January 2008
PRM or Private Radio Mobile, are presently very cheap. They could be very useful especially for desert hikes. During Emeri I, Emeri II and Emeri III expeditions, we used these radios to spread over a very large area without loosing contact. This fact highly increased our efficiency in exploring and safety. The serious desert hiker should chose a high end model. With the EMERI III expedition I tested the Midland G7. It is a dual band model (PRM+LPD) professionally built. The plus of this model consists of the possibility to increase the emitting power by a very simple modification (up to 3 Watt in PRM and up to 500 mWatt il LPD) every radio-technicians will easily do. As an alternative it is possible to buy an "export model" already empowered. Other pluses are the possibility to change the antenna with a 1/4 wavelength flexible antenna and to use a speaker-microphone accessory. The modified model cannot be used legally in Italy or in some other European countries but if you bring it to the deepest part of the Sahara who cares about RF emitting limits?
I used my Midland G7 mounted on the backpack, with the antenna high on my head and the microphone-speaker on the backpack shoulder strap. It worked very well and through the companions on the top of Mount Bagnold I was able to communicate from the Wadi Waddan outlet to the inner core of the Jebel Uweinat (Wadi Abd el Malik-Karkur Ibrahim). The performances were outstanding. The weigh is only in the four AAA batteries therefore the G7 proved to be the perfect choice for the desert hiker travelling with as many litres of water he can on his backpack!
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