New Technician Class mom here. I’d like to set up for simplex communication in case repeaters, internet and cell phones are down. My objective is to talk to my son (32 miles away) and my my daughter (38 miles away), not at the same time. They are working on their technician licenses now so no signal tests have been done.
On the map we form a triangle with me at the top, all with fairly flat terrain, half countryside, half city suburbs. Currently we all 3 have the “clean/legal“ model of 5 watt Baofeng to learn on with signal stick upgraded whips. We’re expecting to get better radios. We have two story houses. Only the daughter is in an HOA. We have backup power. So far, what I’ve looked up on line-of-sight calculators this doesn’t look doable even with 100’ towers.
My questions:
What equipment/antenna plan could make our communication successful and be a good start?
If only one of us had a bigger investment in better equipment, could that be enough?
Certainly the answers would have an “it depends” somewhere to them and that’s okay. I’d be happy with some known success stories including examples and experience.
Thanks.