How many use HAM vs C/B for rig to rig etc?
Ladies and Gents, The subject of C/Bs gets brought up every so often and is debated whether or not folks still install and use them. But, not many mention too much about HAM radios. I know and under...
Forum Discussion
Okay, I will attemp to keep these short, but detailed enough you will know why I always prefer HAM.
First, saving lives. Growing up in Big Bear, CA, my entire family was HAM operators and living in the mountains, we were also SAR/RACES rescue team members.
One winter, we were monitoring the local repeater and heard of a vehicle lost on the trails above the ski resorts on the south side of the valley. After we got the basics and their level of confidence/knowledge, my Dad and I began to locate them. We switched them to a simplex frequency and were using a beam antenna to locate the strongest signal. We also had another HAM do the same (he was also a RACES member). When we figured a rough position, we asked the man in distress to stand as high on his vehicle as he could and tell us if he saw anything. He described seeing an orange light in the distance. We determined from his routes given, and his triangulation, he was nearly at the ski lift. To confirm, we used our binoculars and telescope to have him flash his headlights in very slow rates while calling on/off over the air. We confirmed his location. Once rescue got to him, they found that he had not told us they were only dressed in light winter gear and the heater in their car did not work. They likely could have froze if they had to spend the night up there.
Story 2, personal saving. In 2012, I was hosting an off-road rock crawling event in conjunction with the United Christian Off-Road Alliance (UCORA.org) in Moab, UT. I am one of the founders. Anyway, another of our members families was a HAM so we decided that we would use a simplex frequency all weekend to keep in contact from our trail rides to base camp. On the third day of our event, I was 7.8 miles out on trail which was 16.2 miles total when my rock crawler rolled down the mountain with myself, my wife, my kids, and my dog all inside. Praise God we were all buckled and the truck had a complete roll cage so no one was seriously hurt. We had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing critical. However, my vehicle was destroyed, our food and water were gone, and we had to get back to camp, or at the very least off the trail. After I accessed the situation, I immediately got on the HAM, simplex, and made a distress call. Praise God again, but base camp heard it. We were not alone, so we informed them the situation, the condition o fall vehicles (every one but mine was fine), and that we would need a trailer at the end of the trail, since my truck was no longer road worthy or legal.After explaining where my backup keys were, and setting up a rally point, we started off the trail. The entire way, we were giving reports to where we were and how we were doing. My nerves were shot and I get the chills even thinking about it today. When we exited the trail, where CB and cell phones finally got signals again with anyone outside our group, the rescue team was there with trailer, food, water, and comfort. It was a long night, but the HAM was my saving grace.
Anyway, that is 2 instances, but I can tell you there are more. I recommend EVERYONE get a HAM license. They are easy, they are cheap, and a radio can be had much cheaper than years past. I am even a VI (volunteer instructor) for the ARRL and used to teach classes before I had kids, when I had time.
Hope this helps.
73
First, saving lives. Growing up in Big Bear, CA, my entire family was HAM operators and living in the mountains, we were also SAR/RACES rescue team members.
One winter, we were monitoring the local repeater and heard of a vehicle lost on the trails above the ski resorts on the south side of the valley. After we got the basics and their level of confidence/knowledge, my Dad and I began to locate them. We switched them to a simplex frequency and were using a beam antenna to locate the strongest signal. We also had another HAM do the same (he was also a RACES member). When we figured a rough position, we asked the man in distress to stand as high on his vehicle as he could and tell us if he saw anything. He described seeing an orange light in the distance. We determined from his routes given, and his triangulation, he was nearly at the ski lift. To confirm, we used our binoculars and telescope to have him flash his headlights in very slow rates while calling on/off over the air. We confirmed his location. Once rescue got to him, they found that he had not told us they were only dressed in light winter gear and the heater in their car did not work. They likely could have froze if they had to spend the night up there.
Story 2, personal saving. In 2012, I was hosting an off-road rock crawling event in conjunction with the United Christian Off-Road Alliance (UCORA.org) in Moab, UT. I am one of the founders. Anyway, another of our members families was a HAM so we decided that we would use a simplex frequency all weekend to keep in contact from our trail rides to base camp. On the third day of our event, I was 7.8 miles out on trail which was 16.2 miles total when my rock crawler rolled down the mountain with myself, my wife, my kids, and my dog all inside. Praise God we were all buckled and the truck had a complete roll cage so no one was seriously hurt. We had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing critical. However, my vehicle was destroyed, our food and water were gone, and we had to get back to camp, or at the very least off the trail. After I accessed the situation, I immediately got on the HAM, simplex, and made a distress call. Praise God again, but base camp heard it. We were not alone, so we informed them the situation, the condition o fall vehicles (every one but mine was fine), and that we would need a trailer at the end of the trail, since my truck was no longer road worthy or legal.After explaining where my backup keys were, and setting up a rally point, we started off the trail. The entire way, we were giving reports to where we were and how we were doing. My nerves were shot and I get the chills even thinking about it today. When we exited the trail, where CB and cell phones finally got signals again with anyone outside our group, the rescue team was there with trailer, food, water, and comfort. It was a long night, but the HAM was my saving grace.
Anyway, that is 2 instances, but I can tell you there are more. I recommend EVERYONE get a HAM license. They are easy, they are cheap, and a radio can be had much cheaper than years past. I am even a VI (volunteer instructor) for the ARRL and used to teach classes before I had kids, when I had time.
Hope this helps.
73
