Emergency Radio Options
 

Hi all,

I recently suffered a back injury while mountain biking in the
woods,fortunately we had a cell phone and were able to call 911 for
medical help. Now that I am home and recuperating, I have been
wondering what cell phone alternatives are available for use in remote
areas where you may not have a cell signal. I have been looking at the
fRS/gmrs radios and see that some are now "boasting" 10 mile ranges,
however I realize this is optimal clear line of sight conditions which
is rarely the case. My other thought is to get a technicians class ham
license and possibly purchase a small hand held radio to carry with
me. I have seen some really small units from Alinco listed in the
Monitoring Times Magazine, would this be a more practical solution? I
really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to
work on a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for
emergency use I would like to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in Advance


Bob

Hi Bob:

First, I hope you have a speedy recovery. Keep in shape as much as you can
whilst recovering; that'll probably help your back to heal.

As to what Emergency Radio to use; well, my Wife & I use the little FSR radios;
and several
Hike leaders I know use the " 5 Mile" Motorola models.

That will help you stay in touch with one another over short distances.

If your really in trouble; having a Cell phone that can get to a repeater is
the only choice I've heard of .
But if there's no repeater, or it's winter & the batteries die, or your so
badly hurt you can't operate a cell phone, then its not much use.

Other people say a VHF radio is the way to go; then again, can your VHF signal
get to someone on the receiving end..

Best bet is to travel in numbers, plan what your doing before you do it, take a
good first aid course, have some medical supplies with you and be Real careful
out in the woods.

If someone's badly hurt, they'll go into shock fairly rapidly, and will need
many other people to help apply first aid, keep them warm , build a stretcher,
& then stretcher them out to an ambulance;

Just my 2 cents worth.

Dan


In article ,
(Bob) writes:


Hi all,

I recently suffered a back injury while mountain biking in the
woods,fortunately we had a cell phone and were able to call 911 for
medical help. Now that I am home and recuperating, I have been
wondering what cell phone alternatives are available for use in remote
areas where you may not have a cell signal. I have been looking at the
fRS/gmrs radios and see that some are now "boasting" 10 mile ranges,
however I realize this is optimal clear line of sight conditions which
is rarely the case. My other thought is to get a technicians class ham
license and possibly purchase a small hand held radio to carry with
me. I have seen some really small units from Alinco listed in the
Monitoring Times Magazine, would this be a more practical solution? I
really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to
work on a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for
emergency use I would like to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in Advance


Bob

Yes. a handheld would work fine. As long as their was a repeater you could
hit. Just about everywhere their is.

Bill, N5NOB

On 5 Jan 2004 08:34:30 -0800, (Bob) wrote:

Hi all,

I recently suffered a back injury while mountain biking in the
woods,fortunately we had a cell phone and were able to call 911 for
medical help. Now that I am home and recuperating, I have been
wondering what cell phone alternatives are available for use in remote
areas where you may not have a cell signal.
There are two or three (if you live in NOrth America), although
calling them cell phones varies from a slight stretch to a big one.
The Iridium phone works almost anywhere, but you definitely pay for
the privledge, although it isn't a lot larger than a sat phone.

Then there are brief case phones that use the Inmarsat spot beams.
They weigh a few pounds, and will also work almost anywhere in the
world.

Within the USA, I beliver Amerisat sell phones that provide coverage
only in the lower 48.

However if you are really concerned, for about $850 you can buy an GPS
enabled EPIRB. You set that thing off, and in about 5 minutes alarm
bells start going off, and within 20 minutes, your position is known
+/1 about 35 feet, and the fact that you need help is also known. You
can expect a Search and REscue Helicopter to come after you within an
hour. (At this time 406Mhz EPRIB's are legal for land use in the
USA). The McMurdo FastFind Plus weighs about a much as a cell phone
can be carried on a lanyard around your neck.



I have been looking at the
fRS/gmrs radios and see that some are now "boasting" 10 mile ranges,
however I realize this is optimal clear line of sight conditions which
is rarely the case. My other thought is to get a technicians class ham
license and possibly purchase a small hand held radio to carry with
me. I have seen some really small units from Alinco listed in the
Monitoring Times Magazine, would this be a more practical solution? I
really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to
work on a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for
emergency use I would like to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in Advance


Bob

I really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to work on
a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for emergency use.

You can use anything in the VHF, UHF, and higher frequencies. Range is limited
only by your transmitter and the other's receiver. And elevation which affects
your line of sight, of course.

