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Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

plannedemergency.com

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Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#51

Post by ethbr0 »

eternityforest wrote: post #43
qbasic_forever wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Get a Garmin inReach mini: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/592606 The key feature of the Garmin is that it has two way communication (on the cheap model you can use a slow character at a time typing, or link to your smartphone with BLE for a proper keyboard). Two way communication with rescuers is an absolute game-changer in real emergencies. You can tell rescuers exactly what happened and the conditions of people, th…

I'm amazed that people willingly go on multi day hikes or sailing trips, regularly, without satellite communication. Some of them might be wearing multiple hundred dollar jackets and boots and can probably afford them without even needing to think of the cost. I can only assume they either don't know they exist or don't particularly want them? Do they enjoy the extra adrenaline of not having one?

Afaik, historically they were prohibitively expensive with service.

Only in the last ~10(?) years have companies cut offerings in a price point catering to the backcountry crowd.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#52

Post by WrtCdEvrydy »

nonrandomstring wrote: post #9

Whether or not this is a good list, I find the topic very interesting. For more exercise I've started to increase the range of my usual hikes, from just mooching around a 10 mile radius of home to some much more ambitious yomps out into wilderness. Being alone out there obviously raises thoughts about safety. Everyone knows I hate "smartphones" with a passion. For possible emergencies I carry a powered-down (battery…

Honestly... Baofeng UV-5R is still my go-to for emergency usage... program in GMRS/FRS/Coast Guard frequencies as well as the simplex HAM frequencies.

Sadly the new generation ones and the GT-5R which is cleaner spectrum-wise are all software limited to only HAM frequencies so in case of an emergency that one would less useful.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#53

Post by EL_Loco »

If you hike, camp, backpack, this is from a very experienced Search and Rescue leader who I took course from:

-First, have a Personal Locator Beacon. If funds allow, have one with two-way messaging (there's a monthly subscription fee). Needless to say, be mindful of battery condition.

-Second, have a GPS with maps from your area, or the equivalent smartphone app. Learn basic map reading, a good Youtube video about it will do.

-Third, take 3 hours to study for a ham license. Pass the easy exam and get a reliable, easy to use HT (Amateur radio's name for walkie talkie). Learn to use the repeaters in your area.

You're good to go.

P.S. this is concerning a getting lost scenario. He also recommended taking a First-Aid course.

edit: My recommendation for an HT is still, after 10 years, the Yaesu FT-60r. Pros: Very solid build, easy to learn and operate (compared to others), reliable. Cons: Bigger and heavier than newer models, battery not as good but can be upgraded. Also, analog only, but to me this is a plus as I want simple, reliable comms and don't want to invest time in zillion other features.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#54

Post by ja27 »

WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #52
nonrandomstring wrote: post #9

Whether or not this is a good list, I find the topic very interesting. For more exercise I've started to increase the range of my usual hikes, from just mooching around a 10 mile radius of home to some much more ambitious yomps out into wilderness. Being alone out there obviously raises thoughts about safety. Everyone knows I hate "smartphones" with a passion. For possible emergencies I carry a powered-down (battery…

Honestly... Baofeng UV-5R is still my go-to for emergency usage... program in GMRS/FRS/Coast Guard frequencies as well as the simplex HAM frequencies. Sadly the new generation ones and the GT-5R which is cleaner spectrum-wise are all software limited to only HAM frequencies so in case of an emergency that one would less useful.

While I still prefer more expensive, weatherproof ham handhelds, the UV-5R is almost throw-away cheap, making it easy to keep a couple on hand to hand out. Also program in at least any local NOAA weather stations.

A bonus is FM broadcast reception. Was a real help keeping my mother-in-law occupied once we lost power and internet during a tropical storm.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#55

Post by Zircom »

linsomniac wrote: post #31
noughtme wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer a standalone PLB (personal locator beacon) when backcountry skiing. Smaller, lighter, more reliable, no subscription fee.

That's what I got as well: ACR ResQLink -- you register it with NOAA every 2 years, I can't find anywhere listing the price, I think it's $50 or $75. It then talks to NOAA satellites to send out your distress call and location. The device itself when I got it was $250, looks like they are $350ish now. The downside is there is basically nothing other than "I need rescue" that you can do with the device. You turn it on…

Do people get charged after they get rescued? I'd imagine it's pretty expensive to send a team out into the wilderness, do they recoup the costs from the rescued?

