any hams in here?

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=44355

I think you'll find lots of overlap between backpackers and hams. I'm both, as is my brother.

I originally got my ham ticket for coms when out on trips with the land rover club. 2M provides better range than the usual FRS radios that most people were using so it just made sense. I also carry a HT when I go out solo or with my son's Boy Scout Troop as a means of communication "just in case" My FIL had his General ticket back in the 70's through the early 80's before he got side tracked with other stuff and let it expire. When I got my ticket, he figured he'd get a cheap HT and go get his ticket again. Got general again the first time he went in, then 6 months later got his extra. Now he's full on ham nerding it out running contests on the low bands.

DE N5RVL I used t hike with a wierd Japanese 10 meter handy and a dipole antenna. Got out pretty well. Talked to a guy in New Caledonia when the sun spot out was up. I have also carried a 2 meter/40 CM Yeasu on the Lone star trail. Talked thru the same repeater the entire 3 days 60 miles we did. But the highlight of backpack/ham we when we get a quick contact from R0MIR. ( It was the guys on Mir (the Russisn Skylab) ! ) Really cool to talk to outer space from Emerald Lake in the Weminuche.

Also, another thing you can do while out exploring the wilderness and bagging peaks is SOTA or Summits On The Air. In a nutshell it's a contest where you try to get at least 4 QSO's on a specifically designated peak to gain points. Each peak that is part of the program is listed and given a point value. Open to all bands IIRC as long as you are licensed to operate on those bands. I've not taken part in it, but it sounds interesting. More info=> http://www.sota.org.uk/ 73 KK6HMF

Sorry a complete noob here :D How useful are hams when backpacking in the middle of nowhere? Or rather, are there many areas where hams will be out of reach? Just thinking as a safety device, can you use them to call for rescue etc.

K6ARW Amateur Extra Class and ARRL Volunteer Examiner

AA9MG Pretty inactive these days though. Planning some more messing around with KX3 on heavier weight trips at some point in the nebulous future.

K1CMF I did a lot of exploring bushwhacks in the Catskills, Berkshires and Taconics years ago. I managed to operate Bear Mt, CT and Bearpen Mt in the Catskills using a Gonset Communicator back in the day (about 20 lb plus full size car battery).

Just started studying with a group of fellow Scout Leaders, for mine last night! Should be standard licensed (not sure if that varies too much with the US, but its the intermediate level) in a couple of months, will look to working up to Advanced/full call (400watts) after that. I'll be a VK5… (VK Australia. 5 South Australia).

I'll be a ham soon! Just started studying with a group last night. Other Scout Leaders and one of our trainers. Been meaning to do this for a few years. We are working up to the intermediate license (Standard, not sure if that's different to the US, but its the 100watt license) in a couple of months time. Then I'll start working on the 400watt license after that I guess. No call yet, but I'll be a VK5… (VK=Aus, 5=South Australia)

Im afraid that a satellite phone or SPOt would be a bette choice for emergencies. But no where near as much fun!

Been licensed since I was a teenager, Extra class, prefer CW/SSB on HF, and have not used VHF/UHF FM in a long time. Used to carry around my FM HT when backpacking to make contacts from mountain tops. That was fun. Have operated HF portable a lot but hate carrying the weight of my FT-817, batteries, antennas, etc for backpacking. Considered participating in SOTA but it is hard enough operating from here with 100w let alone a 5w rig with compromise antennas and harder mountains to climb. 73 from KL7 land where propagation is funky and the aurora wipes out HF all the time.

Took and passed the tech exam this past weekend. Not only passed but aced the test. Currently studying for my general test to be taken next month. Still awaiting my callsign. :(