SHTF Natural Disaster Communications
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Get your ham licenses. It's easy, 25 multiple choice questions. If you don't practice and get familiar with ham radio emergency communications, you won't know what to do. As a bonus you'll find out that a lot of hams are also preppers. Since becoming a ham and getting involved in my local club, I've manned the comms station at the county Emergency Operations Center for emergency drills. You learn how things work on that level. I'm privy to a lot of insider information and contacts that could be very valuable in a real disaster. The hobby is more than just talking on the radio. It's generators, battery banks, solar panels, solar charge controllers, radio navigation, mesh networks, digital communications, etc.... Would you rather get your information from the media or talk to someone is is actually there?
My book just came in to study for my ham license. I'm exited to get it under my belt
My dad has a ham radio from the late 60s or early 70s.
I started reading the book.
Also a ham and volunteer with my local EOC. You really need to practice with radio for it to be useful. Sure, during the apocalypse the FCC won't be fining you for transmitting without license. However you cannot legally train otherwise in the meantime.
Radios are not simple appliances that "just work". If you dont have some fundamental understanding of how RF works, you won't be successful during an emergency.
Got my license when we had to take code test, it is so easy now. So many modes and options to communicate with ham radio. A lot of people don't know anyone can use a ham radio for a "Life or Death" situation.
This is something we hadn’t thought about. When I had to bug out with my family during the tubs fire storm in nor cal. The cell towers were gone as the fire was moving at 70mi Per hour that night. Only news was through a radio and local stations were off the air. Couldn’t get in touch with my wife’s family to find out if they were ok and we were separated on opposite sides of the fire. I ended up riding my Harley through an active burn zone to find them and make it sure they made it out of there homes before they burned. A lot learned that night. I have been watching this channel for years and although no mater how prepared you are ur never ready to bug out. But we did well because of a lot of what I learned here. Thanks for what you do man.
I live on the East coast north of DC and during 9/11, all the cell towers were up, the grid was up, the phones were working, 9-1-1 operators were working, but you still couldn't get through.
Two attacks, not wars, not battles, not anything nation wide, but two terrorist attacks and the entire east coast from Vermont to North Carolina was effectively shut down in terms of communications.
If you rely on your cell phone alone, you will be SOL.
Was that because people were calling 911 for no reason?
I lived fairly close to the Boston Marathon Terrorist attack. They shut down all retail business's for miles. Couldn't buy ANYTHING. Glad I had preps on hand
@@poacher-ec9zo People were calling to check on family members who worked in or near the towers. Couldn't get through.
9/11 was an inside job friend.
A CB radio is also good to have especially when traveling in a vehicle. Truck drivers are a great way to get road, traffic, and weather conditions among other things. Also people who have base units in their homes.
3:07 in the cell phone....Zombie!!!!
Please don't underestimate the CB radio! As a professional truck driver it's a vital tool to get up to the minute info.it can be installed in any vehicle (that I know of) prices vary but a quality CB can be had for $100-$200 easy. Thanks for the great info brother! God bless
Why do you truck drivers drive in the left lane when you know you can't accelerate fast enough to pass? Is it a vast conspiracy to cause traffic?...
@@hatefulhermit673 lmfao
I'm planning on getting a cobra cb for my vehicle...
Good advice. I still monitor and use my Cobra base station on occasion. There are still some good communities to be had out there on 11 meters. There is one caveat tho, at least here in my local, Christmas time the activity peaks because all the kids get handhelds and just bananas. Also, I may add, at times you’ll find the same shenanigans with HamOps and you’ll find some curmudgeon operators that do not like or respect a new ham operator trying to make their first QSO. you’ll come across these good old boys club once in a while. But it’s an amazing hobby to get into. It can sometime be a addictive and costly hobby, but what hobby isn’t. You can ask my financial advisor 😂🤣
Jerrid Gossett: And unlike the Fudds on HAM, most truckers in CB are extremely helpful!!!
