I live on an island. When SHTF happens, no one is coming, so we were preppers before being a prepper was a thing. We have a lot of food, we have a water reverse osmosis system. We have the capacity to have electricity without the electric company (unplug). This dates back to the 1980s
Yea Man, these Sad Hamm's in the cities are F'ed, they just don't know it, sitting in their basements with wall to wall radios and no electricity, while we are rucking and recharging our UV-5R's with solar, LOL, What a joke. I can get 2.5 miles on the duckie, I don't want heard past that and my closest farmer neighbor. and grin. Comms will be seldom and sparse.
same here brother. When you are born in an island, prepping is a way of life. I was born in the Caribbean and we have hurricanes or natural disasters every year. My dad was smart enough to teach us about self reliance and self preservation. Now living in the States I enhance my knowledge and resources. Just like you said "we were preppers before being a prepper was a thing. " 😊
Worthwhile video! I've met a number of "preppers" who think they can operate Ham radios without a license because they won't get caught. To most of them, a Ham radio is an HT. I've encouraged all of them to get a Technician's ticket, but most don't seem to care. Nearly all refuse to take the Technician's license exam because they don't have the time to study or they're afraid they'll fail the exam or because they don't want the FCC to have any information about them. Although I consider myself to be a prepper, I find that I really can't talk communications with most preppers. They are their own worst enemies. 73 KI5KET
"You don't need a stinkin' license if SHTF!!!" Yet these people fail the very basics of operating like screaming into the mic. Then wonder why they are not getting through.
Do they have a ssn, a drivers license?? The Gubment already knows all about them. Sheeple are stupid. Most ppl use that excuse but are just to lazy or scared of a "test".
In Canada, a HAM Radio can be operated by anyone in a life and death situation. SOS situation. I have studied the book and practiced exam but haven't written yet due to medical reasons. I still have all the local repeaters on and listen to weekly nets etc without transmitting. I will be getting my call sign this year, but I am ready if I need to.
I have a dozen FRS radios stashed, and 6 baofengs in case we need a little longer range, I have roll up J poles for the fengs and LMR400 to feed them so range will be 10+ miles. I live in a tiny town, under 250 population, less than 100 houses... FRS will be handed out to those on the edges of town as an alert to stranger system, Baofengs handed out to those who can patrol further out on a 4 wheeler or side by side... they can stop and hang the antenna if the rubber duck doesn't cut it and at home can hang it in a tree for long range base to mobile spotter comms. Yes my town has talked about it and made plans. And plans with the 3 other small towns around us to defend the farms in the middle.
I was kinda learning about skip, radio operations, transmitter, wire, antenna across many bands, understand operations of this since as a child. My dad and his brothers got into CB radio when it was 23 channels and requirements of licensing by paying once I guess. All us kids had channel 14 transmit only, receiver that was super regeneration type that could hear all of 11 meter band at once. You know, those super loud hissing when quiet in the early , 1970's? That's how our parents called our asses home. Especially when we went to visit Grandma. My point is that ALL bands, modes of . modulation, demodulators, propagation characteristics , possible stereo am test music sometimes soon, even if it's at shf or around?? I'm intrigued by it all. Always have been, will get my general written hopefully soon. KC5SBF for proof of me.
I have had a Technicians license for YEARS and still don't feel remotely competent. The "firewall" of jargon, acronyms, and gatekeepers keeps me at bay...
In a SHTF situation my opinion is that you should have an airband HT, a marine HT, a GMRS and Han HT for repeater and simplex use and an HF radio. You need them all.
What does a marine HT offer that a regular handheld doesn't? Aren't they VHF also? So far I've got a few unlocked UV-5R, UV-K5 and K6 a KG-UV9P (for airband etc) and a TYT MD-UV380 (for DMR) and thinking about getting serious with an HF but $$$$ :(
@@brazoon1 It is always better to purchase a radio that is designed for a specific band over a broad band radio. The UV-5R etc won't perform well on the marine band opposed to a dedicated marine band radio and you want the best radio in an emergency situation. For air band I suggest a Yaesu or Icom air band radio.
@@brazoon1 optimized tuning on the marine bands. It’s actually a good idea. I’d rather have a tool and not need it than need it and not have it. Maybe not so much an HT but a mobile may come in handy.
Great video Bob. Thanks for speaking the truth and putting this info out there. Note to those without a license... if you want to use ham for long range comms, that is HF radio. HF radio is tricky and requires a lot of practice with equipment and technique to become effective. It's like working up DOPE on a long range rifle. You HAVE to practice to become effective. A lot. You need a General license and a callsign to practice.
It’s not that hard. The average person can learn to use a FT-710 or 991!or Icom 2300 in a week. You can pass the General class exam by re-reading any decent study guide from kindle.
Side note (you may have mentioned it and i missed it) is that GMRS (not MRS or FRS) also requires a license like Ham however unlike Ham, GMRS doesn't require a passing test score to obtain.
Taking the HAM test might be easier than filling out the necessary online government forms for a GMRS license. Redundancy and government steer manure personified.
Great Video Bob. Don't forget you need a way to charge and run your equipment. Building your own solar generator is the way to go. You can also buy a solar generator, but they are expensive and hard to repair. Of course you will need solar panels. Inverter generators are great for short term, but once the supply of gas dries up, you're in the dark. OPSEC is key also. In true SHTF, your signal can lead bad guys to your door. Transmit far less than you listen. Go portable when you need to transmit, and not in the same place every time. Practice ahead of time. Also some think DMR/Digital is the way to OPSEC. Yes, it will keep others from knowing what you are saying, but you can still be direction found. If your group is the only ones in an area using digital, you will stick out like a sore thumb and be a target. Might be better to blend in with the bucket mouth Baofeng operators and use code words/phrases to not be noticed. Just a thought. NVIS style antennas are much harder to direction find than most others. Use NVIS antennas on both sides when you can and when it will work. Bob, should SHTF, you may hear me on HF using a NVIS antenna, I'm near I.F.
You don't need much power I have a small solar generator paid 75$ 150 watts ac 55000mah battery, combined with my folding 40watt panel 50$ it's a great power source that won't take long to recharge. Powers my baofeng and recharges multiple batteries at the same time.
@BasketCaseRadioactive I think it depends on if you a are powering a full shack or just a QRP or Vhf portable setup. Also how long you want to be operating. Don't forget that if the grid is down, there will be other things to power. For that reason I prefer to have several systems from small to large.
@@johnk23705 I do have several smaller power units all portable, even the base station is portable, movement is key if shtf happens you gotta stay mobile.
Great Video! I don't understand not wanting to get a "Ham License" because of a list. If you have a drivers license, vote, have a car in your name, Pay Taxes ect. you are already on government lists. I would not buy a car and say when SHIT happens I'm going to learn to drive. OK I'm done. Again thanks for the Video!
UA-cam brought this video up as a suggestion. Very informative. I plan on buying a GMRS Radio licence and then this winter study up and get a Ham radio license.
