Im looking for information on radios. In my kit I have a hand crank am/fm radio tgat runs on batteries as well. I also have a set of Walmart Walky talkies. I'm interested in learning more about cb radios because they are relatively cheap. Powering it in a shtf situation is a consern and I have no experience with ham radio so I'm not considering it an option. What do you recommend?
You can power a CB or Ham radio with 12v battery, maybe getting a small solar setup wouldnt be a bad idea... More then just radio can be run too.
Howdy,
In the event of a major event that does NOT bring EMP/CME, and our radios still work, what is the consensus of what type of radios to use??
I personally have a mix of FRS and GMRS handheld units as well as a couple of old CB handheld units. The CB's take a hundred AA batteries each. 😆 But having old transistors instead of microchips maybe they are EMP proof. 🙂
I notice a lot of pick-ups, jeeps and off-road rigs that are running twin whip antennas in this area. Not sure if they are still using CB's or if there is a better radio out there for mounting in your vehicle. I read in an Australian 4x4 magazine that ICOM and few other companies are selling the "new" CB down-under. The frequencies are not our CB Freq's but the radios look interesting.
Any Comms types that want to chime in and give some expert opinions?? I have an opinion, but I dare not say it be expert.
Does anyone know of a vehicle version of the GMRS radio?? If so, who makes it and what model do you recommend and how much $$$??
Thanks,
Mountainman.
A good rig for a SHTF scenario is marine band. They are cheap and durable/waterproof... 12 volt and have much greater range than CB with a cleaner signal. Plus the frequencies won't be cluttered. They are "illegal" for use on land... but we ARE talking about SHTF. Ham is good but the eqipment is expensive and takes knowledge and time to set up. You can get a marine radio for around $150.00. You need to add wire and an antenna but still reasonable. Also easy to swap out of or into a vehicle.
There are several ideas that we, as preppers, could use for comms, VHF, UHF or HF. I could suggest many variations to the theme. We need to to pick one, and a back up, and start some comms exes. I am here in Nanaimo, and as a former comms reservist we used to take our HF radios, (107 set) and set up nets from Victoria, to Comox, to Port Alberni, to Vancouver, to Edmonton. It wasn't hard to do, we could do the same with any HF radio. A simple dipole antenna and some knowledge of the optimum freq voice and data, (encrypted and plain) was a breeze.
Sorry, what I am trying to say is, the equipment is out there, we need to make some decisions.
feedback?
westcoastlogic
GAIN (global action information network)
I was using 1mile FRS until they were stolen from my truck. Still have to replace them, but there are some inexpensive models available. Ideally, I would love to have a 20 meter ham setup and be able to communicate with fellow preppers across the continent, but like it was mentioned, the equipment is expensive and tricky to set up. 2 meter ham is affordable, and handsets are easy to use. Although, like most of us, there is a repeater nearby, range is still pretty limited. I doubt I could reach fellow preppers 90 km away in Montreal.
I like the idea of setting up a network now, before we need to use it, but we need someone with experience.
Here are my thoughts about this network...
1 - needs to be coast to coast, Newfoundlanders should be able to communicate with those from BC.
2 - needs to be affordable, not many of us would be able or willing to put out thousands for a powerful ham setup.
3 - needs to be run on low voltage DC to be easier to power post SHTF.
Anyone out there have any ideas?
Thanks for the replies to date.
May I put in a suggestion.....thanks. We may need to look at this from a multi-tier perspective. Not knowing what we have to prepare for and thus preparing for any eventuality, we probably want a 4 tier system.
Tier 1: National Comms - Ham, CW, Repeaters and HF, I don't know what equipment but the objective is a national network. Please tell me what we need here.
Tier 2: Provincial or Regional Network - some challenges will only impact a limited geographical area, in that area we will need our own net. Best equipment????
Tier 3: Local Network - A city, a town, a county, any small geographical area: Probably GMRS as they seem to have a little more range than FRS. I am not opposed to VHF Marine, but does everyone have them??
Tier 4: Team Tactical Network. Obviously, Opsec, will limit anything other than a general overview. Each team will want to have compatible radios for team work comms. The lowest power transmitter that can get the job done will be the order of the day for Tier 4. Radios with headset or throat mics and earbuds would probably be desired. FRS?? Small GMRS?? UHF??