I recommend getting a repeater directory from ARRL and learn what repeaters
serve your mountain area(s) of interest.

Good Luck,
Bill, K5BY

There are a fair amount of 2 meter repeaters around but they in no way equal
the number of cell towers. Out in the middle of nowhere, you're more likely
to have cell coverage than you are anything else.
"Bill Hennessy" wrote in message
m...
Yes. a handheld would work fine. As long as their was a repeater you
could
hit. Just about everywhere their is.

Bill, N5NOB

CW wrote:

There are a fair amount of 2 meter repeaters around but they in no way equal
the number of cell towers. Out in the middle of nowhere, you're more likely
to have cell coverage than you are anything else.

More coverage than a portable CB radio?


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It would depend on where you are at. If you are in hilly country and you are
not right on the top of a tall hill, don't count on a portable CB to have
more than 1 to 2 miles range, if that. In a lot of areas, CB is virtually
nonexistent and even if there are other CBers around, they are likely to be
portable or mobile so the (lack of) height and efficiency of their antennas
are not going to help you out any. It basically comes down to what is in the
area. There has been several good suggestions on here but all or none of
them will work depending on where you are. The best bets for the most
reliable communications are the direct satellite options and even that may
well not work depending on your surroundings.
"starman" wrote in message
...
CW wrote:

There are a fair amount of 2 meter repeaters around but they in no way
equal
the number of cell towers. Out in the middle of nowhere, you're more
likely
to have cell coverage than you are anything else.

More coverage than a portable CB radio?


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http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

Not a bad idea if your way out on your own...
Link to more info..

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html

Don't know who eventually pays for the rescue costs..
You'd probably need extra insurance for that.


In article , matt weber
writes:


Then there are brief case phones that use the Inmarsat spot beams.
They weigh a few pounds, and will also work almost anywhere in the
world.

Within the USA, I beliver Amerisat sell phones that provide coverage
only in the lower 48.

However if you are really concerned, for about $850 you can buy an GPS
enabled EPIRB. You set that thing off, and in about 5 minutes alarm
bells start going off, and within 20 minutes, your position is known
+/1 about 35 feet, and the fact that you need help is also known. You
can expect a Search and REscue Helicopter to come after you within an
hour. (At this time 406Mhz EPRIB's are legal for land use in the
USA). The McMurdo FastFind Plus weighs about a much as a cell phone
can be carried on a lanyard around your neck.

Hi Bob.

Before you purchase from Grove, take a good look at Universal Radio and
AES. I have bought from them for 30 years each and have been quite
satisfied with their service and pricing.



Bob wrote:

Hi all,

I recently suffered a back injury while mountain biking in the
woods,fortunately we had a cell phone and were able to call 911 for
medical help. Now that I am home and recuperating, I have been
wondering what cell phone alternatives are available for use in remote
areas where you may not have a cell signal. I have been looking at the
fRS/gmrs radios and see that some are now "boasting" 10 mile ranges,
however I realize this is optimal clear line of sight conditions which
is rarely the case. My other thought is to get a technicians class ham
license and possibly purchase a small hand held radio to carry with
me. I have seen some really small units from Alinco listed in the
Monitoring Times Magazine, would this be a more practical solution? I
really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to
work on a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for
emergency use I would like to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in Advance

Bob

More coverage than a portable CB radio?

Forget CB, even if you have someone at camp with a CB, unless it's a clear
line-of sight shot. I no longer depend upon CB or ham radio on the Interstate
highways. I carry a cellphoneat all times.

Bill, K5BY

Bill [K5BY],

AGREED: The 'utility' of the Celfone for the average person on the
road is so much more then a CB or Amateur radio as far as getting
ones personal business done or to Get Help during an Emergency [.]

ttbk ~ RHF
= = = The Truth Be Known.

I ride dirt bikes in never never land and have both a cell phone to call for
the care flight and a Motorola TalkAbout to call my buddies when lost. I
used the TalkAbout quite a bit when we get separated to say "Meet me back
here".
You could also carry a signal mirror, flares and matches to start the tires
for smoke effect.

