Cacher

Yes, this is what my research showed, too. We would need to purchase a handheld Garmin that is compatible with the InReach service and are currently considering perhaps the Mini since it appears that is the lowest price-point model.

Thanks for the information on the InReach. We will definitely look into this as an option. Another friend suggested a sat phone, but those are very expensive and likely much more than what we need, but it appears the basic safety package on the InReach is not going to totally break the bank!

Thank you!!! I was a big CB nerd back in the day and have always had a fascination with radios! I'm looking forward to getting more familiar with things and making some new radio-minded friends to keep learning more!

A special shout out to WRXP381 for all the assistance in a private message to help demystify things even more. We've decided to go the route of ordering two Baofeng UV9Rs with 48" foldable antennas and the programming cable to get started. We will program GMRS frequencies on the lower channels and HAM frequencies for dire emergency-use only on the upper channels (100+) so we don't accidently confuse GMRS for HAM channels. I very much appreciate everyone's insights here and look forward to getting more involved in the GMRS community!

Thanks!

Do you have a link to the Queen of Everything's GMRS channel? I can't seem to find it with a Google search.

He removed his hand from the arm where you can't see his hand and apparently attached it to his clavicle to hold the radio!

Cookie sheet? Is it the metal that is helping to amplify the range of the antenna in this case?

Seems like I'd want to at least upgrade the stock antenna to a foldable 48", which, to my understanding, would increase my range but also still be small enough to be able to carry the radio(s) in a backpack.

Hahahaha....I would have thought the points earned for getting someone into the ham culture could only be redeemed for ham sandwiches!!! Thank you, everyone, for the help! I do thing GMRS will be the way to go, I just have to figure out the best way to accomplish what I need without having to carry a lot of equipment. Living in Oregon, we tend to lose cell service (and thus when gmrs would be needed) when we are in the higher elevations (Cascade's and other hilly areas) in the forest. So, at least I'll have the natural elevation working in my favor (although the trees may negate that???), which HOPEFULLY means that I'll be able to more easily hit a repeater with some sort of lightweight antenna that is easily attached to a HH unit???

Thank you!!! My friend is a HAM operator and he is suggesting that perhaps I look into obtaining my tech license. Yikes! I guess I have some reading and better understanding gmrs vs ham options. In my head this all seemed much more simple...like I just had to purchase a decent HH with repeated capabilities and know how to program it to hit those repeaters, but am now starting to understand there are more technical things involved!

Thank you all, so much, for the information. The more I am learning, the more it seems like I need a GMRS 101 course! Any recommendations on good resources for that?

We recently relocated to Oregon from Buffalo, NY, and find ourselves in very different terrain. We camp and geocache, so we find ourselves without cell signal often. I have a license (WRDZ 350), which I obtained 2 or 3 years ago, but only because the walkie-talkie like 2-way radios we have do have some channels that are on GMRS frequencies. We only used them for close communication while in woods caching with other friends or while camping. We have never used a repeater. Now that we are here and the terrain is much different, we find ourselves without cell signal often as we travel. For safety reasons, I want to better understand GMRS and the use of repeaters. We are looking at purchasing a handheld type of radio (or two) that can access repeater frequencies, mainly for emergency use, but also potentially to communicate between a small group of people who may be geocaching together in a remote area. Being new to the area and not really knowing the terrain we may encounter by following our GPS to a cache, it would be wonderful to know we have some way of summoning help if, God forbid, ever needed! I do have an account on myGMRS.com, so I can see where repeaters are available, coverage range, owner requirements (open system, permission required, etc.), and then all the really techie stuff that goes completely over my head. I appreciate any insight you may be able to offer. Mainly, what handhelds might be best suited for this situation and then the specifics of how I would go about using said handheld(s) to access repeaters. I understand some require owner permission and others are open. Some accept the travel tones (although still a bit unclear on what that means, but know it has to do with squelch and blocking out other chatter on the frequency) and others do not. We typically know where we are going to be headed to, so I would be able to do the research to ID repeaters in those areas and those along the route to said destination. Thanks in advance for any and all help for this complete newbie!! (I was a CB nerd wayyyy back in my youth, but this seems a bit more complex at the moment!) Best, PJ (WRDZ 350)