Not Just for Listening

There are a number of posts on this very subject including one suggesting setting up a coast to coast communications network with Ham radio opererators. Try typing Ham radio or communications in the search box. This way you can follow the treads and see what has been said.

Yah, I think the communication threads get lost in local forums (provincial or canadian, etc).

For the sake of others who find this thread, here are a few relevant threads:

IMO, to answer your question most people don't care. They assume their cell phones will always work 24/7. Most people freak out if a text message takes more than a couple seconds to traverse the planet! (Think about the level of standards our society has set?)

Ham radio is already a relatively small group of the larger population. (735k in the USA out of 300+ million people, that's less 1/4 of one percent. In Canada its about 68k operators out of 30+ million people, also less than 1/4 of one percent) Of Ham Radio operators only a small section of them are interested in things like internet alternatives or text messaging alternatives (many of the older generation are voice only type).

With the ease of access to the internet (most anyone can gain access if not at home, via public libraries/schools/etc.) and the "difficulty" of ham radio licensing and equipment use, many people just won't bother.

I however am an outdoors oriented individual anyhow (emergency or not). I like to hike, camp, bike, ski, kayak, etc... and have had FRS radios for many years (I think since the date Canada officially permitted there use which was a few years after the US). I am now in the process of working on my ham radio license in order to have access to better equipment that includes multiple power sources (plug in, rechargeables, 12v automotive and emergency AA), better antennas (small portables which can be detached and hooked up to larger vehicle mounted or building mounted antennas), and wider functionality/more frequencies. Of course I believe this skillset/equipment could be handy in an emergency too!

So if you either have your ham license or are thinking of getting it, then we can talk! 😎

I will certainly be encouraging those around me to get their license this year. I'd like to see an emergency radio net conducted at one of Survival Bill's meetups if not this year than next. (Out in the back country somewhere for a realistic test, see if we can hit some city repeaters with our equipment, might have to raise an antenna or hike up a hill.)

Bump to re awaken topic.

googled the comm issue for a bit and I came to the conclusion that I need to get a ham therefore I need to take the certification/course. I checked a few calgary clubs and it seems like the only one offering courses/exams is Calgary Amateur Radio Association: http://cara.memberlodge.com/Default.aspx?pageId=1130226

it looks to me like the only advantages of gmrs/CB/Marine VHF over Ham are that they are cheaper and easier to get (no need to get certified and no need to learn much) but the main disadvantage is critical: they work only on a very short range. Plus Ham sounds like a fun hobby to add to my newly adopted hobbies 🙂

Here is what I think is a very good posting on the matter:

http://www.bc4x4.com/features/2010/vhf/

and another one off the same forum:

http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?126743-VHF-UHF-CB-FRS-GMRS-Definitions

on the certification issue, like the guy in the above posting says, you can do it on your own (buy the manual, take the exam with an instructor) but with cara you get the advantage of becoming part of a club which can be very helpful

for all other hams there please post any tips that can help us get through the process easier

All the best

.

What happens to the HAM towers in a CME or EMP? How long do these towers have power etc. I am mildly interested but just posing a question that may need an answer.

A ham tower is simply an antenna. It does not have any power or circuits of it's own. It is a conduit to transfer the power generated by the transciever itself into the air at a specific wavelength and frequency. In an EMP or solar flare event any damage would be done to the radio itself if it was connected to the antenna. The antenna itself should be fine.

Indeed JAB it would be fine because it is well grounded. The radio would not unless it was in a faraday cage.

The neat thing is that most clubs operate their own towers. If you go attend your local club and ask to see some photos of their repeater/tower, they'll likely quite enjoy showing off their hard work.

Yes, ham radio repeaters often have excellent grounding with lightning arrestors (which divert excessive energy from the antenna to ground instead of to the radio), backup generators or solar power or both, sometimes even internet connectivity for remote management and linking up via the internet when that is available. If your local club is inadequately prepared, guess what, join the club and help out!

The important part is no one company owns the airwaves or rights to these frequencies. You are not dependent on the internet (although you can use it), you are not dependent on your ham club (although you may use their repeaters), if all else fails, you still have the equipment you own which will still work if you are prepared for such lack of power, etc... So ham is very versatile, in the good times its amazing what you can do (with repeaters and the internet), but even in the worst possible scenario where everyone else is down, you'll still be better off than FRS/GMRS/CB. So you can't lose if comms are important to you.

Hi All
Ham or Amatur Radio has two "levels" if you will. The first is 2 meter/70 centemeter which has very short range unless you belong to a club and have access to their repeater towers. As with cell though, with a power failure the towers will go down and you will not have any more range than a C.B.
The second "level" for a Ham is "HF". HF has several different bands. EG: 6,10, 12 meter bands which you do not need a repeater for and can have very long range with the right equipment. However, there is still a lot of study and practice to get an HF Licence.. including being proficiant with Morse Code. It can take a long time and (if you are not handy building your own equipment) a lot of money to get your HF Ticket. Don't get me wrong..it is worth the effort and can be a lot of fun. I should have kept it up but didn't. Remember to.. having a Ham Ticket means you are "an agent of the Government" and can be called upon to make yourself and equipment available during a disaster.

C.B.:- Is very short range ( C.B. band is 11 meter so it is in the HF Spectrum) except when the sun is active then you have a lot of skip to contend with. You only have 4 watts output so the Maximum you might get is 15 to 20 KM's... on a good Day with a perfect antenna and no Interference. One thing about C.B. is, every truck driver out there has one, so your chance of contacting someone that can help is very good.

Marine:- You still have to take the Power Squadran course to (legally) use a Marine Radio and they are only to be used on water. I know some Hunters do use them in the Bush but they are not meant for that.

FRS/GMRS:- I believe the maximum output of a GMRS Radio is still 2 watts. The Manufacturers clam that you can get up to 56 Km out of their GMRS BUT be careful about that. They increase the range of these radios by tuning the "Receive Circuit" and you MIGHT be able to get 56 Km out of a 2 watt radio IF you and the person you are talking to are standing on moutain tops with no obstructions or interferance. FYI:- the first 14 channels of a GMRS radio is the old FRS Frequencies and are set a .5 watts so those channels have even less range than the upper ones.

Hope this helps.

A thought..
What about using the ionosphere to bounce your signals... we get "skip" from all over the USA on the 11 meter band ( and some International signals) on the 10 meter band. Granted it is not reliable at times but it works.I was doing some work on a Cell Amp in a Tractor Trailer yesterday listening to a guy on the CB. He was in Florida ralking about "Rocket launches going over his house". 😯
One other way to get (cheap) long distance communications is to bouce a signal off the moon. This works in the 2 meter band and has been experimented with in the HF Band.
Check this link:- http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/mbAnn.html
In a SHTF situation this might be the way to get National and International messages across without a "network" and as stated before " who cares about a licence in an emergency". Basically, all you need is a Transceiver, in an agreed upon band, cable and a Beam Antenna which you can build yourself. The info is all on the web on how to do this.. all you need to do is some experimenting which could be a lot of fun.
😀