[GreenKeys] OT: emergency communications

[Ralph Mowery]

While not 100 % legal, but close enough for emergency usage, here is one way
if the equipment is still around.

Get a ham license.  You do have to pass a written test, but the test answers
and questions are published so all you need is a good memory.  The cost is
about $ 15 to take the test.

Then set up a simplex autopatch at your house. If you can get an antenna up
about 30 or 40 feet that should cover your 50 acers with no problem.  The
carry around one of the $ 35 handy talkies from China.  

If the simplex autopatch is not available, you can still get a full repeater
controller with autopatch but it will cost more.  Expect to spend around $
500 to $ 1500 to set up the system.  

This unit probably is not being made or has not been made in years,  but it
will give you an example.

https://www.radioexperimenter.us/rm-1981-06/the-ces-simplex-autopatch.html



As far as that goes, you may be able to access some ham repeaters in the
area you are in with just the HT and get someone to help or call for help
for you.

That line of sight is not really a visual line of sight when it comes to
radio.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: GreenKeys [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
> dmm at lemur.com
> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2017 12:42 AM
> To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [GreenKeys] OT: emergency communications
> 
> I have a question primarily for the amateur radio folks on the list.
> It's clearly off-topic, but this is the only venue I know of with a
> deep knowledge of ham radio.
> 
> Since my wife's recent and unexpected death, I'm now living in our
> rural home alone.  It's 50 acres, and the terrain is complicated.
> To cover it all line-of-sight would take half a dozen positions.
> Adding to this, it's all within a valley in which there is basically no
> cell reception.  We have land-line telephone and terrestrial-radio-
> based Internet (ex-Motorola Canopy) at the house (only).
> 
> This has been made more difficult for me because last year I injured my
> back rather severely.  So a real possibility now exists that if I'm out
> working on something remote from the house and re-injure myself so that
> I can't make it back, it might be too late before anyone notices and
> comes looking.
> 
> What I need to find is some kind of device that I can carry with me on
> foot which can, perhaps with the aid of a base station at the house,
> permit me to make an outgoing emergency call (or at least send a
> signal).
> It can't require line-of-sight, and it can't depend on the cell
> network.
> 
> What, if any, are my options?
> 
> Thanks very much for any and all advice.
> 
> Regards,