Was looking at some garmin gps radio combos, if they have GMRS channels and freq you i guess need to buy the license to use them? And what do they mean when they talk about illegal repeaters? Does a repeater need a different license? I guess the range is around 20 miles with a repeater, but who knows, wouldnt a ham setup be limited by line of sight like the others? Or are there built in public repeaters or does it have to do with wave length and frequency? Just a couple questions,
Ham is sounding better for long range

I'll try and answer you with the info that was current when I was into HAM. If my info is old I am sure you won't shoot me!!! 

The GMRS is like a commercial frequency. You pay for the license compared to a HAM license in which you have to take a test and the license is earned not bought even though you have to pay a small fee for the HAM license. I am not familiar with GMRS as it was not around when I was into it.

There are different licenses you can obtain with HAM. There is Technician Class, General Class and Amateur Extra Class. Each allows you to operate on different frequencies with different types of modulation. I won't get into the details of it here. With HAM (depending on the frequency your license is good for) you can "Skip" through the atmosphere under the right conditions and talk to people around the world. Also, some licenses entitle you to use frequencies that can transmit much farther than 20 miles. Which brings me to another product allowed under certain circumstances. It is called a linear amplifier. It increases the output of your signal tremendously. Again, there are limits to the wattage depending on license/frequency/regs.

A repeater is in itself a transmitter and does require a special license. Usually a club of HAM radio operators will support/maintain/operate the repeater and the license. Usually, they get to put their antenna on an existing tower. So an illegal repeater is one set up that is not licensed and operated illegally. BTW, I have never heard of anyone going to jail for breaking the rules/laws but I believe it can happen under certain circumstances.

Usually, if you buy a radio that is on a frequency serviced by a repeater you will not be allowed to use the repeater until you pay your fee, join the club, etc. or however it is setup. There are clubs that have open repeaters but I believe this would be the exception rather than the rule these days. Too many people trying to get something for nothing these days.

HAM is excellent for long range communications! I believe the Technicians License would put you on the 2 meter frequency and I am sure the HAM clubs around have enough repeaters to cover the entire island plus the other islands. The only reason I would consider getting your General Class License is the 2 meter band which you will be limited to operating on can get crowded. But again, I don't know how many HAMs there are around here? If my memory serves me correctly, 2 meter is good in a vehicle as well. But then again when I was into it the radios were still predominantly tube radios so I am sure things have changed dramatically since then.

I hope this answers your questions. I tried to answer them without getting too technical.

Thank you, this clears up a bunch of stuff about the repeaters, looked up the test schedule here and am going to talk to the contact this week, the distance and established network makes the ham a good com for SHTF scenarios, i think some cb or gmrs radios for close by and "scouting" just know when fuel is scarce and the cell towers and power are down  its most likely better to not stray too far from the farm but will need to be able to comunicate and network.
Aloha

You are correct about HAM being the better communications device. Especially in a SHTF scenario. Not only due to the distance factor, but during a disaster the HAMS around the island/state will be organized and listening/helping/communicating with the authorities. It is common practice amongst the HAMs to do just that. And the authorities do depend on the amateur radio operators during disasters. It may be the ONLY form of real communications during a time of crisis.

Since you live on a farm you might consider getting your General License and putting up a tower and antenna on your property. You never know when you could be the center of COM during a crisis. 

Very glad this post was made... got me going on my "communications"... I haven't fooled around with my stock in a while... Got me going to do some research and fix my stuff Here is the latest....

My two-way radios are Motorola talkabouts and are FRS only, not GMRS like I thought.... Charged both units up. One worked fine the other worked but could not transmitte voice. Consulted a neighbor who has a stong CB past... opened up the radio found the MIC to be clogged probably from the dirt while hunting... cleaned it up and both units work fine. I will have to test distance again around my neighborhood.

Looking to pick up these GMRS radios from Amazon when I get some extra scripts.... More channels and more distance...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0039YON7A/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Pulled out my GE portable 40 channel CB.... put in fresh batts and would not work... battery terminals were corroded... cleaned and the old unit worked fine. Could hear and transmit with my neighbor very clearly. Also heard numerous other transmissions pretty clear. Went to plug into my magnet mount antennae and could not find the adaptor.... Damn! Need to go to Radio Shacky...

My portable with the magnet mount would allow me to talk for miles.... all the way up country and other parts of the isle... need to get this going... Need to check and get my mobile unit up and running also

My point is one is none and two is one... also take care and use your stash... thankfully this was a test not an emergency... Gonna take better care from now on!!!!
 


