i know little about this subject, so please expand chaosmagnet - do these "amateur radio repeaters" offer an uneducated user anything? if they do, could Outdoor_Quest build one to help to what he wants to do? and would it assist in anyway for him to contact nearby neighbors (who don't own serious radio gear)?

also: with your knowledge, for a low-cost/simple solution for this need, would you suggest he try CBs or some other kind of FRS/GMRS-type walkie-talkie, or would he be wasting his time?