My late grandfather was a ham radio operator. Had a Kenwood base station powered by a battery bank and also mobile hand held radios in 2 and 10 meter that he would take in his car and hook up to the external antenna like a CB radio. RIP "Flash" K4EZN/KE4HFS
I also purchased one of those Eton emergency radios with FM/AM/Weather bands. Have had it for about 5 years now and it still works and charges from the hand crank. It's always good to have a few devices that run of solar or hand crank because batteries may not always be available.
jhensley71 good product. I have found that older radios loose sensitivity as they age the capacitors dry out and don’t function this is common on all older radios if you can’t change them buy a new one every ten years save the old one, sell it, donate it. Also the cheaper the brand can effect how long these radios will work. I pulled out a bug out bag radio and time had turned it in to a boat anchor.
I won an Eton model FR-300 about 10 years ago at my former work and it still works like a champ. Used it extensively after a windstorm in 2016 knocked out all the power for two weeks where I live. It is just a simple, hand dial, hand-cranked charger with a rechargeable battery, 3 AA battery capacity, FM/AM/Weather/TV with a built-in light and emergency alarm. AND it comes in a nice safety orange color. Not to mention a stylish and comfortable leather top carrying strap.
Ironically enough 3 days prior to this video being posted my girlfriend at the time got me a set of hand held cb radios for my birthday because i do alot of camping and hiking. So i took it with me for my birthday trip and i was solo but basically long story short a freak rain storm came in and i slipped and broke my leg having one of these radios on me saved my life my phone got water logged and ruined and was unusable but that little cb radio i was able to talk to my gf and park rangers and rescued within an hr. Now i got over 20 handhelds 3 base units and a ham license. So i highly recommend looking into these if you don't have them already.
When hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico it destroyed all communications except for ham radio. It was thru ham radio operators and satellite phones that any communication was even possible! Only old school communications were possible. Us regular folks were at a loss for weeks until slowly the antennas started coming back up and we would drive miles to try to find a signal! It was definitely an experience we will never forget!
Were the HAM operators able to relay messages for other folks too?
Did that experience encourage other people to start learning about radios?
It bears repeating that a simple AM/FM, shortwave or NOAA weather band radio will work even when cell towers or other elements of modern communication networks are down. It seems obvious to preppers of a certain age, but not to some younger people. I was surprised by a question on a prepper forum a few years back about whether radio waves would continue to propagate in a major grid down situation. The guy honestly didn't understand that aside from power needed to operate transmitters and receivers, there is no "backbone" in radio wave communications. Yes it's old, even quaint technology. But that's sort of the point: it's dead simple and operates on basic principles of electromagnetism.
I totally agree with you. A part of our preps in my family is an AM/FM/Weather radio in each vehicle emergency bag (I think many others call them get home bags). In our homes, we have good AM/FM/Weather/Shortwave radios... getting information is important n any emergency. We love our mobile phones... but we cannot rely solely on them being operational. All forms of alternative communications are important to explore for our needs, btw... including VHF and Citizens Band. In our preps... communications is top priority. Imagine if another blackout occurred in the USA, but no TV signals were process-able... either in the transmitter or receiver end of things? The only hope we would have of staying informed just may be good old fashion radio. I'll take this as necessary for preparation.
I remember 9/11/2001, text messaging was relatively new. In the New York metro area, the cell service towers were on top of the World Trade Center, but the text towers were in a different place, as they were two different systems back then. Since people couldn't make cell calls, but could still text, some mistakenly believe texting is terrorist proof, and will work no matter what. Some men you just can't reach..............
True, as long as you can keep power to the transmitters and as long as someone is on the other end to send the information, lose one or both and you won't have those forms of information either, but there will always be amateur radio, somebody somewhere has one, and someone is going to be listening. I just have a Technician license may study for my General but just don't sit at the radio all day long so kind of a bit of a waste to upgrade to the next license when the Technician license does what little I need to accomplish LOL...someday when I'm really bored I'll work on my General, but just for the little bit I do its not really of the most important.
Ham (Amateur) Radio has come a long ways, you can even transmit and receive via your computer through some ham radios, this works whether there is internet or not as it doesn't use your phone line, or wi-fi, it uses the radio to transmit over the air. Of course there is still Morse Code if you know it and can transmit and receive and understand it and may not be a bad thing to know, you can send Morse Code with very little power and go quite a ways with it, where you may not be able to use voice communications but those dots and dashes just might make it through. You don't have to spend a fortune on a radio either, Baofeng makes some pretty decent hand-held radios, QYT makes some decent mobile radios, I have QYT 7900D in my vehicle as well as a Midland GMRS mobile radio and of course a CB as well.
