Disaster communications

There is reason hospitals have HAM radio systems set up and ready to go in their disaster control centers.  HAM is likely to be up when all else is down.  It doesn't take a lot to get going; a handheld, portable antenna, a speaker/mic, and accessory charger and/or battery backup power is one way to do it (about $300 if purchased new).  A mobile unit that can be used in the auto or at home is another way.  Licensing doesn't cost too much; classes are readily available.  We have a couple of setups at home, but are not involved in it from a hobby standpoint.  I'm sure some active HAMs will find this thread, and will provide plenty of info if you have questions.

HAM is definitely a good option.

In order to legally operate a HAM radio you need to be licensed by the FCC. Some people say they don't care about the FCC because their radio is only for when TSHTF, that's  a personal decision you have to make. The good thing about being licensed is you can legally practice before something bad happens which is a good idea in my opinion. You can also join organizations like RACES or CERT to help your community in a disaster if you are licensed.

The license from the FCC is free, you just need to pay for a book or class to study and then its like $5 to take the test in most places. This is one of the better study guides I have found, you can try it for free: http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/

It shouldn't take you more than 10-15 hours to study for your Technicians license which is the basic HAM license. There is also the General and Extra licenses which allow you to operate on more frequencies. In order to take those you need to pass the Technician's first, then General, then Extra.

Handheld portable HAM radios are a good option if you are only going to have one because they are mobile. The downside is they have less power and shorter range but that can be helped a if you use a j-pole antenna: http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/

While your cell phone may not work to make calls during a disaster because of heavy network traffic often times you can still text. 

I'm by no means an expert but hopefully this answers some questions for people.

May be worth looking into...these guys are forming groups of people all over the country using cb radios for communication if SHTF. It will be used for emergency communication and apparently is not affected by the FCC control since it is essentially old tech. I know with ham radios you have to get the license to operate and such but this may have some merit...people are beginning to align all over this country. God help us all if we cannot turn back the evil forces seeking to destroy this country!

www.cbpatriot.com

Thanks for starting this thread and all the replies so far.  This is something I've thought about but have yet to do anything about it.  I don't see the TPTB letting things dissolve to the point all modern communications are shut down but I do like being prepared.  I do have a hand-held receiver which can listen to most frequencies from TV to aircraft, but i have no transmitter.  I hope the receiver is good enough.  Is a transmitter necessary?  I'm not really sure who I would talk to anyway.

What is the difference between CB and Ham?  Distance?  Ham sounds like there is a lot more involved but could be cool.  I would think a radio would take you down the road of wanting a large battery and a method to recharge it.  That leads to a generator or solar.  It would be silly to need the radio and have it but fail to plan to power it.

Then again, I can't recharge my simple AA batteries without power so I probably need a backup power supply anyway.

I've digressed.  Thanks for the info all

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/  Emergency Scanner over the web.

Great site for Emergency info streamed over the Internet. Also has radios for sale 2nd hand. Don't forget VHF (Boaters/Coast guard) as a back up. Most VHF are preset for Emergency weather updates and the handheld are pretty cheap. No lic. required.

Also think about networked/LANs/Wifi for your neighborhood.  With todays wireless routers you can setup a simple network that can cover a block and have pretty secure communications even if the net goes down. 

I own four FRS/GMRS radios that operate on rechargeable NiCad batteries that came with them.  I bough two for the bug out bags and two to give to those I'm partnered with for defense if a SHTF scenario happens.  Additionally, in the event of a long power loss or need-to-flee situation, I have a few packs of high quality NiMH batteries to share between the radios and LED flashlights.  One of the bug out bags also has a solar charger for AA rechargeables in case of long term isolation requirements.

Realistically the radios that claim 20-30 mile range only do 2-3 miles in a city so don't count on the specs that much.  The radios are unencrypted and their privacy codes are truly a joke in terms of privacy... but they still allow relatively good communication without cellular phone reliance.  I believe cellular technologies to be far less private and more heavily monitored by big brother due to the incestual relationship the bells have with BB.

In a defensive scenario, its absolutely critical to have good communications with neighbors and defensive strategies for protecting your property or family.  I believe that we will all see a need for defense as the economy continues to crumble and hyperinflation starts to kick in.  I believe the American populous to be just as violent or possibly more so than other nations that have experienced hyperinflation in the last century.  The occasional riots you see in Europe will look like valentines day when compared with America's unrest when it finally hits the collective threshold.

