Communication options

[cnynrat]

If the primary purpose is to call for help in case of emergency, I think I'd be looking for a Personal Locater Beacon (PLB) rather than a ham radio. The reason being is that they I think they provide a higher probability of successfully getting your emergency message to the right people. Ham radios are great for general communications, but in remote areas I just don't think you can always count on being able to reach someone, particularly on VHF/UHF frequencies. If you were up for an HF ham rig that might be different, but they bring another level of cost.

Within the realm of PLBs you have two general choices. There are products such as Spot and In-Reach that are generally sold at an attractive up front price, but require a monthly subscription in return. Sort of like the cell phone business model. The benefit of these devices is they offer some features and capabilities that go beyond just getting a basic emergency message transmitted to the authorities.

There are also PLB's that are sold with a higher initial price, but then require no recurring subscription fee. These units typically just offer the capabilty to send your current location along with an emergency message. ACR is one of the better known brands, but there are others out there.

Equipped to Survive is a great web site for information on PLB products and technology.

[agavelvr]

Ideally, based upon your needs, you would have both a HAM and an InReach/Spot.
I had a Spot, and now have an InReach. I chose the InReach for a couple of reasons... My wife has no interest in learning how to use a HAM radio. If something was to happen to me, the InReach will allow my wife to summon help and be in communication with friends or SAR via 2 way text messaging. A child could activate the SOS in an emergency, I'm not sure they would be able to use a HAM as effectively. I don't really need continous tracking, but like the idea of 2 way texting during an inconvenience or crisis.

I opted for the basic plan, which gives you 10 text messages a month. That's plenty for me, as we only take 4 big trips per year and I can pay for additional messages or tracks as needed. If I was taking a long trip every month, it would probably make sense to go for a more inclusive plan. $120 a year is an acceptable fee for what is provided IMHO, and I'm fairly cheap Going with the basic plan and paying for overages is probably more economical for most folks, unless you feel the need to have continuous tracking and lots of messages. I'm paying 25 cents per track point, $1.50 per message for overages and not really worrying about it.

An added bonus for the InReach is that your IPAD is transformed into a satellite messager and navigation device with a big screen. When hiking, an Iphone replaces a hand held gps with the same features. I downloaded the entire western US onto my IPAD for free and impressed so far.

[h2005]

Inreach plans
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...6&d=1338602887

[Jeff Dodgen]

Also, there are some bands where HAMS can operate but don't have primary use, that may be used by Emergency services. But in general as for what your asking, keep HAM for HAM and the fire and rescue bands for F&R. HAM Bands are allocated for amateur radio for the most part. As a general rule you may be able to listen to an EMS band, but not broadcast on one. There's laws you can break by using them incorrectly. Say you were stuck, you could call a HAM for help, but asking him to tell work you'll be late so cancel a meeting, would break the law (you'd be conducting business).[/LIST]

I appreciate your detailed explanation on HAM, but maybe I didn't explain this part too well. I have been employed as a FFII/EMT-I for a larger fire department for going on 14 years now. We have over 300 employees and run about 25,000 calls a year. I also worked part time in Dahlonega and still stop in to see all my buddies there. North of Dahlonega I have a knack for running up on bad wrecks while out exploring. I mean, the day I broke down we passed a serious motorcycle wreck and had no cell service...and only one other person was there. This is where I would like to contact them. These times with an extended response time from my buddies the HAM would come in handy. I mentioned it to Chief about contacting units on the radio for a call and he was fine with it...I know what to say and what they need to know. If I *were* to use it for a personal need in the area, I would *possibly* contact my off roading friend that is an LT. there on the training channel. This channel is used even to tell another unit to bring you lunch...its more a convienence channel for them. Again, using those channels to help me out of a personal jam would be slim to mosy likely none....but I just thought it was cool to have the option.

Ideally, based upon your needs, you would have both a HAM and an InReach/Spot.

I believe this is going to be the route I take.

Inreach plans
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...6&d=1338602887

Thanks for those! I only saw where you had to e-mail them for a quote....and I honestly didn't really feel like doing that yet.






And thanks for all the responses so far. I am pretty much sold on getting one as my trail riding friends are very interested if I jump in first. This should bring me much better communications while out exploring, and maybe help summon the right resources for that next bad wreck I come upon.

