During any emergency it is not merely convenient but vital to be able to have the ability to get information, find the best way out of an area, and ensure that loved ones are safe. After Katrina, cell and land line phones wouldn't function due to lack of electricity. What did work were stand alone two-way radios.
It is not only hurricanes and natural disasters that can plunge your world into darkness, much as been written about the North American Power Grid being vulnerable, vulnerable because it is being held together with bubblegum and vulnerable to Cyber Threat.
I am no Radio Geek sitting around in PJs in my Mum's basement. People keep saying that whatever is coming our way, will happen by the end of this summer and this is the best information I could gather on short notice. My expertise is in firearms, so If I made some errors forgive me I'm not Marconi.
This is part of a "Preparedness" series. Feel free to correct me or add information of your own through the comment section. This page is about disseminating information on the basis that the more everyone knows, the better.
Two-way Radios:
Two way radios for civilian use generally fall into two categories: Simply put they are Short and Long range. Short range radios can give you up to a mile of range in hilly country, slightly more in flat terrain. The best examples are what you can buy at electronics store, like Lowe's or Home Depot.
FRS: A "family" radio service unit which does not require an FCC license. Its range, however is very limited. Most are good for a few hundred yards. Their advertised range is fantasy.
GMRS: This is a UHF ( Ultra High Frequency ) radio which does have fair range and has some FRS channels also. However, the FCC requires a license. Many people buy them and don't get the license. I strongly wish to dissuade you from doing so. The FCC will levy a fine on you and probably confiscate it IF you happen to get caught. Although they generally ignore GMRS, pay them the money and stay out of trouble.
CB: ( Citizen's Band ). No license requirement AM ( Amplitude Modulation ) vehicle or home radio. Limited by federal law to four watts of power. Limited to about five miles, although you can get more at night due to AM's ability to "skip" or bounce off the planet's Ionosphere. Some CB's used to have SSB ( Single Side Band ) which extended range. Best deal for the cash outlay.
Surplus Military Radios. Ebay has the old PRC-25 / 77 backpack radios. They are Low Watt ( 3 or 4 ) units which every Vietnam Era to Grenada Army and Marine vet has probably used. Lots of channels, durable radio. But you still need a damned license, they are $ 800.00 for a set of two, and a standard CB has the same range for far less money.
I could hear a "Slick's" main rotor sound ( Huey helicopter ) before I could talk to the pilot into an LZ in hilly terrain. Unless you want to be a military radio collector, they have limited utility and you cannot get fresh batteries anymore. They can be converted by using a bank of D-Cells
Business Band FM: With Cell phones and the "Push to Talk" feature they are not used much anymore. Security Companies, Hospitals etc. used them. The radios were expensive, required an FCC license, and needed a "Repeater" ( a Relay station which boosted the signal ). If the power went out, so did the repeater, and your communications over long ranges.
HAM or more properly known as Amateur Radio. In the 10 meter band a good radio with a good antenna has hundreds of miles of range, or even across continents. Ham requires an FCC test and license. They have made the requirements for 10 meter much less stringent. There is a "Technicians" class which requires one to not learn Morse Code, but those radios are only good for about 20 Miles.
The General Lee radio. This is a CB / 10 meter combination, which has many subchannels so all the frequencies are not filled up. CB has 40 channels. During an emergency people will quickly fill those up and will be talking over each other. GL is a great rig for under $ 300.00. a GOOD Antenna another $ 150.00.
DISCLAIMER: You radio guys are all aware that many truckers are using Linear Amplifiers to boost their CB & GL radios. It's illegal. FCC generally turns a blind eye to them, but people have been caught and heavily fined.
We again strongly state that you do not break the law and give them an excuse to make your life miserable which they will gleefully do.
One guy was broadcasting an AM station out over his CB linear from his home and the Feds showed up. His neighbors likely ratted him out because the broadcast interfered with their TV Reception.
The FCC has also now claimed that ANY device that Produces RF ( Radio Frequency ) is under their jurisdiction even a Wireless Router for your PC's Internet connection. They also alleged that FCC can demand entry into your home without a Warrant if they determine that RF is being broadcast without a license.
I won't get into my complete and utter disgust at the erosion of the Bill of Rights, and now Contract Law by faceless bureaucrats, Soviet style Commissars ( "Czars," ) and other "Public Servants." But be aware that these people will make your life a living bloody hell if given the opportunity, and fine you into oblivion for good measure or "fun."
Never doubt for a minute that "The One" doesn't have his DOJ suits poring over every federal regulation they can find to hit you over the head with if they feel the need to do so. Their reason for being is to separate you from your money and liberty. Don't give the control freaks an excuse.
To get a 10 Meter FCC license, you need to be able to decode Morse Code at 5 words per minute. "Rain Man" could learn to decode 5 words a minute. If you want to have good emergency Commo and not "Invite" bureaucrats with badges into your home and wallet, spend the time, take the test, and pay them their crummy License fee ( essentially another Tax ).
The ability to get uncensored information in a crisis could make life a whole lot safer for you, your family and community. But take the time, spend the money and keep yourself out of a jam by doing it without violating the law and attracting unnecessary attention to yourself.
Meanwhile, stay safe!
More to come.