I just stumbled on your channel while I was looking for some info on a little Yaesu VX-3R and thought I’d listen to what you had to say since I try to live in both worlds of ham operator/prepper and a guy who tries to help and train the FNG’s & newbies who are finally waking up or realizing that in an emergency situation or shtf that they aren’t going to pick up that Baofeng and have the world at their fingertips. I can’t tell you how many mental adjustments I’ve made to guys who think a boom stick and a case of ammo is all they are going to need and blah blah blah. Anyway thank you for taking time to drop some truth bombs in a space where assumption run rampant. I think you could provide a whole lot of clarity and mental adjustments with a little series on this topic. You gave us the 30K view, and can start diving a little lower/deeper into the topic of preparing for comms - getting the right things and drill down into the execution. I hope you can do this because I will tell you in my AO, I’ve worked with some prepper groups and by and large, and I mean 95% of the time when I asked what was the biggest knowledge gap of the individual and the group it was #1 Medical and #2 Comms or you could flip that. This from people who owned personal security tools and also those who didn’t. I’d like to see you really push out your knowledge. We gotta help one another bc that’s the only way we will get our families and communities through when America goes full FUBAR. I may not be kicking around when that happens, but at least we have done our job of sharing what we know to the folks coming behind us. Well done brother. Very well done!
Thanks. I really appreciate the insight from you. I’ve got a new video coming this week diving in on HT use. We’ll see how these first three or four videos do and if there’s enough response I’ll do more. One of my biggest concerns is I’m really putting myself and my own preps out there on display. I want to know I’m doing it for a good reason.
I am a general class but strongly feel communication equipment and techniques should be for everyone. Those that "go off" on the CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS folks is unfortunate to say the least. I stay/operate within the boundaries, but feel taking radio communications to a higher level is critical...that is something we can best do together. Presently we should practice, practice, practice and push our limits. Focus on deliberate communications. Keep/maintain redundancy in your equipment. Learn to make your own gear...as much as possible. Learn to be a pirate! After SHTF...the rules change! Much of what we will be doing then, at least initially is listening. Along with everything else, satellites will be tools.
Interesting video. Thanks. I would add... Before things go bad, you will find if you do not have a callsign, no one will answer you on a ham frequency. Take a listen. It doesn't happen. You might get interrogated, maybe lectured, but ultimately ignored. In getting your license, you'll know stuff useful to *post-fan-hitting scenarios.* Two priorities will be: - Learn how to check-in to, and participate in, nets. - Learn how to create and pass message traffic. Whatever you imagine doing with a UV5R in a grid-down situation, please know that those two items will become priorities for ham frequency use, so the time to practice is now. Being recognized by name and by voice-- not just callsign -- will go a long way to becoming a welcome part of any local emergency response. And of course, many hams train for those scenarios, so train with us. I suspect the first few days of "grid down," will find handhelds a nuisance-- to everybody. Meanwhile, hams with power and antennas at altitude will be establishing simplex matrixes for passing traffic which handhelds will only be useful in receiving, but not transmitting. Also, if you are worried about being on a government list, weigh that against the benefit of learning how to at least READ CW (Morse Code). You won't hear CW on an FM radio. But that is likely going to be a major source of information. Get licensed. Get on the air. Work towards at least a General License so that you can use AM, SSB (Single SideBand), and learn the skills with radios far more capable and useful than a handheld. I love my handhelds, but they are NOT going to be my primary communications tools after the fan is hit.
I appreciate your letting me know that the people who want to keep things orderly and on the up-and-up are "old fuds". For a while there I was totally confused and thinking it was cool to be part of a self-regulating community of like-minded people who could use their resources in a responsible manner, but thanks to this video I now know that total chaos caused by people with no respect for others tying up the repeater will greatly enhance my ability to communicate and survive in shtf. Thanks, man.
If you want your video to be more effective, you should cover the 5 MURS (Multi Use Radio Service) frequencies. MURS is unlicensed 2 meters in the frequency range of 150 to 160 Mhz communication and can be used with a removeable antenna. Also, you use Part 95 rules and can put an antenna up 60 feet or 25 feet above whatever structure it is mounted on such as a very tall building. Running the 2 watts allowed, you can make it talk Simplex up to 20 miles. I've done it with a 5/8 over a 5/8 2 meter antenna mounted at 50 feet to the feed point. Of course the other station also had a similar antenna setup. As a long time Advanced Class HAM (1974) and Commercial Radio License holder (Lifetime General Radiotelephone License) (1973), I've experimented with all sorts of things to get the most out of all my equipment. I'm also a long time Prepper (2008). You might want to mention how to get short distance coms to act like long distance coms by relaying messages from simplex station to simplex station. I'm a member of a neighborhood Prepper MAG (Mutual Assistance Group) and have issued, for free, Handi-talkies to all the members and basically explained monitoring a primary MURS frequency and how to move off the primary frequency for chit chat with other members of the MAG or someone else who might be using MURS. As a Ham I'm sure you know that 2 meters MURS is far more distance effective than 450 to 460 Mhz FRS. If push comes to shove, the MAG members know that the HT's can transmit 5 watts if an emergency calls for it. Also as a PS.... There are 7 MURS frequencies but the FCC has only opened up the first 5 for license free use(1,2,&3 are narrowband FM and 4&5 are allowed Narrow or Wide band FM). However, rumor has it that when the licenses run out on the upper 2 frequencies, they will then also become available for license free use. Hell, you probably could do a whole new video on MURS.
More modes to learn, if one has a decent computer, is the HF Digital modes like JS8, PSK, RTTY and Olivia. They can be done on VHF and UHF if need be with the correct set up. Another great way to have good comms is to have some digital voice radios like C4FM, D-STAR and DMR. While encryption isn't allowed for amateurs, having a DV Radio is close to the next best thing.
Good advice, communication and knowledge of what’s happening is second to defense IMO. I would stress that it’s not as simple as picking a radio up and making it work as you want it to. There’s a lot to know. Good to hear someone who thinks like me. KO4KAJ-73
Great video, I am telling Michael that you called him a "Do gooder ham and a fud" LOL. I got burned out by the whole POTA , NET and rag chewing scene so I am going to use my radios as comms and monitoring devices to gather information I can't get from our government run media sources. The trouble these days is finding those operators that are like minded you can trust. After four years of operating on the different bands I have a pretty good feel for the possibilities and limitations of each kind of transceiver that I own. I would grab my IC-705 and a EFHW antenna and a small VHF-UHF whip antenna and some sort of sustainable power source to cover pretty much what I need for comms.
Bob - First time to the channel. Thank you for this informative introduction. I'm coming late to the game of HAM radio operation, and am looking forward to getting licensed and learning a lot. I live in a suburban Ohio progressive enclave (surrounded by no less than 4 universities, filled with lefty academics) and have been watching the general destabilization and demoralization of the country for many years. There are few people I know of here that I can discuss these matters with - most are brainwashed sleepers. Maybe I will find an escape route to a rural community where I can live out the rest of my senior years with some peace and sanity. God bless you sir.
I am in a different situation our group is mostly people who live on sailboats and we use SSB many of us are also preppers but do it offshore. A few of use also use morse code to communicate.
Great video. Excellent point on the HF side about just knowing how to listen. I never got my general but have been listening on HF for years. Obviously in the scenarios being mentioned, licenses mean nothing. Tons of people have the tools but don't practice.
Hi this is the first time I see a show I always wanted to get a ham license and I found out about this price ham radio preppers and it seems to be pretty good I'm getting a lot of advice I understand I can take classes on here what's also great is it doesn't need an infrastructure good day
Any SHTF comm’s plan that doesn’t include a good quality CB is naive. The band might be “dead” but that’s just because truckers lost interest in chatting with each other. Most semis still have the equipment and it still gets used during unusual situations . The sheer number of these radios in the USA combined with the idea that they are in trucks that may be traveling though crisis areas, not to mention some AM propagation properties, says to me that this band will spring into action during a mess far faster than any other band. Your local dump trucks have them, long haul trucks, tow trucks, etc and these will become a major source of ground information that will eventually get relayed to the hams to send off on HF. I think it is a big mistake to think GMRS will fill that role.
