Emergency Communications - Page 3

AMH · December 16th, 2007, 03:11 PM

Thanks for the replies; I was beginning to think that this thread was dead!

I am making plans to get my HAM license. The cheap radio set I purchased was a short term fix until I can get the HAM setup up and running.

My wife makes plans to kill me on a daily basis. I am always buying and selling various guns / ammo / survival equipment. I am going to have to slowly introduce the HAM idea to her.

Heck, just this weekend she agreed to get her CCW license. (I agreed to stop buying beer on the weekends to help offset the cost!).

DrLewall · December 16th, 2007, 08:42 PM

I'd go with the GMRS/FRS services if I didn't have my ticket..73 de KI5FY

JohnKelly · December 17th, 2007, 01:05 AM

+1 on all the ham radio responses. Get a hand-held unit with 2 meter coverage at least. The Yaesu VX-6R has 2M, 220 and 440 MHz transmit - plus general coverage for AM/FM/Shortwave/VHF/UHF. It is good to listen to local police and other emergency for SHTF. Plus shortwave to get other foreign news/opinion in a global SHTF scenario. Getting a ham license is much easier as Morse Code requirement was dropped earlier this year. You can get a Technician's license (entry-level) by answering 20-30 questions on a written test. Cost is usually less than $20 for the exam fee. Only works for family communications if you have someone else to talk to in your family who is licensed.

If you don't want to go the ham route then I recommend the following:

1) GMRS radios. GMRS uses higher power then FRS. I saw a pair of Unidens with a drop-in charger, 25-mile range for about $60-70. If you buy make sure you read the manual as some channels use higher power then others. And as others have said, the range distance is under optimum conditions at best.

2) Police scanner. Go to radioreference.com to get frequencies for Police, Fire, EMS, etc. in your local area or talk to someone in the hobby who might have a list. Then purchase a scanner, program in the frequencies and listen. You can buy a scanner at your local Radio Shack or online such as universal-radio.com (much better selection). It is not illegal to listen to police and such as long as you keep at at home (can't listen in car in some states), and don't divulge what you hear to a third party.

3) Shortwave Radio. Again, your local Radio Shack or universal-radio.com (again, better selection there). You may want to purchase a book called Passport to World Band Radio (2008 edition just came out) and read the receiver reviews before selecting a shortwave receiver.

Hope this helps.

JohnKelly · December 17th, 2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMH

I have a few more questions for you all:

1. As I mentioned my father-in-law has a GMRS license, so I can operate under his license. Does he need to be an active part of the communication for me to legally operate under his license?

I'm not sure about that. I doubt very many of the retail purchasers of GMRS radios pay the $75 to the FCC for their license.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMH

2. It is my understanding that I can get more range when transmitting on GMRS as opposed to FRS. Is this true?

Yes, but even GMRS limits power base on channels. Look in the user manual that came with the radios, they should have a list of channels and their power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMH

3. How can I go about finding out how many watts my radio set has?

It will probably be in the manual, plus power is limited by which channel is being used and possibly a Hi/Low power setting on the radio.

Squawker · December 18th, 2007, 01:47 AM

I'm really happy that this thread came up. I've been thinking along the lines of emergency communications. I have the GMRS radios and license, but I don't think that they will be sufficient. I've thought about ham, but I haven't even looked into it for over 30 years. Things sure have changed! I've considered just having my wife take the test (she's an electrical engineer, and used to design power supplies). A review of the regs, and she wouldn't have any trouble. And since I'm only interested in emergency communications, and not chatting, DX'ing, or whatever the current terminology is, that would take care of everything I need. But I might just say "What the Heck" and take it myself. So thanks for all of the information.

December 16th, 2007, 03:11 PM	#21
AMH Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 310	Thanks for the replies; I was beginning to think that this thread was dead! I am making plans to get my HAM license. The cheap radio set I purchased was a short term fix until I can get the HAM setup up and running. My wife makes plans to kill me on a daily basis. I am always buying and selling various guns / ammo / survival equipment. I am going to have to slowly introduce the HAM idea to her. Heck, just this weekend she agreed to get her CCW license. (I agreed to stop buying beer on the weekends to help offset the cost!). __________________ Join the NRA! The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting. It is about keeping the government in check. This requires that the citizenry is well armed and at all times has immediate access to arms.

December 17th, 2007, 01:05 AM	#23
JohnKelly Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA Posts: 287	+1 on all the ham radio responses. Get a hand-held unit with 2 meter coverage at least. The Yaesu VX-6R has 2M, 220 and 440 MHz transmit - plus general coverage for AM/FM/Shortwave/VHF/UHF. It is good to listen to local police and other emergency for SHTF. Plus shortwave to get other foreign news/opinion in a global SHTF scenario. Getting a ham license is much easier as Morse Code requirement was dropped earlier this year. You can get a Technician's license (entry-level) by answering 20-30 questions on a written test. Cost is usually less than $20 for the exam fee. Only works for family communications if you have someone else to talk to in your family who is licensed. If you don't want to go the ham route then I recommend the following: 1) GMRS radios. GMRS uses higher power then FRS. I saw a pair of Unidens with a drop-in charger, 25-mile range for about $60-70. If you buy make sure you read the manual as some channels use higher power then others. And as others have said, the range distance is under optimum conditions at best. 2) Police scanner. Go to radioreference.com to get frequencies for Police, Fire, EMS, etc. in your local area or talk to someone in the hobby who might have a list. Then purchase a scanner, program in the frequencies and listen. You can buy a scanner at your local Radio Shack or online such as universal-radio.com (much better selection). It is not illegal to listen to police and such as long as you keep at at home (can't listen in car in some states), and don't divulge what you hear to a third party. 3) Shortwave Radio. Again, your local Radio Shack or universal-radio.com (again, better selection there). You may want to purchase a book called Passport to World Band Radio (2008 edition just came out) and read the receiver reviews before selecting a shortwave receiver. Hope this helps. __________________ Sig P239 SAS .40 (Avatar) S&W 642 .38sp S&W M&P .40 Ruger 22/45 MkIII .22LR Glock 19 9mm

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December 16th, 2007, 08:42 PM	#22
DrLewall Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Drakes Creek, AR Posts: 665	I'd go with the GMRS/FRS services if I didn't have my ticket..73 de KI5FY

December 18th, 2007, 01:47 AM	#25
Squawker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 748	I'm really happy that this thread came up. I've been thinking along the lines of emergency communications. I have the GMRS radios and license, but I don't think that they will be sufficient. I've thought about ham, but I haven't even looked into it for over 30 years. Things sure have changed! I've considered just having my wife take the test (she's an electrical engineer, and used to design power supplies). A review of the regs, and she wouldn't have any trouble. And since I'm only interested in emergency communications, and not chatting, DX'ing, or whatever the current terminology is, that would take care of everything I need. But I might just say "What the Heck" and take it myself. So thanks for all of the information.