@@alanwilliams5836 All my FRS/GMRS radios have the NOAA channels on them. Some smartphones have FM radio reception, if you have the earphones plugged in. And my dynamo-powered emergency lantern has an AM/FM receiver.
@@matthoward1174 I remember sitting in the car, because the parking lot exits were jammed, listening to the event on the radio. I thought the country was under attack. Then I got home (a mile away) and saw the second aircraft hit the second tower.
Sootch and other channels got me interested in ham radio as part of E-comms. I've been a ham operator for two years now holding an amateur extra license. It has become more than a hobby ! I am an ARES member and assistant Emergency Coordinator for our county. Thanks Sootch for helping me get started !
100 percent. Don’t Forget that when the cell repeaters go down or are restrict d for emergency use only, HAM will always be up and running.
When Hurracane Maria hit Puerto Rico the GMRS repeaters and Ham radio repeaters work well the first 3 weeks. When the back up power of the antennas went down the real problem star. Some people communicate with each other just few miles apart.
Yup, and during that time ANYONE can use HAM!
With 2 way radio you can learn a lot just by listening keep your fingers off the mic key
Here's what bothers me these days. Arguably, one of the best sources of information during a disaster is your local TV news stations with it's wall to wall full time coverage of the event. However, since the mandated switch to digital TV signals back in the 2000's manufacturers have stopped making AM/FM/TV radios that will pick up TV audio. Radio Shack had a wonderful little transistor radio that did analog TV audio back in the 80's and 90's. I remember one time back then we had a tornado that rolled just north of town taking the power out citywide. We turned on the TV radio and got play by play on where the tornado was located and what was going on. Something the AM/FM stations weren't doing at the time. Anyway, if anyone out there has any contact or pull with any of the radio manufacturers out there please suggest to them that they add digital TV audio to thier portable radio line for the emergency preparedness minded folks out there. I really do believe that it would be a good selling product and potentially save lives.
robert I was looking for the same thing for a while. A radio that gets the new digital TV signals.
You need an all hazards NOAA weather radio with SAME alerting so you can receive county specific alerts.
Sootch, your get home/bug out bag videos are great. They are purposefully generic to fit most circumstances, which is ideal. You have inspired me to put those together myself (plus, a bedside, bump in the night bag, which is my favorite). On the topic of natural disasters, I thought with Hurricane Florence threatening the east coast presently, a hurricane evacuation bag/box/get your vehicle ready video might be a variation of a theme you might consider. I know those of us in the Grand Strand area could certainly benefit from it at the moment. Love your channel. Thanks.
I live in Katrina Land (no not New Orleans, but MS). I have 6/6V golf cart batteries floating on chargers. That’s 3 x 12V to talk to anyone, anywhere. I have 3 HF rigs, one solid state, one SDR and one vacuum tube powered. I can work Antarctica if I need to. I also can work local from 70cm to 6m FM. Oh and CB too.
After SHTF I have a feeling I’m going to be very busy. Great video!
A couple of things: 1) Most Android phones have an FM radio chip. You just need to find and download the app to use it. The app is not usually in the software preload because the carriers that sell the phones want you to use streaming services.
2)Your car has a radio.
3)AM will travel further. If there are no local radio stations operating, switch to the AM band.
4)Portable TVs are still a thing.
5) How do you get a signal out of the area?
Your absolutely right, about cell phones. I don't rely on my cell phone and always have a plan B. Great tips Sootch00 and long live the republic bro
3:07 what is that reflection on phone???
Looks like he's got some sort of statue near him.
My family all have Short Wave Transceivers. All of us have computerized interfaces so the texting can be scrambled. Security is important. We all test our short wave systems weekly. When secure communications are necessary we do not use cellphones. I recommend purchasing Short Wave. Not AM/FM.
