Commo capabilities every Survivalist should have...

[Zombie Axe]

Every Survivalist/Prepper should have commo :)

The type of communication capability is a question that only you can answer for yourself, but these are IMHO the very basic communications one needs. You can always do better than this list... it is just a place to START.

Two way radios:

Sometimes you need to talk to someone past yelling range. A pair of FRS/GMRS radio (make sure you pay the money and get your GMRS license). So a pair of these in your BOB (to talk to your allies along the way) or to talk to your party while you patrol your perimeter is always a good thing. Be sure to have this capability!

AM/FM/Shortwave Radio:

Being able to listen to your local AM/FM radio is a definate plus when something is going FUBAR. Add Shortwave capability so you can listen to far away stations in case you local ones are out.

Weather Radio with S.A.M.E alert:

Weather Radios have come along way since the beginning. These radios can be programmed to only go off ONLY when there is an alert for your county. So no more getting woke up @ 3 am for an alert for a county 50 miles away! These things give you a heads up for severe thunderstorms, hurricane reports, tornado warnings, winter storm warnings, etc. so having one is a great for getting a heads up and SURVIVING!

Scanner:

A good VHF (and higher) scanner can give you a heads up as to what your police department, fire department, EMS, utilities, ham radio operators, etc. are doing. Be advised, depending on your local, your public service frequencies may be digital and trunked, so your scanner will need to have this capability.

I really like to listen to the public service freqs to track the occasional severe weather that tears through our area. Knowledge is power!

So get you some commo... you never know when it will come in handy!

[barkingowl]

ZA can you recommend some brands & sources for them?

[RossA]

And what is the real difference between FRS and GMRS, besides the fact that you need a license for GMRS? How much greater range can you realistically expect to get out of a GMRS radio as opposed to FRS? I know that in my personal tests, FRS radios (even expensive ones) get a maximum of 1 mile in a city with buildings blocking the signal, or in a wooded area with trees blocking the signal. Heck, where I live, you're either around buildings or trees!
I would gladly pay a little more for GMRS radios and pay for the license if they really performed noticeably better and didn't break the bank.

[barkingowl]

And what is the real difference between FRS and GMRS, besides the fact that you need a license for GMRS? How much greater range can you realistically expect to get out of a GMRS radio as opposed to FRS? I know that in my personal tests, FRS radios (even expensive ones) get a maximum of 1 mile in a city with buildings blocking the signal, or in a wooded area with trees blocking the signal. Heck, where I live, you're either around buildings or trees!
I would gladly pay a little more for GMRS radios and pay for the license if they really performed noticeably better and didn't break the bank.

I've been wondering about that too. My wife & I are in a couple car clubs & even when the radios say that the range is 25 miles you're lucky if you can get a mile out of them.

[TheLastMountainMan]

Try adding a linear to your system. I had one when driving truck and it worked pretty good. Was in KCMO and talked to some guy in Ohio, probably a skip but I'll take what I can get.

[RossA]

Uuuhhh, what's a linear?

[methusaleh]

Linear amplifier. It takes a low wattage radio, amplifies the signal, and transmits it at a higher wattage. An example might be a CB that deadkeys at 2W, going into an amplifier with a 2SC2879 transistor, which will in turn put out about 70W.

Amplifiers exist for all bands, from HF to GHz applications.

You folks above seemed to be talking about FRS and GMRS; FRS has power limits of 500mW, and GMRS is a licensed service and I believe the power limit is 45 or 50W PEP (Peak Envelope Power, in other words what the radio is capable of doing. A gain antenna will spike those numbers up into a higher ERP, or Effective Radiated Power).

[RossA]

So are these handheld radios? Do the linears just "plug in" or something, or do they mean you have to use them as a base unit or something.
Come on, help out us guys who don't know shizz about this stuff.

[Zombie Axe]

Linears are amplifiers... they boost your signal... getting a little off topic with the amps...

When I refer to FRS/GRMS I am talking about blister pack radios. The commercial GMRS are much better, but not for everyone. I am probably one of the few who actually has a license in my AO.

