Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

There are so many good ideas in this survival prep section that it is hard to make decisions with so many �must have� items, options and suggestions. I need some help and direction with what seems to be considered by some of you as essential items when the SHTF. I have gold, guns, gasoline, grub and a generator. What I hear mention among some of you is the need to communicate with the outside world or to listen in on what is happening around you. They include having a:

portable police scanner,

pair of walkie-talkies and

CB radio

Can someone recommend some brands or models of any of the above devices when the lights go out and times really get tough? Pros and cons of any of these items would be helpful and where they can be bought too will be much appreciated.

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Good to see you posting again BB!

My suggestions:
Be realistic to yourself
A. Water and Water purification tablets
B. Canned food
C. Flint, candles, maybe wood.
D. done - you have everything else!

Oh and Paper money does not hurt...

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

I only have a base scanner but really want a portable.

Right now I'm in the process of upgrading a couple
scopes and a new set of sights for my 1911.

Next on my sh!t list are handheld scanner, shortwave and CB

Not sure if im gona get a set of talkies tho since
its just me.

I might be a little crazy but talking to myself on
radios is a bit much. :biggrin:

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Long Haul Voice and Data Communications in a Post-Collapse Environment

Bug Out Transmitter

Walkie Talkie recommendations

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Does GIM have a communication strategy for a SHTF scenario?

Are GIM members currently talking to each other over radio?



I went through these threads but did not find the answers in there, but did find a large amount of good information...


SSB Radio
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=102948

GP-4L Survival Radio
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=124843

Portable Radio that Works
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=332307

Suggestions for Radios
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=348185

CB Radio
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=308198

Radio Recomendations
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=51030


More questions than answers on this topic...


If you transmit from a remote location are you then at risk from having the location exposed to those who might be listening, like FEMA? !






Can GIM have its own freq or would it be jammed or overtaken by events?

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Seriously, anybody can be found and nobody is going to give rats ass where you are. If you want to be able to reach people HAM is the way to go and actually is used during many disasters. You can have a fun hobby, help out if your community needs it, and be able to talk to other HAMs.

Frequencies are regulated by the FCC. Get your HAM license and connect with some other HAMs. I know we have some here.

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

I'm looking at a few wide spectrum band / freq military radios.

They are spendy but you will be able to comminicate with anyone anywhere.

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

just picked up a Magnum 257 one of the best shortwave CB combos you will find.
http://cbradiomagazine.com/March%202...7%20Review.htm

for scanners get a uniden handheld.....just upgraded with a new model this year.

http://www.uniden.com/products/produ...ilter=Handheld

(this will be my next purchase)

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Before investing in radios, it's critical to know what you would use them for. Different frequencies have much different characteristics in terms of propagation (distance) and the type of conversations you'll hear.

Basically, the higher the frequency and the lower the power, the shorter the distance. CB radio is line-of-sight only. If you want the radio to talk with locals or listen in on the cops or emergency services, then a VHF or UHF hand-held might be OK. 2 meters is the most popular band for amateurs. Go for as much power and the best antenna you can afford.

It's also possible to rig up a hand-held satellite antenna, that lets you talk over the horizon using Amateur radio communications sats and a hand-held radio; I've done that myself, and it's very fun.

For national or international coverage, hand-helds just won't work, and you'll need to move into lower frequencies. By far the most popular band is 20 meters (around 14 MHz). With a 100 watt radio and a simple dipole antenna (made from a few wires), you can reach nearly the entire world (although not all the time). So, if your goal is to keep up on world-wide happenings, go with 20m. You can always branch out from there if you get hooked.

Data transmission over the air is possible, but it tends to be very low-speed. Forget anything like what you know today as the Internet. Email is supported through a few gateways, as is photo exchange.

Although there is no longer a requirement to learn Morse Code, the advantage in knowing it is that you can reach further with lower power than without it. It's still extremely popular, for those reasons.

Good amateur radio brands include Yaesu and Icom. Icom has a cool digital system called D-Star. Reliable suppliers include http://www.aesham.com/ (sucky web site, though).

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

I have 2 of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/American-Red-Cro...item3357da96e6

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

maybe a few KU band dishes to view the live feeds of predator drones scouting out your location... :sarcasm:

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

I still didn't get an answer to the question...

Can TPTB prevent HAM or other radio signals from going over long distances?

Does the jamming technology exist?
For example, could a "trap" or jamming of the north american continent be setup to prevent most or all of the radio and satellite communications from getting in and out of the region?

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

Just ask the good people of Alderaan what TPTB are capable of...



I honestly don't think so but I suppose anythings possible. I doubt that those who would need to remain in control have a secret form of commo that we don't know about and they would not be able to function without their own comms.

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

In answer to your questions.

Yes, they can track by triangulation , but if the transmitter
is moved between transmissions it is next to impossible to
track.

In normal times you would need to get license to operate on
the international ham bands. It is not hard to do, it just takes
your time and study.

Yes jamming exists but that can be got around .

If the station you want to listen to operates on a fixed frequency it can be jammed.

Back during the cold war , you could hear jamming all the time ,, the "Russian woodpecker"
was well known, among others of that time.

Is it possible to jam all frequency's? It would be very hard to do but it could be done.It would
take an extremely wide band signal and megawatts to do it.

Would they?

That may be a one million dollar question...

Hope this helps

--... ...-- . ...
-.- .. ..... -. --

Re: Communication equipment when the SHTF
 

I think it's a good idea to add a shortwave receiver to your list. In certain instances local radio station could be non-functioning or have limited information themselves. the radio I have right now is the Kaito 1103. It's a Chinese radio that receives well and gets very good reviews. However,it's not very intuitive to use. I plan to trade it in on a Sony ICF SW7600GR, which has a reputation of being an excellent overall radio The Sony is made in Japan.

For short range communication I have a couple of MURS radios with accessories. MURS (Multi Use radio Service) is a VHF band, limited to 2 watts. External antennas may be used up to about 60 feet in height. Depending on terrain and antenna situation, handhelds have a couple mile range. Handheld to base could be five miles or so, and base to base with tall antennas could potentially have a range of 20-50 miles. It may be used by unlicensed personnel for business or recreational use so we take them on outing when the little compact FRS radios don't have enough punch. I have two Kenwood TK2100 commercial handheld radios programmed for MURS frequencies. They are big and heavy, though. I also have a base model made by radio shack a few years back. You can find them on ebay.

Since the FRS radios are so prevalent I think in a SHTF scenario they will be pressed into service by "neighborhood watches" and for miscellaneous use. Despite what the packaging says I've found they have a practical range of no more than half a mile in my rolling terrain. I like the radios with a minimum of bells and whistles.