Communications for Traveling

Needs:		Methods:
Meeting -	Coordination with travelers that you will join.	Radio -	Best for traveling together.
Caravanning -	Coordination with those that travel with you.	E-mail -	Messages will wait for you.
Reporting -	Informing others how your trip is going.	Cellular -	Poor for traveling together.

Radio:

Two-way radio is the most useful tool for travelers, especially for groups. Using only cell phones has serious drawbacks.

Ham Radio - Use for Meeting, Caravanning or Reporting, ONLY between licensed Hams. HF Radio: HF radio is quite useful for distant Meeting and Reporting situations. Scheduled Contacts - "Skeds" can be useful because they can be set for the best time. The disadvantage is that band conditions or interference may not allow a contact at that time. Nets - On a daily net, stations need not hear each other or even be on at the same time. Messages may be relayed through others on the net. The disadvantage is that the time of the net may not be best, or frequent enough. Some nets are only on weekdays. VHF/UHF FM: Simplex - Simplex FM is obvious for Caravanning and Meeting (talk-in). Repeaters - Previously picked repeaters can be used for Meeting, Caravanning, and Reporting if everyone is within range of the repeater. Don't use a repeater if everyone is always in simplex range. Linked Repeater Systems - Use instead of HF radio for Meeting and Reporting ONLY IF everyone is in range of a linked repeater, and everyone is a member, or the system is open. You can more easily monitor for unscheduled calls than on HF. Internet Linking (IRLP) - IRLP can aid Meeting and Reporting. Distant nodes are dialed up for a voice connection. IRLP nodes may be connected to a simplex transceiver, a VHF or UHF repeater, or a network of linked repeaters. See http://www.irlp.net.

FRS - Use for Meeting, or Caravanning. Recommended when starting new. FRS, the Family Radio Service, with low power and antennas permanently mounted on the units, does not require a license and is very popular. Unlike CB, FRS signals easily pass through vehicle windows. A complete unit has 14 channels and 38 privacy tones. Controversial 22 channel GMRS/FRS units are below under GMRS. Some brands of FRS and GMRS are far better than others. GMRS - Use for Meeting, or Caravanning. Recommended when everyone is licensed and equipped. GMRS, the General Mobile Radio Service, requires an expensive license, one per family (see note). There are 22 channel GMRS/FRS units, some with 1-4 watts on GMRS channels. GMRS and FRS users may talk to each other on shared channels 1-7. Channels 8-14 are FRS, GMRS does not have those frequencies. Channels 15-22 are GMRS only. CB Radio - Use for Meeting, or Caravanning. Recommended ONLY when majority already have equipment. CB, Citizens Band, on 27 MHz. does not require licenses but is not the choice for new purchases. It works over short range for Caravanning, but interference can make Meeting hard. Walkie-talkies don't radiate well from inside a car, some are not even CB. MURS - Use for Meeting, or Caravanning. Recommended ONLY when majority already have equipment. The Multi-User Radio Service, MURS, has 5 VHF channels, and does not require a license. It is not being mass-marketed.

E-Mail:

E-mail messages can be sent at your convenience to be read at the addressee's convenience. This obviously can be used for Reporting, but can also be used for updates for Meeting if everyone checks their mail frequently.

PocketMail* - PocketMail is the size of a pocket organizer with a built-in acoustic coupler. Send and receive mail at pay phones or motel phones with a free number. Cell phones can be used, but with limits.

Wireless - Wireless devices to receive and send e-mail include digital phones, pagers, and cellular PDAs which may receive mail any time they are on. Disadvantages include cellular mail not working in an analog or unserved area, and short message lengths.

Wi-Fi* - Wi-Fi hot spots are used for public wireless Internet access for laptops and PDAs. Coffee shops, fast-food, copy shops, hotels, campgrounds, and public areas have Wi-Fi for subscribers and one-time users. Some are free, others expensive.

Conventional E-Mail - This uses a PC or e-mail device. Both need modular jack access to a phone line. Many campgrounds are "modem friendly". If a public Internet terminal or WebTV is available, browser e-mail can be processed.

Ham E-Mail - Winlink is an Amateur HF Pactor system to exchange e-mail with the Internet. Messages can be handled far from telephone connections. Specific TNCs and an HF rig are needed. However, Telpac is a new Winlink node using VHF packet. Ham APRS - APRS can send a short Internet e-mail if the packets make it to an Internet gateway, but can't receive from the Internet. Short messages can be sent and received with other APRS stations in digipeater range.

Ham Packet - Few Hams have mobile packet. The packet network can be spotty, but if it is useful to you, use it. See my Using a PDA with the TM-D700 or TH-D7 / Using the D700 Packet Mailbox. Also see Telpac under Ham E-mail above.

Mailing Lists - Mailing lists (reflectors) and message boards help Meeting and Reporting if you use e-mail on a trip.

The Mobileer Ham mailing list is used to exchange ideas, make announcements, and plan travel activities starting from Northern California.

Cellular:

Calling home is obvious, but cellular is a last resort between nearby travelers. It can be useful if you need to call when time, distance, or equipment prevents radio contact, usually for updates for Meeting. Have each other's numbers, and your phones turned on!
Push-to-Talk or Walkie-Talkie* - Same advantages and disadvantages as basic cellular, but limited in who can be called.
Prepay - Using cellular but not all going have it? Look at prepay. Buy a phone for typical $50 with $10 worth of calls included. Renew with $20 or more before 90 days with unused amount rolled over. Cheaper than regular plans with light use. Lots of brands, and costs vary.
Disadvantages* - Cellular signals are not available in many rural areas. Travelers can be within sight of each other, but not able to talk. With more vehicles, more calls must be made. Calls are free to some, but very expensive for others.

Conclusions:

General - Have options. E-mail or cellular can notify people about changes during a trip or reestablish lost contacts.
Group Trips - Everyone should have a list of all frequencies and tones, e-mail addresses, and cell phone numbers.

Part-Ham Groups - Hams Caravanning with others need to understand and match FRS, GMRS, CB, or MURS radios used.

GMRS/FRS NOTES:

1. GMRS license covers spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, in-laws.
2. For 22 ch. units on FRS without a GMRS license, use only ch. 1-14 on 1/2 watt units, or ch. 8-14 with higher or unknown wattage.
3. Some radios miss the first words when using the privacy feature on the lowest tones or mixed brands. Privacy doesn't give a private channel, it only stops hearing interfering signals. Never use it when not needed, or else use a high privacy channel (tone). Most radios turn privacy off by setting privacy to 0. Some radios don't have privacy, so radios used with them MUST have it off.

Update*: Mar. 5, 2006. First Version: Aug. 31, 2001. Les Cobb, W6TEE.
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