I’d like someone to throw CB radio into this equation. We have a large part of the population, that can’t afford GMRS, but can buy a CB at a flea market for $20. Even if you had the GMRS an HF up and running, why not use the CB band for logistics or another method when a system is down. I think that having a back up system is a smart thing. We’ve used it in Public Safety for decades! Thanks Bob!
When I got my uv-5r I painstakingly learned how to manually program, my HT simply because I don't have a cable to hook it up to my Linux laptop. I actually glad I learned the hard way and I'm quit familiar with resetting my bafeong.
I have a 10W HT with dual reception and FM radio (Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate) that I can attach to a Comet GP-9N VHF/UHF antenna (18.5' tall with 8.5 dBi gain on 2m and 11.9 dBi gain on 70cm) that's mounted 60' up a topped tree. It's a very cheap and easy-to-use solution yet both rx and tx are very good. By focusing my money on an antenna with good gain and mounting it way up I can receive much more (a thousand watt rig doesn't let you hear better if you have a bad antenna), and I get a lot of range out of a low power HT, meaning if I need to run off batteries or a small/cheap solar setup I can do so for a long time vs a more powerful set up with a worse antenna. Also, an HT is much easier to learn to use than a complicated desk-top rig with a bunch of accessories. And I'm just learning to use the one radio for both stationary and mobile use - just detach the coax going to the big antenna, screw in a whip antenna and off I go to my car or whatever. I do have a few accessories to make it more like a desk-top rig. An external speaker mic so I can look at and operate the radio while talking. And a battery eliminator - it clips on in place of the battery but has a wire with a 12V cigarette plug on it to run your radio off your car while the battery charges. I also got a 120V AC to 12V DC adapter so I can plug it into the wall or generator and run straight off that. Overall I think it's a pretty sweet setup!
one of my best local repeaters has a decent collection of batteries & solar panels … extended power-outage, that should stay up, as long as it’s secure & undamaged!
I’m really surprised I didn’t hear you once mention simplex operation, which would be critical in a SHTF scenario. You did mention the likelihood of repeaters going down, so what would be the alternative? Simplex.
Just discovered your channel and this video is very helpful and interesting for someone with basically zero knowledge in the subject. Our family bought 12 of the My Emergency Radios claiming to be for SHTF. We are scattered 40 to 50 miles apart in our area. This company claims to use repeaters and will be active in a grid down situation. Are you familiar with this? Maybe a good video. We are still waiting to receive them for regular testing. Thanks
I've been casually getting into shortwave. All the technical jargon about sideband, wavelength, and frequency is still quite 'Greek' to me. A couple of years ago I purchased a vintage GE SW radio with a BFO. Now, I have ZERO knowledge about the technology behind a BFO, but it took me less than 20 minutes of playing around with the BFO and calibrator to figure out I could tune in to HAM operator conversations nearly a thousand miles from me...
I'm a Ham OP but I also been gathering CB Radios and fixing them up for My Family and friends so We will have Commnication When the Crap hits the fan because the Big GOV "Will Shut The Cellphones and Internet Down" so I been prepping for a long time 73 and Keep the Powder dry and the Beans Hot.
I got my ticket earlier this summer working on taking the general, and I struggled to pass the technician multiple times. I can see it from both sides, carry on and great video. 73, kq4hcu
Easy. Yeasu Ft-710 leave the Ft40 home, 7 pounds; long wire antenna with a NooDlec 9:1 baking + 107 feet of wire: 1.5 pound; Blavor solar battery bank: 1.04 pounds. 9.5 pounds and about the size of a single MRE, and you can talk around the world, monitor any radio station or broadcast on the planet. @ 3 pounds you can add a 40,000 mAh solar battery bank that will recharge in four hours in full sun.
Got my tech license last week. Now studying for the general exam. Have a Feng 17 pro gps for under $30. Have a mobile on the way for install in the ole diesel to go along with my cb. Although long distance DX is cool, it's not my interest. Knowing what is going on in and around my town and state are my concerns. Already have a cb station setup in our garage, situation room. SSB on 11m will do just fine.
G'day Bob. Fell across your channel last night ( Australian time ) whilst looking for something to watch on UA-cam & let me say I'm both a HAM ( VK3ECS ) in Australia & a Perpper looking to stay alive when the SHsTF OMG ( Oh My Gosh ) we are reading from the same page my friend I absolutely LOVED your video & have shared it to some like minded friends thanks for having the back bone to share the truth on UA-cam. For several years now, our communist leftist government ( Yes I live in a communist Block in Australia) that actually prohibits prepping to bad so sad for them I have subscribed to your channel & given all your videos that I have watched in the last 24hrs a Big Thumbs Up 🙂 I'm looking at joining your channel & maybe being a Patreon ( just got to look at the already monthly outgoings ) I have been quietly prepping both from a personal perspective & from a comms perspective for the last 20 years & have spent the last 40 years working professionally in the comms scene including working as an emergency rescue & comms officer in the Emergency services & have faced up to plenty of HUGE Australian Bush Fires providing emergency comms with bug out planes in place. Our family has well practiced all year round a emergency comms plan that we actively ramp up in the lead up to our summer bush fire season including making sure all phones & hand held radios are charged up & ready to go, spare charged batteries & chargers are with radios & phones ready to throw into a go kit & mobile radios in vehicles are all good to go we know our equipment back to front & can operate it under the most stressful of situations. I'm all about Intel I have many different ways of getting that Intel on "whats happening both around my immediate area as well as in the same sate, same country as well as O/S" our family run some encrypted apps for voice & data communications to help protect our conversations & are looking at implementing some other forms of "encrypted" comms as well. You are spot on with regards to tracking or ( Fox hunting) let me say it's not just Amateurs & non amateurs that do it our government does it as well, our "group" have a whole plan as to how to deal with that situation & are well drilled on what to say, when to say it , how long to say it for, where to say it & how much power to use to say it. As far as not trusting the media let me say I've never really trusted the media having been personally involved in many state emergencies & see & hear what the MSM ( Main Stream Media ) were saying as apposed to what the actual facts were that stared to do it for me, BUT Covid really brought that home when I saw & listened to 1st hand what the media were saying during Covid that did it for me the Media or the MSM were just the governments mouth piece they are full of BS & Lies they are well versed in telling you what they or their masters ( The Government ) want you to know / believe & not what the facts are NEVER trust the Media. Thanks for the incredible video please keep up the great work I very much look forward to more of your videos. Rgs Wayne VK3ECS
just set up your UV5R for GMRS and MURS , and no i dont care about a license. 12 year old airsofters have been using UV5Rs for years without a problem.
Awesome information to this new HAM. Just received ,my Tech and studying for Gen. I have not even purchased a radio or any equipment. I'm trying to learn what I need from others with the same mind set. I have family That I will need to communicate with that are 700 miles away and my work takes me up 2000 miles away. A lot of traveling and my fear is SHTF happens when I'm away. I would definitely like to see more videos like this with a common sense approach to gear setup, $ wise and lite weight mobility wise. Thanks Again! WoodChuck
Comm plan is great idea. Can you go deeper and show a chennel list and mindset behind what frequencies to use? I see a lot of folks talk about owning radios, but almost nobody talks about when to use different frequencies or how to make your communications chellenging to observe.
