Maggie’s So which emergency radio is the one to get? Prepper question???

[alpine44]

It is imperative that you get your HAM license BEFORE the SHTF. Also get your concealed carry license. It would really suck to not be able to carry concealed and use your radio during the zombie apocalypse.

You can learn aerobatic maneuvers by becoming your own test pilot or you can get a student's license and have someone teach you how not to kill yourself in the process.

You can carry 'constitutionally' and figure out how not to print like a Xerox with the added thrill of appearing before a judge if you fail. Or you can get a CCW and become proficient without that extra thrill.

You can buy a ham radio and hope that the required knowledge necessary to effectively communicate will magically appear when nobody cares about a license anymore. Or you can get a licenses and practice with the help of other licensees until you can do this in your sleep.

The choice is yours as we still live in a (somewhat) free country. Just remember that Physics can be a cruel mistress if neglected.

 

[Snuby642]

Get disposable baofeng radios to hand out to noobs.

Get some quality eqipment and talking dx halfway around the world is not realistically going to get you help.

Get your license and learn your gear. Learn how to operate your own simplex network and avoid needing a repeater. Learn the proprietary operations on your radio.

Learn about ares and races and why you would want to monitor them or in shtf maybe not. If you want to talk to police fire EMS or homeland or other emergency management types you will find them there.

Set up your own groups.

Satellite coms cell towers and repeaters can be cut off. Simplex operations take more equipment to disrupt.

Digital modes are worth the investment.

 

[...]

Satellite coms cell towers and repeaters can be cut off.

???.....you do know that sat comms don't use cell towers....right?.....They communicate directly with satellites.....that's kind of the purpose of them.


Several people have said now that sat comms are going to "be the first thing to go"........but no one has explained for me just how a satellite is all of a sudden going to stop working because of shit kicking off on earth......

 

[Snuby642]

I understand satellite use.
The fed can cut them anytime they want. And any private companies will comply as well.

We send the shuttle up with a crew.
They go out of the screen door flip the circuit breaker on the satilite and come home.

It's pretty simple.

Edit: You can also use your ham radio with satellites at times.

 

[rtB]

The simple answer is if you have a ham setup, you don't need cell towers, satellites, internet connection etc. If you can power it up, you're gtg. You are not dependent on anything else.

I don't know the details of sat phones, but you are definitely dependent on something you have no control over, the satellite.

 

[Campguy308]

Ham radio is a hobby to me, nothing more really.

If SHTF, the last thing Im worried about is talking to a stranger on the other side of the country. BUT, I might want to listen to him. I like having the equipment to be able to talk locally, and listen to whatever I want. (vhf/uhf radio with base antenna, and an all mode HF radio). But the primary purpose for me is as a hobby.

There are oddballs in the hobby, along with the stuck up ham radio police here and there, but there's good every day people too.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Or Is ham radio reliable repairable or replaceable in the same scenario?

^^^ This

What makes folks certain that a modern Chip-based ham is more reliable than anything?

And I ask this as a legit question as I am sort of poking around thinking that having anHAM would be fun and could be useful.

But if your Baobab or WangChung is running off chips and an operating system, what’s to stop someone from turning it off… or disabling it. Or worse?

As I look at HAM equipment, the stuff that fascinates me is 1950’s into 1970s stuff with tubes and transistors and rheostats that can be “Fixed” bu taking the back off…

I know… not that simple. Got spare tubes? Where do spare transistors come from… blah blah blah.

But seems to me that a properly-restored pre-digital unit… properly set up… beats all the chip and operating system and windows-based Ham stuff that CamFongAsChinHo Corp can dump on our shores and later control from a desk in Wuhan because they put in an Easter egg, a kill switch or a throttle.

Restored vintage units are not cheap… or small. Or easily-portable. But I bet they will operate for 50 years on very “unclean” power. And without any worries that someone has the key to turn them off.

Any of you Ham folks still using tubes and transistors? Is my argument all wet? Am I just being a crazy boomer again? (Well, we know the answer to that…)

Just wondering. This good thread, BTW. I am learning.

Sirhr

 

[Downzero]

There are frequencies you can transmit on without a HAM license (FRS); however Baofengs' output exceeds the allowed wattage, so it's technically not legal to use a Baofeng on those frequencies. ...Maybe if you dial down the wattage, can't remember if that's kosher.

