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kw5kw wrote:
bran-new 2meter (144.000 ~ 148.000 MHz) full power 50 watts can be had for as little as $160.00, add another 40.00 or so for an antenna. Heck you can spend more than that on a set of 'night sights'.

Russ

Were is a good place to research the license on the internet? Links appreciated.

kw5kw wrote:Yes you must get the license... "Uncle Charlie" (the FCC) will issue fines for unlicensed usage... and they're not inexpensive.

Better yet... become a ham. A "no-code" technician license will allow you to use radio's that will talk for hundreds of miles... legally.

The best thing is that the license is FREE.
The bad thing is that you must take a test.
The good thing is that you study the questions and the answers before the test.

the good thing is you can talk much further,
the bad thing is that your family must take the test also to talk to them.

(that might not be an entirely bad thing, Huh?)

Russ

yikes! another hobby Do I have to tell my wife I've always been interested in ham radio, but never took the plunge, the free license is enticing, but i'm sure the equipment costs can get way up there really fast.

I picked up some new portable radios (mine got wet last year). The old ones were FRS and the new set is FRS/GMRS. The cost was about $15.00 and they are good for 5 miles.

According to the instructions, you have to have a license to use the GMRS channels and the GMRS channels have a longer range then the FRS (5 miles vs. 2 miles). I checked the FCC home page and the license is $80.00 for 5 years.

Does anyone really get an 80 dollar license for a 15 dollar radio? Seems a little ridiculous.

KBCraig wrote:I keep a handheld Cobra in our van. It comes in handy when there's a traffic foul-up... more than once I've listened in, and found a bypass around a trouble spot.

I think this is the model I have, but I didn't pay anywhere near $110 for it. I think it was about $40 on clearance from Wal Mart.

Range is extremely limited inside the vehicle without an external antenna. I need to get a magnetic external unit.

Kevin

That's mostly what i use mine for. I did find that unit on a couple of other web sites for around $77-$79. I may have to make a trip to Wal Mart

one more handy item that helped make the evacuation entertaining last year was a portable CB radio. Mine has a built in weather radio too. My son really got a kick out of listening to the truckers on highway (although at 12 years of age, he did learn a few new words).

Unfortunately, mine (which is at least 10 years old) got crushed recently under the seat of my explorer. Any one have any suggestions for a new one priced around 50 or 60 bucks? Needs to have a weather radio and be battery operated. Wouldn't mind having AM radio on it too.

OverEasy wrote:
Interesting note; Last year 5 gal plastic gas cans at Wal-Mart were $4.88.
This year they are $9.89. Yesterday I went in Tractor Supply and they were asking $17.xx for the same cans.

Don't wait around, do it now!! Regards, OE

Correct!!! I paid like $15.99 Each for mine yesterday, but you can order them on the internet for under 10 bucks +shipping costs. The lady at the auto parts store said they will not be able to keep then on shelf after this week.

seamusTX wrote:Don't forget water. If you stay at home during a hurricane, you're going to need a lot more water than gasoline. The roads will be impassible.

- Jim

I've been stocking up on bottled water and will continue to do so. Plus, I've got 18,000 gallons stored in the back yard for utility purposes.

To anygunanywhere: "Cash"... Excellent point. Need to make sure i have some on hand. How much? I've got my gun "hobby" stash in the safe. As to your RV, I think that would be great for evacuating, but what if you stay? Should it be tied down some how? I think I would want to strap it to the ground.

Have you done any hurricane preparations? I picked up a couple of five gallon gas cans yesterday and have been picking up bottled water from time to time to keep in the garage. Earlier this year I picked up a trailer hitch attachment (one of those small hitch trailers) to store the gas cans on in the event that we evacuate again. I have a garage door cable that I can use to lock the gas cans on to prevent theft. My wife is in the food business, so we’ve got plenty of canned food in the garage and just in case we need more, I picked up some MRE’s.

I am curious as to whether others are taking similar steps? Last year, a set of 2-mile Motorola radios came in very handy during the evacuation, but these have since gotten wet and need to be replaced. I noticed a set of 5 mile units being advertised last week for $25.00, so I may pick up a new set of these. For some reason, I feel like I still need more gas cans. I know I can use the gasoline once a storm has passed and the price goes to 4 bucks a gallon.

To keep some form of gun discussion, I know I will have a few pistols with me should we evacuate. If we take too cars, I am glad that state laws will allow my non-CHL spouse to carry in her car. There can be no question that she will be traveling if the car is loaded down and we are evacuating the area.

Other items for the road include a packed, light weight back pack complete with a tent, sleeping bag, dehydrated food, first aid kit, extra clothes, and other standard camping supplies. I still have memories of folks trapped on the interstate overpasses for days in New Orleans last year and that will not happen to me and my family.

Am I going to extremes?