Former military but unless 2A covers Nuclear submarines, my sonar experience is gonna be useless. Which is booty because I asked to go to radio school as my 1st choice 😂 nevertheless, that was more than a decade ago. Should’ve learned from my buddies while I was still on the boat. So I’m here to hear and appreciate your work. Thank you.
Great video. One of the most important thing you mentioned is listening to get Intel. This is very important. We need to listen more and talk less. The one thing that I would include is MURS. No license and uses VHF frequencies that most people wouldn't think of listening to.
Bob, I’m a serious prepper… one thing I don’t like about HF ham.. is most ripple who use it are enthusiasts, just making contact across the globe . Now one( that I’ve heard) is about the prepping lifestyle. So I’ve chosen to focused on Vhf/UHF Ham. Simply because I need to know what’s going on in at least 50 mile radius of my current location. Because that immediate danger zone for me. And I’m a urban/suburban guy, I’m not bugging out! Where would I go lol. So my family needs to communicate within a distance of us ACTUALLY having a chance of reaching each other. If the Grid goes down then all we have is HF digital, and FRS if I’m correct, because they can work without repeaters or internet. Do you know of a Vhf/Uhf trans receiver that a “ mobile” radio, with digital capabilities to work through a computer for a base station?
Almost all of the digital capable uhf/vhf radios will work with or without internet and even better news, most repeaters are privately owned and can run on emergency power just fine.
10:48 Was I the only one who instantly thought of the "King Ralph" Foxhunting bit between Julian Glover and John Goodman? Gave me the giggles. Even though I knew it was coming. KC9DXF
I had a short wave receiver and when Andrew hit the only weigh stations at wwcr and that we're getting information was from hams and that was the only one getting it from shortwave for see if it's also good day and God
It's is because I am a (pr3pp3r) that I got into ham. It's a difficult area for me but last Saturday I upgraded to Extra. 👏👏👏👏👏 Extra class was never on my radar but it happened. And I give the video a thumbs up. KO4EMH
Nothing is ever useless. You'll definitely have many more challenges than someone in the middle of FarmVille USA. If I were stuck in a city with say 4 or 6 family members, I'd devise a comms plan (PACE) that includes encrypted radio, frequency hopping and coded messages. Yeah, I think Baofengs are going to be a last resort.
Please learn to distinguish the difference between the VHF band and the FM mode. Also, you can get applications for a smartphone or tablet that decodes the digital and CW signals, because you can send photos, TV images (by slow-scan TV) send messages by email or 'fax' and other good things, like your GPS location.
the Baofeng UV-5R you are showing is now history, when for the same money you can buy the newmultiband reflashable Quansheng UV-K5 and its variants K5(8), K6, and Quansheng UV-5Rplus, not to be confused the the Baofeng UV-5R.
I was born and raised in N. CA. Up until about 15 years ago, I'd have never considered giving up my life and leaving. True, some great things have come out of California but as of late, that's not the case. It's more like great things are leaving California.
@@K6UDA Well, my point is that the government doesn’t always equal the people and there are still good things coming out of CA, like my radios. To be fair though, we are planning on leaving soon because it’s just too damn expensive. ;)
Question, what if someone was to buy a bunch ham, radios and use them on GMRS frequencies And use them as GMRS radios just in case you need a ham radio when the shit hits the fan. Can you still get in trouble for not having a ham license?
Don't overlook CB radio in an SHTF scenario. It's cheap, very simple compared with HAM or GMRS, widely available and even has FM now on the more modern units. Also, being older tech, it's not something the powers that be are likely monitoring. That may change, of course, but currently none of the alphabet soup groups have them in inventory. You can also talk skip on CB over thousands of kms. If you want to spend a bit more, there's also SSB operation and then if you really want to get spicy, there's freebanding and amps.
I purchased my retreat at the end of 2020 but the there is almost zero radio signals in the the hollow where my house is located I’m talking quite zone. No repeaters near by, the last one has been off the air about2 years. First class radio Telephone class in college and such. I know my radio but this area. Is a bit frustrating but also somewhat of a relief that interference will not be an issue the high end of the bands. I should test in a month.
I live on an island. When SHTF happens, no one is coming, so we were preppers before being a prepper was a thing. We have a lot of food, we have a water reverse osmosis system. We have the capacity to have electricity without the electric company (unplug). This dates back to the 1980s
Lucky you. Excellent.
That’s rad
Yea Man, these Sad Hamm's in the cities are F'ed, they just don't know it, sitting in their basements with wall to wall radios and no electricity, while we are rucking and recharging our UV-5R's with solar, LOL, What a joke. I can get 2.5 miles on the duckie, I don't want heard past that and my closest farmer neighbor. and grin. Comms will be seldom and sparse.
same here brother. When you are born in an island, prepping is a way of life. I was born in the Caribbean and we have hurricanes or natural disasters every year. My dad was smart enough to teach us about self reliance and self preservation. Now living in the States I enhance my knowledge and resources. Just like you said "we were preppers before being a prepper was a thing. " 😊
Worthwhile video! I've met a number of "preppers" who think they can operate Ham radios without a license because they won't get caught. To most of them, a Ham radio is an HT. I've encouraged all of them to get a Technician's ticket, but most don't seem to care. Nearly all refuse to take the Technician's license exam because they don't have the time to study or they're afraid they'll fail the exam or because they don't want the FCC to have any information about them. Although I consider myself to be a prepper, I find that I really can't talk communications with most preppers. They are their own worst enemies.
73
KI5KET
We live in a remote (2 souls per square mile) area of the Northern Rockies. I’ve been a licensed HAM for 15 years and agree with you 100%.
"You don't need a stinkin' license if SHTF!!!" Yet these people fail the very basics of operating like screaming into the mic. Then wonder why they are not getting through.
Do they have a ssn, a drivers license?? The Gubment already knows all about them. Sheeple are stupid. Most ppl use that excuse but are just to lazy or scared of a "test".
In Canada, a HAM Radio can be operated by anyone in a life and death situation. SOS situation. I have studied the book and practiced exam but haven't written yet due to medical reasons. I still have all the local repeaters on and listen to weekly nets etc without transmitting. I will be getting my call sign this year, but I am ready if I need to.
Yep....same here in central Texas....🤠🤷🏻♂️
I got my technician license yesterday. I’ve been learning since my friends in NC and TN got flooded. I’m now training my family how to get in touch.
I am a licensed General Amateur radio/GMRS operator. I will follow the fcc rules until its time not too
I have a dozen FRS radios stashed, and 6 baofengs in case we need a little longer range, I have roll up J poles for the fengs and LMR400 to feed them so range will be 10+ miles. I live in a tiny town, under 250 population, less than 100 houses... FRS will be handed out to those on the edges of town as an alert to stranger system, Baofengs handed out to those who can patrol further out on a 4 wheeler or side by side... they can stop and hang the antenna if the rubber duck doesn't cut it and at home can hang it in a tree for long range base to mobile spotter comms. Yes my town has talked about it and made plans. And plans with the 3 other small towns around us to defend the farms in the middle.
I was kinda learning about skip, radio operations, transmitter, wire, antenna across many bands, understand operations of this since as a child.
