[Elecraft] KX3 Amp

Sun Jun 30 21:05:42 EDT 2013

PLBs actually aren't legal for sinking ships (or crashing airplanes), 
there is a different category of device for that.

Personal Locator Beacons are meant to do one simple task: summon help in 
an emergency.

Calling someone to tell them you're at a different trailhead is not an 
emergency.

If I'm off in the backcountry, I'd suggest that a medical emergency and 
risk of being overrun by a wildfire aren't that different.

If you want to report a wildfire that isn't threatening you, that isn't 
an emergency, and if it takes you a bit to get an antenna up, and find 
someone to relay a message, then by all means pull out your KX3 and a 
random bit of wire and tell someone.

A satphone (according to your post) is about $120 for a given outing.  A 
PLB is about $250 for five to seven years.

It's good to have more than one tool in your toolbox.

-- Lynn

On 6/30/2013 5:41 PM, Walter Underwood wrote:
> There are a lot of emergency situations that benefit from two-way communication. PLBs are great for sinking ships, but not so good for distinguishing between a wildfire and a medical emergency.
>
> I've dealt with a few emergencies in the backcountry. On one trip, we had both a wildfire and two medical situations. You can draw your own conclusions about heading into the backcountry with me. :-)
>
> Hey, I wrote a long blog post about that: http://wunderwood.org/most_casual_observer/2011/10/emergency_communication_in_the.html
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
>
> On Jun 30, 2013, at 5:32 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote:
>
>> Well, in that framework - I would have to agree that the PLB is better .....
>> How do I get one ....  :-)
>> Ariel NY4G
>>
>>> Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 17:24:45 -0700
>>> From: KX3 at ColdRocksHotBrooms.com
>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Amp
>>>
>>> Yes, but.....
>>>
>>> The original poster is going to be 200 miles from town.  He may or may
>>> not be in VHF range of something when he needs help.  I'm pretty sure
>>> he's out of range or he'd just get a couple of handhelds and call it done.
>>>
>>> The Personal Locator Beacon frequency is monitored by two sets of
>>> satellites -- a constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites that can
>>> determine location, and a few geostationary satellites that see a wide
>>> area of the planet, looking straight down at the surface of the earth.
>>> The latter can read the GPS on the PLB.
>>>
>>> The signal goes straight to search and rescue folks, and the beacons are
>>> registered so they know exactly who they're going to be looking for.
>>>
>>> Which would you prefer: push a button and it's done, or calling on
>>> several bands and hoping one is open?
>>>
>>> Again, I love amateur radio, and I would consider it part of my
>>> emergency toolkit, but I'd trigger my PLB first in a real emergency.
>>>
>>> -- Lynn
>>>
>>> On 6/30/2013 5:09 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote:
>>>> Some HT's have GPS and with APRS one can send messages.  I have used it on hikes so my wife can track me on the internet as I hike.  The HT sends a beacon signal out and the movement can be tracked through APRS.fi   Any Ham can get an APRS account.    I have even used APRS on my iPhone for the same tracking capability.  Remote from civilization though you would need an HT with APRS like the VX8R by Yaesu or a TinyTrack tracker.  With the HT however, you can call for help and the reach can be substantial depending on elevation or having a nearby repeater.  Having worked 45 states on Field Day just using a KX3 and a G0GSF dipole, I have no qualms with getting out and reaching people with a KX3 on HF.  When the 2m module gets out - I have a complete package for all modes of remote operation.
>>>> Ariel NY4G
>>>>
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> --
> Walter Underwood
> wunder at wunderwood.org
>
>
>
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