These are the frequencies used by walkie-talkie type radios. Without getting some elevation max range is 6 miles before the curvature of the earth gets in the way.

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs

View attachment 7734285

It is not legal to use any radio with a detachable antenna on the family radio service regardless of power output. It is not just "technically not legal," it's not legal at all. Changing the wattage does nothing.

Also, I don't know why everyone keeps capitalizing "ham radio." Ham is not an acronym, it's just a nickname for amateur radio operators. It doesn't stand for anything.

 

[Downzero]

really stupid question but why do you need a license to HAM? I admit, I know very little about this space but the topic has my interest

There have been international treaties so requiring since the earliest days of radio (early 1900s) to avoid people causing harmful interference. The level of competence that you have to demonstrate to get licensed it really low, but high enough that you will be able to know if you're spraying RF all over the spectrum.

 

[Deputy Dan]

Several people have said now that sat comms are going to "be the first thing to go"........but no one has explained for me just how a satellite is all of a sudden going to stop working because of shit kicking off on earth......

No expert here at all, but seems to me the experts have been jawing about EMP protection for satellites (and the "grid") for a decade or more. I've read that the only thing truly safe are nuclear reactors - I sure hope they're at least right about those.

Are the satellites all hardened now and therefore won't be impacted? I don't know. Will an EMP (solar or human induced) take some or all out? I don't know. But I would rather be prepared for their demise than rely on them and be disappointed. Hope for the best; plan for the worst.

 

[...]

Those of you with HAM...in a "grid down" scenario....is your rig able to run without power from the grid?


Is your base station solar powered?

Are your repeater towers solar powered?

So you have solar charging for your handhelds?

If not, they are all fucking useless.....or are you just expecting cell towers to be cut, but electricity to still be running?


I've got a purpose built solar portable base station.....it's fine at low power (10watts)...but I'm not going to be transmitting at 50-100 watts for long.

It's sure as hell not going to function as a reporter station.

Can you guys deal with your comms being limited to 50-100 miles or so?


How are you going to call Nana in another state to check on her?....set her up with a ham rig too?

Think about the most likely scenario...what's more likely to cause a grid down situation...a hurricane or other natural (or unnatural event) that targets a localized area ( like Katrina)........

..... or alien s from Independence Day shooting lasers at every major city requiring us all to communicate via radio and Morse code?


Everyone is prepared for zombies....but no one owns a snow shovel or a rain coat.


Because being prepared for the basic, most likely shit isn't sexy.....it isn't fun.....you can't post pics to Instagram and brag about your " preps"

But as I said before.....you do you.....

 

[...]

No expert here at all, but seems to me the experts have been jawing about EMP protection for satellites (and the "grid") for a decade or more. I've read that the only thing truly safe are nuclear reactors - I sure hope they're at least right about those.

Are the satellites all hardened now and therefore won't be impacted? I don't know. Will an EMP (solar or human induced) take some or all out? I don't know. But I would rather be prepared for their demise than rely on them and be disappointed. Hope for the best; plan for the worst.

Is your baofeng emp hardened?

Is your repeater station with a 150' antenna emp hardened?

Frankly ide trust a satellite to have more EMP protection than a HAM rig

 

[Downzero]

Those of you with HAM...in a "grid down" scenario....is your rig able to run without power from the grid?


Is your base station solar powered?

Are your repeater towers solar powered?

So you have solar charging for your handhelds?

If not, they are all fucking useless.....or are you just expecting cell towers to be cut, but electricity to still be running?

Mine is absolutely able to run without power from the grid. I have huge batteries, tons of solar to charge them, and I live in a place that gets 300 days of sun per year.

Almost all repeaters have backup power or are solar powered. I don't know what or why I'd use a repeater in this sort of scenario, but they'd be out there.

Handhelds have garbage antennas so my communications do not rely on handhelds.

I think radios are great if there's a natural disaster and we need to communicate outside of the disaster zone, but in a truly social unrest sort of situation, I don't know why I'd even care to turn on the radio at all, which makes me wonder why anyone cares about this issue in the "prepper" community at all.

A bunch of FRS radios are far more useful than most amateur equipment for local stuff.

 

[plong]

Baufeng uv5r.

Hands down, It will do things a fancy HAM radio will not.

