SHTF Communications

[BDinPutnam]

It would be awfully nice if they could come up with a way to take those tests online (the official tests and get the licenses). Its multiple choice, not like there are any "practicals" you have to pass, right? I suppose people might cheat.

 

[FrankenCub]

Well, the record of having a Tech license really doesn't mean much.. An 8yr old can pass the test, seriously. Besides that, most gov types that would be looking for someone's "training experience" would look at a ham license like big deal, the guy is a nerd. Good cover

 

[FrankenCub]

It would be awfully nice if they could come up with a way to take those tests online (the official tests and get the licenses). Its multiple choice, not like there are any "practicals" you have to pass, right? I suppose people might cheat.

Now that would be great! There's not much testing in my area and not into driving a couple hours to do it.

 

[FrankenCub]

The stupid part on my end is my mother has been licensed since I was a little kid. She helped me learn morse code but I got bored with it. She wanted me to get licensed but I thought it was stupid. Yeah, stupid me. I could have had the Extra license a long long time ago lol.

 

[cgrutt]

Other than wanting to follow the law the main thing you need to be concerned about is interfering with commercial or public stations. Fines can be steep if there is a complaint and they catch up with you. This would be the case whether you were licensed or not. Granted chances are pretty remote if you're operating a 5w handheld but if you were operating a 100 or 200w HF rig on the fringes... who knows? At least going through license process makes you familiar with process and what to look out for.

 

[Jem45472]

Thinking of getting one of these for a mobile/base station. The 25 watt version is a bit easier for vehicle use because you can use cigarette/accessory port. Looks like 50 watt and above draws too many amps and requires a direct battery connection.
BTECH Mini UV-25X2 25 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF) 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XD3CQ6H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CtuHEbDDPGR4J

BTECH Mobile UV-50X2 50 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF) 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XK83VRV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_oxuHEbPSHJ2X3

 

[FrankenCub]

Thinking of getting one of these for a mobile/base station. The 25 watt version is a bit easier for vehicle use because you can use cigarette/accessory port. Looks like 50 watt and above draws too many amps and requires a direct battery connection.
BTECH Mini UV-25X2 25 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF) 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XD3CQ6H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CtuHEbDDPGR4J

BTECH Mobile UV-50X2 50 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF) 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XK83VRV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_oxuHEbPSHJ2X3

Getting this.... "about:blank#blocked"

 

[Jem45472]

Getting this.... "about:blank#blocked"

No time now, you can Google bTech 50x2, or 25x2

 

[Jem45472]

No time now, you can Google bTech 50x2, or 25x2

The btechs are actually baofengs and generally getting pretty positive reviews from what I see. Cheap way to take a step up from the handhelds.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Fines can be in the thousands of dollars. Here’s the thing @GOPerfect . If you and I did a few radio checks over a HAM repeater, nothing would ever come of it. A HAM user will end up asking who we are. We can ignore him or engage him. He will get pissed and threaten the FCC but that is all that would come of it.

But if we chit chatted at midnight every night after we got off work and made a pattern of it, they would make it very difficult for us with constant threats to where it wouldn’t be worth using the repeater for communication. If we still continue, they can triangulate our position, turn us into the FCC, and we could get that fine.

Not worth it in my opinion. That’s with repeater use. Repeaters repeat your transmissions for many miles. Many people listen to them.

Now if all we did was load simplex HAM frequencies for short range use (about a mile or so) and not use a repeater at all, nobody would ever say anything because they wouldn’t hear us unless there was a licensed user within a mile from us and he was an asshole. The same could happen just like above with the repeater though but less likely.

Now if all we did was load simplex MURS or FRS frequencies for short range use which are unlicensed and 100 percent legal frequencies we would be good to go. It would be illegal to use a HAM radio for that rather than a legal low powered radio but no one would ever know. That’s what many people do. Preppers, kids, four wheelers, paintball guys, ect.

 

[Fenucho]

Thinking of getting one of these for a mobile/base station. The 25 watt version is a bit easier for vehicle use because you can use cigarette/accessory port. Looks like 50 watt and above draws too many amps and requires a direct battery connection.

Not meaning to insult anyone, but If you're looking to get into another expensive hobby, then great. Getting into HAM is akin to joining a Civil War Re-enactment club. You learn how things were done in the old days. There is no modern practical use for it; they don't even require Morse Code training anymore. Even government agencies are trying to bypass the use of HAM for traditional emergency messaging by developing their own frequencies. To communicate with anyone over a distance requires training, technical expertise and a lot of money. Getting one for a mobile base station, I am assuming you know lots of people already to contact. It is not the kind of SHTF communications to contact family and friends. I would ask the local HAM club for their recommendations. I'm sure someone there has tried most of what you want.

