REMOTE PHONES, MADE SIMPLE

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High Frequency (HF) radios enable users to contact other radio operators throughout the United States and around the world, and these folks are nearly always willing to patch your signal into their local phone network so you can talk with nonradio users abroad. Best of all, with the exception of repeater usage fees charged by the local radio clubs that built them (average annual fees are only $5-$25) all airtime via ham radio is absolutely free. My neighbor Terry recently demonstrated how effective and versatile ham radios are at his hunting camp, located a mile from where I live in the north woods.

With a mobile FM 2-meter transceiver linked to an auto battery for power, Terry managed to hit ten different repeaters which in turn covered all of the Upper Peninsula and parts of northern Wisconsin. As a paid subscriber to two of the repeaters with auto patch capabilities, Terry made a phone call by simply punching in the phone number on the keypad of his microphone. Autopatch allows subscribers to make phone calls within the local coverage area where the repeater is located, via radio. Even more impressive was Terry's handheld 2-meter FM radio (called HTs for Handy Talkies).

Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, these low-watt units work exceptionally well within fairly close proximity to repeaters or other radio operators. When used in conjunction with larger better antennas and a power amplifier to boost signal strength, HTs can perform as well as larger higher wattage mobile units. They too have built-in keypads for autopatch. Terry operates a High Frequency radio to contact people all over the United States and around the globe. Each Sunday evening he contacts his son-in-law and daughter who live in Panama. They meet on a preselected "internet" frequency, then switch over to a less crowded frequency to chat. Like FM radios, High Frequency base as mobile radios both lend themselves well to remote-site application. Prices for new FM mobile radios average $350, with HTs starting out around $250. New HF radios start out around $800 and can cost $2,000 or more. Remote operators can also plan to spend a few hundred dollars for commercial manufactured antennas (though many hams build their own at substantial savings).

Used equipment of all kinds can be bought at big discounts through Amateur Radio Trader, 1-800-774-2623. Unlike the three other wireless telephone services, amateur radio does not offer private line access (you're always sharing the airways with others) and FCC licensing is required to operate ham radios. Consequently, the FCC enforces some fairly rigid rules, prohibiting profanity and prohibiting ham radio from commercial use of any kind. Phonepatch sessions are limited to five minutes, out of courtesy to others who may be waiting to use the same privilege, as well as to radio operators who must manually patch you into their home phone on the HF bands. Also, it's a widely held opinion by many ham radio operators that amateur radio shouldn't be used to routinely circumvent telephone service, when it is available. While remote dwellers without phone service don't apply here it should be noted that the best scenario is to recruit long-distance friends and relatives to become amateur radio operators with you.

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