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#56

Post by EL_Loco »

gh02t wrote: post #50
EL_Loco wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spot on. I don't know why we can't have an HT with a Blackberry-like hardware keyboard to send text. Or maybe something Psion-like (90's micro laptop thing made by Sony). I'd be very satisfied with Blackberry dimensions, as Psion would add bulk.

I'd take a rugged HT with a sleek and intuitive UI. The companies that make ham gear seem obsessed with complex and cryptic UIs. My Yaesu FT-3D is a good radio and isn't that hard to use, but its UI is still pretty clunky and the imprecise resistive touch screen feels like it's stuck in Y2K.

I used my friend's FT-3D a few times. Very good radio feature-wise, but I also shared your views on the UI and the touch screen. My HT is still the FT-60r and I just love the physical buttons.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#57

Post by EL_Loco »

If anyone is thinking about buying a two-way radio and you see something like "35-mile range!" on the package, know that this is pure marketing. Yes, if you have a clear, as in unobstructed, as in "I can see you from my binoculars" view of the other person you want to talk to, then yes, you can do it. If there are trees, hills or anything else, forget about it. Invest the time to learn basic ham radio operation, learn to use repeaters, and with a handheld you can reach longer distances than that.

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#58

Post by zmj »

qbasic_forever wrote: post #39
nonrandomstring wrote: post #9

Whether or not this is a good list, I find the topic very interesting. For more exercise I've started to increase the range of my usual hikes, from just mooching around a 10 mile radius of home to some much more ambitious yomps out into wilderness. Being alone out there obviously raises thoughts about safety. Everyone knows I hate "smartphones" with a passion. For possible emergencies I carry a powered-down (battery…

Get a Garmin inReach mini: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/592606 The key feature of the Garmin is that it has two way communication (on the cheap model you can use a slow character at a time typing, or link to your smartphone with BLE for a proper keyboard). Two way communication with rescuers is an absolute game-changer in real emergencies. You can tell rescuers exactly what happened and the conditions of people, th…

Two-way communication is great even outside of emergencies. A couple times, I’ve used it to tell my check-in person that I was going to miss my scheduled return time, but didn’t need help. Another time, I used it when I was at home to text my partner about a flash flood warning in their area (backcountry).

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#59

Post by GekkePrutser »

qbasic_forever wrote: post #39
nonrandomstring wrote: post #9

Whether or not this is a good list, I find the topic very interesting. For more exercise I've started to increase the range of my usual hikes, from just mooching around a 10 mile radius of home to some much more ambitious yomps out into wilderness. Being alone out there obviously raises thoughts about safety. Everyone knows I hate "smartphones" with a passion. For possible emergencies I carry a powered-down (battery…

Get a Garmin inReach mini: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/592606 The key feature of the Garmin is that it has two way communication (on the cheap model you can use a slow character at a time typing, or link to your smartphone with BLE for a proper keyboard). Two way communication with rescuers is an absolute game-changer in real emergencies. You can tell rescuers exactly what happened and the conditions of people, th…

Another vote for the InReach here.

I'm a ham operator but I don't bring my radio for emergency purposes. In Europe ham usage is so low it's hard to find someone to talk to at the best of times. Not something I'd rely on in an emergency.

Perhaps in the US things are better. But here no. The InReach is a better option and it didn't even require a license (most 400Mhz PLBs do over here!)

Re: Best radios to use in an emergency (2021)

#60

Post by GekkePrutser »

ethbr0 wrote: post #51
eternityforest wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm amazed that people willingly go on multi day hikes or sailing trips, regularly, without satellite communication. Some of them might be wearing multiple hundred dollar jackets and boots and can probably afford them without even needing to think of the cost. I can only assume they either don't know they exist or don't particularly want them? Do they enjoy the extra adrenaline of not having one?

Afaik, historically they were prohibitively expensive with service. Only in the last ~10(?) years have companies cut offerings in a price point catering to the backcountry crowd.

True but PLBs have always been affordable. Unlike InReach they don't even have a service fee. Though in some countries a local telecom license is needed but I know a lot of folks just ignore that. After all the only time you use it is when you're alone in an emergency and if there's a telecom regulator around you'd be happy to see them :)

I've never used a PLB myself. I have my ham licence and these days I use an InReach because hams are spread too thin these days.

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