[citizendino]

So, I am not an optimistic fellow by nature it seems.
Tonight, I rewatched the movie World War Z. I like that movie.

The thing that I came back to was THE RADIO. The use of the cellphone will fail us. It simply will. It is too dependent on too many things.

Radio on the other hand, is not.

I spent a bunch of years deep in radio technology, but it has been at least 10 years, and I will return now.

It seems simple. A homebase unit for where we end up.
And radios on my loved ones.

I did a random search here, and will do more. But, am totally interested in a discussion.

 

[Cigars]

Plenty of good info on radios here. Popular options are ham, gmrs, frs, murs and CB. Ham and gmrs require a license. Ham license is 35 bucks now and plenty of online free study guides and practice exams. Gmrs requires no exam, just go pay online. It's also cheap and the license covers the whole family. The advantage of ham and gmrs is that they give you repeater options. Anyway, have fun with it. Lots of good radios out there to choose from.

 

[Mule Skinner]

Ummm . . . I thought the cell phone was a radio . . .

 

[Cigars]

Ummm . . . I thought the cell phone was a radio . . .

I believe the OP was assuming that OP wanted something for when the cell networks eventually fail. But yes, you are correct, a cell phone is a radio. Actually several, all rolled up in one.

 

[Outpost75]

Here rely on HF digital MT63 or GTOR modes to reliably contact SHARES or military assets.
.

 

[Syncline]

Ummm . . . I thought the cell phone was a radio . . .

A Yugo is a car. A Lamborghini is a car. A Jeep is a car. BUT they are not equivalent and to pretend otherwise is poking the bear.
In this same way a cell phone is a versatile tool but it is not point to point, it is short range and dependent on a complicated and fragile network that will go down in any serious crisis.
Ham radios are robust, have worldwide reach and although repeaters exist, ham radios do not need ANY network to function reliably.
This makes them the communication method of choice in real emergencies, which is why ARES exists.
Here is a useful list that was provided by Paul Olson after Katrina, but you can find local resources by searching ARES + your state's name:

USB = upper side band
LSB = lower side band

FEMA National Network Frequencies
5.211usb
10.493 usb
14.567 usb

Military Command and Control
4.724 usb
6.739 usb
8.992 usb
11.175 usb
13.200 usb
15.016 usb

These are various frequencies used by the Amateur Emergency Radio Service (ARES).

American Red Cross
2802.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster
3171.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster
5136.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster
5141.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster
5211.0 USB FEMA
5236.0 USB SHARES Coordination Network
6859.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster
7507.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net
7550.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (primary)
7698.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster
9380.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net
10493.0 USB FEMA
14396.5 USB SHARES Coordination Network

AMATEUR HF GULF COAST HURRICANE NETS

3845.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
3862.5 LSB Mississippi Section Traffic
3873.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
3873.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (night)
3873.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (night)
3873.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
3910.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
3910.0 LSB Louisiana Traffic
3923.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
3925.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
3925.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
3935.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
3935.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health and welfare)
3935.0 LSB Texas ARES (health and welfare)
3935.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health and welfare)
3935.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
3940.0 LSB Southern Florida Emergency
3950.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
3955.0 LSB South Texas Emergency
3965.0 LSB Alabama Emergency (altn)
3967.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing traffic)
3975.0 LSB Texas RACES
3993.5 LSB Gulf Coast (health & welfare)
3995.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx

7225.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
7235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
7235.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
7235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
7240.0 LSB American Red Cross US Gulf Coast Disaster
7240.0 LSB Texas Emergency
7243.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
7245.0 LSB Southern Louisiana
7248.0 LSB Texas RACES
7250.0 LSB Texas Emergency
7260.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
7264.0 LSB Gulf Coast (health and welfare)
7265.0 LSB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) (altn)
7273.0 LSB Texas ARES (altn)
7280.0 LSB NTS Region 5
7280.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
7283.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing only)
7285.0 LSB West Gulf ARES Emergency (day)
7285.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (day)
7285.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
7285.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (day)
7290.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
7290.0 LSB Gulf Coast Weather
7290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health and welfare)
7290.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health and welfare) (day)
7290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health and welfare)
7290.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health and welfare)

