HAM RADIOS

(A RERUN BLOG FROM 8/12/06)

MORE ON THE RV LIFE.............

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH RENO NV, WE WERE TRYING TO INTERSECT WITH I-80 EAST FOR A TRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN. IN A LAST MINUTE LANE CHANGE I HIT THE ON RAMP WITH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER, BUT MARY WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH LANES IN TIME.

IN THOSE DAYS WE USED THE OLE CB RADIOS TO STAY IN TOUCH WHILE TRAVELING. IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS WE WERE TOO FAR APART AND OUT OF RADIO CONTACT AS MARY CONTINUED ON TO FIND A PLACE TO TURN AROUND AND TAKE A SECOND SHOT AT THE ON RAMP FOR I-80 EAST. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE WE DECIDED TO BUY THE HAM RADIO BOOK AND STUDY FOR OUR HAM RADIO LIC. EXAM.

AFTER STUDYING MOST OF THE SUMMER WE TOOK THE EXAM IN DUBUQUE IOWA AND BOTH PASSED. THESES DAYS MORSE CODE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO GET A TECH. LIC.

HAM RADIO OPERATES AT A MUCH HIGHER FREQUENCY THAN CB AND GREATLY INCREASES THE RANGE. WE BOUGHT A COUPLE OF HANDHELD TRANSCEIVERS, WALKIE TALKIES, AND HAVE USED THEM IN OUR LIFE STYLE EVER SINCE. I NO LONGER HAVE TO VISIT THE GIFT SHOPS !!! MARY GOES IN AND LOOKS AS LONG AS HER LITTLE HEART DESIRES WHILE I WANDER AROUND, USUALLY IN SEARCH OF THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE.

WE ALSO USE THEM ON THE ROAD TO STAY IN TOUCH, AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE DRIVING TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES A HALF A MILE APART WE VISIT LIKE WE ARE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THE SAME CAR.

NOW I KNOW MARY PLAYED FOOTBALL IN A PREVIOUS LIFE, BECAUSE WHEN FOLLOWING EACH OTHER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WANT TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE WITH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER I JUST RADIO TO MARY WHICH LANE I WANT TO BE IN, AND BEHIND ME SHE SWITCHES LANES AND MAKES A PERFECT BLOCK OF THE TRAFFIC WHILE I PROCEED TO PULL IN FRONT OF HER FOR THE LANE CHANGE.

WE EVEN USE THESE RADIOS AT SUPER WALMART. WE HEAD OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE STORE AND START OUR SHOPPING. IF I HAVE A QUESTION ON AN ITEM ON THE LIST I JUST KEY THE RADIO AND SELECT THE CORRECT ITEM.

WE ARE SO USED TO THESE HANDY RADIOS WE DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT STOPPING SOMEWHERE AND HEADING OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO DO WHATEVER. HOOKING BACK UP IS JUST A SIMPLE RADIO CHAT AWAY.

MANY AREAS HAVE REPEATERS, SAY FOR EXAMPLE IN LACROSSE THERE IS A REPEATER HIGH ON ONE OF THE BLUFFS. WE CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER WITH THESES SMALL RADIOS ANYWHERE IN TOWN. OUT WEST WITH THESE REPEATERS LOCATED ON MOUNTAIN TOPS THE RANGE IS ABOUT 50 MILES. MARY CAN BE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT THE CARSON CITY WALMART AND I CAN BE SITTING IN THE CAMPER AT LAKE TAHOE, 30 MILES APART AND STILL USE THESE HANDHELD RADIOS.

WE ALSO USE THESE RADIOS AND REPEATERS WHILE OUT MOUNTAIN HIKING. WE ARE MORE APT TO HIT A REPEATER THAN A CELL PHONE TOWER IF ONE OF US WERE TO FALL AND NEED MEDICAL HELP.