[DreamingOfExpeditions]

I really think it's a technical issue more than anything. Outside of home brew stuff, most commercial radios don't allow broadcast on non-HAM channels. Only listen. Maybe an Elmer can clarify?

Certainly you speaking the lingo would help. A HAM monitor for emergency should be able to relay the message as it was delivered.

My recommendation, go for it! I'm currently in the planning stage of my expo rig, but I see options for both. I'll do HAM first though.

[brushogger]

It isn't possible to use your cell phone with a ham radio. Some repeaters have an auto patch which you can access using dtmf tones and make phone calls. Most times you need to be a member of the club that maintains the repeater to get the tone sequence.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cruiserlarry]

I really think it's a technical issue more than anything. Outside of home brew stuff, most commercial radios don't allow broadcast on non-HAM channels. Only listen. Maybe an Elmer can clarify?

Certainly you speaking the lingo would help. A HAM monitor for emergency should be able to relay the message as it was delivered.

My recommendation, go for it! I'm currently in the planning stage of my expo rig, but I see options for both. I'll do HAM first though.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but it it not legal to broadcast on ham radio from a non-ham radio, or vice-versa, per Federal regulations (FCC Part 97). You also cannot use ham radio for commercial purposes. Same goes for FRS / GMRS radios - you cannot use them to broadcast on other services, for any reason.

It isn't possible to use your cell phone with a ham radio. Some repeaters have an auto patch which you can access using dtmf tones and make phone calls. Most times you need to be a member of the club that maintains the repeater to get the tone sequence.

You can use a cell phone to directly access a repeater, if you use Echolink (you must register and be a licensed ham). This allows the phone (or computer and sond card, etc) to act as a ham radio to access repeaters, including distant repeaters by internet, as a licensed amateur operator. Sort of the inverse of accessing the phone system through your ham radio with a phone patch on a repeater...

[HillbillyfromAL]

I'm fairly certain if its an emergency situation where life or limb are at risk it's Not illegal to broadcast on an emergency channel or any other even without a license. Being stuck out where there are no other comms without supplies might qualify for that. It's also legal to provide that communication for someone else.

[gary in ohio]

I'm fairly certain if its an emergency situation where life or limb are at risk it's Not illegal to broadcast on an emergency channel or any other even without a license. Being stuck out where there are no other comms without supplies might qualify for that. It's also legal to provide that communication for someone else.

This is often a big area of contention... There is nothing in the ham radio rules that say you can use ham radio gear outside of the ham bands. There are rules that say you can use any means to communicate but that is an old rules and basicly means you can use a mode or ham freq you not licensed for. Where the confusion come into play is most radio services have the same wording giving people the impression they can move freely around freq is acceptable. also keep in mind an emergency is defined as a immediate threat to life and property. Having a flat fire is not an emergency. Being stranded in your vehicle with sufficient food an water isnt an emergency.

With many radio services going to trunked and digital the point of jumping on a public service freq is becoming more and more moot, but if you have happen to have the tones and offets and freq for the local PS and have an emergency I would worry more about the person with the issue and less about my license, but keep in mind it might be your license you loose.

[Jeff Dodgen]

With many radio services going to trunked and digital the point of jumping on a public service freq is becoming more and more moot, but if you have happen to have the tones and offets and freq for the local PS and have an emergency I would worry more about the person with the issue and less about my license, but keep in mind it might be your license you loose.

Keep in mind again, I have worked for years for this agency, I have the OK from Chief to access the channels they operate on if I happen upon an accident again, and I have the skills to help. If I accessed the channels for emergency traffic from an accident whould the FCC come after my license or would the Chief have to make a complaint? The last wreck I was on I started two helicopters and flew them out...and the on-duty guys were happy I made the decision and had them en-route. And this is something that may never even happen again, I am just wanting to confirm before I get one. I have already decided to get an InReach device too for anything other than life or death.

In this one county I have pulled a guy from a burning car...getting burned myself, made the decision to fly six different people out and followed through with it, accessed one patient via a rope system, and tended to about 10 critical patients from motorcycle accidents, all in about six years and OFF DUTY. I know these guys and they jokingly tell me to stay off the road because I am an obvious **** magnet. If I have a peice of equipment that can relay vital information to people that can make a difference I would think its the right thing to do. Are you saying if I did the FCC would pull a license?