Having worked in the radio industry for some time, I would suggest foregoing the conventional transeiver and getting a PLB, or perhaps even an EPIRB. They don't cost that much more, and are dedicated to your rescue. It may be that you are unable to communicate using a conventional radio. The idea of quick, easy, one or two step deployment makes these devices far superior, and since you are not intending to use the radio except in an emergency anyways, might as well make it a truly dedicated unit. As we all know from reading the reviews here, these devices still have a ways to go, but I would still rather have a device that operates as part of a dedicated system, rather than have to wait for an aircraft to get near enough to reach over the two way.

Yep, knife and fire are still top dogs, and fairly foolproof in trained hands.

Unfortunately, here in Baghdad, no communications system is reliable, as the Army jams all usable frequencies often. If you want to be rescued here, you might have a better response shooting at the aircraft, although sometimes this has undesirable effects from a survival perspective. Still, it will get the attention of the right people.

Up here in Alaska we (Alaska Air National Guard) monitor 121.5 and 243.0 from all the FAA and military RADAR and Communications sites in the state. Small aircraft are used to supply the numerous villages and small settlements with goods and mail on a daily basis year around weather permitting. The right radio could really be a life saver in this environment. I am going to do some radio research using what I have read in these postings. It seems like a good investment in safety.

The thing to remember though is that a plane is 10,000 +/- ft in the air (and point to point may be a couple miles more/less) but there is usually nothing between you and the plane to cause interference. That same distance on the ground has a lot of interference possibilities.

As cedfire said, you can use any radio frequency to call for help in an emergency. Specifically written for ham radio but it is good for all:

“CFR Title 47 Sec. 97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.

No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.”

CFR title 47 has the rules for the FCC.

You can purchase ham radios that can receive AM aircraft band and allow transmission on ham bands. Most radios have the capability of being “opened up” to transmit on any frequency that it can receive. I do not condone this but I know that radios made for hams also will work, when modified, for other services like the Military Affiliate Radio Service (MARS). They use frequencies outside of the ham bands.


Getting your ham license is fairly easy and most clubs have classes that allow you to get your license in 2 days. Having a ham license opens up a lot more possibilities. A PLB only gives 1 (albeit good) level of communication. A minor problem that could develop into an emergency could be handled through ham radio before is becomes life threatening.

97.403 not withstanding (and yes I'm a ham) RE using ANY radio my anyone in a LIFE or DEATH situation, I'll use the old gun owners quote

"It's better to be tried by 12, than carried by 6"

aka - I'm going to do what it takes to survive, and worry about the law LATER

I should just like to point out that what you say is almost, but not quite true...

You CAN get a radio that will run on AA batteries, but you will likely get around 1W, if you are lucky. Many HTs feature 5W of transmit power, but those ALL have some sort of rechargable. The down side of this is that rechargable batteries self-discharge over time, so they are far from maintenance-free. If somebody knows of an HT that will pump out 5W an AA batteries, I would love to hear about it.

I carry a Kenwood TH-F6a, and I love it. It does everything. But it is expensive (over $300) and has to be recharged.

PLBs will be great one day. Like all new technologies they still have a way's to go before they are truely reliable, but I have no doubt they will be eventually. I am really looking forward to the days of a truely reliable PLB about the size of a Zippo lighter. I will certainly own one once we get the technology to that point.

Kevin, go to my original post and click on the link to Icom. The radio I mentioned is available with AA alkaline capability or, for a little more money, rechargable battery. If I didn't misread the specs, it says that it will put out five watts of power.

Speaking of power there was one or more posts that questioned the range of the radio. Perhaps fifty miles was an over estimate but you must remember that a commercial airliner directly overhead is between five and six miles from you. Further out and still visible the plane could be ten to fifteen miles from you. It just seems to me that in an instance such as that, as you are dealing with line of sight and no obstructions between you and the plane, that it would easily contact the plane. I could be wrong and if so, defer to those that know more than I do. I know in the past that I have talked over twenty miles ground to ground on a five watt police hand held so I didn't feel that fifty miles line of sight was unreasonable for the Icom mentioned. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Hi Harrkev,
Sorry if this is a little off post, but can you "open up" with a mod the Kenwood FT6a to transmit on aircraft and SAR frequencies?? I have been looking at this little radio for some time and wanted to be sure it would do that before investing a lot of money on it. Thanks, KG7IW

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you. If it is between life or law I will choose life by any means possible! I was just trying to help w/ the law question with my limited knowledge (very limited <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> )

As to batteries, it is always good to carry a spare (or 2) with you. Most radios do have an optional AA pack. You can always make one to use the external power connector on almost every HT.
BTW - I carry an Alinco dj-596 dual band w 2 battery packs

I think I've found a radio solution for you:

VXA-700

It's a handheld made by Vertex/Standard (Yaesu) that allows for both airband AND ham radio transmitting in one unit.

You'd be able to contact the planes overhead as well as the searchers on the ground.