#[1]ARRL Amateur Radio News

  IFRAME: [2]https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5BCPW62

[3]ARRL

  Website Search
  Keyword_____________ [Category______________] GO

  Call Sign / Name Search
  Search Licensees____ GO
  (Login) Login

  [4]Register Account

  [5]Login Help
    * [6]Home
    * [7]On The Air
    * [8]Licensing, Education & Training
    * [9]Membership
    * [10]Regulatory & Advocacy
    * [11]Public Service
    * [12]Technology
    * [13]Get Involved
    * [14]ARRL Store
    * [15]About ARRL
    * [16]News & Features

News

When All Else Fails: Amateur Radio Helps Rescue Lost Hiker

  12/19/2022

  Editor's note: The following event took place on Sunday afternoon,
  December 11, 2022, and was told to ARRL News by Raul "Skip" Camejo,
  AC1LC, Public Information Coordinator for the ARRL New Hampshire
  Section.
  The amateur radio repeater on the summit of Gunstock Mountain helped
  connect the lost hiker in a remote area of New Hampshire. The repeater
  is affiliated with New England Digital Emergency Communications
  Network, NEDECN.
  A New Hampshire man and his dog went out for a day hike yesterday in
  the Belmont area of central New Hampshire. Things went well until his
  cell phone battery died. With darkness near and a prediction of snow, a
  leisurely day hike was quickly turning into a serious health and safety
  issue for the hiker.
  Fortunately for him, he is also an amateur radio operator and brought
  along his digital mobile radio (DMR) handheld radio with him. With no
  cell phone capability, he made a call on the DMR New Hampshire
  statewide channel through the Gunstock (Mountain) DMR repeater, seeking
  assistance. His call was answered by Bill Barber, NE1B, who was
  monitoring the channel. The hiker asked Barber to call his wife,
  because he could not text or get "pinged" with his dead cell phone.
  Barber contacted the hiker's wife, and she was glad to hear that
  someone was in contact with him. Unfortunately, he did not know exactly
  where he was and believed he would have to walk through brush for an
  hour or more to get to a road.
  His wife called the local police department, who began a search with
  their local fire department. Amateur radio was the only communication
  from about 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Barber was able to make contact with Rick
  Zach, K1RJZ, who lives closer to the search area, and was familiar with
  the area's snowmobile trails and roads. Zach coordinated communication
  between the responding police units and the lost radio operator on the
  New Hampshire Statewide talkgroup.
  Police and fire units attempted to assist in the search by activating
  their sirens in different locations to try to obtain a location on the
  ham operator, but he was not able to hear them.
  Another amateur radio operator, Chuck Cunningham, K1MIZ, was monitoring
  the events on Net Watch and noticed that the lost ham had accidentally
  changed channels. This information was passed along, and 2-meter DMR
  communication continued until the lost ham walked out to a road and was
  able to advise searchers of his location. The search and checkout ended
  successfully at 6:30 PM.
  Thanks to the efforts of Bill Barber, NE1B (ARRL Life Member); Rick
  Zach, K1RJZ (ARRL member), and Chuck Cunningham, K1MIZ.
  Barber listed some very important lessons learned from the incident:
  Radio batteries last longer on DMR radios than on analog mode.
  Even his wife had trouble with her cell phone coverage at home.
  Monitor your local state DMR channel to help others nearby.
  You may want to program 146.52 FM next to your state channel for signal
  strength direction finding if and when you're out of repeater range.
  Some hams still monitor 146.52 MHz simplex.
  Stay on the primary channel until you know more hams are nearby to
  direction find your signal.
  Hike with DMR. Network sites cover many areas of New England that do
  not have any cell service.
  Hike with a flashlight.
  And I would like to add one more item to the list. My son is one of the
  leaders of Pemigewasset Valley (New Hampshire) Search & Rescue Team and
  unfortunately responds to too many calls for lost hikers. One very
  important item that he stresses is that hikers file a "flight plan."
  Let someone who is not going on the hike know where you are going, how
  long you expect to be gone, and what communication equipment or
  capability you have with you. This also applies if you are going out
  hunting, fishing, or boating.
  Raul "Skip" Camejo, AC1LC
  Public Information Coordinator
  ARRL New Hampshire Section
  [17][email protected]

Photo Gallery

    * [18]The amateur radio repeater on the summit of Gunstock Mountain
      helped connect the lost hiker in a remote area of New Hampshire.
      The repeater is affiliated with New England Digital Emergency
      Communications Network, NEDECN. The amateur radio...