 

[togmaster]

Anyone use CB for SHTF? I know some people that transmit using an insane amount of wattage. Depending on location they communicate over huge distances.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Not meaning to insult anyone, but If you're looking to get into another expensive hobby, then great. Getting into HAM is akin to joining a Civil War Re-enactment club. You learn how things were done in the old days. There is no modern practical use for it; they don't even require Morse Code training anymore. Even government agencies are trying to bypass the use of HAM for traditional emergency messaging by developing their own frequencies. To communicate with anyone over a distance requires training, technical expertise and a lot of money. Getting one for a mobile base station, I am assuming you know lots of people already to contact. It is not the kind of SHTF communications to contact family and friends. I would ask the local HAM club for their recommendations. I'm sure someone there has tried most of what you want.

So whats the non-cellular alternative?

Asking for a practical minded friend.

 

[1075tech]

Anyone use CB for SHTF? I know some people that transmit using an insane amount of wattage. Depending on location they communicate over huge distances.

Remember the old walkie-talkies when you were a kid? I think they were the same frequency as CB ch14. Hell I remember when there were only 23 channels on the CB. When I lived upstate Binghamton area as a kid, I once talked to a guy in NC for a while on my handheld. It was only a few minutes. Figured that somehow, every atmospheric condition was perfect for a few minutes.

Don't even know if that's really possible. Someplace in my garage, I have a couple of 40 channel's leftover from my days of running the road.

 

[cgrutt]

Agree 100% there are better, more convenient and modern forms of communication. All good until the wire breaks or grid goes down. Many are unavailable even when everything is up and running if you happen to be in a remote area with no cell service. The Red Cross, Salvation Army and FEMA still use amateur radio bands. Many local governments that have converted to digital and encrypted modes still monitor and/or have ability to respond and/or revert to AM/FM/HF bands during disaster recovery. Many localities even incorporate amateur volunteers in their disaster recovery plans.

Pretty decent article here:

Beginner’s guide to amateur (ham) radio for preppers

Ham radio is more confusing than it needs to be. What's CB and FRS? Do you need a license? Experts make it easy with this free, one-page guide.

theprepared.com

 

[masterswimmer]

Remember the old walkie-talkies when you were a kid? I think they were the same frequency as CB ch14. Hell I remember when there were only 23 channels on the CB. When I lived upstate Binghamton area as a kid, I once talked to a guy in NC for a while on my handheld. It was only a few minutes. Figured that somehow, every atmospheric condition was perfect for a few minutes.

Don't even know if that's really possible. Someplace in my garage, I have a couple of 40 channel's leftover from my days of running the road.

I still have my Lafayette 3-channel handheld walkie talkie. I'll take a pic of it later.

 

[cgrutt]

I had a 3 channel radio shack handheld as a kid remember talking to my buddy across the street on his base station CB (23 channel). This was obviously before cell phones, lol...

 

[1075tech]

Those old handhelds were about the same size as the first cell phones. Man! my little brother and I had a great time running all through the woods playing with those things. Good times. Today's kids will never have it that good!

 

[FLA45fan]

Anyone use CB for SHTF? I know some people that transmit using an insane amount of wattage. Depending on location they communicate over huge distances.

I've got a Cobra 29LX and a Wilson 1000 magnetic mount antenna with wx bands that I used to use when crossing the country to AZ . . .

 

[masterswimmer]

As promised.....

 

[BuffNiag]

Not meaning to insult anyone, but If you're looking to get into another expensive hobby, then great. Getting into HAM is akin to joining a Civil War Re-enactment club. You learn how things were done in the old days. There is no modern practical use for it; they don't even require Morse Code training anymore. Even government agencies are trying to bypass the use of HAM for traditional emergency messaging by developing their own frequencies. To communicate with anyone over a distance requires training, technical expertise and a lot of money. Getting one for a mobile base station, I am assuming you know lots of people already to contact. It is not the kind of SHTF communications to contact family and friends. I would ask the local HAM club for their recommendations. I'm sure someone there has tried most of what you want.

$200 spent on gear and a tech license would go a long way. The big money is in HF DXing, which I have no interest in. Seems pointless and is basically worthless for SHTF situation.

 

[Marine Cpl]

The good thing about Amateur HAM radio is that once you get licensed, all is great! You can now talk to everyone now! Nope. You can only talk to some other boring HAM guy that only talks about his radio and chit chats about the weather. That’s it.

No talking to your uncle down the road. No talking to your wife at home while you are in a store getting some things. No talking to your son who is out four wheeling with his friends in the woods. Nothing unless they all get licensed and that just isn’t happening. It could but it never does.

