I make a 2,000 mile round trip [1000 ea.way] usually a couple of times a year. I'm running 146.52 and 52.525. I've done this trip at least 6 times trying my darndest - I've programmed repeaters till the devil would not have it.
I've had 4 QSO's on the road in the last 6 trips. This with callsign plates on the vehicle and a bumper sticker announcing my frequency presets.
All I can figure is that there are not enough hams in the US to cover all the roads.
Me, I have simplex calling on my scanner at home at all times in the shack, on the mobile if I'm not local.
We hams need to reclaim simplex - I don't get why so many of us won't operate w/out repeaters. With 50 watts in a mobile with an average antenna you can easily cover 30 miles - you just should not be that far out of range.
Oh well.
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