My dad and his brothers got into CB radio when it was 23 channels and requirements of licensing by paying once I guess. All us kids had channel 14 transmit only, receiver that was super regeneration type that could hear all of 11 meter band at once. You know, those super loud hissing when quiet in the early , 1970's? That's how our parents called our asses home. Especially when we went to visit Grandma.
My point is that ALL bands, modes of . modulation, demodulators, propagation characteristics , possible stereo am test music sometimes soon, even if it's at shf or around??
I'm intrigued by it all. Always have been, will get my general written hopefully soon. KC5SBF for proof of me.
That’s an awesome plan sounds like some thought went into it
Stranger danger.
"License to learn." Excellent video. I find the intersection of prepping and amateur radio is wide and deep.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have had a Technicians license for YEARS and still don't feel remotely competent. The "firewall" of jargon, acronyms, and gatekeepers keeps me at bay...
@@jacktough don’t let it intimidate you. There’s plenty of people who will be happy to help you learn more about the hobby.
In a SHTF situation my opinion is that you should have an airband HT, a marine HT, a GMRS and Han HT for repeater and simplex use and an HF radio. You need them all.
Absolutely.
What does a marine HT offer that a regular handheld doesn't? Aren't they VHF also? So far I've got a few unlocked UV-5R, UV-K5 and K6 a KG-UV9P (for airband etc) and a TYT MD-UV380 (for DMR) and thinking about getting serious with an HF but $$$$ :(
@@brazoon1 It is always better to purchase a radio that is designed for a specific band over a broad band radio. The UV-5R etc won't perform well on the marine band opposed to a dedicated marine band radio and you want the best radio in an emergency situation. For air band I suggest a Yaesu or Icom air band radio.
@@brazoon1 optimized tuning on the marine bands. It’s actually a good idea. I’d rather have a tool and not need it than need it and not have it. Maybe not so much an HT but a mobile may come in handy.
Someone has said, all you need is Yaesu FT60R and Icom 705. Not sure how true.
Great video Bob. Thanks for speaking the truth and putting this info out there. Note to those without a license... if you want to use ham for long range comms, that is HF radio. HF radio is tricky and requires a lot of practice with equipment and technique to become effective. It's like working up DOPE on a long range rifle. You HAVE to practice to become effective. A lot. You need a General license and a callsign to practice.
Or should have rather.
It’s not that hard. The average person can learn to use a FT-710 or 991!or Icom 2300 in a week. You can pass the General class exam by re-reading any decent study guide from kindle.
THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO. Yes I was yelling out loud. Train very hard and be ready. Thank you for your time. Thumb up.
Side note (you may have mentioned it and i missed it) is that GMRS (not MRS or FRS) also requires a license like Ham however unlike Ham, GMRS doesn't require a passing test score to obtain.
Taking the HAM test might be easier than filling out the necessary online government forms for a GMRS license. Redundancy and government steer manure personified.
Great Video Bob. Don't forget you need a way to charge and run your equipment. Building your own solar generator is the way to go. You can also buy a solar generator, but they are expensive and hard to repair. Of course you will need solar panels. Inverter generators are great for short term, but once the supply of gas dries up, you're in the dark. OPSEC is key also. In true SHTF, your signal can lead bad guys to your door. Transmit far less than you listen. Go portable when you need to transmit, and not in the same place every time. Practice ahead of time. Also some think DMR/Digital is the way to OPSEC. Yes, it will keep others from knowing what you are saying, but you can still be direction found. If your group is the only ones in an area using digital, you will stick out like a sore thumb and be a target. Might be better to blend in with the bucket mouth Baofeng operators and use code words/phrases to not be noticed. Just a thought. NVIS style antennas are much harder to direction find than most others. Use NVIS antennas on both sides when you can and when it will work. Bob, should SHTF, you may hear me on HF using a NVIS antenna, I'm near I.F.
You don't need much power I have a small solar generator paid 75$ 150 watts ac 55000mah battery, combined with my folding 40watt panel 50$ it's a great power source that won't take long to recharge. Powers my baofeng and recharges multiple batteries at the same time.
@BasketCaseRadioactive I think it depends on if you a are powering a full shack or just a QRP or Vhf portable setup. Also how long you want to be operating. Don't forget that if the grid is down, there will be other things to power. For that reason I prefer to have several systems from small to large.
@@johnk23705 I do have several smaller power units all portable, even the base station is portable, movement is key if shtf happens you gotta stay mobile.
@@CIVILDEFENSEBUNKER what Genny do u have
Yes this is where I lack. I can charge for a while but need to get a few panels to charge up what I use to charge with.
Great Video! I don't understand not wanting to get a "Ham License" because of a list. If you have a drivers license, vote, have a car in your name, Pay Taxes ect. you are already on government lists. I would not buy a car and say when SHIT happens I'm going to learn to drive. OK I'm done. Again thanks for the Video!
Not that would not want to, it is very hard to get family and freinds to get it. The whole reason is to stay in touch with them not others.
Absolutely a huge fan of your channel. Look forward to more of your prepper themed videos.
Thanks. Share the video with other like minded folks.
@@K6UDAjust subscribed.
Curious about ham radio in a SHTF situation.
Now THIS is why I started down the HAM road. THIS!
Me too
Agreed.
UA-cam brought this video up as a suggestion. Very informative. I plan on buying a GMRS Radio licence and then this winter study up and get a Ham radio license.
Thanks. Share it if you can.
Ordered my 30 $ radio and want to learn more. This has been the best video I watched on starting out.
I just stumbled on your channel while I was looking for some info on a little Yaesu VX-3R and thought I’d listen to what you had to say since I try to live in both worlds of ham operator/prepper and a guy who tries to help and train the FNG’s & newbies who are finally waking up or realizing that in an emergency situation or shtf that they aren’t going to pick up that Baofeng and have the world at their fingertips. I can’t tell you how many mental adjustments I’ve made to guys who think a boom stick and a case of ammo is all they are going to need and blah blah blah. Anyway thank you for taking time to drop some truth bombs in a space where assumption run rampant. I think you could provide a whole lot of clarity and mental adjustments with a little series on this topic. You gave us the 30K view, and can start diving a little lower/deeper into the topic of preparing for comms - getting the right things and drill down into the execution. I hope you can do this because I will tell you in my AO, I’ve worked with some prepper groups and by and large, and I mean 95% of the time when I asked what was the biggest knowledge gap of the individual and the group it was #1 Medical and #2 Comms or you could flip that. This from people who owned personal security tools and also those who didn’t. I’d like to see you really push out your knowledge. We gotta help one another bc that’s the only way we will get our families and communities through when America goes full FUBAR. I may not be kicking around when that happens, but at least we have done our job of sharing what we know to the folks coming behind us. Well done brother. Very well done!
Thanks. I really appreciate the insight from you. I’ve got a new video coming this week diving in on HT use. We’ll see how these first three or four videos do and if there’s enough response I’ll do more. One of my biggest concerns is I’m really putting myself and my own preps out there on display. I want to know I’m doing it for a good reason.
I am a general class but strongly feel communication equipment and techniques should be for everyone. Those that "go off" on the CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS folks is unfortunate to say the least. I stay/operate within the boundaries, but feel taking radio communications to a higher level is critical...that is something we can best do together. Presently we should practice, practice, practice and push our limits. Focus on deliberate communications. Keep/maintain redundancy in your equipment. Learn to make your own gear...as much as possible. Learn to be a pirate!