Comms and Opsec: for you comms types, how good is directional finding (DF) equipment?? How long and how many transmissions from a fixed location before they can pinpoint you?? Can the signal be bounced to decoy the DF equipment?? Is DF an issue??
How many of us are trained in morse?? I am familiar but by no means fluent. NOt even close. There are some good morse courses on the internet that are free to download to train at home. Now would be a good time to get a copy for yourself. Any thoughts?
If memory and reading Rawles book "Survivors" there are some good low power CW rigs that you can send and receive morse nationally or internationally. Sorry, I do not recall the make or model. I will try to re-read for that information.
Mountainman.
Update:
This is the company Rawles' book speaks of. The character built a QRP transceiver from a kit. I have not had a look around the site too much, but a kit must be more affordable than an assembled unit. We need some feedback from the Ham's or the Comm's type here. Please.
K1 - QRP Kit 2 channel $299+ USD, K1 - QRP 4 channel kit $399+ USD, KX-3 kit $899+ USD, and KX-3 factory unit $999+ USD. Would the Ham's out there please review this units and post your thoughts.
phone 😆
Great idea gc...
Are there any experienced hams around that could help set up such a comms network?
Here are my thoughts...
A national group could be made up of HAMS from around the country...Pacific, Central, East, Maritime. They would have the ability to communicate freely with each other during and after an emergency.
A regional group could be made up of a group of HAMS in each province. They would have the ability to communicate with the closest national member. At least receive.
A local group made up of members from as many cities, towns, or municipalities as possible. They would have the ability to communicate with the closest regional member. At least receive.
Everyone should have some sort of license free comms other than land line or cell such as FRS, CB, GMRS, to be able to communicate with family during a crisis. Often times, we need to bug out in more than on vehicle or otherwise run around in our community and normal means of communication may be difficult or impossible.
Thoughts or volunteers?
Old School,
We may be back to two tin cans and a long piece of string!!!!!! 😉
Mountainman.
Denob,
Sounds like a good start. If we have a strategically posted Ham operators who have the means to monitor multiple means (CB/FRS/GMRS/VHF Marine/UHF) then info could be relayed between wide spread Hams and then a helper could re-trans to the other local comms units.
Is anyone familiar with what is needed to send data streams via the Hams?? 2 Ham units and 2 laptops??? Can a micro internet be run over the Ham system?? Anyone?? Just trying to think outside the box. Not every crisis will mean the loss of all electronic equipment. The loss of the power grid is just about a given. But with solar, micro-hydro, micro-steam or wind to recharge batteries and an inverter, we will still be in the game.
Mountainman.
PS - What could be a common FRS/GMRS channel for finding friendlies when traveling through a region?? Opsec aside, we should start to consider a common channel. Even if we know it will be monitored by them.
PS - What could be a common FRS/GMRS channel for finding friendlies when traveling through a region?? Opsec aside, we should start to consider a common channel. Even if we know it will be monitored by them.
From what I understand, FRS channel 1 - 7 are useable with GMRS. Note that GMRS only units are not supposed to be used to communicate with FRS, so try to find a combo unit. Here is a frequency chart I found. As FRS 1 is designated as a national call channel, I would suggest one of the others. Is there anyone out there with HAM experience to say if any of these frequencies could be transmitted to by HAM radios?
FRS Channel Number Frequency GMRS Max Ouput FRS Max Output Usage/Notes
01 462.5625 5 W 500 mW National Call Channel
02 462.5875 5 W 500 mW
03 462.6125 5 W 500 mW
04 462.6375 5 W 500 mW
05 462.6625 5 W 500 mW
06 462.6875 5 W 500 mW
07 462.7125 X 5 W X 500 mW
I moved this topic to the Canadian board, as we are talking about a Canadian network.
I know nothing of these dark arts of which you speak...
Perhaps we need someone to approach their local ham radio clubs? I've seen them at various events over the years but never had the money or time to seriously look into it at that time.
I got confused just looking at their home page 😳
These mystic wys of communication are beyond me. But always wanting to learn and help out in anyway I can. I had a roommate in college who was into HAM radio's and I recall him setting up a tower along our dorm building. perhaps time I looked him up again.
I moved this topic to the Canadian board, as we are talking about a Canadian network.
I am sure glad you are NOT paranoid!!!!
We are still getting a lot of traffic to this so it must be a good idea.
Mountainman.