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Saved by a HAM - DAW89446 - 2024-04-11
ARRL Letter
RE: Saved by a HAM - Kauri - 2024-04-11
Thanks for sharing this. Reminds me (yet again) that I really need to work on studying for my HAM license. I also read about the APRS (?) tracking / location system that's associated with the HAM radios a while back and it sounds really useful (but I still haven't learned anything about how it works--yet another thing to add to my list that hopefully I'll get to sooner rather than later).
RE: Saved by a HAM - DVexile - 2024-04-12
It is always excellent to hear when folks can help one another, and as an Amateur Extra I enjoy hearing when Amateur Radio can make a difference to someone. APRS is pretty cool and entertaining as well.
That said, the correct tool in DVNP is a satellite beacon of some kind. InReach (Iridium based) or Spot (GlobalStar based) are fairly inexpensive, idiot proof, and can be carried with you on a hike. With such beacons you have reliable coverage from essentially everywhere, even canyons, with a direct connection to SAR. In the coming years emergency satellite based comms from cellphones will continue to expand as well making access to satellite comms even easier.
The problem with Amateur bands in DVNP is that their coverage is still very poor, even if better than cell.
In this case it was extremely lucky there was propagation on 10m at all. That's not a band one would usually consider for reliable long distance propagation and is particularly awful for getting out of canyons. Might be the *worst* band to have a chance of rescue from DVNP, but thankfully these folks got lucky. Longer wave bands for NVIS propagation would be the most reliable, but they require impractically sized antennas even for typical vehicular mounting. Hitting a repeater on 2m would be the most compatible with mobility, but has similar LOS issues as cell causing poor coverage.
Amateur Radio gets my hearty recommendation for a fun hobby. And combining that hobby with outdoors is lots of good fun as well.
As far as emergency comms from DV goes though, Amateur Radio is pretty much the worst of a bailing wire and duct tape solution to something that should be rock solid. If it really comes down to dollars then spend your money on a satellite beacon, not a ham radio.
Thanks for sharing the article! I rarely follow the ARRL stuff these days and so had missed a great DV story!
RE: Saved by a HAM - VintageDUG - 2024-04-12
I travel DVNP and many other areas, usually solo rig and alone. I start with a good plan and share that with my wife. Then I have a Garmin InReach that I test before losing cell service. I have a mount for it on the dash that I can reach in case of a rollover or flop. I put it in my pocket every time I leave the Jeep, even if it's to water the bushes. Lastly I carry my Starlink system if I am planning on an overnight or longer. Elon allows me to call home from anywhere I've been, plus check weather conditions and update my mapping software if needed. I have a ham radio in one of my rigs, but I'm honestly not that great using it. You don't really need to learn anything to get a license.