"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,

I recently suffered a back injury while mountain biking in the
woods,fortunately we had a cell phone and were able to call 911 for
medical help. Now that I am home and recuperating, I have been
wondering what cell phone alternatives are available for use in remote
areas where you may not have a cell signal. I have been looking at the
fRS/gmrs radios and see that some are now "boasting" 10 mile ranges,
however I realize this is optimal clear line of sight conditions which
is rarely the case. My other thought is to get a technicians class ham
license and possibly purchase a small hand held radio to carry with
me. I have seen some really small units from Alinco listed in the
Monitoring Times Magazine, would this be a more practical solution? I
really don't know what type of radios and range you are allowed to
work on a tech license and as I am thinking of using this for
emergency use I would like to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in Advance


Bob

Jim:
After you use the Cell phone, to call for help
How much does the " Care Flight " Cost ?

A freind was out in the wilds preparing to SCUBA dive, slipped & broke his leg.
Dive insurance wouln't cover it; Not a Dive related accident. . Major Pain..

Speaking of Major Pain, did some research..
You can (apparantly) take Up TO 800 Mg Ibuprofen ONCE
for pain until you get to a hospital.

( Not a doctor here, proceed at your own risk)

Dan


In article Vc0Lb.88069$xX.606485@attbi_s02, "Jim Douglas"
writes:


I ride dirt bikes in never never land and have both a cell phone to call for
the care flight and a Motorola TalkAbout to call my buddies when lost. I
used the TalkAbout quite a bit when we get separated to say "Meet me back
here".
You could also carry a signal mirror, flares and matches to start the tires
for smoke effect.

"CW" wrote in
:

"Those who beat their weapons into plows will plow for those who do
not." I suspect the same will, for some people, be said of "those that
traded their Ham Radios for cell phones will be relying on those that
didn't" Can you say local disaster with extended power loss to the
towers?

For as much of the country that seems to be covered for cell use, and for
the areas that most people travel, there are indeed remote areas or areas
not adequately covered. I'll hedge my bet by having both a HAM radio and
cell phone.

Same with the shortwave broadcasters giving up the ghost in favor of the
internet and doing internet "radio". I do much of my listening with
portable radios, I can't see being encumbered with a piece of magnificent
technology that needs to be tied to something else in order for me to
hear the show i.e. a phone line or cordless network.

Too much high technology, too little assured reliability.

We have two 3000 HP electric motors at work that are controlled by
variable frequency drives. Nice, when they work. Finicky otherwise. The
same motor did the same job for years without the VFD, no problems. More
technology, more problems.

Regards.



It would depend on where you are at. If you are in hilly country and
you are not right on the top of a tall hill, don't count on a portable
CB to have more than 1 to 2 miles range, if that.

--
Never say never.
Nothing is absolute.

It would be ideal if he would haul a trailer everywhere he went with
generators , portable antennas and a 10,000 watt all band transmitting
station. He also needs to pack his portable bomb shelter and years worth of
food and water. Never know when World War 3 is going to break out. Also
needs to practice up on his Morse code so that, on the plane ride to his
hiking destination, if a meteorite hits the plane, causing it to crash on a
remote desert island and the emergency beacons are out, he can build a CW
transmitter from the wreckage so he can give his exact location to any
rescuers. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the course in navigation he needs to
take so he will know what his location is and the electronics course he
needs to take so he will be able to build that transmitter. This assumes, of
course, that he has already taken the survival and fisrt aid course.
"Soliloquy" wrote in message
4...
"CW" wrote in
:

"Those who beat their weapons into plows will plow for those who do
not." I suspect the same will, for some people, be said of "those that
traded their Ham Radios for cell phones will be relying on those that
didn't" Can you say local disaster with extended power loss to the
towers?

For as much of the country that seems to be covered for cell use, and for
the areas that most people travel, there are indeed remote areas or areas
not adequately covered. I'll hedge my bet by having both a HAM radio and
cell phone.

Same with the shortwave broadcasters giving up the ghost in favor of the
internet and doing internet "radio". I do much of my listening with
portable radios, I can't see being encumbered with a piece of magnificent
technology that needs to be tied to something else in order for me to
hear the show i.e. a phone line or cordless network.

Too much high technology, too little assured reliability.

We have two 3000 HP electric motors at work that are controlled by
variable frequency drives. Nice, when they work. Finicky otherwise. The
same motor did the same job for years without the VFD, no problems. More
technology, more problems.

Regards.



It would depend on where you are at. If you are in hilly country and
you are not right on the top of a tall hill, don't count on a portable
CB to have more than 1 to 2 miles range, if that.

--
Never say never.
Nothing is absolute.