| Home |
| Search |
| Today's Posts |
|
#11
March 31st 04, 03:59 PM
|
|||
|
|||
William wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote in message ... William wrote: (Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote in message ... Subject: Ham-radio is a hobby not a service From: (William) Date: 3/29/2004 7:44 AM Central Standard Time Message-id: So again, how does the 911 operator with the radio talk to me? I am sure it's something like "goo goo gaaa gaaa". They are pretty good at talking to a person on thier level without talking down to them. Steve, K4YZ Typical response of someone who got his tie stuck in his zipper. How does the 911 operator with the radio talk to me? Brian, for what its worth, in my area, a 9-1-1 call on our repeater is going to get through more reliably than a cell phone call, and we can access the repeater in places in which no cell phone is going to get through. The repeater system covers our county, which is mountainous and has many area where the nearest cell phone tower is many miles away. Is this available everywhere? No, it sure isn't. But neither is cell phone service. But since it is, we use it. If I'm in my area, and I witness an emergency and NEED to get 9-1-1 immediately, I'll reach for my HT or mobile rig before I pick up the cell phone. - Mike KB3EIA - When was the last time you availed your amateur radio transceiver to a non-amateur for emergency purposes? You, your license, and your equipment isn't there when they need it, is it? Never have, and since I'd be the control op, I'd not be likely to. I still think that cellular telephones is a lot better than nothing, and their widespread use had made huge inroads in providing emergency communications for the average citizen. Of course the cellphone is a good thing for reporting emergencies. And if I have one, I'll use it if I'm out of my repeater area. The nearly universal use of the things almost guarantees *someone* will pass by that can call emergency services. I doubt that Amateur radio ever filled that local "see an accident and call 911" niche. Of course the ham could call using autopatch, but there just weren't enough people to give such a coverage as cellphones could. But at least in our area, I can better contact emergency services through my HT than I can my cell phone. So that is what I use. Those with only cell phone access can try to use that. - Mike KB3EIA - |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Threaded Mode