After SHTF...the rules change! Much of what we will be doing then, at least initially is listening. Along with everything else, satellites will be tools.
Excellent video...upgrading from Tech to general in 2024.
Interesting video. Thanks. I would add...
Before things go bad, you will find if you do not have a callsign, no one will answer you on a ham frequency.
Take a listen. It doesn't happen. You might get interrogated, maybe lectured, but ultimately ignored.
In getting your license, you'll know stuff useful to *post-fan-hitting scenarios.*
Two priorities will be:
- Learn how to check-in to, and participate in, nets.
- Learn how to create and pass message traffic.
Whatever you imagine doing with a UV5R in a grid-down situation, please know that those two items will become priorities for ham frequency use, so the time to practice is now.
Being recognized by name and by voice-- not just callsign -- will go a long way to becoming a welcome part of any local emergency response. And of course, many hams train for those scenarios, so train with us.
I suspect the first few days of "grid down," will find handhelds a nuisance-- to everybody. Meanwhile, hams with power and antennas at altitude will be establishing simplex matrixes for passing traffic which handhelds will only be useful in receiving, but not transmitting.
Also, if you are worried about being on a government list, weigh that against the benefit of learning how to at least READ CW (Morse Code). You won't hear CW on an FM radio. But that is likely going to be a major source of information.
Get licensed. Get on the air. Work towards at least a General License so that you can use AM, SSB (Single SideBand), and learn the skills with radios far more capable and useful than a handheld. I love my handhelds, but they are NOT going to be my primary communications tools after the fan is hit.
Ham Radio nerd here. Well done vid.
Thanks
I appreciate your letting me know that the people who want to keep things orderly and on the up-and-up are "old fuds". For a while there I was totally confused and thinking it was cool to be part of a self-regulating community of like-minded people who could use their resources in a responsible manner, but thanks to this video I now know that total chaos caused by people with no respect for others tying up the repeater will greatly enhance my ability to communicate and survive in shtf. Thanks, man.
Nice basic video Bob, looking forward to the next one. You were correct about the FTDX 10. Had it for about a week now, freaking amazing.
Thanks.
Very happy I found your UA-cam channel, we speak on the terms. Look forward to seeing more videos.
First timer, that was one mad beautiful bass groove intro.
Glad you liked it!
If you want your video to be more effective, you should cover the 5 MURS (Multi Use Radio Service) frequencies. MURS is unlicensed 2 meters in the frequency range of 150 to 160 Mhz communication and can be used with a removeable antenna. Also, you use Part 95 rules and can put an antenna up 60 feet or 25 feet above whatever structure it is mounted on such as a very tall building. Running the 2 watts allowed, you can make it talk Simplex up to 20 miles. I've done it with a 5/8 over a 5/8 2 meter antenna mounted at 50 feet to the feed point. Of course the other station also had a similar antenna setup. As a long time Advanced Class HAM (1974) and Commercial Radio License holder (Lifetime General Radiotelephone License) (1973), I've experimented with all sorts of things to get the most out of all my equipment. I'm also a long time Prepper (2008). You might want to mention how to get short distance coms to act like long distance coms by relaying messages from simplex station to simplex station. I'm a member of a neighborhood Prepper MAG (Mutual Assistance Group) and have issued, for free, Handi-talkies to all the members and basically explained monitoring a primary MURS frequency and how to move off the primary frequency for chit chat with other members of the MAG or someone else who might be using MURS. As a Ham I'm sure you know that 2 meters MURS is far more distance effective than 450 to 460 Mhz FRS. If push comes to shove, the MAG members know that the HT's can transmit 5 watts if an emergency calls for it. Also as a PS.... There are 7 MURS frequencies but the FCC has only opened up the first 5 for license free use(1,2,&3 are narrowband FM and 4&5 are allowed Narrow or Wide band FM). However, rumor has it that when the licenses run out on the upper 2 frequencies, they will then also become available for license free use. Hell, you probably could do a whole new video on MURS.
Thank you for this video. It's informative and helpful. 73. This is Joel - DW2KBF, Philippines.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the prepper video! Now I want to have our ham radio club bring in a speaker that will show us how to work those cheap HTs.
This was the Q&A video i was looking for. Thank you, alot of questions answered.
More modes to learn, if one has a decent computer, is the HF Digital modes like JS8, PSK, RTTY and Olivia. They can be done on VHF and UHF if need be with the correct set up.
Another great way to have good comms is to have some digital voice radios like C4FM, D-STAR and DMR. While encryption isn't allowed for amateurs, having a DV Radio is close to the next best thing.
Great adjunct to ham radio video, Bob! Well done! 73 from middle Tennessee... KU6P
Brother Pat.
I’ve been a ham since the 90’s and enjoyed this video.
I use my Ham radio knowledge to aid my future prepper communication should I need it. Most Hams can't think out of the box like I can.
What was the blue radio he showed that was “the next best thing to fully encrypted”?
Hope you're well brother. Take care, Stuart W1SLC (still hating it here in CA).
All good brother, I hear it gets worse by the day out there.
@@K6UDA Indeed. Worse by the day. Keep putting the good stuff out there.
I'd love to see videos on best practices for portable HF setups... Thanks!!
Awesome video Bob this would be a good subject for the club meeting.
Might be a bit much for some of them.
Good advice, communication and knowledge of what’s happening is second to defense IMO.
I would stress that it’s not as simple as picking a radio up and making it work as you want it to. There’s a lot to know.
Good to hear someone who thinks like me. KO4KAJ-73
Great video, I am telling Michael that you called him a "Do gooder ham and a fud" LOL. I got burned out by the whole POTA , NET and rag chewing scene so I am going to use my radios as comms and monitoring devices to gather information I can't get from our government run media sources. The trouble these days is finding those operators that are like minded you can trust. After four years of operating on the different bands I have a pretty good feel for the possibilities and limitations of each kind of transceiver that I own. I would grab my IC-705 and a EFHW antenna and a small VHF-UHF whip antenna and some sort of sustainable power source to cover pretty much what I need for comms.
@K6UDA
Prepping is the "gateway drug" to Ham Radio 😊.
It was for me.
And vice versa...😂
Bob - First time to the channel. Thank you for this informative introduction.
I'm coming late to the game of HAM radio operation, and am looking forward to getting licensed and learning a lot.
I live in a suburban Ohio progressive enclave (surrounded by no less than 4 universities, filled with lefty academics) and have been watching the general destabilization and demoralization of the country for many years.
There are few people I know of here that I can discuss these matters with - most are brainwashed sleepers.
Maybe I will find an escape route to a rural community where I can live out the rest of my senior years with some peace and sanity.
God bless you sir.
I am in a different situation our group is mostly people who live on sailboats and we use SSB many of us are also preppers but do it offshore. A few of use also use morse code to communicate.
I just found your Channel. Looking forward to your prepper series
Hey Bob good video thank you for sharing this 😊
Thanks my friend. Happy New Year.
Great video. Excellent point on the HF side about just knowing how to listen. I never got my general but have been listening on HF for years. Obviously in the scenarios being mentioned, licenses mean nothing. Tons of people have the tools but don't practice.
Hi this is the first time I see a show I always wanted to get a ham license and I found out about this price ham radio preppers and it seems to be pretty good I'm getting a lot of advice I understand I can take classes on here what's also great is it doesn't need an infrastructure good day
New sub. Thinking about getting into comms as part of overall strategy of preparing for emergencies
Any SHTF comm’s plan that doesn’t include a good quality CB is naive.
