Ham Radio & Hiking

[FIGHT ON]

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

Bob, USC = Unusually Scientifically Challenged

I laughed too, you said you weren't going to do that stuff! 

FO, you sound like someone who can't make a decision on which  computer to buy because the one you're looking at will be out of date next week. That ain't gonna change in any technology these days.

I'm not even to that point yet!

I advise anyone new (and Tom got the same advice), the normal progression is that first you get the HT (= Handheld = 'walkie-talkie') for local communication bands -> any one of the ones in WW's pic (I'd get Kenwood for the most bang for the buck). You can use it as is. After you find a niche for it and LEARN how to use it...

  and get fined and go to jail? thanks!

You can get a bigger antenna for your car for more reception.

  looks like it's got a big one already!

Next purchase is a mobile rig (radio) for your car.

  why would you need a mobile rig? won't it work without it?

After that if you want to talk across country and around the world, it's up to you and you won't be asking if you need to have it anymore.

Amateur radio is like any tool - use it for as much or as little as you want!!!

Now then, if you want the bang and don't have the patience to learn how to use it, you can certainly hike in a more elemental fashion. No instruction needed for your hikes in case you get lost: wear lots of red or yellow, bring glittery things or mirrors for the helicopters, and don't skimp on water and things that will keep you warm.

I got the warm stuff, water, food, mirror (just got a signal mirror!) cardinal and gold attire down. and I don't think I'll get lost as I stay put on well maintained, well established trails. It's that getting bitten by that snake thing that's really got me worried. miles from a trail head, I mean what you're supposed to do is stay put in general, and what? slowly die? lol having a ham at that moment seems priceless. or if I break a leg. same thing, I mean often I am waaaaay off on these trails,  alone, miles and miles after mile never seeing hardly anyone. just checking out spot, hams, plbs. etc. 

ForestGal, your alum is all yours.... 

I didn't go to SC. 

[FIGHT ON]

I ordered the Gordon West Technician book! 

[Nolena]

You'll be hooked in no time. 

[FIGHT ON]

You'll be hooked in no time. 

cool! im almost looking forward to be bitten by a snake!
ya know I've never seen a hiker with one... I've seen a few rangers have one or something that looked like one. maybe hikers carry them but they keep em inside their packs? you ever seen a hiker with one besides fg? or people other that people you know?  ya know I just don't think they carry em, never seen conversations about them on the hiking boards.
think I'll be the only one. and maybe the only one who escapes because I had one! 

[Tomas]

I need to correct myself.
It's perfectly legal to listen (recieve.) It's a great way to learn. It's illegal to transmit. You will learn how to legally transmit when you are studying for the test. 

[FIGHT ON]

I need to correct myself.
It's perfectly legal to listen (recieve.) It's a great way to learn. It's illegal to transmit. You will learn how to legally transmit when you are studying for the test. 

shoot, now I have to buy one...

[lagomorphmom]

I laughed too, you said you weren't going to do that stuff! 

I'll put in more smiley's next time. I meant it just as a little rivalry poke in all good kidding and fun. I don't like nasty comments either which is why I haven't kidded with anyone but FG on the forum before because I thought it would deteriorate from fun to ill will.

That said, Goooo Bruins Sunday night!!!  

Btw, don't worry about what other hikers do. They may just have radios packed away. If they are simply ignorant of the capability of amateur radio, it doesn't mean that you have to be. Take the opportunity as a challenge. If after time, you decide it's not for you, there's always ebay and radios have a decent resale.

[FIGHT ON]

I'll put in more smiley's next time. I meant it just as a little rivalry poke in all good kidding and fun. I don't like nasty comments either which is why I haven't kidded with anyone but FG on the forum before because I thought it would deteriorate from fun to ill will.

That said, Goooo Bruins Sunday night!!!  

Btw, don't worry about what other hikers do. They may just have radios packed away. If they are simply ignorant of the capability of amateur radio, it doesn't mean that you have to be. Take the opportunity as a challenge. If after time, you decide it's not for you, there's always ebay and radios have a decent resale.

It all depends how it works on the trails. I wish there were someone who uses one and has carried it across the remote areas and could report how well it worked. I'm 99 percent already convinced I'm gonna get one anyway. when the big one hits. pretty overwhelming reasons to have one even if I don't hike really.
don't forget, I have no clue about this stuff. isn't that obvious? 

[FIGHT ON]

http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/ 

[Wrightwood]

This website has the most accurate repeater information for the Southern Calif area:

http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org/

[Tomas]

It all depends how it works on the trails. I wish there were someone who uses one and has carried it across the remote areas and could report how well it worked. I'm 99 percent already convinced I'm gonna get one anyway. when the big one hits. pretty overwhelming reasons to have one even if I don't hike really.
don't forget, I have no clue about this stuff. isn't that obvious? 