We (family) all have made a very large investment in Short Wave Transceivers. Ham licenses are very easy to obtain. With our texting hardware we can communicate even when my son is in the Dominican Republic and I am here in upstate NY with our very portable Ham radios.
Love your channel Sootch, Stay Safe !
You do not need to have a license to buy a ham radio or listen or possess, and in a SHTF moment, I don't think the federal government the FCC is going to be triangulating on anybody.
I wouldn't bet on it.
I wondered if you could buy a portable ham radio just to listen. Thanks for mentioning that.
@@vigilante619 I'm an old Bootlegger trust me I've was triangulated once.
You can hear it coming when you hear the bumblebees.
Detach the antenna and vacate the area immediately.
That will be the FCC coming.
But during a shtf moment I seriously doubt if the FCC would be triangulating on a quick broadcast.
Unless of course you're pinging the repeaters of the Condor system, and disrupting communication on there.
But to and fro.
I would worry too much.
Don't do it at your camp.
And find a good Hill away from your camp.
Line of sight is everything.
@@m.b.g.2235 yes you don't need to have a license to own a ham radio or to buy a ham radio, and in a
s t h f moment I don't see any problems just don't use it around your camp and find a good Hill to transmit from because line-of-sight is everything.
I repeat do not use it around your camp
@@southerncaliforniadeplorab9363 ... thanks. I thought it would be a good idea to get one and not transmit, just listen. I think you would get some good information as to what the nature of the emergency is.
Something we found here in NC Fayetteville with flood waters and hurricane is power. We did well with portable solar power panels, Ravpower very good, and rechargeable batteries... Can charge 18650, 123a, aaa, and aa with simple solar set up.
In a flood, you will have zero power until skies clear. Solar battery charger combos excellent too... Ravpower really came through. Ham comms, Baofeng GT-3TP performed awesome. Make sure have write in rain back up #'s in case phone dumps.
We found out, Verizon cut it cell service during whole week of chaos to very limited call and text. Can't speak for others, but Verizon wasn't reliable in Harnett, Lee or north Bragg and Cumberland county
Just fyi
good stuff
I always watch through the out takes. Thanks for the additional look.
Excellent advice.
Having an emergency Radio is ESSENTIAL.
There’s a lot of junk, but the brands I know are solid:
KAITO, Sangean, Tecsun, C.Crane, Running Snail, iRonsnow.
Emergency Radios come in ALL shapes and sizes, and price ranges, with tons of features like:
Solar panels, Weather Band, Short Wave, MP3 player, Bluetooth.......
But at least a simple basic pocket radio, if nothing else.
These can run $8.oo - $20.oo ,so there’s no excuse.
Highly regarded pocket radios:
Sony- ICF-P26
Retekess pR-15
(Also has weather band)
Tecsun R-218
Tecsun R233
( my personal favorite)
Kaito KA-230
Kaito KA-210
(Also has Weather Band)
Kaimeda SR-201
There’s TONS of reviews on all of these radios. Look up the reviews on these, or ANY radio you are considering.
📻🙂
pre-arranging coms beforehand will be very necessary; know assemble points know where assemble point a, b, c. etc. have codes for common language statements (OK) (yes), (no) (maybe), (enroute; 5 mikes), (unable), (hurt) (bleeding), (broken bone) (concealed)
I also use a hand held police scanner. It monitors ham stations, boats (marine), police, air traffic, etc. Also has weather modes as well. Very handy to have and keep track of police or emergency services in an area. Most areas use trunking now so keep a lookout for one that picks up modern trunking like P25.
I live in Jacksonville Florida and I’m amazed at how many people just don’t feel they need a radio.......UNTIL their power is out- especially for more than 24 hours.
GET YOURSELF A RADIO ‼️‼️‼️
📻🙂
You make some very valid points. A battery operated AM/FM/Weather Band radio is invaluable. As are the little FRS/GMRS hand held radios.
Just don't believe the claims those FRS/GMRS radio manufacturers make when it comes to range or privacy.
Ham radios... probably the gold standard for emergency comms. Go take a course and get your licence. Learn how to attach good antennas to your handheld radio. Those little rubber things are almost a waste a time.
Go make friends with your local ham... we're everywhere... and like mosquitoes, some of us will survive!