The band might be “dead” but that’s just because truckers lost interest in chatting with each other.
Most semis still have the equipment and it still gets used during unusual situations .
The sheer number of these radios in the USA combined with the idea that they are in trucks that may be traveling though crisis areas, not to mention some AM propagation properties, says to me that this band will spring into action during a mess far faster than any other band.
Your local dump trucks have them, long haul trucks, tow trucks, etc and these will become a major source of ground information that will eventually get relayed to the hams to send off on HF.
I think it is a big mistake to think GMRS will fill that role.
yep, and SSB works great on 11 meter
Nice work Mate, I am glad to see a Ham cutting through the BS and offering good simple advice to none Ham Preppers ! Cheerz from Downunder ⚡🙏⚡
I’d like someone to throw CB radio into this equation. We have a large part of the population, that can’t afford GMRS, but can buy a CB at a flea market for $20. Even if you had the GMRS an HF up and running, why not use the CB band for logistics or another method when a system is down. I think that having a back up system is a smart thing. We’ve used it in Public Safety for decades! Thanks Bob!
I say cb is a great tool for the toolbox. Bring it all on.
@@K6UDA thank you brother! My Comm plan includes them.
Awesome real world guy! Great info for me, as a noob!
Thank you sir!
When I got my uv-5r I painstakingly learned how to manually program, my HT simply because I don't have a cable to hook it up to my Linux laptop. I actually glad I learned the hard way and I'm quit familiar with resetting my bafeong.
That’s what it takes. Practice. Radio is perishable skill like defensive tactics and firearms.
I know how that gets I did patrol for an armed alarm response company in socal.lota of failing and practice
I keep 6 miles of butchers twine and a big supply of Bud Light cans to make emergency commo equipment from.
Lol
You cant be hacked !!
I have a 10W HT with dual reception and FM radio (Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate) that I can attach to a Comet GP-9N VHF/UHF antenna (18.5' tall with 8.5 dBi gain on 2m and 11.9 dBi gain on 70cm) that's mounted 60' up a topped tree. It's a very cheap and easy-to-use solution yet both rx and tx are very good.
By focusing my money on an antenna with good gain and mounting it way up I can receive much more (a thousand watt rig doesn't let you hear better if you have a bad antenna), and I get a lot of range out of a low power HT, meaning if I need to run off batteries or a small/cheap solar setup I can do so for a long time vs a more powerful set up with a worse antenna.
Also, an HT is much easier to learn to use than a complicated desk-top rig with a bunch of accessories. And I'm just learning to use the one radio for both stationary and mobile use - just detach the coax going to the big antenna, screw in a whip antenna and off I go to my car or whatever.
I do have a few accessories to make it more like a desk-top rig. An external speaker mic so I can look at and operate the radio while talking. And a battery eliminator - it clips on in place of the battery but has a wire with a 12V cigarette plug on it to run your radio off your car while the battery charges. I also got a 120V AC to 12V DC adapter so I can plug it into the wall or generator and run straight off that. Overall I think it's a pretty sweet setup!
Been a huge fan of your channel for years, been waiting for you to do this kind of radio communication video in SHTF/WROL event.
"Coastal Commie States' - Laughs on New Hampshire's Atlantic coast.
It's just delusional influencer shit. Let 'em think it. Less folks looking for you when it matters
one of my best local repeaters has a decent collection of batteries & solar panels … extended power-outage, that should stay up, as long as it’s secure & undamaged!
Coming up in the series.
Lots of great information! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I’m really surprised I didn’t hear you once mention simplex operation, which would be critical in a SHTF scenario. You did mention the likelihood of repeaters going down, so what would be the alternative? Simplex.
+B. Baldwin oh, just wait till the next episode. All your simplex fantasies will be fulfilled… and then some.
Simplex used with directional antennas! Ohhhhh....😮 Reach out and call your cousins!
@@K6UDAwhen is this coming?😊
@@Thatsmisteroldguytou this week
Just discovered your channel and this video is very helpful and interesting for someone with basically zero knowledge in the subject. Our family bought 12 of the My Emergency Radios claiming to be for SHTF. We are scattered 40 to 50 miles apart in our area. This company claims to use repeaters and will be active in a grid down situation. Are you familiar with this? Maybe a good video. We are still waiting to receive them for regular testing. Thanks
I am new to this videos. I am interested in prepping
Stick around there’s much more to come.
THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT
I've been casually getting into shortwave. All the technical jargon about sideband, wavelength, and frequency is still quite 'Greek' to me. A couple of years ago I purchased a vintage GE SW radio with a BFO. Now, I have ZERO knowledge about the technology behind a BFO, but it took me less than 20 minutes of playing around with the BFO and calibrator to figure out I could tune in to HAM operator conversations nearly a thousand miles from me...
I'm a Ham OP but I also been gathering CB Radios and fixing them up for My Family and friends so We will have Commnication When the Crap hits the fan because the Big GOV "Will Shut The Cellphones and Internet Down" so I been prepping for a long time 73 and Keep the Powder dry and the Beans Hot.
I got my ticket earlier this summer working on taking the general, and I struggled to pass the technician multiple times. I can see it from both sides, carry on and great video.
73, kq4hcu
Easy. Yeasu Ft-710 leave the Ft40 home, 7 pounds; long wire antenna with a NooDlec 9:1 baking + 107 feet of wire: 1.5 pound; Blavor solar battery bank: 1.04 pounds. 9.5 pounds and about the size of a single MRE, and you can talk around the world, monitor any radio station or broadcast on the planet. @ 3 pounds you can add a 40,000 mAh solar battery bank that will recharge in four hours in full sun.
Got my tech license last week. Now studying for the general exam. Have a Feng 17 pro gps for under $30. Have a mobile on the way for install in the ole diesel to go along with my cb. Although long distance DX is cool, it's not my interest. Knowing what is going on in and around my town and state are my concerns. Already have a cb station setup in our garage, situation room. SSB on 11m will do just fine.
G'day Bob.
Fell across your channel last night ( Australian time ) whilst looking for something to watch on UA-cam & let me say I'm both a HAM ( VK3ECS ) in Australia & a Perpper looking to stay alive when the SHsTF OMG ( Oh My Gosh ) we are reading from the same page my friend I absolutely LOVED your video & have shared it to some like minded friends thanks for having the back bone to share the truth on UA-cam.
For several years now, our communist leftist government ( Yes I live in a communist Block in Australia) that actually prohibits prepping to bad so sad for them
I have subscribed to your channel & given all your videos that I have watched in the last 24hrs a Big Thumbs Up 🙂
I'm looking at joining your channel & maybe being a Patreon ( just got to look at the already monthly outgoings )
I have been quietly prepping both from a personal perspective & from a comms perspective for the last 20 years & have spent the last 40 years working professionally in the comms scene including working as an emergency rescue & comms officer in the Emergency services & have faced up to plenty of HUGE Australian Bush Fires providing emergency comms with bug out planes in place.
Our family has well practiced all year round a emergency comms plan that we actively ramp up in the lead up to our summer bush fire season including making sure all phones & hand held radios are charged up & ready to go, spare charged batteries & chargers are with radios & phones ready to throw into a go kit & mobile radios in vehicles are all good to go we know our equipment back to front & can operate it under the most stressful of situations.
