Communications

[Bigwheels]

Didn't know where else to ask, so here goes.
How many here have a radio for comm in an emergency? I'm getting a 10M/CB/SSB(Connex 3300HP) next week. Anyone have a Hamm, etc. to stay in touch when the internet, & phone doesn't work? How many of your friends/family do too?

 

[GcH]

Re: Communications

I can't recall a time when the phone/internet/cell phones all didn't work at the same time. Can't really expect it to happen either.
I do have a CB radio in my truck though....

 

[Roguestryker]

Re: Communications

Have had a Ham license for several years, but here doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in it these days. However when the town goes dark, there is still a way to communicate.

An amateur radio license is easy to obtain, and you can find a decent radio for several hundred dollars.

 

[xdpatriot]

Re: Communications

I have a CB in my truck, but that's about it. I have been thinking of getting some kind of radios, just not sure what and if it's necessary.

 

[Roguestryker]

Re: Communications

I have had all comms knocked out during a blackout, including phone, internet, and cellular. Doesn't happen very often, but it was nice to have when it did.

Have heard numerous stories that during disasters, the HAM's have been the only ones with the ability to communicate, and they have worked with the local emergency folks providing comms.

 

[socalsheepdog]

Re: Communications

If and when the shit hits, being able to monitor the RACES frequencies will be invaluable.

http://www.usraces.org/

I got mine for this reason and I have a bunch of Motorola geek friends who can tweak and program all my equipment. They also have a couple private repeaters so we can all check in with each other. It's fun but I am not eating and breathing HAM...

 

[Bigwheels]

Re: Communications

Where I live we have power outages, & floods. I have had my comm stop on several occasions. Mostly during severe winter storms. Once it was 5*F & wind was blowing a sustained 70mph, with gusts up to 125 mph. That's why I'm getting one, & trying to get some of my friends, & family to do it too. There are also the SHTF reasons too.

 

[Guest]

Re: Communications

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bigwheels</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Didn't know where else to ask, so here goes.
How many here have a radio for comm in an emergency? I'm getting a 10M/CB/SSB(Connex 3300HP) next week. Anyone have a Hamm, etc. to stay in touch when the internet, & phone doesn't work? How many of your friends/family do too? </div></div>

Spend the time, training, an money needed, on a "MARS" radio system. It's the safest system, that will still be working when everything else is down, unless you are higher dot gov.

 

[Parallax]

Re: Communications

I've been a ham for a number of years. Ham gear is great but ex-mil turns my crank and is much more rugged. Besides my portable and manpack HF sets, this is my current base station transceiver. It's a ITT MSR8000D ... 1.6 - 30 Mhz. Works perfectly.

There are four main groups of active amateur radio operators operating packsets and portable stations in the field and military sets. HFPack, Milpack, HFLink (ALE) and the Army Radio Group. It's not uncommon to talk to some active service types from time to time who are group members... USAF pilots while aero mobile and at least one active SEAL and various other miltypes.

Some of our active net USB freqs are 3.996,7.296,14.3425,18.1575 Mhz ... there are others. There are a ton of service and emergency nets as well. The Maritime Mobile Service Net runs 365 24/7 on 14.300 USB and is involved in service related and emergency traffic handling from ships at sea as well as pleasure craft and others. It's been running for years... then there is the Hurricane Hunter Net....

 

[Guest]

Re: Communications

Nice push box. Yep X-mil and some civi sets that you just clip a diode or add a jumper to are where it's at.

 

[mexicanmatch]

Re: Communications

Have had my ticket for3 yrs now, Has come in handy several times. Abt a week after i got it i called in a truck on fire that was behind a building out of sight of the road driver had no cell phone. Nice rig you have, Will a general ticket cover you or do you need an extra ticket?

 

[Super Bee 950]

Re: Communications

Its easy to loose all comms for several days if you live near the Gulf Coast.

I have two ham radios in my truck. One is digital. When a hurricane hits the coast, an FM radio is your only means of communication.