Question to all about Emergency Communications!!

[mpett1]

I have a question regarding Emergency Communications for the experts. When and if anything ever hits the fan what are our best communication options. Say they shut the internet down, the cell towers, Phone grid. What would we be able to use that would be best for communications from patriot to patriot?

Let me know your thoughts!!

[Dredly]

I don't think "shut down" is as likely as EMP explosion knocking it out but best communication will likely be AM radio if any survives

[Spishack357]

Smoke signals...

[Kodiak]

I have a question regarding Emergency Communications for the experts. When and if anything ever hits the fan what are our best communication options. Say they shut the internet down, the cell towers, Phone grid. What would we be able to use that would be best for communications from patriot to patriot?

Let me know your thoughts!!

Ive been a HAM radio operator for 14 years...you could look into that.



No phone lines, internet or AC power needed....Most of the time all you need is a small radio, a wire antenna, and a morse code keyer.....thats it.

Each year HAM's all over the USA participate in "field day"....which is when they setup field stations and operate off AC power.

Thats me on the far left operating on 20 meters....all the power is supplied by AC generators.

[LilEMT]

You could always try the coffee can and string method lol Sorry I couldnt resist. It's actually a really good question, i've never thought about. Thanks for making me think about it.

[CommonHighrise]

2-way walkie talkies for more private, short range communications.

CB will get you out a few miles.

HAM can go across the continent with the right bounces/relays, and good enough setups on both ends.

[Kodiak]

HAM can go across the continent with the right bounces/relays, and good enough setups on both ends.

Ive spoken with operators in New Zealand and off orbiting amateur radio satellites...hows that for "bouncing"

[MostlyHarmless]

For all practical purposes I agree with HAM radio. I'm not one of them, but I can read morse code (would need a bit of training to get back to speed). One advantage of morse code communication compared to voice is that you need only about 1/10th of the power to transmit. That makes it harder to find the broadcasting station via radio direction finders (RDF), especially when it is operated on a crowded band with other communications overlapping, which I think would be vital for the use case you had in mind.

I used to be a radio operator in the West German Navy back in the 80's, listening to Russian morse code. We used RDF from several locations to triangulate the position of the broadcasting ships in order to match the call signs to the actual ship. Their ships changed call signs twice a day so that it wasn't easy to tell who got what orders or reported what. With good operators on their side, who used the minimum required power under QRM 3-4, it was next to impossible to get a read on the RDF.


Jan

[Dannytheman]

Yup, all the advice says to go with HAM radio! It truly is the last bastion of comms if the "Fit hits the Shan". No need for morse code with new digital stuff. Solar charger. the sun occasionally and some gel cels are all I need to talk anywhere across the country. Look up NVIS transmission and propagational skip for some fun things to do with plain speaker wire.






Solar panels are getting cheaper!!

[MostlyHarmless]

No need for morse code with new digital stuff.

I guess I'm running on outdated knowledge. How is that digital stuff avoiding RDF? Frequency hopping?


Jan