Trust me, a solar still is not something to make in the desert unless you want to die quicker!! I used to teach survival and would make one, prime it with a gallon of water and after about 6hrs I would show the students the results, a half cup or less of water. They work good on snow or in wet climates to gain clean water of you can't find any running. Solar still, stay in the sun long enough and lie still <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Pete,

that was my logic for a long time too. But things do happen. My water bottle can get lost, empty, or I forget to refresh water in my canteen. I have the prepackaged water under my seat and I know I'm good until 2005. It just sit there in case of emergency. I still do things the same way as far as regular half a liter bottle on my hip or in cargo pocket goes. But just in case my spare prepackaged water is there if I need it.

Matt

ummmm.....guys, it was a JOKE. Tongue firmly in cheek!

How about CB's? Or am I just being cheap? Do they still work and do you have to learn the language? I read somewhere that you can reach the police on them. They should be cheaper in the long run than cell phones. I am thinking of outfitting my future car with one, or would a cell phone be better?

With a Ham or CB radio you will be able to reach farther in an emergency which swamps the "normal" comms systems. Either of these are "connectionless" meaning that you press the button and talk and your voice goes out. Your signal with CB will be limited to something like 5 watts output while Ham gear can and usually does run around 50 watts in a mobil rig. The HAM lisence grants priveleges to run much larger wattages than that but you wouldn't want to stand near the antenna or have it mounted on your car roof.

With Cell phones, if you get a connection, you can speak with exactly whom you want. With radio you will get contact with whatever Yahoo happens to be listening on the frequency you are shouting into. With CB that will usually mean truckers. They are generally helpful and knowledgeable of road conditions and routes. With HAM you will probably be able to reach the emergency communications that are set up for the use of FEMA or local emergency management. While this may not be a place for you to talk a lot you will definately be contacting the right folks. And you will be able to listen to them as well. It's a matter of coordination and frequencies.

I recommend that you get as much comms gear as possible. Start with Cell phones because they are cheaper and no training is required. Get a HAM lisence ASAP. There are weekend courses given around here (NH, USA) that provide the opportunity to test at the end of the weekend and almost a guarantee to pass. After you have your HAM lisence you will be free to evaluate CB vs HAM yourself. If you have the $$$$ and I mean $$$$$$$, get a CB, Multi-band VHF/UHF mobile HAM and a 6 meter or 10 meter HF mobile HAM rig. Then for monitoring the local emergency services you might want to add a trunking scanner but that is really big $$$$$$$$$$$$ for just a receive device.

If these words make no sensel, read them to a local HAM and you will be in for a weekend seminar that you might find really enjoyable but are sure to find informative.

Ok, that makes sense, I just thought that a CB would be cheaper than a cell. Is a HAM one of those things on The Lost World, Jurasic Park (The second Jurasic Park) that Ian can't seem to get to work right? Anyway, I'll get a cell, hands free of coarse. Hey, that would be a good idea, to add a cell to the tractors so that could help when someone gets stuck! (Not me of coarse)

HAM radios come in all sizes, frequencies, output powers. From large home rigs with tall towers to small handy-talkies that weigh less than a cell phone (and output less power). Best bet is to get intouch with the local amateur radio club which could be found through the ARRL Wander around that site for a while. The link list at the top left contains a link to clubs. You can look one up by location. Amateur radio operators area always willing to teach a newbie.