Ugh... Including, but not limited to: 1) allow you to (illegally) transmit outside allowed frequencies. 2) have the lousy reception one always gets with a CCR, radio-on-a-chip, transceiver... 3) Make it sound like you're talking into a paper sack to anyone with a decent ("real") superhet receiver when you're transmitting... and... and...
CCRs, Pofung in particular, are okay as secondary (tertiary...?) radios for experienced hobbyists but I never recommend a Pofung CCR to a newb.

 

[Snuby642]

If for some reason you are worried about the feds, you should not transmit on a radio, operate a phone, sat comms, or for that matter hang out on a website that is crawling with them.

They have full access to this site per LL's explination a while back.

Don't think impure thoughts and you'll be fine.

The chicom ht's are handed out throughout America to noobs till they get real equipment. Also as a backup test have "held" repeaters 15 miles away with use of base or quality mobile antenas.

Our club provides them at 23$ for spares. Spend 25$ on a diamond antenna and they function.

They are basic at best and substandard gear but functional.

 

[hlee]

I understand satellite use.
The fed can cut them anytime they want. And any private companies will comply as well.

We send the shuttle up with a crew.
They go out of the screen door flip the circuit breaker on the satilite and come home.

It's pretty simple.

Edit: You can also use your ham radio with satellites at times.

Shuttle missions take months to years to plan. There's a bit more to it than just sending up a crew to flip a breaker. You've watched Armageddon and Space Cowboys too many times.

 

[Ravenworks]

why?......they arent just going to fall out of the sky.....

....Where are they going?.....

Very simple, who ever owns them (or Gov) will flip the off switch.

Same goes for GPS.
I suggest you buy a few old tech things.
If you practice and know how to use them they may just save your life

 

[alpine44]

Shuttle missions take months to years to plan. There's a bit more to it than just sending up a crew to flip a breaker. You've watched Armageddon and Space Cowboys too many times.

I thought the comment with a shuttle crew switching a satellite off was meant as a tongue in cheek joke but apparently some people took that serious.

Satellites are remotely operated devices, They get positioned, commissioned, managed, and eventually de-orbited from the ground via instructions carried by radio waves.

Similar to the geeks at you company being able to shut your VPN access off, the satellite operators can decide to deny your service at any time within seconds. What do you think happens if you do not pay your satcom bill. Do you expect the repo man showing up to confiscate your handset?

The important question is this:

If I am looking for an emergency backup option to 'normal life' conveniences, would I want to chose complicated systems that are under someone else's control? Or would I choose basic physics that are under my control?

ETA: @JimmyJ made an excellent point above that the details depend on what your actual and expected needs are.

 

[alamo5000]

It is imperative that you get your HAM license BEFORE the SHTF. Also get your concealed carry license. It would really suck to not be able to carry concealed and use your radio during the zombie apocalypse.

It really boils down to using the equipment on a regular basis to keep yourself proficient in WTF is going on.

I've needed my HAM before. The only time I REALLY needed it was during a massive hurricane evacuation. Cel phones would not work (overloaded system) and every single FM radio station was broadcasting the same emergency message. In that situation HAM was literally the ONLY way to have two way communication. I was stuck out on the roads for 16 hours and that was the only option. Every now and then if you sat and tried for an hour you could sneak a text message through but that was it.

HAM has the distance to allow for much more distance than communicating with people at the other end of the shopping mall. But knowing how to do that and what wigits you need to make that happen takes practice.

As I said before, if the guy that buys a shotgun and a single box of ammo for it, then shoves that stuff in a closet having never fired it before, how long will he last in the zombie apocalypse? A basic level of proficiency needs to be maintained with all kinds of things.

In between now and when the zombie apocalypse starts there is only one way to get proficient. That is to have the infrastructure in place and to practice. Doing otherwise is like waiting until a dire emergency then breaking out the 'how to perform life saving surgery for dummy's' book.

 

[Makinchips208]

So if and when the net goes down and the cable goes dark which emergency radio is the one to get. More importantly, is there a better option than just a crank radio? Maybe both? Definitely a prepper question
Thanks in advance

Here is another possibility, mesh networks are quite fascinating. Not good option for me but some like it. The more users the greater the potential coverage.

goTenna | The World’s Leading Mobile Mesh Networking Company

Inexpensive, lightweight, off-grid connectivity with an easy-to-use interface for long-range communications up to 126 miles point-to-point.

gotenna.com

 

[rlsmith1]

all sat phones have a base level of encryption....but like anything, that can be bypassed.


as with all communications...regardless of the method of transport or encryption....assume they are unencrypted and easily read/ heard.

so if you need to order replacement parts for your RealDoll and dont want the govt to know, work out prearranged codes before hand, and change them frequently.

