Hand held ham radios? - Event Date: August 26 2006

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   We are thinking that if this hits we may not have telecommunications available.  During Katrina, cell phones didn't work because communication centers were down, and regular phones were overloaded.  I can imagine that everyone in a city will be on the phone with Aunt Flo planning an escape and every grandma will be calling to check on their families, etc.  We're trying to think ahead on communication and due to our mountainous terrain and the distance (3 hour drive) we're thinking ham radios.  Does anyone out there have any advice on purchasing a ham that would suit that distance/terrain and on getting them for a reasonable price?  We're thinking of getting one for us, one for my parents and one for my husband's job as he may be "stuck" there as he's a physician.  So price is a factor as I'm a BF budget.  Thanks for the advice and for all the great tips posted on this site!

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Calendar Event: Hand held ham radios? Posted: August 27 2006 at 8:33pm
	We are thinking that if this hits we may not have telecommunications available. During Katrina, cell phones didn't work because communication centers were down, and regular phones were overloaded. I can imagine that everyone in a city will be on the phone with Aunt Flo planning an escape and every grandma will be calling to check on their families, etc. We're trying to think ahead on communication and due to our mountainous terrain and the distance (3 hour drive) we're thinking ham radios. Does anyone out there have any advice on purchasing a ham that would suit that distance/terrain and on getting them for a reasonable price? We're thinking of getting one for us, one for my parents and one for my husband's job as he may be "stuck" there as he's a physician. So price is a factor as I'm a BF budget. Thanks for the advice and for all the great tips posted on this site!

randyb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 24 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 49	Post Options Post Reply Quote randyb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: August 29 2006 at 10:48am
	Depending on where you are located, most places have a HAM radio club. Most work of the 2 meter band and can often phone patch in to make local calls. Of course get your ham radio license (I'm KB9LZD). Antennas are more important than the radio. My favorite radios are Yaesu, though I have had good luck with ICOM as well. I have a 2M mobile that stays in the truck, until I get home, I just plug into a battery or into a converter and its now my home rig on my antenna from MFJ. We have two hand held 2m radios at home. I can talk to my brother on this system who lives over 40 miles away on a local repeater.

2ifbyC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 30 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 533	Post Options Post Reply Quote 2ifbyC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 02 2006 at 6:28pm
	Ya need to drop in here: http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=971 .
	Survival does have an 'I'! Dodging 'canes on Florida's central Gulf Coast