14265.0 USB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN)
14300.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic
14300.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service
14303.0 USB International Assistance and Traffic
14313.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic (altn)
14313.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service (altn)
14316.0 USB Health and Welfare
14320.0 USB Health and Welfare
14325.0 USB Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-National Hurricane Center)
14340.0 USB Louisiana (1900)

 

[DanielKaplan]

Yes. A cell phone is a radio at it's heart. I had a discussion with my coworker trying to tell him about how much farther my handheld radio would go than his cell phone. He said, I can call around the world. I said, No. You can call about a mile to the closest cell tower and then you're using a hodge-podge of internet cables and data centers. Without all that you can't do anything. He didn't get it. Oh, well. It's nice as long as everything works perfectly.

Just remember that radio comms only work so long as whoever you want to talk to also has a radio, turned on, on the right frequency, and that he's close enough to hear. I've heard of a thing called Selcall that will wake up a radio (that's already on) when you send certain tones. It lets you tune out whoever else uses that frequency but you still have to have all the equipment turned on all the time in case anyone calls you. Radio is very capable but it requires a much higher skill level than the ubiquitous pocket radiotelephone.

 

[Henrykjr]

One thing I think is important is to own an FM transmitter......which I now think is legal to use with CB radio.

In a world of vastly unprepared people (STILL!) having to ability to rebroadcast emergency HAM or other signals.........a $65 system will have a solid broadcast radius of 3.5 miles and up to 6 miles unobstructed you can use a $35 antenna to get a boost even further than that but runs the risk of running over other frequencies.

Helping keep the sheep calm may prevent them from running off of a cliff and taking you and your family with them.

HK

 

[PaulGray]

Ummm . . . I thought the cell phone was a radio . . .

Loosely speaking you are right BUT without a network (public or pirate), it's only useful for leveling tables.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

Yes. A cell phone is a radio at it's heart. I had a discussion with my coworker trying to tell him about how much farther my handheld radio would go than his cell phone. He said, I can call around the world. I said, No. You can call about a mile to the closest cell tower and then you're using a hodge-podge of internet cables and data centers. Without all that you can't do anything. He didn't get it. Oh, well. It's nice as long as everything works perfectly.

Just remember that radio comms only work so long as whoever you want to talk to also has a radio, turned on, on the right frequency, and that he's close enough to hear. I've heard of a thing called Selcall that will wake up a radio (that's already on) when you send certain tones. It lets you tune out whoever else uses that frequency but you still have to have all the equipment turned on all the time in case anyone calls you. Radio is very capable but it requires a much higher skill level than the ubiquitous pocket radiotelephone.

Daniel,

Would a sat phone plug into this definition as a long range radio ?

A question for all:

If you are in an area designated a terrorist incident site, would those using radios not in some official status, still have ability to use ?

 

[PaulGray]

Here rely on HF digital MT63 or GTOR modes to reliably contact SHARES or military assets.
.

Very pretty, but what is in common use around you that you can access?

Because when everything turns sour, most comms will be on CB, PMR, FRS, GMRS, V/UHF (Baofeng and equivalent), and Marine Band to list just a few.

Not forgetting the Radio Amateurs. How could I ever forget them.

 

[PaulGray]

Yes. A cell phone is a radio at it's heart. I had a discussion with my coworker trying to tell him about how much farther my handheld radio would go than his cell phone. He said, I can call around the world. I said, No. You can call about a mile to the closest cell tower and then you're using a hodge-podge of internet cables and data centers. Without all that you can't do anything. He didn't get it. Oh, well. It's nice as long as everything works perfectly.