Without reading about all the different plans, it seems like I could buy a couple hundred minutes on SAT and use them as needed. However, what ensures me that I'll be able to buy more time if we are in a disorganized situation?

Are you saying that if there is destabilization somewhere the satellites will provide service regardless of the contracts in place for usage? Seems like small plans (you and me) would either not get renewed or shut down altogether.

Not sure who pissed in your cereal this morning but I'm trying to learn here, not toss backhanded insults at each other.

Both systems clearly have advantages in certain situations. HAM is relatively low cost and you get a smaller operational radius, with the only security being the words you choose to say. SAT is higher cost but also much more capable (global) with potentially better (not perfect) security.

 

[CSGambill]

It is not legal to use any radio with a detachable antenna on the family radio service regardless of power output. It is not just "technically not legal," it's not legal at all. Changing the wattage does nothing.

Right. TThanks for the reminder.

 

[...]

Very simple, who ever owns them (or Gov) will flip the off switch.

Same goes for GPS.
I suggest you buy a few old tech things.
If you practice and know how to use them they may just save your life

...and what motivation would they, or the govt have to just shut them off?...

seems counter intuitive that the govt would shut off the very sat phones they themselves rely upon.

they also serve a global customer base...i dont think Iriduim would just shut down global operations for a whim...or at the behest of ANY world govt.....because god knows govts have tried to shut them down before....

also, if we are at the point where world govts are shutting down sattelites....no communication equipment is going to be of any use to you if were honest.

 

[alpine44]

^^^ This

What makes folks certain that a modern Chip-based ham is more reliable than anything?

And I ask this as a legit question as I am sort of poking around thinking that having anHAM would be fun and could be useful.

But if your Baobab or WangChung is running off chips and an operating system, what’s to stop someone from turning it off… or disabling it. Or worse?

As I look at HAM equipment, the stuff that fascinates me is 1950’s into 1970s stuff with tubes and transistors and rheostats that can be “Fixed” bu taking the back off…

I know… not that simple. Got spare tubes? Where do spare transistors come from… blah blah blah.

But seems to me that a properly-restored pre-digital unit… properly set up… beats all the chip and operating system and windows-based Ham stuff that CamFongAsChinHo Corp can dump on our shores and later control from a desk in Wuhan because they put in an Easter egg, a kill switch or a throttle.

Restored vintage units are not cheap… or small. Or easily-portable. But I bet they will operate for 50 years on very “unclean” power. And without any worries that someone has the key to turn them off.

Any of you Ham folks still using tubes and transistors? Is my argument all wet? Am I just being a crazy boomer again? (Well, we know the answer to that…)

Just wondering. This good thread, BTW. I am learning.

Sirhr

In the 'old days' it was pretty much required to build your own stuff with a soldering iron. Today, the DIY aspect has shifted more towards adding raspberry pi computers and other digital processing to ham systems but a lot of folks still repair radios, build amplifiers, etc.

Also, when it comes to affordable and effective antenna systems, DIY is the way to go IMO. A few years ago, a guy developed and released a small, inexpensive but powerful antenna analyzer that makes building good antennas much easier. So yes, the community has not stopped repairing, improving, and building new stuff.

Here are some personal examples:

Yesterday, I re-flashed a couple commercial wireless access points with firmware for mesh networks in the ham bands. That did not even require a screw driver but several computer apps and TCP/IP configurations.

A few weeks earlier, I replaced all electrolytic capacitors in one of my old school IC-735 with a soldering iron because these components age over the decades and cause performance degradation. While I had this "beautiful example of 1980's craftsmanship" open, I added a small circuit that allows me to operate this transceiver via a 21st century SDR software running on a cheap single-board computer. The visual display of the frequency spectrum makes it much easier to see where some action is rather than having to tune around aimlessly with the manual dial. The modified transceiver can now be operated in the 'traditional' way via its front panel or remotely from any computer or tablet, which then also includes decoding and encoding of digital modes, sending email via HF, etc.

After the upgrades, the transceiver was checked and readjusted to factory specs with the help of an oscilloscope and frequency generator.

Next winter project will be a 1000 Watt linear amplifier and I am still torn whether I go with tubes or transistors (MosFET). The transistor version would be much smaller and electrically more efficient but tubes have this warm, sturdy punch that is hard to replicate. Either way, I want it to be a project in order to learn the details. This way, I will be not at someone else's mercy for adjustments and repairs down the road.

