Subj : RE: Every Day Carry for the Intel Community
To   : warmfuzzy
From : debian
Date : Sun Oct 29 2023 09:13:22

 wa> What do you want to have with you at all times?
 wa> - a global phone card, especially useful is one with a toll free number
 wa> that        is used to get on the long distance phone carrier
 wa> - a function phone (not a smart phone), so you can remove its battery
 wa> when not        in use, yet have an emergency method of communications
 wa> 
 wa> Does anyone have any other ideas?

I have been in areas where cellular and phone service are not reliable. For this purpose, I have had to use my Yaesu FT-3D for communicating and relaying messages to others. This has proven useful when having to send SMS in areas where cellular service is inaccessible. I know SMSGTE is down, but there is another SMS service you can use, just send a message to "SMS" on APRS to a whitelisted phone number. The message formatting is the same as it was on SMSGTE: @(phone number) (message)

You can add numbers to the whitelist by going to http://theconnectdesk.com/SMS

>> Please don't use this service to send SMS spam - this is what got SMSGTE taken down. <<

I know this is not an option for some as this requires a ham license. This only requires a technicians license which is easy to get. 

To my knowledge, SMS is only available on APRS, not on JS8 frequencies like SMSGTE was. 

I also argue that it would be advantageous to have a CB radio (atleast a hand held) as an alternative to cellular phones. As we all know, CB does not require a license and does provide an option for voice comms if cellular networks are unavailable. 

73, de KG7UJH
Debiani386

How ya gonna do it? PS/2 it!

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