Starlink or Garmin in reach

[Datsun Man]

HAM and GMRS is not the answer

Yes you can make contacts around the globe. The issue is what is the 78 year old HAM in Thailand going to do for you when you broke your leg and are bleeding out? And that assumes you where able to set up and tune your antenna before you died. And it also assumes anyone was listening on the freq you are transmitting on.

HAM is only good if someone is listening, they speak your language, they are in a position to help you, and you have time/knowledge to make it work.

As a personal emergency communication contingency its simply a no go.

Now during a situation such as a hurricane etc, that is where it is at. Where you can set up repeaters, EOCs etc. and have them manned and listening. Providing regional communications and resources

Shawn

That is why we have more than just a radio. Yes I have a GMRS Radio on my vehicle, but I also have InReach as well. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on where you are and what the situation is will depend on what's going to be the better option. Of course there is no tool that will do it all, but having the right tools will certainly help in the right situations. It's the same idea with recovery gear. Each piece has its purpose and it will change per situation for what to use.

 

[Shawn686]

That is why we have more than just a radio. Yes I have a GMRS Radio on my vehicle, but I also have InReach as well. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on where you are and what the situation is will depend on what's going to be the better option. Of course there is no tool that will do it all, but having the right tools will certainly help in the right situations. It's the same idea with recovery gear. Each piece has its purpose and it will change per situation for what to use.

You are right they do.

The context of this thread was for emergency communication. And for that GMRS and HAM simply are not capable of providing that, except under very specific situations. Which do not apply to 99.99% of people 99.99% of the time, making them a non option.

Shawn

 

[Datsun Man]

You are right they do.

The context of this thread was for emergency communication. And for that GMRS and HAM simply are not capable of providing that, except under very specific situations. Which do not apply to 99.99% of people 99.99% of the time, making them a non option.

Shawn

I will have to disagree with you. Depending on where one may be located during a trip, a GMRS or HAM Radio can be an excellent option for Emergency Communication. This is as long as you can reach a close enough tower for communication. Does this apply to everyone and every situation? Not necessarily, but it may apply to a good amount of individuals in various situations. It just depends on what you have and what is going on. Then again it may not be best option depending on what the situation is.

 

[blacklbzbeauty]

In an emergency situation the only option is what with a push of the button will bring the cavalry coming 100% of the time. Not sometimes, not often, not most of the time, but every time.

 

[NOPEC]

Last summer on day 68 of a scheduled 85 day wilderness paddling trip in the middle of nowhere, I suddenly experienced what I believed were stroke and/or TIA symptoms. Being well north of 70 in age, it is not that unlikely. Having been involved in SAR for decades, I am always hesitant to call out a full calvary response for an issue that I can potentially mitigate myself. (like most SAR members I have been to my fair share of "severe hangnail" types of callouts...) So I simply "inreached" one of my contacts in Yellowknife who organized a consult with a physcian and after some back and forth messaging, my contact ordered up a helicopter ride out (my tab). I was in hospital getting a CAT Scan well within the stroke treatment time window. As blacklbzbeauty mentioned, the satellite is always there 100% of the time and can always be counted on. I get it that radio is everybit as good when available but for this trip, it was not an option during most of it. Turned out I damaged a nerve in my ar*e from months of sitting in the kayak, all good now.....