In summary, electronic component boxes and soldering irons are still relevant but have been augmented over the years by modern devices.

 

[Downzero]

In the 'old days' it was pretty much required to build your own stuff with a soldering iron. Today, the DIY aspect has shifted more towards adding raspberry pi computers and other digital processing to ham systems but a lot of folks still repair radios, build amplifiers, etc.

Also, when it comes to affordable and effective antenna systems, DIY is the way to go IMO. A few years ago, a guy developed and released a small, inexpensive but powerful antenna analyzer that makes building good antennas much easier. So yes, the community has not stopped repairing, improving, and building new stuff.

Here are some personal examples:

Yesterday, I re-flashed a couple commercial wireless access points with firmware for mesh networks in the ham bands. That did not even require a screw driver but several computer apps and TCP/IP configurations.

A few weeks earlier, I replaced all electrolytic capacitors in one of my old school IC-735 with a soldering iron because these components age over the decades and cause performance degradation. While I had this "beautiful example of 1980's craftsmanship" open, I added a small circuit that allows me to operate this transceiver via a 21st century SDR software running on a cheap single-board computer. The visual display of the frequency spectrum makes it much easier to see where some action is rather than having to tune around aimlessly with the manual dial. The modified transceiver can now be operated in the 'traditional' way via its front panel or remotely from any computer or tablet, which then also includes decoding and encoding of digital modes, sending email via HF, etc.

After the upgrades, the transceiver was checked and readjusted to factory specs with the help of an oscilloscope and frequency generator.

Next winter project will be a 1000 Watt linear amplifier and I am still torn whether I go with tubes or transistors (MosFET). The transistor version would be much smaller and electrically more efficient but tubes have this warm, sturdy punch that is hard to replicate. Either way, I want it to be a project in order to learn the details. This way, I will be not at someone else's mercy for adjustments and repairs down the road.

In summary, electronic component boxes and soldering irons are still relevant but have been augmented over the years by modern devices.

If you're into building stuff, check out this antenna analyzer:

Foxdelta 1 to 60MHZ Antenna analyzer using Si5351: AAZ-0217MX: By Tony/I2TZK, Frank/k7sfn, Dinesh/VU2FD

Forward & reflected RF Power Measurment with PIC16F88 microcontrllers by fox delta

www.foxdelta.com

I have the older version of it and I've been using it for about 10 years. It's WAY better than commercial examples many times its cost

 

[alpine44]

Here is another possibility, mesh networks are quite fascinating. Not good option for me but some like it. The more users the greater the potential coverage.

goTenna | The World’s Leading Mobile Mesh Networking Company

Inexpensive, lightweight, off-grid connectivity with an easy-to-use interface for long-range communications up to 126 miles point-to-point.

gotenna.com

Gotenna was a very promising idea, especially when they offered an ATAK plugin with their basic device. Then, they smelled big bucks from Uncle Sugar, went full operator, and left the civilian users with a cute toy. Fuck'em with a rusty cactus - multiple times.

Fortunately, there is plenty of open source activity in the mesh networking space. If you are not afraid of digging around and tinkering a little bit, you can get equivalent features without a badge at a substantially lower price point ($700+ for the Pro X 'operator' version is absurd).

PM or start a mesh networking thread in the Fieldcraft subforum if interested in more details.

 

[alpine44]

...and what motivation would they, or the govt have to just shut them off?...

seems counter intuitive that the govt would shut off the very sat phones they themselves rely upon.

they also serve a global customer base...i dont think Iriduim would just shut down global operations for a whim...or at the behest of ANY world govt.....because god knows govts have tried to shut them down before....

also, if we are at the point where world govts are shutting down sattelites....no communication equipment is going to be of any use to you if were honest.

They will shut your individual subscription down if the overlords need more bandwidth or deem your social credit score problematic.

When you make a satcom call, you are sending a digitally encoded signal to the satellite and that signal has your device info in the header. GlobalStar uses the same CDMA protocol than cellular phone service.

