Congrats chris
It doen't have to be an expensive hobby :wink:
I am VE6IMH , my initials as well.
Calltrex. By getting an amateur radio license it enables you to use the various amatuer repeaters around the province, There is virtually no where you can go in Alberta that you can not hit a repeater. if you have a radio in your 4x4 you will always be able to call for help. Reeaters are linked together you can actually talk around the province and around the world to a certailn point.
The major use in off roading is the far greater range than CB's, If you broke down on the trail where there is no cell coverage, you can quite often transmit to a repeater that has a telephone interconnect therefroe being able to call for someone to bring you parts or even to call out emergency medical help.