An interesting discussion I missed before. The Ham radios have proven themselves so many times, that further argument is almost unnecessary. An entry level Ham radio is about the same money as a decent CB set up, so there really isn't a financial argument. The Tech test is so crazy easy that your best bet is to just sign up for the next available day, read the book and take the test. That takes one or two evenings. The test and license cost $14 for 10 years. That's not a hardship for anyone.
The pay off is clear communication. How oftern are the CBs not working? How often is the tail of the group out of range? How often do you get horrible skip from Mexico? None of this is even an issue with Ham radio.
I thought I would also mention an interesting incident at Rubithon where we rescued a guy with a head and spine injury who had rolled off Cadillac Hill in his FJ40. We were able to summon a rescue helicopter, and I was able to speak to the crew in the rescue helicopter from the scene via a HT patched into a cross band repeating radio in another truck. There is no cell coverage there, and we were way out of range of the CB to Rubicon Springs. Had that not worked, we also had decent repeater coverage to a station that easily could have relayed the distress call. This guy lived, and through no small measure due to the radio communication link. Without radio, it was at least an 2 hours over very rough terrain to help in Lake Tahoe-too far for this guy to survive (he ended up with a 2 month hospital stay)
Anyway--I'm hoping to visit your little slice of paradise in the next year, and I'm wondering if I should dust off my CB?
BTW-If you have an extra $50, by far, the easiest way to study and pass the test, is:
www.hamtestonline.com. Don't waste your money on the ARRL book if you go this route.
Getting off soap box now.