<geek alert>
CDMA = Code Division - Multiple Access. Multiple devices operate on the same frequency (Multiple Access) and their information is separated via a packet header (Code Division). Remember that IMEI number you have to enter when you add a new device to your cell phone account? That number uniquely identifies your device and is used to generate the packet header of everything you are sending and receiving. How else would your buddy be able to call just you and not everyone else in the same cell? And how does the network know what cell you are in? Satcom works the same way except you have very few cells depending on the number of birds they are using.
</geek alert>

The satellite network will know which account your device belongs to, whether you have paid your bill, and were you rank on the bandwidth pecking order. Depending on that, they will either route your call to your desired destination or return a "service not available" error to your device.

Please understand that you are sending information over the same radio waves that you can generate with your ham transceiver. But you do not get to your destination directly by just bouncing off the bird (or the Ionosphere). Instead, you are talking to a complex communication network that is out of your control and can deny service at any time for any reason. Read your contract.

BTW: One of your "neckbearded boomer hams" that I met in my life was one of the inventors of CDMA. Klein GiIhousen, co-founder of Qualcom, billionaire, acro-pilot, horseman, Christian philanthropist, and one of the smartest and most humble people I have ran across so far.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

As for the "Sat Comm" stuff... Sure. Reliable from out of the way places.

But Satellites don't just sit up there going "Ping" on their own. They are totally reliant on Ground Stations. And those Ground Stations... are vulnerable to anything from whatever is happening on Terra Firma... to someone coming in and turning the switch off.

Satellite Communications are cheap, reliable and don't require covering the world with copper wire. But they are not a self-maintaining network. They are totally dependant on their ground links and the humans that run them. If those humans (or their bosses or their new ChiCom overlords) decide they go dark... they go dark.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[...]

BTW: One of your "neckbearded boomer hams" that I met in my life was one of the inventors of CDMA. Klein GiIhousen, co-founder of Qualcom, billionaire, acro-pilot, horseman, Christian philanthropist, and one of the smartest and most humble people I have ran across so far.

....ok......and ?
....you make it sound like i called HAMs the fucking anti-christ or something....


tell me, hurricane/ blizzard knock out power to your region...no cell towers, no powerlines are all down...how is a HAM radio going to help you contact your kids 2 states over to tell them you are alright?

how is HAM going to help you make hotel and travel arraignments out of state?

lets say the "grid goes down".....rogue govts shut down satellites so no one can make sat calls....do you really think the govt is going to not jam all radio frequencies?.....they are just going to leave those open?.....do you think they are not going to drive around and find all the people with 100' antenna to throw in the gulags?

what actual scenario are you planning for that the govt will jam satellites....but not also track down HAM users.

fuck, all registered HAM users have their addresses recorded with the FCC.....do you think they are not going to come knocking?

The Soviet union accused you of being a spy for owning a short wave radio....what do you think theyd do if they found thousands of dollars of high power broadcasting equipment?

 

[rtB]

Sheesh bud, you work for Iridium or what? The OP asked about a shtf radio receiver, and all you got is calling Nana on a Sat phone.

 

[...]

Sheesh bud, you work for Iridium or what? The OP asked about a shtf radio receiver, and all you got is calling Nana on a Sat phone.

...Like I said, I don't give a shit what you do...

But short of "govts shutting down satellites"....no one has mentioned any scenario where HAM better than an actual phone...

If someone asked what was a good SHTF rifle....and everyone was advocating matchlocks.....ide come in and tell you you were fucking stupid too

 

[rtB]

no one has mentioned any scenario where HAM better than an actual phone

We'll, for one they are two completely different things.

You can sit next to your sat phone all day, and unless someone specifically "calls" you, you won't hear a thing.

Radio, on the other hand, is a "broadcast". If someone is transmitting, anyone can hear it.

So in a Katrina type situation, you could get on your sat phone and call Nana, but she'll have no idea what's going on unless she has a radio.

 

[...]

We'll, for one they are two completely different things.

You can sit next to your sat phone all day, and unless someone specifically "calls" you, you won't hear a thing.

Radio, on the other hand, is a "broadcast". If someone is transmitting, anyone can hear it.

So in a Katrina type situation, you could get on your sat phone and call Nana, but she'll have no idea what's going on unless she has a radio.

If nana is "sitting around" In hurricane Katrina....instead of planning an evac...she's a fucking moron.


I'll get to a safe area, then turn on a fucking radio if I want to find out what's going on

 

[...]

Guys! Guys! Seriously?
Amateur radio vs sat radio?
C’mon man, CB beats both! It’s free, You can cuss on there, Talk around the block or several states away!