 

Very glad this post was made... got me going on my "communications"... I haven't fooled around with my stock in a while... Got me going to do some research and fix my stuff Here is the latest....

My two-way radios are Motorola talkabouts and are FRS only, not GMRS like I thought.... Charged both units up. One worked fine the other worked but could not transmitte voice. Consulted a neighbor who has a stong CB past... opened up the radio found the MIC to be clogged probably from the dirt while hunting... cleaned it up and both units work fine. I will have to test distance again around my neighborhood.

Looking to pick up these GMRS radios from Amazon when I get some extra scripts.... More channels and more distance...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0039YON7A/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Pulled out my GE portable 40 channel CB.... put in fresh batts and would not work... battery terminals were corroded... cleaned and the old unit worked fine. Could hear and transmit with my neighbor very clearly. Also heard numerous other transmissions pretty clear. Went to plug into my magnet mount antennae and could not find the adaptor.... Damn! Need to go to Radio Shacky...

My portable with the magnet mount would allow me to talk for miles.... all the way up country and other parts of the isle... need to get this going... Need to check and get my mobile unit up and running also

My point is one is none and two is one... also take care and use your stash... thankfully this was a test not an emergency... Gonna take better care from now on!!!!
 


 

Glad you are getting that stuff squared away.  Like you said at least you didn't find out during an actual emergency. 

CB update... Portable is up an working. heard lots of "chatter" on a Sat. night... running off the factory rubber ducky...

Sunday went to Radio Shack... jeez... lots of young kids who dont know their ass from a hot rock... gahh... finally got some service. got the connections to make my portable run to my magnet mount again. Looking to hook it up again and see what i can do...

Heard a big power unit from big island... cool.

Guys. Let me know if you need cb stuff. Im currently on the mainland at my new house.

Truck stops here have it all..and i mean everything.

Ill be back on the island on the 30th.

Thanks everyone for the info contributed to this thread!  This stuff is foreign language to me, I really need to get on it though.  I have a couple of decent two ways I picked up a while back hoping to maybe plant the second one with family so enable easy coms during disasters.  Of course, all the reviews I read were right, in the city/urban setting, distance is reduced to a mile or even less since they work by line of sight.  Oh well, maybe I'll take them to Lana'i for deer season this year.

Guys. Let me know if you need cb stuff. Im currently on the mainland at my new house.

Truck stops here have it all..and i mean everything.

Ill be back on the island on the 30th.

That's awesome!

Question would cellphones and GPS still work during disasters since they are run by satellites?

I never get to try it out when we had the Earthquake and the blackout.

Question would cellphones and GPS still work during disasters since they are run by satellites?

I never get to try it out when we had the Earthquake and the blackout.

What happened to me during the last REALLY big wind we had the cell phones were knocked out on parts of the island. But text messaging still worked. Also, Internet connectivity still worked. Not sure about GPS

Question would cellphones and GPS still work during disasters since they are run by satellites?

I never get to try it out when we had the Earthquake and the blackout.

cell phones do not run on satellite, unless you are talking about Iridium cell phones, which do both satellite and cell.

Question would cellphones and GPS still work during disasters since they are run by satellites?

I never get to try it out when we had the Earthquake and the blackout.

During the tsunami last year,, while cell phones and land lines may have still been working,, the system was jammed here,,, it impossible to get any sort of calls through,  so it doesnt matter what the system runs on the reality is  that it gets overloaded quickly,  if you will remember, HECO shut down power to lots of areas in Honolulu, I am pretty sure that MECO did the same here on Maui in Kahului, this impacts a lot of stuff,,, the county also shut down sewage pumping stations to "protect them",,,  so there were sewage spills as well as no power and overloaded com systems,, can you imagine what that would translate into if we had a hit like the 1946 tsunami from the Aleutians, check out the google earth sat photo of the ridge south of the Aleutians, then look at some of the topo data on that ridge,,, then see if you still think a devastating tsunami couldnt trash MOST of the island chain,,, where are most of the ports??? I know Hilo and Kahului are on the north side,,, and are sort of in bowls that face north,,, A slip of that fault and the resulting wave could potentially make Japan look like it was ripples compared to a slip and slide underwater on that fault,, look at the cascade fault that hasnt moved in a LOOOOONG time,,,, that is a scarry one too,, could happen, Im just sayin,,, oh but that idiot from Kihei who had video of him showing his kid how to check out the water when they were supposed to be evacuated said he was a good swimmer and could run away from it,,, I feel sorry for that kid to have such a stupid parent,,, its sad, too many idiots having kids now days,,,