Don't discount ham radio either.  Has of the 15th the fcc has relaxed the testing requirements.  You can study the actual test on sites like http://www.eham.net.  With 50 watts on 2 meters and a 5/8 wavelength antenna you can get any repeater within 50 miles.  Also, a lot of the repeaters are linked with multi-state coverage.

Pat N8VW

On Fri, Apr 21, 2000 at 01:45:19PM -0500, Michael C. Duran wrote:
> Is your cell phone a REAL cell phone or a PCS?  If it has analog
> capabilities, chances are you are covered.  If it is digital only (PCS),
> then chances are you won't be covered.  Analog cellular covers 98% of
> places on the continent where humans live.  Digital PCS? Bahah!!  Go off
> the Interstate and bye-bye coverage.
>
> Secondly, CB radios, at least down in Texas are virtually out of use by all
> but truck drivers.  Truck drivers MIGHT be nice enough to help you out if
> they get your cry for help, but chances, IMO, are slim based on my prevoius
> CB conversations with truckers.  Many of the smarter truckers run w/
> squelch up high so they don't hear all the crap (cussing, sex jokes, blah
> blah) of the other truckers.  Also, FYI, nobody monitors channel 9, the
> "emergency" channel. The cell phone is your best bet unless you can afford
> a satellite phone :)
>
> Also, if you're ever cruising with a group it's probably a good idea to get
> a FRS radio.  It's a low-powered walkie-talkie style radio used by alot of
> civilians (it stands for Family Radio Service).  So far I find alot more
> individuals in cars using FRS than CB anymore.  The range is alot shorter,
> but you're alot more likely to find a friendly voice when next to a highway.
>
> Good luck...
>
> -Michael
>
> At 11:43 AM 4/21/2000 -0600, Drew Bedford wrote:
> >I'm heading off to a rather remote location for a weekend camping trip
> >and I began to ponder communications. In case "Happy" gets unhappy,
> >should I add a CB to the glovebox? I already have a national-coverage
> >cell phone, but rural Utah is, well... rural. Has anyone gotten out of a
> >jam using a CB where no cell coverage was available? Seems like fairly
> >cheap insurance.
> >
> >TIA,
> >Drew
> >83.5 Westy
>