I know you're joking...but if I'm honest, in a SHTF scenario, CB is probably going to be FAR more useful than HAM, as truckers will have the most up to date road condition info....making an evac easier

 

[Downzero]

I know you're joking...but if I'm honest, in a SHTF scenario, CB is probably going to be FAR more useful than HAM, as truckers will have the most up to date road condition info....making an evac easier

What is "HAM" anyway?

 

[BullGear]

If nana is "sitting around" In hurricane Katrina....instead of planning an evac...she's a fucking moron.


I'll get to a safe area, then turn on a fucking radio if I want to find out what's going on

Okay, we understand you don't like the HAM radio technology. So let us, who want to talk about the subject, get back to talking about the subject. You can unsubscribe from this thread and never have to worry about our nana or what power supply we will use or anything else for that manner.

I get you and your opinion, so please let us have our opinion and let us talk about a question that a user asked.

 

[...]

Okay, we understand you don't like the HAM radio technology. So let us, who want to talk about the subject, get back to talking about the subject. You can unsubscribe from this thread and never have to worry about our nana or what power supply we will use or anything else for that manner.

I get you and your opinion, so please let us have our opinion and let us talk about a question that a user asked.

...Sorry I insulted your hobby...

I wrongly assumed practical information would be more useful to you than LARP fantasies

 

[BullGear]

...Sorry I insulted your hobby...

I wrongly assumed practical information would be more useful to you than LARP fantasies

So does that mean you'll unsubscribe and let us to our LARP fantasies???

 

[Snuby642]

First of all thanks for the link to the antena anilizer / tdr @alpine44 .
Good price.

Guess some of you don't know about ARRL that can get a message from a ham station around the world in theory but more importantly get to impaired areas in a disaster situation and relay messages in and out.


Done all the time.

Authority figures have no qualms about chopping comms,
Can and do at thier discretion.

It's about controll and not concerned about your needs, you if not the target are just collateral damage.

To get "signal jamming" in place is a bigger pain in the ass but the National Guard have that capabity on mobile platforms. Probably others need listed but figure I'll let them brag about thier toys and out thier own.

I have some tests I'd like to run on that.

Guess the first amendment is allready lost in reality.

 

[Bender]

Hello, I would like to shoot 1000 yards. You know, when SHTF. Is there a rifle that will shoot 1000yds? When the SHTF I would like to be able to reach way out to 1000 yds. My buddy told me they have rifles that will do this, for when times get interesting and SHTF. I talked to another guy who says he has a buddy who has a rifle that will shoot 1000 yards, I think that is pretty cool, because our world is crazy now and some time in the future, the SHTF will happen, then it will be important to be able to shoot 1000 yds. I know it’s possible, I just need directions before the SHTF. When your neighbors go crazy and everyone is running around, you will know that the SHTF, then the skill of shooting 1000yds will come into its own and be really important, because the SHTF and 1000 yards is really far. Can anyone help me?

 

[plong]

Hello, I would like to shoot 1000 yards. You know, when SHTF. Is there a rifle that will shoot 1000yds? When the SHTF I would like to be able to reach way out to 1000 yds. My buddy told me they have rifles that will do this, for when times get interesting and SHTF. I talked to another guy who says he has a buddy who has a rifle that will shoot 1000 yards, I think that is pretty cool, because our world is crazy now and some time in the future, the SHTF will happen, then it will be important to be able to shoot 1000 yds. I know it’s possible, I just need directions before the SHTF. When your neighbors go crazy and everyone is running around, you will know that the SHTF, then the skill of shooting 1000yds will come into its own and be really important, because the SHTF and 1000 yards is really far. Can anyone help me?

You mean when SHTF and its TEOTAWAKI and we all find ourselves living in the PAW... that the SHTF we're talkin' 'bout here...? (did I miss any...? )

 

[Zeroit]

What is "HAM" anyway?

Study and get your license and get back to me with that same question!
That's a challenge! Make me proud.

Those ham radio operators have knowledge way beyond your understanding.
They could make your cb do things
You could only dream about.
By the way, many truck drivers are HAMS and have one in their rig or operate from a cellphone, laptop etc. still gotta have a license to do so.