I have spent hours scanning these amateur repeaters and not once have I heard normal conversations between family. No. Hey Joe! Dinner is ready. Time to come back in. Never. It’s always some boring assed old dude talking about how he loves the hobby as they all call it and that with his Yaesu XKJ9000 he was able to reach a guy in Georgia on a linked repeater. Then comes the talk about signal propagation and what antenna they are looking to buy in the future.

That is the downside of Amateur Radio. They do not allow a license per family like GMRS does. So it’s basically useless.

Another big negative is that you name and address is published online tied to your assigned call letters. That is terrible in my opinion. If my lady gets licensed and some dude likes her voice, he can get her full address via a simple call letter search.

The only good thing about it that once you buy the gear, in an emergency you can use it and the rules be damned. That’s it.

 

[cgrutt]

The good thing about Amateur HAM radio is that once you get licensed, all is great! You can now talk to everyone now! Nope. You can only talk to some other boring HAM guy that only talks about his radio and chit chats about the weather. That’s it.

No talking to your uncle down the road. No talking to your wife at home while you are in a store getting some things. No talking to your son who is out four wheeling with his friends in the woods. Nothing unless they all get licensed and that just isn’t happening. It could but it never does.

I have spent hours scanning these amateur repeaters and not once have I heard normal conversations between family. No. Hey Joe! Dinner is ready. Time to come back in. Never. It’s always some boring assed old dude talking about how he loves the hobby as they all call it and that with his Yaesu XKJ9000 he was able to reach a guy in Georgia on a linked repeater. Then comes the talk about signal propagation and what antenna they are looking to buy in the future.

That is the downside of Amateur Radio. They do not allow a license per family like GMRS does. So it’s basically useless.

Another big negative is that you name and address is published online tied to your assigned call letters. That is terrible in my opinion. If my lady gets licensed and some dude likes her voice, he can get her full address via a simple call letter search.

The only good thing about it that once you buy the gear, in an emergency you can use it and the rules be damned. That’s it.

As I'm sure you know guys are out there doing more than voice...

 

[Marine Cpl]

As I'm sure you know guys are out there doing more than voice...

You need Internet for that to work. Why not just use the Internet from your computer or phone to send that email if you still have internet?

 

[cgrutt]

You need Internet for that to work.

You need internet somewhere not necessarily where you're at at the moment. Internet can be down in NYS and I can get a text message to relative in FL. Or I can be camping or at a hunting cabin in the mountains where there is no cell service and get text messages out to people back in town without a ham license or radio.

 

[Fenucho]

Got our tech licenses, bought a couple of handhelds, and found out they're useless when you live in a valley.
In order to get a repeater, I have to drive up to the top of the mountain.
If I need to do that, I might as well drive a little further to the Fire Dept, have a cup of coffee and say "hey, what's the word".
When/if things get that bad that we're counting on digital smoke signals to survive, family and friends know the plan and how to get here.
Those that don't know, weren't invited

 

[Marine Cpl]

You need internet somewhere not necessarily where you're at at the moment. Internet can be down in NYS and I can get a text message to relative in FL. Or I can be camping or at a hunting cabin in the mountains where there is no cell service and get text messages out to people back in town without a ham license or radio.

You are correct. I didn’t watch the whole video but now I did.

 

[cgrutt]

You are correct. I didn’t watch the whole video but now I did.

That modem is twice the cost of the radio he's using, lol...

 

[masterswimmer]

We call these contingency plans. Obviously these handheld or base HAM radios are not plan A, B or possibly C. Hell they might not even be plan D, however, if all systems are down like my family experienced for 11 days after Super Storm Sandy, then these radios could be life saving.

@Fenucho Nobody here is trying to change your approach to this contingency option. That's your responsibility to yourself and your family. YMMV

 

[Jem45472]

Not meaning to insult anyone, but If you're looking to get into another expensive hobby, then great. Getting into HAM is akin to joining a Civil War Re-enactment club. You learn how things were done in the old days. There is no modern practical use for it; they don't even require Morse Code training anymore. Even government agencies are trying to bypass the use of HAM for traditional emergency messaging by developing their own frequencies. To communicate with anyone over a distance requires training, technical expertise and a lot of money. Getting one for a mobile base station, I am assuming you know lots of people already to contact. It is not the kind of SHTF communications to contact family and friends. I would ask the local HAM club for their recommendations. I'm sure someone there has tried most of what you want.

I'm definitely not getting into another expensive hobby. I bought 2 handhelds for less than $50. Learned a bit along the way. Also learned that Im just out of reach of my local repeater. My post was just to show that you can get much more powerful radios in the $150 range. That's within anybody's budget. I will not be spending thousands on a hf setup to talk around the world, although if that's somebody's only hobby, so be it.