Jump, here in south central Kentucky, we have enough tornado's, storms with high winds and drunks running to power poles that it isn't a rare occasion to have a power outtage. These little radios can be wound up and will run for an hour or two on a charge, the LED light isn't really bright untill you turn it on in a blacked out house. I use mine with the hand crank most of the time but keep new batteries in it and an extra set in the case along with a mini Mag lite and extra batteries (total of 10 AA's). We've been in the position that this was the evenings entertainment many times. There is a local Ham radio club that operates a very high profile 2 meter repeater. We lucked out and have free use of an abandoned TV tower and our antenna is at 850' above ground level and the antenna site is the second highest spot in the county. We have coverage from southern Indiana to central Tennessee.
When I became intrested in amature radio, I knew no one involved in the hobby to teach me, so I just memorized the test for the Tech. liscense and found a test site and passed the test. I used the web site mentioned to learn what I could about the various 2m radios and my son found one used in the next county over that was for sale. A Radio Shack antenna and power supply and I was on the air and hooked. Had I known then what I know now I would have spent a little more on radio. Not that I didn't get a good radio, I did infact it is still hard to beat for a single band radio. Don't buy an antenna, you can build your own. You can make a GOOD antenna for less than $20 and a good antenna for less than $5. Do not buy 75 ohm TV coax, it works well in come cases but until you know what those cases are stick with 50 ohm. You will never have enough 50 ohm coax. It's a lot like lead, you never have enough.
Sorry, but that's the best I can do for this installment, I'm at work. When you have more questions, post'em. I can tell that I'm not the only one that enjoys this.
