Communications when-if something happens

[Thomas Icom (Ticom)]

I've been a licensed ham since the mid 1980s, and from a versatility standpoint you can't beat a well-implemented HF-VHF ham setup. Get an HF (shortwave) rig, two meters, and six meters. You'll be connected with thousands of others with similar setups. Supplement it with a couple police scanners for local news/intel.

The issue is the license. Easy to get now, but most people don't think ahead. Likewise you'll need some time to get proficient with the equipment. See previous statement about license.

FRS/GMRS portables are 1-5 mile range radios max unless you've got some elevation. I monitor the frequencies to see who's playing in the neighborhood. MURS is nice, but too exotic for most. You can't buy them at a Wal-Mart.

That pretty much leaves CB. Three watts AM with the right antennas will go ten to twenty miles under normal circumstances. No license required and ready availability. Most individuals who are slightly above average will probably go that route, and I can see CB being a post-TEOTWAWKI jungle telegraph.

Just some quick thoughts...

-Tom

[Chupathingy]

If u need to communicate to others inside a building or large structure. You could look into instructions on how to build a voice powered radio like they use on ships in the navy.

[Oscar Wilde]

[Walkie-talkie......smoke signals....pony express.....relay..... ]

Relay would be the most secure ..... A radio emits an electromagnetic signature while in the "ON" position which can be detected with pinpoint accuracy by our military/ gov commo folks ..... you may want to avoid this ..... should you "press to talk" you'll be talking to them as well.

[Best to get your emergency directives for coordination hammered out beforehand, so if TSHTF, no communication will be required...determine a rally point and a time-table.]

Ditto ..... one remains in place if possible ..... the other seeks.
O.W.

[Thomas Icom (Ticom)]

[Walkie-talkie......smoke signals....pony express.....relay..... ]

Relay would be the most secure ..... A radio emits an electromagnetic signature while in the "ON" position which can be detected with pinpoint accuracy by our military/ gov commo folks ..... you may want to avoid this O.W.

True up to a point. Local oscillator signals are detectable from a distance, I got a couple hundred feet with some old Stoddart NM-series Radio Research receivers which are designed for such things. That was in a residential area with a pretty high noise floor from all the crappy China-made consumer electronics throwing all sorts of hash into the ether. The RF noise floor might be lower after the apocalypse, and therefore the detection range of receiver LOs and other non-intentional emitters might increase some.

Considering what practical range at which compromising emissions from electronics might be detected, I would worry more about concealing my body's heat signature from FLIR-equipped aircraft which would probably has a greater detection range than a TEMPEST SIGINT receiver picking up the emanations from my electronic devices.

Now transmitting is a way different story. Even a little half-watt FRS HT is going to be noticed a good couple miles away by someone running even the most basic COMINT setup, and depending on who's doing the listening, could be a very bad thing.

I do agree however that you should have your Op-Plans hammered out before hand. The lower a signature you generate overall is a good thing.

[Skyowl]

Now transmitting is a way different story. Even a little half-watt FRS HT is going to be noticed a good couple miles away by someone running even the most basic COMINT setup, and depending on who's doing the listening, could be a very bad thing.

I do agree however that you should have your Op-Plans hammered out before hand. The lower a signature you generate overall is a good thing.

Excellent idea. Most of your communications should be passive in nature with actual transmitting of signals kept to a bare minimum and of very short duration. Think OPSEC.

Passive systems could include...

Grecom PSR 300 scanner. Can listen to just about anybody transmitting.
Eton Solarlink FR-600. SW, Weather, etc. Solar powered and crank. Uses regular AAs and/or rechargeables.

Active systems could include the Midland GTX900 series.

Just some ideas to consider.