Keep in touch after disaster

There is an excellent sub forum entitled Emergency Communication on the APN. It is well worth joining the APN for this sub forum alone. All the issues that we are talking about here are discussed in depth and many of the participants are seasoned hams. If you are new to communications I recommend reading the HAM Radio Primer thread. There are many post on choosing a CB channel alone. Reading the thread gives you deep appreciation for the issues involved with the choice of channel. For instance the Standardized Amateur Radio Prepper Communications Plan posted above designates CB - Channel 4 (27.005 MHz) as the designated CB channel. For a number of reasons this is probably not the best choice. Also it does not designate any CB sideband channel. There is a good argument for not making any such designation of channels blatantly public on a forum. Direct prepper to prepper private messages would be MUCH more secure in the long run. For those who intend to transmit should the SHTF there are a whole load of serious consequences that need to be seriously considered. The first question that you need to address is should the SHTF do you wish to be informed about what is happening outside your area or do you wish to have two way communication with people outside your area?

The plan also designates FRS/GMRS channel 4 to be used.
I got my GMRS sets about 2 weeks ago and have been using the scan feature to identify the channels that get used more often.
In my area, channels 4, 5, 14, 15 & 17 are the popular ones, therefore, I chose another channel to use as a family comms. channel.
I would assume that the popular channels would vary from place to place.
I do however think that the various regional groups should choose a channel to use to communicate with each other in case we have to travel in our local area.
This should be discussed at the next planned meetup.
As an example, I meet with the Ottawa area group. We should figure this out at our next meetup.

There's a new development in longer distance communications which began a little over a decade ago. It is text messages sent and decoded over radio using computers, software and sound cards. If you'd like to learn more:

al.org/SAFE/aaham.htm

Even when you are off the grid, you can send and receive messages using low power with a simple setup involving a laptop, a transceiver radio and a power inverter. PSK31 and Digipan software are relatively easy to use.

I am in the Uxbridge area, looking for like minded people as well. The communications after a disaster is a very important topic. Tonight I will print off the above Standardized Amateur Radio Prepper Communications Plan. Anybody know a radio sales guy that can set me up with proper equipment. I'll pay fair price but dont want to be hosed. Looking for an honest referal for someone like us.
The Beav

Yes Beav.It is very important when purchasing ham radio.The ham radio club have every so often get together with sale and trade of ham radios. befriend somebody in your area and that will help.I was lucky finding really nice guy that is long time member and a real expert. I purchase complete set and antenna for $250.He also help me to set it up and get it going.Now we are good friends and he still advises me
Henry

Am I right in thinking that as we talk about Ham Radio that some are going to more or less be Pirate Ham operators?
Just wondering if the people who look after licencing these things spend a lot of time hunting pirates or will the radios be silent until the need arises when no one would be bothered hunting you down.?
I was tossing around getting one but lost interest when I realized there was more to it than just calling up Rubber Duck!

Actually I thought we were talking about licensed ham operators. You do not need a license to buy equipment or receive signals. You do need a license to transmit. Working towards your license will give you the background to understand ham communications. We need to encourage as many preppers as possible to obtain their license and equipment in order to practice communications as much as possible BEFORE any events take place.

Just because I purchased ham radio I do not consider myself PIRATE HAM RADO OPERATOR.I am not into that stuff but I bought it as part of my prepping and plan to use it in case of disaster only.
Just because I have 50 bottles of alcohol I am not or planing to be alcoholic.
I have purchased lot of things that I hope and prey I will not have to use ,but if disaster happen it will be very useful to have.
Henry
Just to clear myself.

There's a new development in longer distance communications which began a little over a decade ago. It is text messages sent and decoded over radio using computers, software and sound cards. If you'd like to learn more:

al.org/SAFE/aaham.htm

Even when you are off the grid, you can send and receive messages using low power with a simple setup involving a laptop, a transceiver radio and a power inverter. PSK31 and Digipan software are relatively easy to use.

Ha, that's Bruce from the ARK. I've been picking his brain on this set-up for some time now. This is an effective way to stay in touch IMO. He's developing his own transceiver actually. You need an advanced ham license to use PSK31.

Now, let's take this a step further. Encrypt communications between your group by establishing a cipher between you and the receiver. Have code words for everything. Set up specific times and days to communicate on pre-defined settings that have been established now.

This would have to be set up before hand. It's finding or establishing a network with people NOW is what is going to make this beneficial in the event of an event. If you're just using ham radio then you're at the mercy of your signal bouncing off the ionsphere and connecting with anyone compared to having direct communication with someone you know and trust for any countless, beneficial reasons.

Keep in touch after a disaster should start with face to face meetings before anything happens.

If you do not know them before there is no way to know afterwards!

As ICRCC stated Just having the radio is not enough. you need the knowledge to use it. So again I put my money where my mouth is and I found a local ham club, attended the meeting and they are a great group of people and more than willing to help anyone including me, get thier licience. It is very simple really. There is little or no cost, you can borrow a book or buy it $40 and then just study the book. I have a background in Electronic engineering so I found it quite easy, but even my daughter found it simple and she hates anything like school work. Then you can take as many practice tests on your computer as you like, all free. All this info and the test generator is on the industry canada website so if at all interested, check it out. Your Basic liciense or advanced is based on your score and the only two main diferences are an advanced user can transmitt at higher power and use lower Freq( farther distance) and can build his own radio.

Again if you plan on having this equipment then you should know how to use it effectivly and safely, after all a microwave oven is just a high power radio...

I'm planing to get my ham license (having financial difficulties atm, so a lot of things have bean put on the back burner), digital encryption between your group would be an option.

There is a recent product in pocket ham radio transceivers which is very affordable.

The Baofeng UV5R can be had for under $100 with accessories. It is rumoured that the Chinese manufacturers are selling them at a loss, to undermine Japanese competitors. Many ham operators are buying them to supplement their more expensive systems.

Bear in mind although one doesn't need a license to own or receive on a ham system, you must be licensed to broadcast. In an emergency situation, cel phones will not suffice, if they work at all. If you have the means to listen to announcements, you're ahead. This little device can also double as an FM radio receiver, or a two-way radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4zafPwr0Gs

Debates on its merits seem to form a consensus: the price and quality outweigh any shortcomings.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10349

http://hamgear.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/review-baofeng-uv-5r-part-ii/

Industry Canada (IC) has established a five year transition plan, which will permit the use of MURS in Canada starting June 2014. Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) is an unlicensed two-way radio service similar to Citizens Band (CB). The Baofeng is advertised as being MURS capable, making it a good choice for private, two-way, short-distance voice communications.

What a coincidence! I just received my UV-5R last week. I'm in the process of studying for my "ticket" so I won't be yacking on it just yet. Seems like a good unit. One word of warning: I bought the programming cable and programming disk for the radio. The software and driver on the disk were wrong. So, I would recommend getting the programming cable but maybe just download the right correct software and driver from the web.

This Is A Very Good Question But If Your Looking For A Radio It Must Be A Ham Radio If Ur In A Isolated Or Far Away Area Then Others

I just wanted to post a couple of tidbits I gleaned from the coverage of the Boston attack but I don't want to start a new thread and it seemed somewhat relevant here:

After the attack, the FBI command post was relying on a bank of land-lines because much like 9/11, the cell system was overloaded and unreliable.

Also, officials we're encouraging people to open up their wi-fi networks so others could use them to get messages to loved ones... Post Hurricane Sandy, similar scenes played out in NYC with people clustered around Starbucks' locations that still had power, and by extension, wi-fi.