Having said all that, just listening will provide you a lot of information. A scanner or radio that can scan a wide frequency range is a "must have".
Couple of things. Even if there isn't any cellular signal, your phone gps will still work. It uses satellites, not phone towers. Also, I'd buy some solar chargers for my electronics and batteries.
Let's be real, Amateur Radio is federally regulated by the need for a license, but not in an emergency. As an extra class operator for many years, it has been my experience that 2 meters and 10 meters are going to be your best choices in an emergency. Learn how to use those bands and you will always be in communication. Radios for 2 meters are not expensive. Antenna systems for communications outside of a few miles on 2 meters and especially 10 meters ARE bulky because in an emergency, the repeaters are not gonna work. The little whip antenna ain't going to make it except to your neighbors. Read the book for the technician class license and you will understand how it works. Cheap and easy except for the antenna system.
again with the mind reading ive been thinking of this topic for the last month or so you are spot on
Coms go down in disasters.
I've been in one when everything broke down, phones, radio, TV even the states Civil Defense warning system. We had no Idea what was happening...
areUaware
This is why a GOOD radio is essential.
At night, there are a number of big radio stations that are outside of the area.
Example: I’m in Jacksonville Florida, and I often listen ball games/Hockey on AM - 1120 KMOX in St.Louis.
WSB - Atlanta, WBT-Charlotte N.C. WSM- Nashville.....
Short Wave radio is also another way to get information.
📻🙂
If you ever can.
Emp proof a few devices.
Don, thanks for this excellent video. It seems that many in the "prepping community" like to concentrate on the beans and bullets side of the equation but might not be fully prepared to communicate in case of an emergency (in whatever form it may be). One great source for radios can be found on EBay, you can pick up several multi band units at reasonable prices.Thanks again, keep 'em. coming.
Video idea about the best food for shelf life would be interesting see what good to keep around.
Small black and white tv when not connected to antenna will show spikes on the screen. Once you get use to watching you can track storm front moving in. There are small portable sets at garage sales. Of course in a shtf situation wouldn't help.
Another choice if you can find them are old Nextel handsets that were manufactured by Motorola. Most of them have a built in walkie-talkie feature called DirecTalk or MotoTalk. This is different from the network based Direct Connect. This uses 900 MHz frequency hopping multiple access (FHMA). This is very secure. It cannor be picked up by a conventional scanner and is very difficult to triangulate.
There are a number of radios that do receive Ham transmissions, so if you cannot get a Ham license, you can still listen.
Getting a license is the ultimate, but not always an option.
Short Wave Radios With SSB (Single Side Band) run about $75.oo and up (new)
But you may find a deal on a good used one.
📻🙂
love it! I am M6PPG a foundation license in the UK :D I used to do be with RAYNET a voluntary emergency network, also supports communication for charity walks etc were mobile phones have no signal. still have my FT897, and other por
table radios too.
Communication is key especially here in Hawaii we been having natural disasters these past months.
Ham Radio isn't just for prepping or emergencies.
We just bought a used 4 X 4 yesterday. My wife & I are both Licensed Hams, and we took our handheld dual band walkie talkies with us. When we settled on which vehicle to buy & the paperwork was done, we set out for the 2.5 Hour drive home. We try to stay in sight of each other when we use both rigs, but knowing we can't always do that, we had our radios with us
We used what is known as a "Simplex" frequency, and stayed in full contact with each other the entire way home. So, if either one of us had ANY issue, we could call the other one who could INSTANTLY respond.
As good as Cell phones are nowadays, they still have limits. In my humble opinion, Ham Radio is THE way to go. They work when EVERYTHING else goes down-PERIOD!
My grandfather had a massive HAM radio and talked with people on the other side of the globe. His name was Don too. I still know his call sign too. Sure do miss him.
I lost cell phone services, call, text and data and internet service for the past 3 days due to a bombing in TN. I had no tv due to the fact that it is all internet based. It would have been nice to have had a radio so I would know what was going on. Getting one NOW for the next incident!