 

[hlee]

You mean when SHTF and its TEOTAWAKI and we all find ourselves living in the PAW... that the SHTF we're talkin' 'bout here...? (did I miss any...? )

Yeah, TEOTWAWKI is going to be a real SHTF situation. And, in any PAW you can dream up you will have to deal with WROL. It's really going to be EMFH. Getting your gear from place to place necessitates thinking about SAWC especially as it relates to your LRW. HAM may work for your BIL, but won't fit in your BOB. No need to worry about CCP or CWP when the concern is DLP. Every FEP needs to consider communications, whether it be HAM, SWR, cell, or sat.

 

[BullGear]

Hello, I would like to shoot 1000 yards. You know, when SHTF. Is there a rifle that will shoot 1000yds? When the SHTF I would like to be able to reach way out to 1000 yds. My buddy told me they have rifles that will do this, for when times get interesting and SHTF. I talked to another guy who says he has a buddy who has a rifle that will shoot 1000 yards, I think that is pretty cool, because our world is crazy now and some time in the future, the SHTF will happen, then it will be important to be able to shoot 1000 yds. I know it’s possible, I just need directions before the SHTF. When your neighbors go crazy and everyone is running around, you will know that the SHTF, then the skill of shooting 1000yds will come into its own and be really important, because the SHTF and 1000 yards is really far. Can anyone help me?

Might as well buy the rifle with SHTF in the name.

 

[Snipe260]

Hello, I would like to shoot 1000 yards. You know, when SHTF. Is there a rifle that will shoot 1000yds? When the SHTF I would like to be able to reach way out to 1000 yds. My buddy told me they have rifles that will do this, for when times get interesting and SHTF. I talked to another guy who says he has a buddy who has a rifle that will shoot 1000 yards, I think that is pretty cool, because our world is crazy now and some time in the future, the SHTF will happen, then it will be important to be able to shoot 1000 yds. I know it’s possible, I just need directions before the SHTF. When your neighbors go crazy and everyone is running around, you will know that the SHTF, then the skill of shooting 1000yds will come into its own and be really important, because the SHTF and 1000 yards is really far. Can anyone help me?

Some guys on here claim to have rifles that will shoot that far but I’ve never seen one personally. I think it’s inhumane to shoot animals or people at that distance! It’s unethical and bullshit to mame a animal or someone! Most rifles I have shot on have the capability to shoot accurately 4-500 yds at most. Cmon man!

 

[Bender]

Some guys on here claim to have rifles that will shoot that far but I’ve never seen one personally. I think it’s inhumane to shoot animals or people at that distance! It’s unethical and bullshit to mame a animal or someone! Most rifles I have shot on have the capability to shoot accurately 4-500 yds at most. Cmon man!

Yeah, the .308 can shoot about 300 yards. The .270 can do 400 point blank range. Anything past that is a lie.

 

[Bender]

..........and then the bullet goes to sleep.

 

[Snipe260]

Yeah, the .308 can shoot about 300 yards. The .270 can do 400 point blank range. Anything past that is a lie.

Yep. These so called long range shooters lie worse than fisherman and Democrats!

 

[Californio]

This is my solution and it may not work for you.

HF gear takes use and the skills to use it are perishable over time.

I have experience with channelized Marine SSB but you still need to remember what band to use at what time of year.

So I live in a wildfire and earthquake zone.

The local HAM club has repeaters that are electric, solar and backup generator supplied but in an emergency they will be taken over my ARES.

We have several ELMERS, guys that have fire/earthquake hardened shacks with towers, elevation does matter, she said, and private repeaters powered by electric, solar and generator. In a wildfire, solar is no bueno because of the smoke.

They have created several everyday Joe subnets with one or two control operators and dozens of GMRS non-HAMS that that can access them, pass information and they have meetings and training on how to effectively communicate in an emergency.

So a guy like me that has an HT that receives public safety, HAM, Marine VHF, MURS, and GMRS can be working in the local community all day and the old guys can sit safely in the shack and listen to a multitude of communications and inform the local subnet of any information outside the area or information helpful to the task at hand.

HT works just fine in this configuration, so find an ELMER, HAM guys that have the creds but not the brawn and setup your own GMRS subnet for your AO. No need to be a HAM yourself.

 

[Downzero]

Study and get your license and get back to me with that same question!
That's a challenge! Make me proud.

Those ham radio operators have knowledge way beyond your understanding.
They could make your cb do things
You could only dream about.
By the way, many truck drivers are HAMS and have one in their rig or operate from a cellphone, laptop etc. still gotta have a license to do so.

I have been an Amateur Extra for ~9 years.

Still don't know what a "HAM" is though.