subject: Ten Meter Radio And Handheld Cb Radio: Better Than A Cellphone? [print this page] Contact may be a basic human need, but it can also save lives. Explorers, mountain climbers, even hill walkers all know the value of telling someone when they are setting out and when and how they will be in touch.If communication fails then rescue can be attempted. No responsible pilot ever leaves home without giving an eta.
And the reason is simple. Injuries, even small ones can prove fatal if you are out contact. If you've driven through Arizona you'll have noticed signs telling you to carry extra water and remain with your car if it should break down.
Deserts and mountains are inhospitable places and even when you are only a couple of miles from civilization, deaths can occur. The Scottish mountains are tiny in comparison to the Rockies, but hill walkers die every year when they underestimate the time and equipment needed to deal with not just the walk, but the weather.
A simple broken ankle, far from fatal in normal circumstances, can lead to a cold and icy death from exposure if you can't be found.
Since radio first became available, it has been part of expeditions to the wilder reaches of the earth, but when it comes to expeditions closer to home, they're clearly overkill, all you need is a cellphone.
When Grant first started work as a wildlife photographer he hiked everywhere pretty much alone. A giant backpack was all he needed to hold his equipment, but when he married Jenny they outfitted a truck with everything they'd need and decided to set out on their expeditions together.
Jenny was happy to be his 'base camp', as an aspiring writer she dreamed of the day when prestigious magazines would publish her words and Grant's pictures. Meantime she carried a laptop and worked while Grant would trek off into the distance, where the truck couldn't go. There he would wait in silence for his prey, hoping to snap the wildlife shot of a lifetime.
And then one day he didn't come back. Jenny waited and waited, not knowing what to do.There was no reception on her cellphone because they were miles from the nearest cellphone tower. She had to drive to the nearest town for help and although Grant was found, she vowed never to allow him out of contact with her again.
Seasoned photographers were happy to point out that they had used radio long before cellphones were invented, so Jenny set out to become an amateur radio enthusiast as well as equipping the truck for CB radio.
With a combination of equipment, Jenny was able to keep in touch with Grant and also with local radio 'hams' in the nearest town. When their expeditions sent them out on unknown roads and in uncertain weather the CB radio gave them advance warning of what was going on around them and in several cases helped them avoid getting lost when roads were closed.
They even get advanced notice about approaching storms. When they reach their destination Grant is always sure to carry a hand held radio so he is never out of touch.
Jenny and Grant both own cellphones, but with reception areas varying from carrier to carrier the only way to be sure you're covered is to own them all, so when they're working and have to have something their lives can depend on, they choose radio. No hassle, no network and no monthly bill.
