. You do not need to
learn
Morse code for the entrance license and the exam is fairly easy with books
that have the questions and answers. With a ham license you could then
also
purchase higher powered FM mobile devices for your cars. .....

......And you can use any 5 watt Handy to reach each other via the many
repeaters in the area. Ask your wife to go to www.qrz.com and take the Tech
exams over and over til she gets passing scores then find a volunteer
examiner session and get her license. This is not cheating - most of the
test is on rules that must be learned by rote anyway and this is a good way
to do it. If this piques her interest she can go on from there. My wife was
a secretary with no technical background. Today she's an "extra" making more
than I in a good technical job. Good luck ....
K3DWW