  [19]Back

  [20]Back to Top

  [21]Having Trouble?

  [22]News & Features >> News
    * [23]News
         + [24]ARRL News: Coronavirus COVID-19
    * [25]ARRL Audio News
    * [26]ARRL Periodicals Archive Search
    * [27]QST
    * [28]On the Air Magazine
    * [29]QEX
    * [30]NCJ
    * [31]ARRL Letter
    * [32]News Tips
    * [33]Doctor
    * [34]So Now What?
    * [35]Eclectic
    * [36]ARRL Magazines

EXPLORE ARRL

    * [37]On The Air
      [38]DXCC Program, [39]W100AW & W1AW QSLs via Bureau, [40]Amateur
      Code, [41]Centennial QSO Party, [42]NPOTA, [43]Operating
      Specialties, [44]International Grid Chase 2018, [45]Hiram Percy
      Maxim 150th Birthday Celebration, [46]Awards, [47]QSL Service,
      [48]Cycle 25, [49]Logbook of the World, [50]Transatlantic,
      [51]W1AW, [52]Contests, [53]Special Event Stations, [54]Operating
      Resources, [55]Amateur Radio Direction Finding, [56]Volunteers On
      the Air
      [57]Licensing, Education & Training
      [58]License Certificates, [59]Courses & Training, [60]Volunteer
      Instructors/Mentors, [61]Amateur Radio in the Classroom,
      [62]Volunteer Examiners, [63]Get on the Air, [64]Learning Programs,
      [65]Getting Licensed, [66]What is Ham Radio, [67]Youth Licensing
      Grant Program , [68]FCC License Info and Forms
      [69]Membership
      [70]Member Directory, [71]myARRL, [72]Blind Membership, [73]Join
      ARRL/Renew Membership, [74]member feedback, [75]Dues Increase FAQ,
      [76]Techquestion, [77]Please Confirm Your Information, [78]Member
      Discounts, [79]Member Bulletin, [80]QST Reissue, [81]Membership
      Certificate, [82]Member Benefits, [83]3-Year Special Offer,
      [84]Member Support, [85]ARRL Groups, [86]Connecticut Member Social,
      [87]Login Instructions, [88]Membership Levels
    * [89]Regulatory & Advocacy
      [90]State and Local, [91]Volunteer Consulting Engineer Program,
      [92]Volunteer Counsel Program, [93]Antenna Regulation and Zoning,
      [94]CCR Study Information, [95]International, [96]Technical
      Relations Office, [97]Federal, [98]Volunteer Monitor Resources,
      [99]Federal RFI Preemption, [100]Volunteer Monitor Program
      [101]Public Service
      [102]NTS Manual, [103]Public Service Resources, [104]NTS,
      [105]Volunteer Form for Deployment Consideration, [106]Puerto Rico
      - Caribbean Recovery 2017, [107]2018 Hurricanes, [108]Hurricane
      Maria - 2017, [109]Hurricane Irma - 2017, [110]Hurricane Harvey
      Response, [111]2019 Hurricanes, [112]Ham Aid, [113]2020 Hurricanes,
      [114]Served Agencies and Partners, [115]2021 Hurricanes,
      [116]Public Service Honor Roll, [117]SKYWARN Recognition Day,
      [118]ARES
      [119]Technology
      [120]ARRL References, [121]Tech Tips, [122]ARRL Lab, [123]Tech
      Portal, [124]Radio Technology Topics, [125]Radio Frequency
      Interference (RFI)
    * [126]Get Involved
      [127]Clubs, [128]Volunteer Opportunities, [129]The ARRL Foundation,
      [130]Donate to ARRL, [131]Youth, [132]Recruiting & Outreach,
      [133]Hamfests and Conventions Calendar, [134]Collegiate Amateur
      Radio
      [135]Publications & Online Store
      [136]ARRL Publication Dealers, [137]ARRL Store, [138]List all
      Products, [139]Return Policy, [140]Shipping and Tax, [141]Customer
      Service/Support, [142]Handbook, [143]Product Notes
      [144]About ARRL
      [145]Site Index, [146]Centennial, [147]Privacy Policy, [148]ARRL
      Strategic Plan, [149]Advertising and Other Business Opportunities,
      [150]ARRL on the Purpose of Amateur Radio, [151]Library,
      [152]Ideas, [153]Media and Public Relations, [154]Copyright,
      [155]Organization Structure, [156]Visit Us, [157]ARRL Social Media,
      [158]General Information, [159]Contact ARRL, [160]Employment
      Opportunities

