Backpacking Discussions

I notice one of the members on this forum is a HAM radio operator. I have a friend who has his license, and has told me about it, but I haven't been very interested until I read a journal of a hiker who had a ham radio with him when he hiked.

Honestly, why do you need them when you have cell phones? Aren't they heavy and hard to carry while backpacking? Is it expensive to get into? Thanks.

I'm a licensed ham radio operator; my call signs are KE7BWX. It's a family tradition to bet a amatuer radio operator.

HAM radio is much much better than cell phones. There are so many times where I've been in a situation where my cell phone doesn't get service, but I can call on my radio and be able to contact someone with just a push of a button. There is no monthly charge or contract you have to sign like with cell phones, the only requirement is that you are licesned to transmit over the radio waves. Some radios can be heavy, but I have a small handi-talkey that isn't too bad. Even so, I still ususally don't bring it backpacking with me. To get licensed is maybe only 10 or 15 dollars, and the radio it's self might be a little pricey, but after that cost, its free!

I have found ham radio to be a very practical hobby for all my outdoor adventures. I have a radio with me on almost all of my outings. I have been radio licensed for about 20 years. I once had an experience when I was lost. I whipped out my handy talky (hand held radio) and proceeded to find somebody to speak with. I discovered that having a ham radio and not a GPS was like having a car without an engine. You feel stupid when you get somebody to answer you and you say, I need some assistance getting back. The other operator then says, where are you? And you answer, I don't know. The trip ended fine. We just wasted a lot of time trying to find our way back to our cars after dark. I have since purchased a GPS and feel much more secure. Now my goal is to find a radio that is ultra light (under 9 oz) for back packing but has enough power (5 watts minimum) to hit a distant (20 to 40 miles away) mountain top repeater. If any other ham radio operator has any recommendations please share. N7SFL