radios for groomers

ftroop4

New member
Just read in Mining Gazette that the groomer operaters in the Keweenaw trail system are trying to find the money for 2-way radios for the groomers. I think that would be a great idea and wonder if thru this forum somehow could set up a way to donate money to help out. Lord knows when they will ever get cell phone towers up there. Any ideas?
 

ftroop4

New member
Yes there are some towers, but not near enough for the safety factor of everyone involved such as the groomer drivers and the people in trouble they come upon while grooming.Try making a call from Copper Harbor area and along the trail system I would bet you would have a hard time getting signal 50% of the times you stop along the trail, but hey the groomer drivers are only out there for a few hours at a time so when they have trouble and have to walk miles to get help we can only hope that they find it safely. Just my 2cents
 

n8fgb

New member
Even a 2-way radio will have some trouble. Hopefully there is a good GMRS repeater system already in place that they can use. I volunteered to help with the road rally race up there, and we had to set up a portable repeater on Brockway mtn, as I recall. An operator from the Porkies ran his VHF ham radio in the groomer, so he could chat with other ham ops while out on the trails. Of course this can not be used as the main radio, but he got good results up there.
Rich
N8FGB
 

eao

Active member
I know someone with a Sat phone and he claims that service is spotty. Has to wait for sat to come in view to use and air time is very expensive.
 
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