Hey - KC2CXH here (yes, it's a NJ call and I live in PA...never updated it when I moved...whatever...)

ANYWAY.... I've found that MURS and similar business band VHF radios are just as good as ham gear, easier to use and for point-to-point comms, and don't require licensing and all that ruckus.

Although I'm a ham operator, and like it, I'd advise anyone who wants to USE a radio to accomplish a task, rather than TINKER with one to learn about radio and radio systems, go with FRS, GMRS, MURS or even (GASP!) CB for those simple point-to-point comms situatons.

The little Motorola Spirit radios have been a fine performer ou tin the real world,, and a little further up the scale, I've recently used some really old HTX1000's tuned to low-band with great results in a rural SAR job.

One thing to consider before you totally dismiss the "toy" radios is batteries - you can get "AA" cells on every corner of the planet, you'll be hard pressed to get a NiMH or Li Ion battery for your fancy ham radio out in the midst of nowhere.

I've got a pair of Midland GMRS 3W jobbies that I got for $80 for the pair at Cabela's and we've found that while they don't get NEAR the "10 miles" they claim the radions are capable of, we DO get a solid 1 mile radius outdoors in just about any terrain. Over water, they are, of course better.

So, while I always like to see ham radio folks out there, I can speak from personal experience using Ham radio vs. other radio communications tools in routine and emergency communications situations - for MOST people, a ham radio is total overkill and a simpler radio will do just fine.

- marty