Re:network of radios, sounds like a ... (Score 1)

"I used to do yard work for a HAM, and believe you me, that stuff was anything BUT "small" and "relatively cheap", like that 50ft. tower in his back yard, for one."

With this radio (http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dualhand/q7aph oto.html) and a local repeater I can get out 60+ miles. If the repeater has an HF or VoIP link (http://www.synergenics.com/el/), I can get to the rest of the world. I can also work satellites with a slightly larger antenna and amplifier hooked up to the radio in the picture. The radio only goes for $120.

- Lawrence