I have no experience with them. We often discuss PLB or communication devices (SPOT, Sat Phones...) which are usually expensive and I don't know why its escaped me until now but... just something I'm curious about, specifically the compact ones, Ham radios. They are affordable and compact enough to consider taking outdoors. Wikipedia says they can be used for private communication, emergency communication and "a variety of voice, text, image, and data communications modes and have access to frequency allocations throughout the RF spectrum to enable communication across a city, region, country, continent, the world, or even into space."
sounds like the perfect device...?
Correct me if I am wrong: don't Ham Radios give the operator an excellent range far beyond cellphone tower range limitations? And if so, would the compact ones reach out the same? Would the compact ones reach out far enough to be reliable at all times all places outdoors? And if so... is there an "emergency" channel?
Yes, I know you need a license to operate one. Side topic: Anyone know the process and how much?
I'm thinking along the lines of one like this for only $40...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KDRV91E?psc=1
Lastly, I thought about posting this in the gear section but any interest in this would be for emergency use outdoors.
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2