I am idolized by the ncr yet all I can seemingly do with my emergency radio is call for supplies. I used to be able to get and extra ranger. WTF?

I should play with this 'weapon'. I haven't paid any attention to it so far. I wonder if a bunch of NCR troops will show up to kill Deathclaws? Or maybe the proper weapon to use, if I don't have it already, will magically show up at my feet?

Call them n, watch them die, and get loot without karma penalty. Or if you have it and suddenly dont like them, set some mines, call ncr.

I really need to play with this more.

The only time I used it I was "out of range."

I wonder if you use it too much, the Cry Wolf syndrome applies?

After two pro-NCR playthoughs, I think I have finally figured out how the emergency radio works. Here are some of the basics:

(1) Your reputation with the NCR must be at lease or higher 'accepted' for them to send in help for you.
(2) You can only use it once every 24 hours.
(3) It will only work near military bases or towns controlled by the NCR (Camp Golf, Camp McCarran, Camp Forlone Hope, Hoover Dam, Boulder City, etc)
(4) It will not work during the final battle at Hoover Dam.
(5) As soon as you called in a Ranger or Trooper support, they will run towards your location and act as a follower to you for the rest of the game until they die.
(6) If you call in emergency supplies, you will receive a quest and the arrow will lead you to a box with random weapons/armor/ammo/medicine.

Used it once at the Mojave outpost as a trial.

Clicked supplies, marker popped up 5 yards in front of me..
"Oh wow, that's handy" ( looks in trunk ), "blooming heck, 30 EC's, on a gun build"..
"mumble, gruble. mumble, heegh, heeegh haaaah".

Reload, Trooper.
"Why's he running up that hill from down the road, when the barracks are just behind me ?"
"Reporting for duty..."
"Crikey, jimminy this is disapointing".
"Lets find a giant rad for you son !"

Never touched it again.

I've only used it once. I was out near Bonnie Springs. It took him a while to get there, from wherever he came from. I'd begun to think they gave me a bodgy radio or just ignored my call. But, later as I headed towards the area with all the Fiends he kept running away. I thought he was only a temporary helper, and after calling him he'd help out then go home. But later on when I was further into Fiend territory he came back. Didn't last long, though.
I haven't used it, since.
The Legion one, well, that was interesting. The guy who was supposed to talk to me got killed by a Cazador as he was running to me. Never did get that marker. Not on that play through. Oh well.
I haven't yet had the NCR radio-giver die on his way to me yet. I guess if he did they wouldn't send a replacemnt like the Legion didn't.
No great loss, IMO.

I was in a cave (can't remember which one) with Eddy, Boone, and an NCR ranger. All of a sudden out of nowhere (cave had just been cleared) Boone and the ranger start shooting at each other. I'm standing there watching, thinking (WTH). Of course Boone slaughtered the soldier, and I get negative rep. Also had it where you call them, and you can see them on the map marker, but they don't show up. It's like they get stuck somwhere.