I'm all about Intel I have many different ways of getting that Intel on "whats happening both around my immediate area as well as in the same sate, same country as well as O/S" our family run some encrypted apps for voice & data communications to help protect our conversations & are looking at implementing some other forms of "encrypted" comms as well.
You are spot on with regards to tracking or ( Fox hunting) let me say it's not just Amateurs & non amateurs that do it our government does it as well, our "group" have a whole plan as to how to deal with that situation & are well drilled on what to say, when to say it , how long to say it for, where to say it & how much power to use to say it.
As far as not trusting the media let me say I've never really trusted the media having been personally involved in many state emergencies & see & hear what the MSM ( Main Stream Media ) were saying as apposed to what the actual facts were that stared to do it for me, BUT Covid really brought that home when I saw & listened to 1st hand what the media were saying during Covid that did it for me the Media or the MSM were just the governments mouth piece they are full of BS & Lies they are well versed in telling you what they or their masters ( The Government ) want you to know / believe & not what the facts are NEVER trust the Media.
Thanks for the incredible video please keep up the great work I very much look forward to more of your videos.
Rgs
Wayne VK3ECS
just set up your UV5R for GMRS and MURS , and no i dont care about a license. 12 year old airsofters have been using UV5Rs for years without a problem.
yep
Nice focus Bob! Back to basics is what keeps you alive!
73 - KF6IF
Keep up the great videos!
Awesome information to this new HAM. Just received ,my Tech and studying for Gen. I have not even purchased a radio or any equipment. I'm trying to learn what I need from others with the same mind set. I have family That I will need to communicate with that are 700 miles away and my work takes me up 2000 miles away. A lot of traveling and my fear is SHTF happens when I'm away. I would definitely like to see more videos like this with a common sense approach to gear setup, $ wise and lite weight mobility wise. Thanks Again! WoodChuck
Building a relay repeater to set up. Not ham yet but know little bit so building it.
Comm plan is great idea. Can you go deeper and show a chennel list and mindset behind what frequencies to use?
I see a lot of folks talk about owning radios, but almost nobody talks about when to use different frequencies or how to make your communications chellenging to observe.
Former military but unless 2A covers Nuclear submarines, my sonar experience is gonna be useless. Which is booty because I asked to go to radio school as my 1st choice 😂 nevertheless, that was more than a decade ago. Should’ve learned from my buddies while I was still on the boat. So I’m here to hear and appreciate your work. Thank you.
I heard that larger antennas for Baofeng can cause breakage in the handies.
Great video. One of the most important thing you mentioned is listening to get Intel. This is very important. We need to listen more and talk less. The one thing that I would include is MURS. No license and uses VHF frequencies that most people wouldn't think of listening to.
Bob, I’m a serious prepper… one thing I don’t like about HF ham.. is most ripple who use it are enthusiasts, just making contact across the globe . Now one( that I’ve heard) is about the prepping lifestyle. So I’ve chosen to focused on Vhf/UHF Ham. Simply because I need to know what’s going on in at least 50 mile radius of my current location. Because that immediate danger zone for me. And I’m a urban/suburban guy, I’m not bugging out! Where would I go lol. So my family needs to communicate within a distance of us ACTUALLY having a chance of reaching each other. If the Grid goes down then all we have is HF digital, and FRS if I’m correct, because they can work without repeaters or internet.
Do you know of a Vhf/Uhf trans receiver that a “ mobile” radio, with digital capabilities to work through a computer for a base station?
Almost all of the digital capable uhf/vhf radios will work with or without internet and even better news, most repeaters are privately owned and can run on emergency power just fine.
10:48 Was I the only one who instantly thought of the "King Ralph" Foxhunting bit between Julian Glover and John Goodman? Gave me the giggles. Even though I knew it was coming.
KC9DXF
I had a short wave receiver and when Andrew hit the only weigh stations at wwcr and that we're getting information was from hams and that was the only one getting it from shortwave for see if it's also good day and God
Outstanding info
Good video.
Good discussion.
Hey - shout out to Survival Living - nice cameo at the end!
It's is because I am a (pr3pp3r) that I got into ham. It's a difficult area for me but last Saturday I upgraded to Extra. 👏👏👏👏👏
Extra class was never on my radar but it happened. And I give the video a thumbs up.
KO4EMH
Congrats.
Does anyone know what equipment it is In the movie left world behind?
16:07 - What radio is this? What model HF radio do you have?
That one is my Yaesu FTM400. I’ve got a few different HF radios.
So a HAM radio would essentially be useless in my city. NYC. What would be the next best option for comms in a city like this?
Nothing is ever useless. You'll definitely have many more challenges than someone in the middle of FarmVille USA. If I were stuck in a city with say 4 or 6 family members, I'd devise a comms plan (PACE) that includes encrypted radio, frequency hopping and coded messages. Yeah, I think Baofengs are going to be a last resort.
Please learn to distinguish the difference between the VHF band and the FM mode.
Also, you can get applications for a smartphone or tablet that decodes the digital and CW signals, because you can send photos, TV images (by slow-scan TV) send messages by email or 'fax' and other good things, like your GPS location.
nice one!!
I need something that can go across town 7 miles ! Recommendations
Curious, any idea what antenna that is in the thumbnail?
+@MountainMan7.62x39 it’s a yagi.
the Baofeng UV-5R you are showing is now history, when for the same money you can buy
the newmultiband reflashable Quansheng UV-K5 and its variants K5(8), K6, and Quansheng
UV-5Rplus, not to be confused the the Baofeng UV-5R.
This one is actually a UV5X3. 2m 440 and 220.
@@K6UDA Then the K5 is cheaper and when reflashed covers 18 to 1300MHz, and now can be reflashed for SSB RX
@@g4wwk-k2f sweet. I’ll have to look at it.
What was the blue radio? Brand and type.
I love this guy 100% honest on the Communist states
Thanks.
Say what you want about California, but some of if not the best import GMRS and HAM radios were co-designed and are shipped from here. ;)
I was born and raised in N. CA. Up until about 15 years ago, I'd have never considered giving up my life and leaving. True, some great things have come out of California but as of late, that's not the case. It's more like great things are leaving California.
@@K6UDA Well, my point is that the government doesn’t always equal the people and there are still good things coming out of CA, like my radios. To be fair though, we are planning on leaving soon because it’s just too damn expensive. ;)
Question, what if someone was to buy a bunch ham, radios and use them on GMRS frequencies And use them as GMRS radios just in case you need a ham radio when the shit hits the fan. Can you still get in trouble for not having a ham license?
In reality, who’s gonna know unless you tell them?
Don't overlook CB radio in an SHTF scenario. It's cheap, very simple compared with HAM or GMRS, widely available and even has FM now on the more modern units. Also, being older tech, it's not something the powers that be are likely monitoring. That may change, of course, but currently none of the alphabet soup groups have them in inventory. You can also talk skip on CB over thousands of kms. If you want to spend a bit more, there's also SSB operation and then if you really want to get spicy, there's freebanding and amps.
Man I dono who was playing that bass, but holy shit they where killing it!
good show bro!
I purchased my retreat at the end of 2020 but the there is almost zero radio signals in the the hollow where my house is located I’m talking quite zone. No repeaters near by, the last one has been off the air about2 years. First class radio Telephone class in college and such. I know my radio but this area. Is a bit frustrating but also somewhat of a relief that interference will not be an issue the high end of the bands. I should test in a month.