You need a license communicate on the GMRS and ham radios, so get it now, so you will know how to use them properly and legally. It's $35 for 10 years.
if only few of cell repeaters fails, game over for digital signal propagation... good old analog systems are still backbone of any real preparedness community. handheld VHF/UHF are great way o keep in check people/group in range up to maybe 5 miles, FRS/PMR for ranges 1-2 mile, anything above that, CB or ham. just small side note; even if you dont want to get ham license, at least read the book or go through online course to know what you're supposed to do with ham radio once you get your paws on it. it can be daunting task, programing channels if you dont know what you're doing ( i know, been there few years ago)..
Went through an earthquake....when checking on remote locations the most common response was "I only have a few minutes of battery left", I just ordered a solar re-chargable battery.... Note Solar on these small devices ( e.g. small surface area) are for topping off. To fully recharge can take more than a day. Having a manual hand crank re-charge is useful
One of the dumbest things, I did was to get rid of my old transistor radio. Sure, they are outdated, but it fit into a backpack and ran on 9 volt batteries. The weather radios are great too, but if you needed information really quick, you can get it from your local radio station. Our hunting camp, used to have a radio and it was invaluable of the power went out, which in Pennsylvania's northern areas was normal.
Getting your technician license which is the entry level to ham is not hard at all in fact there are apps with all the questions any answers for you to study. There's nothing wrong with using the apps the FCC is aware of them and they want you to pass the test. I have a technician license studying for my general which is a little bit harder but will allow me to talk further on different ham bands. Thanks for the great video and I do enjoy survival dispatch.
well isnt that kind that the fseesee WANTS us to get the good boy license, benevolent gods they are afterall.
Another communication device that I highly recommend is a good scanner. I've had several over the years, however the one I use now (and consider the best of the bunch I've had) is the Uniden Home Patrol II. Rechargeable, portable.
Do not discount the all hazards weather radio!
Get a Ham 'ticket'. Whether you do or don't...program your local repeaters and simplex channels and you may wish to use a variety of frequencies outside of Ham bands (follow the spirit of the rules): FRS, GMRS, MURS, Itinerant, "star, dot" etc. Program your HT with a load of useful channels as above + Marine (16, 22A etc.), railroad, public service. TIP: omit the transmit side of public service and RR channels so you do not accidentally transmit on these channels; these are good to have in the mix for monitoring what's going on. Programming cable and software for your HT are very helpful when programming a lot of channels. Stay off Ham channels during normal status if not licensed. Hams will find you faster than FCC.
Sootch, I've always had a base station cb, and mobile units in all our vehicles. I also have programmable radios, as well as handheld ham radios!
👍 So very true, thanks Don
God Bless
I live just outside Toronto Canada, thanks for the info. There isn't alot of natural disasters around here but its always better to be safe then sorry. Thanks again.
I'm an Aussie and you have great attitude
I always enjoy your outtakes and appreciate you not taking yourself too seriously. That fart in there was something else! 😂
There has been an advisement put out by the FCC about the cheap Chinese radios (like I have) that don't comply with FCC regulations. Some will tell you to get rid of your Baefeng radio, don't do it. Instead, make sure you have at least a technicians license (entry level ham license) and you only operate on 2 meter and 70 cm.
During power outage Cell Towers have around 20 hours emergency generator power depending on fuel level. They keep them at 80 percent full, not 100 percent. ( 200 gallons of Diesel). Back up Battery power is around 8 hours. So total of 28 hours cell phone access during power outage. After that forget it.
I've been watching your videos for years. Always high quality and super informational. Thanks for all your hard work you put into them!
Thanks made me get mine out and verify they were charged.
GREAT MESSAGE!
Being prepared? Two thumbs way up!
Anybody else notice the scary face reflecting off his phone at 3:05 😱😂
That was one of his shooting targets off to the side.
John D I figured..I was tuning in and seen it in the phone and was like “wtf is that?!” 😂😂
I never heard before of those features on the smartphone. Nice! On my phone it's quite different, thus I need to find a manual first....
Ok I gotta ask. At 3:05 or so in this vid there is a strange reflection on his cell phone screen. What gives?
Bible App!I like seeing that. Love your videos. God bless you Brother!
3:06 Look at the cellphone’s screen
That was creepy.