I've used my radio in a lot of canyons. It's waaaayyy more effective than a cell phone. And, as I said before, there are very easy ways to make it work better. The trick is to plan and test to see which repeater works for which areas. A tri band radio like the kenwood is deffinately the best way to go if you want to travel light but have a lot of options for communications. I have a similar radio to the Kenwood. I have the yaesu VX-6r. The Kenwood is better on 220 but the Yaesu is a little tougher and I've taken some pretty good spills on my mountain bike.

Here is a repeater guide for the PCT. I think there might be one or two remote areas on that trail. 
http://www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct/calif.htm

[RennMan]

why would you need a mobile rig? won't it work without it?  I

FO, I did this same pattern of thinking, and even went so far as to get the cigarette lighter power supply, and an external magnetic-mount antenna.

The one and only trip I used it on, I had so many wires across my lap and the inside of the car, I vowed never to work that radio that way again.

I ordered the Kenwood TM-271A 2 meter rig the next week.  Had it installed in the car within a month.  It is SO much easier to work that way.  Not the least of which is the additional power on mobile rigs.  HTs are limited by battery power, and usually only put out 5 watts of power.  Mobile rigs are between 50 and 65 watts.

[FIGHT ON]

A tri band radio like the kenwood is deffinately the best way to go if you want to travel light but have a lot of options for communications.

say that again...

I have a similar radio to the Kenwood. I have the yaesu VX-6r. The Kenwood is better on 220 but the Yaesu is a little tougher and I've taken some pretty good spills on my mountain bike.

I think I get that yours is more rugged but what's the 220? a different frequency? band? thanks.

Here is a repeater guide for the PCT. I think there might be one or two remote areas on that trail. 
http://www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct/calif.htm

I found a map that pinpoints all the repeaters,(i think) but it cost's money to view it. like a membership.

I talked to this old guy today, a random event, he said he lives in Joshua Tree, started to tell me he grows these purple rare plants and spends a lot of time outdoors. so I asked him and he has hiked a lot of the trails in the san jacinto gorgonio wilderness. said he is the founder of geo caching, still is active and doesn't hide items but does a virtual variation. Sullivan? think that's his last name. anyway I had to ask because he must know about ham radios. so I did. I asked him if he has a ham radio. he gave me a confused look and said. what's a ham radio?
this guy had got to be over 60 years old. "you must mean a satellite phone/radio". No a ham... you know, the thing that the rangers and sar carry with them. repeaters. hello!  "no they carry satellite phones."  twilight zone for sure. I described the kenwood to him but he insisted that I was confused and it's repeaters are the satellites and bouncing off the atmosphere.
  very confusing.

[FIGHT ON]

FO, I did this same pattern of thinking, and even went so far as to get the cigarette lighter power supply, and an external magnetic-mount antenna.

The one and only trip I used it on, I had so many wires across my lap and the inside of the car, I vowed never to work that radio that way again.

I ordered the Kenwood TM-271A 2 meter rig the next week.  Had it installed in the car within a month.  It is SO much easier to work that way.  Not the least of which is the additional power on mobile rigs.  HTs are limited by battery power, and usually only put out 5 watts of power.  Mobile rigs are between 50 and 65 watts.

thanks, I called a salesman at http://www.aesham.com/ per robert w. and he said I could get an extra battery pack as a back up.
5 watts doesn't sound like much power. but if I only use it on a hike in an emergency it should still work adequately right? I mean what do the extra 45 to 60 watts effect? the volume? more time for sure but quality?
if you had a handheld in one hand and a mobile in the other, what would be the difference? Thanks.

[Wrightwood]

if you had a handheld in one hand and a mobile in the other, what would be the difference? Thanks.

1.5 lbs 

[FIGHT ON]

1.5 lbs 

a moblie is only two lbs?

[Wrightwood]

Here's a brochure on one of the more popular mobile radios and it weighs 2.2 lb:

http://tinyurl.com/38we3hz

There's plenty of others available and they may vary in weight but should be similiar

[FIGHT ON]

Here's a brochure on one of the more popular mobile radios and it weighs 2.2 lb:

http://tinyurl.com/38we3hz

There's plenty of others available and they may vary in weight but should be similiar

too bad car batteries weigh so much!

[Tomas]

say that again...

More bands = more repeaters which gives you more options.

I think I get that yours is more rugged but what's the 220? a different frequency? band? thanks.

220 is a band. Also know as 70cm.

I found a map that pinpoints all the repeaters,(i think) but it cost's money to view it. like a membership.

There are several free sites to view repeater frequencies. There is a list of local repeaters on the site we're on right now.

[RennMan]

I described the kenwood to him but he insisted that I was confused and it's repeaters are the satellites and bouncing off the atmosphere. very confusing.

In a sense the "old guy" is correct.  There are satellite phones, and the satellites act as a type of repeater.  However that is a completely different conversation. 

I have some experience in this area as well, but it is way different from amateur/ham radio...