  [161]Instragram      [162]Facebook      [163]Twitter      [164]YouTube
       [165]LinkedIn

  ARRL
  The National Association for Amateur Radio^®
  225 Main Street
  Newington, CT, 06111-1400 USA
  Tel: 1-860-594-0200 | Fax: 1-860-594-0259
  Toll-free: 1-888-277-5289
  [166][email protected]

[167]ARRL

    * [168]Donate Now
    * [169]Join / [170]Renew Your Membership
    * [171]Advertise With Us
    * [172]Contact ARRL
    * [173]Terms of Use / Privacy Policy
    * [174]E-mail to a Friend
    * [175]Sign Up for Our Newsletter

References

  1. http://www.arrl.org/arrl.rss
  2. https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5BCPW62
  3. http://www.arrl.org/
  4. https://login.personifygo.com/prodarrl/Registration/RegisterEmail?returnurl=https://home.arrl.org/action/My-Account
  5. http://www.arrl.org/login-instructions
  6. http://www.arrl.org/home
  7. http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air
  8. http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
  9. http://www.arrl.org/membership
 10. http://www.arrl.org/regulatory-advocacy
 11. http://www.arrl.org/public-service
 12. http://www.arrl.org/technology
 13. http://www.arrl.org/get-involved
 14. https://home.arrl.org/action/Shop/Store
 15. http://www.arrl.org/about-arrl
 16. http://www.arrl.org/news-features
 17. mailto:[email protected]
 18. http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/Gunstock-ham-repeater-1.jpg
 19. javascript:history.go(-1)
 20. http://www.arrl.org/news/view/when-all-else-fails-amateur-radio-helps-rescue-lost-hiker#top
 21. http://www.arrl.org/support?page=news/view/when-all-else-fails-amateur-radio-helps-rescue-lost-hiker
 22. http://www.arrl.org/news-features
 23. http://www.arrl.org/news
 24. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-news-coronavirus-covid-19
 25. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news
 26. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-periodicals-archive-search
 27. http://www.arrl.org/qst
 28. http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air-magazine
 29. http://www.arrl.org/qex
 30. http://www.arrl.org/ncj
 31. http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter
 32. http://www.arrl.org/news-tips
 33. http://www.arrl.org/doctor
 34. http://www.arrl.org/so-now-what
 35. http://www.arrl.org/eclectic
 36. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-magazines
 37. http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air
 38. http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-program
 39. http://www.arrl.org/AW-BureauQSLs
 40. http://www.arrl.org/amateur-code
 41. http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party
 42. http://www.arrl.org/npota
 43. http://www.arrl.org/operating-specialties
 44. http://www.arrl.org/international-grid-chase-2018
 45. http://www.arrl.org/hpm150-birthday-celebration
 46. http://www.arrl.org/awards
 47. http://www.arrl.org/qsl-service
 48. http://www.arrl.org/cycle-25
 49. http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world
 50. http://www.arrl.org/transatlantic
 51. http://www.arrl.org/w1aw
 52. http://www.arrl.org/contests
 53. http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations
 54. http://www.arrl.org/operating-resources
 55. http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-direction-finding
 56. http://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-air
 57. http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
 58. http://www.arrl.org/license-certificates
 59. http://www.arrl.org/courses-training
 60. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-instructors-mentors
 61. http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-in-the-classroom
 62. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners
 63. http://www.arrl.org/get-on-the-air
 64. http://www.arrl.org/learning-programs
 65. http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed
 66. http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
 67. http://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program
 68. http://www.arrl.org/fcc-license-info-and-forms
 69. http://www.arrl.org/membership
 70. http://www.arrl.org/member-directory
 71. http://www.arrl.org/myarrl
 72. http://www.arrl.org/blind-membership
 73. http://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership
 74. http://www.arrl.org/member-feedback
 75. http://www.arrl.org/dues-increase-faq
 76. http://www.arrl.org/techquestion
 77. http://www.arrl.org/confirm
 78. http://www.arrl.org/member-discounts
 79. http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin
 80. http://www.arrl.org/qst-reissue
 81. http://www.arrl.org/membership-certificate
