What are folks using for SHTF Comms

[Nosferatu]

Yep, you get some terminology slightly wrong and the radio nerds can't help themselves from correcting you.

 

[parallax]

Me explaining repeater offsets for different ham bands to my friends over a cold beer.
my friends:......

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

These are definitely nice radios. And this store is local Corvallis, OR

LINCOLNII+ - President 10 Meter / 12 Meter Amateur Ham Radio with SSB

LINCOLNII+ - President 10 Meter / 12 Meter Transceiver Amateur Ham Radio

www.wearecb.com

RICHARD - President 50 Watt PEP 10 Meter Radio

PRESIDENT - RICHARD 40 WATT AM/FM 10 METER TRANSCEIVER WITH CONTINUOUS SCANNING, 7 BACKLIGHT COLORS, ECHO, TALK-BACK & SWR/PWR METER

www.wearecb.com

SR655HPC - Stryker 10 Meter 80-90 Watt Amateur Ham Radio

The Stryker SR-655HPC is a high performance two-way radio designed for excellent transmit and receive quality while offering extreme reliability. The SR-655HPC is loaded with features that are customarily only available on much more expensive radios. This

www.wearecb.com

W1000MAG-B - Wilson 1000 Magnetic Mount Base Loaded CB Antenna

W1000MAG-B - Wilson 1000 Magnetic Mount Base Loaded CB Antenna

www.wearecb.com

 

[Index75]

Smoke signals. Seriously. Give them a try.

No. Not seriously. My grandparents were big into HAM. It's not something you just pick up and start doing. I picked up a scanner to help my son with his railfanning, thinking "how hard can this be?" Several dozen hours later I can now say that I'm proficient with it. But that required time, learning from reading, and finding a group of folks willing to share their knowledge.

I keep my Midland GMRS radios charged up for hunting season. They'll pull duty when SHTF.

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

Unreal. 25/10 watts. Complete setup. I'm just not sure how good is the antenna.

QB25 Pro Quad Band Mini Mobile Radio+ Cable + 50W Antenna

Radioddity QB25 Pro is the first mobile car radio of Radioddity. It is designed to meet your need of owing an ideal vehicle radio which is professional, safe, durable, comfortable and simple to use. Except from quad-band, quad-standby, four color screen display, we offer a professional 50W high...

www.radioddity.com

 

[gomanual]

So, radio nerd here. I got into HAM long before I got into firearms. I have convinced several of my family members in the area to get their tech licenses, but as others in this thread have stated it does take a little work. Passing tech took an average of about a week of evenings studying (a couple hours per night) before the test for the folks in my family who have gotten their tickets. Getting General or Amateur Extra takes considerably more commitment.

Keying up every now-and-then without a permission slip doesn't result in MIB showing up at your front door, no matter what the nerds want you to believe.

This is 100% true. Radio direction finding is one niche of the radio hobby that many people enjoy, but nobody is going to bother to track you down unless you make yourself a nuisance. I'm not encouraging it, but firing up the radio and tossing out a "does this thing work?" isn't likely to irritate anyone enough that they'll start trying to triangulate your position. One thing though: don't be vulgar. Swearing on the HAM bands is one thing that will catch attention very quickly.

Something to keep in mind about FRS/GMRS during a SHTF situation is that those channels are going to be choked with traffic. HAM isn't immune to this either of course (2m and 70cm in particular will likely be destroyed), but having an extra set of tools in the proverbial bag is nice.

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

Just throwing this out there because the subject of GMRS/FRS comes up quite a bit in the prepping community.

Let me say this. Normalcy society and SHTF/EOTWAWKI are two very different things. In an emergency/shtf situation, you will need a way to communicate..and the FCC will not be knocking on your door. Just don't be an idiot.

So don't limit yourself to the vary narrow GMRS/FRS hardware solution. They are great for buddies arranging bar-b-q times and employees working a job site, but in a shtf situation, depending on where you are, those frequencies will be overloaded.

You want to use frequencies that you and your family/group/team/buddies can effectively communicate on.