Good eyes!
Jeez 3:07 that reflection on the phone who is that
You forgot CB ( Citizen Band) radios as a viable option. Chat on my all the time but definitely getting my technician license.
You should also be looking at using ad hoc mesh networking and products like Go Mesh that work offgrid/cell down scenarios.
Phones been unreliable, lately and during 9/11. Just purchased (4) baofeng bf f8hp ham radios from amazon. Expecting them next weekend
Venezuela just had a major explosion in a major power plant
My phone was down for 4 days during hurricane Irma all I had was my ham radio the best thing ever I have a small base radio it's a bit of a pain to understand but still a great tool to have good luck
Look into an improved antenna for the BF8hp
Download CHIRP to program them and readjust the squelch.
Squelch levels are nearly totally open in the factory configuration and this leads to a lot of interference coming through.
Definitely invest in an N9TAX slim Jim antenna for one or two of them, that Nagoya UT-108 magmount unit is pretty impressive too for attaching to a more stationary radio.
Read my post above about Baofeng radios......you might see some disinformation out there about there legality.
Appreciate all the info!👍
I know you said it but it bears repeating: ham radio is a skill that needs to be practiced to be of use in an emergency. It's like having a vehicle: yes it can be used to drive around but it needs a operator to use it and the better the operator the more you can get out of it. You can try to drive it and learn on your own and without a license or training but you won't be able to get a whole lot of practice that way and it's better to do it properly.
The amateur radio hobby is vast and emergency preparedness is part of it. Having the equipment and license is the first step but is also almost useless if you do not use it regularly and actually talk to people and participate in the community.
KG2C: In an emergency the family has a plan to use hand-held radios to communicate with one-another: tune to this channel and talk to one another. What more is needed? Works for thousands of families every day!
Like my previous response in this thread...radios used for emergency communication amongst family members is simple. Turn it on - talk. Yes, if you are going to become part of an EOC then you need training and practice. That is NOT what this was about.
Please stop spouting this BS that everyone that picks up a radio has to have extensive training, practice, and experience. It's just the HAM Fudd mentality!
If their only instructions is "tune to this channel and talk to one another" I doubt they would be very sucessful if there's interference on that frequency, or if there's a problem with the antenna, or the topography and obstacles are getting in the way, or the radio was sitting unused and the batteries were drained and no one noticed. A radio that's being regularly used is more likely to be in working order when most needed, and same goes for the operator. That's where the experience comes in.
I also have a ham ticket and when I am out and about I have my big base station set to an outlying repeater and also set up to crossband repeat and I cary a Baofeng hand held with me so that I can use a UHF frequency on simplex to get back to my radio at home and that radio rebroadcasts my signal to the repeater that I set it to so I am ready that way
I don't like the dynamo-powered radios at all. The dynamo requires you to crank very fast (3 times-per-second!)for at least 20 minutes so you can listen for a little while, and you won't be able to charge a cell phone with it! A few spare power banks with USB or solar panels is probably better. Better that that would be BIG solar panels, but those need bright sunny weather.
The reflection at 3:05 freaked me out.
I read the Peoples Republic of Californiastan wants to ban the repeater locations? Or have they shut them down already? Thought about buying one until I read that. And if using one without a license, can they trace you down, or can I just listen without one?
I don't know about your California question, but you can listen without being tracked. Any transmission can be tracked. You can make it hard by varying power, transmission frequency, location, time of day, duration of transmission and so forth, but if you have their attention and keep transmitting, they will find you. Best option is not to draw attention in the first place.
I have some Midland 2 way radios from Sportsman's Warehouse. They claim "up to" 25 miles. I guess line of sight is in that "up to" range. I seriously don't know how you would ever achieve 25 mile range. Maybe if you were at the top of a peak in a barren desert. In the forests around Mt St Helens, it's about 1/8th mile or less.
I also have a Grundig that is am/fm/weather and global short wave. I easily picked up some foreign broadcasts with it, even though I was deep off grid.
At 6:30 relay stations would also be down in a shtf scenario. So I doubt you'll get 50 miles.
Some type of solar recharger that will charge batteries for the various radios would be handy.