 82. http://www.arrl.org/member-benefits
 83. http://www.arrl.org/3-year-special-offer
 84. http://www.arrl.org/member-support
 85. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-groups
 86. http://www.arrl.org/connecticut-member-social
 87. http://www.arrl.org/login-instructions
 88. http://www.arrl.org/membership-levels
 89. http://www.arrl.org/regulatory-advocacy
 90. http://www.arrl.org/state-and-local
 91. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-consulting-engineer-program
 92. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-counsel-program
 93. http://www.arrl.org/antenna-regulation-and-zoning
 94. http://www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information
 95. http://www.arrl.org/international-1
 96. http://www.arrl.org/technical-relations-office
 97. http://www.arrl.org/federal
 98. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-monitor-resources
 99. http://www.arrl.org/federal-rfi-preemption
100. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-monitor-program
101. http://www.arrl.org/public-service
102. http://www.arrl.org/nts-manual
103. http://www.arrl.org/public-service-resources
104. http://www.arrl.org/nts
105. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-form-for-deployment-consideration
106. http://www.arrl.org/puerto-rico-caribbean-recovery-2017
107. http://www.arrl.org/2018-hurricanes
108. http://www.arrl.org/hurricane-maria-2017
109. http://www.arrl.org/hurricane-irma-2017
110. http://www.arrl.org/hurricane-harvey-response
111. http://www.arrl.org/2019-hurricanes
112. http://www.arrl.org/ham-aid
113. http://www.arrl.org/2020-hurricanes
114. http://www.arrl.org/served-agencies-and-partners
115. http://www.arrl.org/2021-hurricanes
116. http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll
117. http://www.arrl.org/skywarn-recognition-day
118. http://www.arrl.org/ares
119. http://www.arrl.org/technology
120. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-references
121. http://www.arrl.org/tech-tips
122. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-lab
123. http://www.arrl.org/tech-portal
124. http://www.arrl.org/radio-technology-topics
125. http://www.arrl.org/radio-frequency-interference-rfi
126. http://www.arrl.org/get-involved
127. http://www.arrl.org/clubs
128. http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-opportunities
129. http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation
130. http://www.arrl.org/donate-to-arrl
131. http://www.arrl.org/youth
132. http://www.arrl.org/recruiting-outreach
133. http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar
134. http://www.arrl.org/collegiate-amateur-radio
135. http://www.arrl.org/publications-online-store
136. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-publication-dealers
137. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store
138. http://www.arrl.org/list-all-products
139. http://www.arrl.org/return-policy
140. http://www.arrl.org/shipping
141. http://www.arrl.org/customer-service-support
142. http://www.arrl.org/handbook-1
143. http://www.arrl.org/product-notes
144. http://www.arrl.org/about-arrl
145. http://www.arrl.org/site-index
146. http://www.arrl.org/centennial
147. http://www.arrl.org/privacy-policy
148. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-strategic-plan
149. http://www.arrl.org/advertising-and-other-business-opportunities
150. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-on-the-purpose-of-amateur-radio
151. http://www.arrl.org/library
152. http://www.arrl.org/ideas
153. http://www.arrl.org/media-and-public-relations
154. http://www.arrl.org/copyright
155. http://www.arrl.org/organization-structure
156. http://www.arrl.org/visit-us
157. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-social-media
158. http://www.arrl.org/general-information
159. http://www.arrl.org/contact-arrl
160. http://www.arrl.org/employment-opportunities
161. https://www.instagram.com/arrlhq/
162. https://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org
163. https://www.twitter.com/arrl
164. https://www.youtube.com/user/ARRLHQ
165. https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-radio-relay-league
166. mailto:[email protected]
167. http://www.arrl.org/
168. https://home.arrl.org/action/Donate
169. https://home.arrl.org/action/Membership/Join-ARRL
170. https://home.arrl.org/action/Membership/Renew-Membership
171. http://www.arrl.org/advertising-opportunities
172. http://www.arrl.org/contact-arrl
173. http://www.arrl.org/privacy-policy
174. mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20http://www.ARRL.org
175. https://home.arrl.org/action/My-Account/Opt-In-Out