Just remember that radio comms only work so long as whoever you want to talk to also has a radio, turned on, on the right frequency, and that he's close enough to hear. I've heard of a thing called Selcall that will wake up a radio (that's already on) when you send certain tones. It lets you tune out whoever else uses that frequency but you still have to have all the equipment turned on all the time in case anyone calls you. Radio is very capable but it requires a much higher skill level than the ubiquitous pocket radiotelephone.

I like this post. I also point out this to the high tech among us.
Come whatever, you need the ability to communicate with what is in common use around you.
Because if you need help it's no damn good having a device that can call specialist help miles away if you are lying on the floor bleeding out and need someone to come and slap a tourniquet on you in the next few minutes.

That and learn the 3.3.3 radio watch system.
Whatever you have, turn to Channel 3, with no encryption or selcall engaged, every 3 hours from 12 o'clock, for three minutes, listening for anyone calling.

 

[UserNameTaken]

We don't use them much, but we have GMRS. Most off roading uses that now. Our gun club with a 4x4 club just installed a repeater on our tower at the range that should be really helpful for local comms. (Yes I have a license.) My house is on a hill so we can talk over quite an area. I've done 9 miles from the VFW parking lot to my house, clear as a bell, line of sight. But my shop is 5 miles away, just below a slight rise, very scratchy on the ground, but standing in a pickup bed with the radio held up it clears up. The shop roof is line of sight. I keep meaning to put an antenna up there, then we could use radios between the shop and house.

I'd like the 50 watt mobile units too.

 

[citizendino]

One thing I think is important is to own an FM transmitter......which I now think is legal to use with CB radio.

In a world of vastly unprepared people (STILL!) having to ability to rebroadcast emergency HAM or other signals.........a $65 system will have a solid broadcast radius of 3.5 miles and up to 6 miles unobstructed you can use a $35 antenna to get a boost even further than that but runs the risk of running over other frequencies.

Helping keep the sheep calm may prevent them from running off of a cliff and taking you and your family with them.

HK

I own 4 FM transmitters. All taken from radio stations when they retired them.

LPFM radio was my life/work for over a decade.

 

[citizendino]

I love you guys.

 

[justanothergunnut]

here ill get this started.. If you buy a Baofeng,,, YOUR GONNA DIE!!

 

[justanothergunnut]

Homepage - AmRRON

A Nationwide Emergency Communications Network for Preppers & Patriots

amrron.com

 

[citizendino]

here ill get this started.. If you buy a Baofeng,,, YOUR GONNA DIE!!

I think we need to expand on that a little bit.

 

[citizendino]

Homepage - AmRRON

A Nationwide Emergency Communications Network for Preppers & Patriots

amrron.com

HOLY COW!

Man I love the internet some days.

 

[PSYOP Soldier]

Welcome back, looking forward to your information, i believe that you have knowledge/skills to share...

meanwhile, my favorite places for all things related to emcomm:

https://amrron.com/ this is the first place i refer folks too, they have everything outlined for beginners and experienced operators (rto's), message cards, soi's etc. A place to find local like minded folks, just set up account non personal identifiable info.

Reference Library Downloads one of SB's own, considered to be the premier communcations trainer in the country, for individuals and small groups, etc.

\\NNNN

One thing I think is important is to own an FM transmitter......which I now think is legal to use with CB radio.

In a world of vastly unprepared people (STILL!) having to ability to rebroadcast emergency HAM or other signals.........a $65 system will have a solid broadcast radius of 3.5 miles and up to 6 miles unobstructed you can use a $35 antenna to get a boost even further than that but runs the risk of running over other frequencies.

Helping keep the sheep calm may prevent them from running off of a cliff and taking you and your family with them.

HK

This is why i have fm transmistters, and antennas for such. I can drive the areaa in my suv, roof mounted fm broadcast antenna, and play pre-recorded info or psyop stuff (think digital loudspeaker teams beaming into homes/autos) or i can simply go live...Hard to hit a moving target....

I also have multiple hf/uhf/vhf/gmrs/ffrs/murs/etc., rigs..

Got it covered...