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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!astrovax!noao!jacoby
From: jacoby@noao.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Monitor 52 Simplexvi simplex
Message-ID: <370@noao.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Jul-84 11:54:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: noao.370
Posted: Fri Jul 20 11:54:42 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jul-84 04:02:38 EDT
Organization: Natl. Optical Astronomy Obs.  Tucson AZ USA
Lines: 26


Regarding emergency communications -- Let's not forget that there
was a time before repeaters.

I would like to encourage more hams to monitor the 2m simplex
frequency 146.52 when possible. There are areas where repeater
coverage is poor, or during genuine emergencies (floods, earthquakes),
most repeaters are not operating.

I have had one emergency experience where 52 simplex saved the day.
And this was from the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Not an optimal
site for simplex coverage! By good fortune a commercial airline
pilot (also a ham) was calling another station. I had given up
on repeaters of course, and settled down to monitor 52.
After about 30 minutes, there was a call, and I promptly broke
in with an emergency request.

He was at 30,000+ ft, and 80 miles north. I had an IC-2AT with a
Vocom 5/8ths whip. 

Certainly this is not an adequate solution to all emergencies,
but with more people listening, the better it is.

George
WD6BBQ
ihnp4!noao!jacoby