On 2010-03-11, Steve wrote:

modes like RTTY and PSK-31. Now I spend 99% of my time operating in CW
mode with a paddle and keyer, and it's about a thousand times more
addictive than any other part of the hobby I've encountered thus far.
Well worth the initial investment of time and energy to learn code.

I agree and will learn code if it kills me. Speaking of which, one
motivation is that poor soul who died in OR a couple years ago.
Remember James Kim, who got lost on a back road and then stranded with
his family in deep Dec snows? Here's a guy who reviewed hi-tech
gadgets like PDAs and cell-phones for a living. Yet, for all his
know-how, he died alone and unable to call for help.

That scared the crap outta me. Though I'm no ham and have never had a
license or even a CB, I know how CW, even QRP, could have probably
saved this guy. Yet, he was clueless of even the most basic radio
technology. Frightening. I swore then, it would never happen to me
and I'm set on learning code and learning QRP radio.

I just checked out a 15 yr old ARRL Handbook and the last down rev
ARRL general study guide from the library. Outta keep my mind busy
for awhile.

nb

notbob wrote:

That scared the crap outta me. Though I'm no ham and have never had a
license or even a CB, I know how CW, even QRP, could have probably
saved this guy. Yet, he was clueless of even the most basic radio
technology. Frightening. I swore then, it would never happen to me
and I'm set on learning code and learning QRP radio.

Far better would have been a satellite based emergency locator transmitter.
Originaly designed for airplanes, they are available for hikers, etc.

As for CW, even QRP saving him, it's possible but not likely. HF location
is too coarse to find him, unless he had a GPS unit and was able to transmit
an SOS with the correct coordinates, had a big enough antenna to be heard,
and so on.

I have a 10m HT and can "work the world" (or at least access 10m
repeaters in the US and EU), but only when the band is open. It is not
likely it will be until the middle of the current sunspot cycle, which
is 4-5 years away if we are lucky.

A VHF HT is not going to be of any use, unless he happens to get lost or
snowed in to a valley with a repeater on the mountain above.

Yes, we have a repeater here in Jerusalem that had to be moved to a different
frequency because it was interfering with one on Crete, but that's
tropspheric ducting, over water, and our repeater was at 3500 feet asl.

It also depends upon finding a frequency that someone is listening on,
in a lot of places if you want road help, etc you are better off on CB.

Learn morse code if you want to, build and operate QRP if you want to,
take a radio backpacking if you want to, but IMHO you are not going to
really improve your chances if you are buried in a snow drift, or lost
while hiking out in the middle of the forest.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the situation.
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the Wikipedia.

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
notbob wrote:
That scared the crap outta me. Though I'm no ham and have never had a
license or even a CB, I know how CW, even QRP, could have probably
saved this guy. Yet, he was clueless of even the most basic radio
technology. Frightening. I swore then, it would never happen to me
and I'm set on learning code and learning QRP radio.

Far better would have been a satellite based emergency locator transmitter.
Originaly designed for airplanes, they are available for hikers, etc.

As for CW, even QRP saving him, it's possible but not likely. HF location
is too coarse to find him, unless he had a GPS unit and was able to transmit
an SOS with the correct coordinates, had a big enough antenna to be heard,
and so on.

I have a 10m HT and can "work the world" (or at least access 10m
repeaters in the US and EU), but only when the band is open. It is not
likely it will be until the middle of the current sunspot cycle, which
is 4-5 years away if we are lucky.

A VHF HT is not going to be of any use, unless he happens to get lost or
snowed in to a valley with a repeater on the mountain above.

Yes, we have a repeater here in Jerusalem that had to be moved to a different
frequency because it was interfering with one on Crete, but that's
tropspheric ducting, over water, and our repeater was at 3500 feet asl.

It also depends upon finding a frequency that someone is listening on,
in a lot of places if you want road help, etc you are better off on CB.

Learn morse code if you want to, build and operate QRP if you want to,
take a radio backpacking if you want to, but IMHO you are not going to
really improve your chances if you are buried in a snow drift, or lost
while hiking out in the middle of the forest.

Geoff.


A 2m HT may not help if you're really out in the sticks, but they have a
much longer range than a cell phone.

In the car with a mobile antenna I reliably reach a repeater that's 30
miles away with my VX-8r. Handheld with the standard antenna, I can
often reach it, but not reliably.

And of course there are many other repeaters that are closer than that
in CT.

The VX8r also has an optional GPS that can automatically send your
location through APRS.

On 2010-03-12, Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:

Far better would have been a satellite based emergency locator transmitter.
Originaly designed for airplanes, they are available for hikers, etc.

Yep. When I first looked them up a few years ago, the prices were
prohibitive. Now, world level locators are down to the same as a good
HT and continental locators down to $100.

As for CW, even QRP saving him, it's possible but not likely. HF location
is too coarse to find him, unless he had a GPS unit and was able to transmit
an SOS with the correct coordinates, had a big enough antenna to be heard,
and so on.

So I'm rapidly learning.

Spent much of last night reading ARRLs older Gen class book. A real
eye opener. I need to get the technician book tuit de suit and
knuckle down. I actually know most of the math and basic electronics
in general class, but am so damn rusty it'll take awhile to clear out
these geezer cobwebs. I think better to get my element 2 license and
get on the air and worry about general class and QRP fantasies,
later.

Thanks for the reaity check.

nb