Motorola, Midland,Cobra brand FRS/GMRS are probably all made in the same factory in China... they will get the job done but there are better choices. Icoms and Kenwoods are really nice, but expect to pay more...
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Icom-ICOM-F-21GM-FRS-GMRS/dp/B000K2MHMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234918673&sr =1-1[/ame]

For a Shortwave Receiver I really like the Sangean ATS-909 (has SSB RX capability). [ame]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0017LP2L8/themussou08112542-20[/ame]



WX radio with S.A.M.E alerts, I really like the Midland WR-100B [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Midland-Consumer-Radio-WR-100B-Weather/dp/B0001OHH0Q/ref=pd_cp_e_1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00009V2YV&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIK X0DER&pf_rd_r=1FFK1EHBJPXCW63YP8HY[/ame]
I have 3 of these and they are really are great... Food Lion in NC sometimes sell this during the summer months for $29.99 Good buy IMHO

For scanners I would suggest Uniden or Radio Shack brand. You just need to know if the public service freqs are digital or trunked and get the correct one. The next question is do you want a handheld, or base model... Here are some from Amazon...
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e_3_7?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=uniden+scanner&sprefix=Uniden+[/ame]

I know this is AMAZON HEAVY, but it was easy ;)

[Freedom Defender]

Found this to answer the question about GMRS


General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed land-mobile FM UHF radio service
in the United States available for short-distance two-way communication. It is intended
for use by an adult individual whopossesses a valid GMRS license, as well as his or her
immediate family members. Immediate relatives of the GMRS system licensee are
entitled to communicate among themselves for personal or business purposes, but
employees of the licensee, who are not family members, may not use this service.

Licensing

Any individual in the United States who is at least 18 years of age and not a representative of a foreign government may apply for a GMRS license by completing the application form (either on paper or through the FCC's Universal Licensing System) and paying the license fee. No exam is required. Prior to July 31, 1987, the FCC issued GMRS licenses to non-individuals (corporations, partnerships, government entities, etc). These licensees are grandfathered and may renew their existing licenses. No new GMRS licenses are being issued to non-individuals, nor may existing non-individual licensees make major modifications to their licenses.

The license extends privileges of the primary licensee to include communications with the licensee's immediate family members, and authorizes immediate family members to use the licensee's station(s) to conduct the activities of the licensee. Additionally, the FCC rules allow GMRS licensees to communicate with other GMRS licensees. GMRS licensees are allowed to communicate with FRS users on those frequencies that are shared between the two services. The rules require each GMRS user family to have a license, rather than (as in the case of commercial and public safety land mobile license) authorizing a licensee's employees to use the same license.

[ReverendMysticfogg]

Thanks for the great info. look forward to learning more, what about
"After all is said and done, CBs will be about the ONLY form of distance communication."?

[Zombie Axe]

Thanks for the great info. look forward to learning more, what about
"After all is said and done, CBs will be about the ONLY form of distance communication."?

While CB is in the HF portion of the radio spectrum, it is not always as effective for long haul commo. So Ham radio is the only effective long haul commo mode that is capable of overcoming a single bands restrictions...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_frequency

[snal]

what about
"After all is said and done, CBs will be about the ONLY form of distance communication."?

Wrong!...I had my truck inside my shop today, prepping it for the new Icom. Somebody lowered the garage door a bit (and I didn't know it)...I broke my CB Firestick off at the base....the new 2m/70cm Lakeview magnamount antenna survived...just goes to show you that you can't depend on CB 100%:D

[RossA]

So what is a realistic range for a GMRS radio in a city with buildings or an area with a lot of trees? Not optimal hilltop to hilltop, but realistic for real use?

[ReverendMysticfogg]

While CB is in the HF portion of the radio spectrum, it is not always as effective for long haul commo. So Ham radio is the only effective long haul commo mode that is capable of overcoming a single bands restrictions...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_frequency

Recieved and understood!
Thanks for the info. will keep an eye / ear for more!

Carry on ((((B))))