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Showing posts with the label radios

Testing Batteries after Winter Storage

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Whenever we are out on the boats and especially while we are at the lake house, we regularly use two high powered walkie-talkies and a base radio for communications. Cellphones have no service in most of the areas we frequent so these radios are necessary for general communications as well as emergencies.   These radios have been in storage all winter so none of the batteries have had a charge in many months. Hopefully the batteries are still good and will hold a charge. I dug the radios out of one of our closets this morning.  I'll let the batteries charge for about 24 hours before putting them through a series of tests.  Hopefully, we're good to go...  If not, I'll need to order some new batteries very soon... Next up...  camera batteries... Update:  The batteries in these radios seem to be fine.  I charged them for 24 hours and see no power problems.  Now, I just need to remember how to use all the features on these things!

Communication Beyond Cellphones

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Ever since my health problems started, I have been carrying a cellphone wherever I go.  I rarely use it socially but have needed it to call 9-1-1 for myself far too many times. Today I have even more health complications and need to stay close to help.  This poses a problem while we are at the lake house because there is absolutely no wireless service anywhere near the lake.  The lake is still close to one of our local hospitals so, geographically, there is no major problem.  So, what is the solution for effective communication in case I need help in this relatively remote area?  Or, what if Sheila or Adam need help while out hiking, biking, kayaking or sailing? Radios. Before cellphones became 'mainstream' for families, you would often see families using small walkie talkies at amusement parks and other places families frequent.  Those were decent radios but they were nothing like some of the radios which are available today. Much of our activities at the lake invo