If you need police or emergency civil services, you're making a mistake dialing 911 and possibly waiting on hold or for them to eventually dispatch someone to your location instead of possibly helping the gunshot victim your calling in an Ambulence for... or actually putting out a house fire.  Taking action immediately before dialing 911 is often the best action to take.  You'll be surprised how fast you can put out a medium size fire with just a pot full of water or a spray from a garden hose.

If you trust civil services to come to your rescue, I find it far wiser to radio the emergency need with someone else to call it in and have them do the talking while you do the medical triage or fighting the fire and trying to get it under control 5 minutes before "help" arrives.

If its your neighbor who has a radio and you don't trust civil services or you just need immediate help they can also rush to your assistance far faster by you just radioing them the emergency than any civil servant.

Two-way, no matter what frequency they transmit on are always a good idea to have handy!

It won't be pretty, but it can work and be secure. I've worked with radio packets and slow ass data rates. If the feds and business want to keep up the internet? We got them, I'm very law abiding and I gave the feds the benefit of the doubt. But when you start doing no knock warrants and killing folks, or seizing entire server racks. You have made an enemy.  Any idiot can kick in my door and shout police and I'll shoot back and I don't really care about your immunity. The thing is you cops will pay the price you will get shot up not Eric Holder. Hell how easy is it to wait for a suspect to get in a car or walk out a door. But if you have no problem being a door kicker for this administration. I hope you get all that you deserve.

HAM-radio could be an alternative for long distance communications, but a person must be FCC licensed (various levels, general, technician, etc.) to use this and it can be a fairly expensive venture. Do a search for more info. Unlicensed users are "hunted down" by the "feds" and shut down real fast and easy, so best not to attempt it (the "feds" will probably consider an unlicensed user to be some sort of "domestic danger" nowadays...).

Much of HAM-radio range comms are in the HF range (High Frequency electromagnetic spectrum). HF is long range both for voice and data (morse code, others); with appropriate equipment; attennas, amps, transmitters, recievers, etc., and understanding of conditions (atmospherics, cloud cover, sun-spot activity or lack of) HF comms can be transmitted/recieved from one side to the other side of the planet. 

A problem with HF is the low quality of the voice transmission, it ain't stero or digital, so takes some getting used to (often static filled, modulated by various interference (lightening, other radio transmissions, etc.)), but this is not bad considering you can talk to people local, national, or on the other side of the planet.

VHF/UHF range - is short range, high quality audio (mostly for voice, by aircraft, shipping, trains, police, fire, FM radio, TV, etc.) and requires FCC licensing to use for transmitting (it's possible to voice communicate with the International Space Station at certain times as it travels about 60 miles up, but there are few obstacles that can hinder the radio signal unlike on earth where terrain, trees, earth curvature, man-made objects, electrical interferance, etc degrade the signal to nil). 

There are a number of transmitter/recievers with HF/VHF (and some UHF) available to non-government, non-military, etc., starting around $200 and up to sky's-the-limit.

An alternative is a short-wave radio reciever, capable of receiving only - not transmitting, but a good short-wave will allow a person to receive broadcasts from around the globe in several radio-freq ranges/bands (usually HF and VHF).

Also CB (citizens' band) radio is a fair alternative, but distance for transmission is very limited. Good for neighborhood communications. Requires no license (but rules), inexpensive.

For any/all equipment - consider buying used via eBay, Craigs list, internet sellers, ...

EMP

(I am not a fear monger/baiter, promoting the "mad-max" scenarios, however, who knows how bad things might go, and natural caused EMP is very possible).

Something to consider - EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse - from major sun-spot activity, which will effect earth also, god forbid, low-space altitude nuclear detonation) so some solutions are available and should be considered. 

Unless people take steps to shield from EMP, anything (which these days is almost everything, computers, internet, cars, ATMs, cash-registers, gas-pumps, you name it) with solid-state type electronic insides is going to be fried - instantly and permanently.

Here are a few real simple solution for EMP shielding

This may not be viable in case of SHTF, however, some new tech which provides alternative world wide communications via Smart Phone and satellite technology:

http://www.glockworld.com/item.aspx?pid=525651&w=vSAg7PybqJY%3d&y=193866...