So don't buy a gmrs radio (I'm talking about non-normalcy here) that is hard coded to just those freqs.. Get a handheld ham...like discussed above. Something that can be programmed to use duplex and simplex. If you don't know the difference, study up. (Hint..simplex = one freq for both transmit and receive, duplex uses two frequencies, one for transmit, one for receive)

I'd suggest getting a HAM technical license now while the state of the world allows it..so you can get accustomed to it. Having that license allows you to train and get ready for SHTF.

Also, whether it be normal times or shtf, these are the frequencies that HAM uses for simplex operation. Of course in a shtf situation you would be tempted to use whatever, but remember that certain frequencies are used by repeaters, video, computer packets etc.

In short..you can use 445-447, 146.40-146.58 and 147.42-147.57 for simplex, direct, radio to radio..just listen to make sure your chosen freq isn't being used.

This is way more bandwidth available to you than GMRS/FRS. Personally, I program my radios to include the GMRS/FRS frequencies to monitor (listen only). The Baofeng's have 128 channels..so plenty of room there.

View attachment 1926634

View attachment 1926635

The new UV5R covers all of those, with extra battery power and everything you need.

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

I've got Midland CB radios, mobile and at home. I also have some Midland handheld two-way radios and a bunch of Baofeng UV-5Rs. Spare batteries, accessories and antennas. It adds up over time. "Get things while you can."

I'm right there with him. The radios they offer today are more than a novice and it is so entirely available and still so reasonable or lower than the real market price. I'm just looking at it on a long time radio user. Forgive me if I post this previously. In the 80's, spent over $600 (at that time) to get my radio, work on the inside and set to its optimal performance. Today you can get a starter radio with above novice caliber package and performance for such a low amount of money. Just like what @DangerDog says "Get things while you can."

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

I dont know much about these radios but this new 80 watt radiodity is pumping more than it's supposed to..

View: https://youtu.be/biLgsRcfa9k

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

View: https://youtu.be/DLjrr8Mgu5A

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

Sales on CB World..

 

[rexposeidon]

I'd go with an old school multi-band radio with shortwave receiver, (the kind your greatest generation grandfather had that covers, AM/FM and about 3 others), and then CB and Marine VHF for local comms. But who's listening???

IF and who's kidding here, it's a big IF the scenario is such that local and federal government fails completely, long range comms won't be a priority unless you're attempting to form a new government. With many LEO/EMS using digital radios unless you have their decoder it's practically useless, and if they use any encoding then you're totally out. A basic frequency police band scanner would be helpful, unless the above.

If it becomes a Mad Max scenario, would it be better to not transmit but just listen?

Ultimately comms is dependent on what you think you need once the end is here. For me, I think I just want to listen.

 

[albin25]

I'm really, really cheap, so…
I just use one of those long , black plastic ATF funnels as a megaphone and as an ear-horn…
…good for half a mile

$1.75 at Harbor Freight, and
No batteries required !

Now, where did I put my old BoyScout semaphore flags?

 

[rexposeidon]

I'm really, really cheap, so…
I just use one of those long , black plastic ATF funnels as a megaphone and as an ear-horn…
…good for half a mile

$1.75 at Harbor Freight, and
No batteries required !

Now, where did I put my old BoyScout semaphore flags?

attach some clear tubing to it and it can double as a beer-bong!

 

[fun_and_gun]

Not to be that guy, but I'm going to be that guy... a few baofeng uv5r's. Useful and cheap for kids / neighbors.

 

[AshWilliams]

Not to be that guy, but I'm going to be that guy... a few baofeng uv5r's. Useful and cheap for kids / neighbors.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have a UV5R and a F8HP. I have a high end Yaesu as well and use my BFs with no problems.

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

Drones are in California now.
We'll be at 462.600 gmrs in case of emergency....

 

[AirgunAce]

I used to be really really into ham radio. After about a decade, I unloaded most of my gear 'cept for the bare minimum.

Kinda done all that I wanna in the hobby. Lots of $$$ spent, and hella fun, but after a while, it just got kinda mundane.

The emergency that every ham waits for tends to be lacking in need for what's arguably antiqued ways to communicate.

 

[AirgunAce]

oh, sold most of my gear to buy guns! even better hobby IMO.

 

[AirgunAce]

I can talk to the world with a cheap handheld... and of course, protect it with a little #pewpewpew