Would love a video on how to communicate with friends if shtf. Walkies have no distance. I need 15 miles distance. Minimum and have no idea.
Learn to do EVERYTHING without the Internet data or the Web! You will be miles ahead of all the ID10Ts with their "smart" phones.
Voting Democrat this November is also a .. *NATURAL DISASTER!!!*
In the EU mobile phones have a radio capabillety. Dunno what frequences they use though.
When i was in the military we had small laminated cards with phone numbers.
The best stationary would probably be field telephones though.
Good video, good points all.. .those wishing to learn more about ham radio, I saw some good videos over at Tin Hat Ranch. He has detailed info on the HAm radios and how to get your license. Thanks.
I have a radio. It is,zn am fm.emergency type. It has a solar panel.and it has a hand crank to charge it. Its pretty good to have. I got it at Wal Mart for $40.00. It is not real big but it isnt real small either. It can easy fit in a bugout bag. Or even in the pocket of a pair of carpenter style pants. .
We have a couple for less cost on our website, Teresa: www.walmart.com/search/?query=am%20fm%20emergency%20radio&cat_id=0
Like your videos and how you think logically. I may be late to this but what's the reflection on your phone between 3:05-3:07? Also no disrespect and I see all these noncommissioned military guys overlooking it, but nobody has a p38 & p51 ? I watch a lot of prepper/shtf/wrol videos and in my opinion first educate yourself and make informed decisions. So keep up the good work.
Chris, Motorcycle, PWC, ATV technician school and franchise certified.
I saw that too. Freaky.
The cat is bugging out. LOL!
I don't want to talk to anyone now, why would I want to talk to people after society collapses?...
I feel the same way. But you can always just listen to the environment when SHTF it was a nice tool to have during hurricane Irma
Just listen to the police scanner for Chicago. 24-7 war zone.
Hateful Hermit You can learn a lot by just listening. I find a lot about traffic, weather ahead and accidents when I travel. If you can't see the usefulness of communication in prepping, then.... Ahhh... don't.
I’d say your name “Hateful Hermit”, pretty much says it all.
Did your white Red Cross radio get yellow and sticky?? Mine did it was gross. It came off with just alcohol and cotton pad thankfully. No idea why that happens mine was even in a protective bag.
Just remember, that phone can be used to track you down. It can be your enemy!
I know this is a old comment, but, supposedly the radio can be used to locate you to. Letters, people overlook it, but letters sent trough trustable people are a good option.
Is the governor declaring a state of emergency considered an emergency situation in which ham channels open up?
No. Amateur bands are only to be used if life or property is at risk.
Sean Yunt: Yes it would qualify - IF the individual using the HAM feels that their life or property OR those of others are at risk - just like any other time. The burden of PROVING misuse is on the FCC, not the individual to defend their use.
@@donabele1243 not disagreeing. Context is key. If an unlicensed person with a baofeng was safely hunkered down during a hurricane, but their Gov declared an emergency, the spirit of this should not allow for rag chewing or other non emergency use.
Great advice unless an emp or solar flare is the cause of the disaster. Keep electronic communications in a faraday cage to protect along with small solar charger just in case.
VH -MR boat radio is a good unit . Most watts for the money /25 watt's they cost from 100 $ to 150 for a very basic one. There are hand walkie talkies in Marine Band as well but there expensive 200$ butt would be worth having at least 2 units they have 5 Watts output . Off road equipment runs these units here in the Florida swap they work good. CB needs to have watt's / the5 watt stock one is useless won't gett over the background noises. You would need a booster amp at least a 100 watts out put to be herd 27 MHz is very noisy am and SSB witch is what you need in that range . At this point be over500$ in it plus have a technician tune the radio to the amp . Talking from a SHTF situation.not worried about paperwork 😵 Cost /effective out of the box good to go .
So i have 40 acres of hunting land about 50 miles from my house. Have no cell signal, how can i communicate with my wife at home?
Great coverage on an important topic.
Would it be a correct statement to say that you only need a licenses to transmit, Not to listen ?
The hinge on the door behind you is missing a screw. It bothered me.....
Great video though! 🙂
Thanks for this. Really appreciated the iPhone tips as well.