Survival Magazine Official Radio Communications

[Diesel]

We will be enacting a series of protocols and systems for communication among Survival Magazine members incase of Natural Disasters, Communications Failures i.e cellular & Internet.

This system will be called SMcom



Several different SOP's (Standard Operating Procedures) will be created for different scenarios.

I.E Local communications within 5-10 mile radius, 10-300 mile radius, and nation wide.

SMcom will be used to check in and let people know you are ok, to report on severe weather, natural disasters and other events.

We may attempt to setup or get a computer/packet based system up and running as well which could be as simple as text message, up to emails and a BBS system via radio.

As of now I'd like to nominate ZombieAxe to help get this effort going and to moderate and answer questions as to what is possible and how it would be done.

[Diesel]

Zombie please propose frequencies and equipment needed for the masses starting with a nationwide effort.

Also what can you tell us about WinLink vs standard packet radio?

[Zombie Axe]

Me & my big mouth :p

Basically some freqs and equipment I have in mind are as follows... note these are a note to myself and will elaborate on the as this progesses...

First of all a standard FRS channel, cause everyone about has one of these. I envision something as a 'camp intercom' for any get togethers. Sure they don't have alot of range, but they are handy for close range commo

CB, most folks have a CB. I will hafta fix mine but I propose a channel there for Xcolonists who have this equipment. With the proper antenna a CB can be more effective than a FRS.

MURS, will leave that to you, but i need to get some equipment for this band :)

Ham radio. Since the ham radio bands are numerous I would like to propose a few freqs and bands...

First of all, 2m (144-148mhz) is one of the most popular ham bands out there. So we should have a simplex freq, as well as a repeater freq that covers our local areas... IOW a Xcolonist ham operator rolls into another town, he may be able to reach another Xcolonist ham :)

20M (14mhz) great band for voice as well as digital modes like PSK31/mfsk16. So a voice freq around 14.300 mhz + or - a few khz as well as 14.070 for PSK31

40M (7mhz) really great all around voice band (as well as CW) should have a voice freq here as well...

Cellphone: a calling tree is an effective way to communicate if the telecom grid is intact.

Email: Same thing for an email tree, lots easier to establish as someone does not hafta give up personal info, but depends totally on intact telecom and power grid to function...

http://www.winlink.org/

Winlink is an awesome way to send and receive email via manpackable HF rigs. I had a ham buddy in Idaho that regularly sent me emails from remote parts of that state. Works with the internet but can also be used from station to station if needed... Awesome technology but requires the slightly more expensive HF gear and a easily obtainable General class ham license as well as a HF radio modem and computer...

Packet radio works alot like Winlink but on FM freqs. It uses a network of digipeaters as well as internet to 'fill in the holes'. Can be tied into local packet BBS's or setup as a private BBS. Can be used with an easy to get Technician Ham Radio License...

Will reasearch some freqs later on... but that is enough to get the ball rolling :)

[snal]

Ok...sounds like my "thoughts" about getting a ham radio and license needs to be changed to a "plan".
I assume that I can legally purchase a radio, then get my license before use?
I have a base station CB...maybe I should get it and the Antron out of storage.

[ridgid1]

where could I get one of these Radios? :confused:

[Zombie Axe]

Looking back at your origional request...

Ham radio is the only way to accomplish these goals.

2m VHF HT for voice for the 5-10 mile range

2m VHF mobile putting out 45w or more... still dependent upon terrain and will require the use of repeaters, directional antennas, amplifiers or all of them together to get the 10-300 range...

Or NVIS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Ve...idence_Skywave but it still requires the use of HF type gear...

National and Worldwide requires the use of a multiband HF rig and large antenna. Complicated but doable, requires the correct atmospheric conditions to work right...

I think the APRS or packet radio would allow long range commo because of the forwarding of message along an RF/internet backbone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR

D-Star is a promising new technology as well, but equipment is a little more expensive, but not so much so...

[Zombie Axe]

Ok...sounds like my "thoughts" about getting a ham radio and license needs to be changed to a "plan".
I assume that I can legally purchase a radio, then get my license before use?
I have a base station CB...maybe I should get it and the Antron out of storage.

yes it is legal to purchase and own, and even turn on and listen to a ham radio... just don't transmit!!!

Read the sticky at the top of this board for more info on getting your license. I will help you if you need it :)

[Diesel]

Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

I had personally already elected 2m VHF to be my local and semi local Com

my HT's of choice are the VX-170 model

And you know the mobile Rig I am looking at

So yes I second the use of 2m VHF for Camp, LOCAL, and SEMI local communications

The outside that distance range I have no plans.

[Zombie Axe]

where could I get one of these Radios? :confused:

I really like

https://www.texastowers.com

https://www.gigaparts.com

https://www.aesham.com

https://www.hamradio.com

in that order.

But seriously, buy and read this book BEFORE!!!!!!! you buy any radios. You will know the WHY's and have a good idea of what you need and WHAT it can do... http://www.amazon.com/ARRL-Ham-Radio...1727276&sr=8-1

[Big_Saw]

I think I'll stick to my CB w/the bilinear amp for now...it's limited, but caveman easy....and doesn't cost a small fortune....

[snal]

yes it is legal to purchase and own, and even turn on and listen to a ham radio... just don't transmit!!!

Read the sticky at the top of this board for more info on getting your license. I will help you if you need it :)

I'm likely to need all the help I can get!
Any suggestions for entry level handhelds and perhaps a mobile that would double as a base?

[Zombie Axe]

I'm likely to need all the help I can get!
Any suggestions for entry level handhelds and perhaps a mobile that would double as a base?

There are several options that one could go with...

First of all is base line is a 2m VHF handheld... You can certainly do better than a VHF by a dual band (one that works on 2 bands aka 144 and 440mhz for example) but if you can try up grading to a least a dual band for it does more ...


Single band handie talkies aka HT's

I will be using Texas Towers website as an example but YOU should shop around for the best deal :)

Icom

http://www.texastowers.com/icv8sport.htm

Kenwood
http://www.texastowers.com/vx170.htm My pick for a single band VHF HT...

Not alot of choices but these two are great simple rigs... ANY of these can be upgraded to APRS/Packet with the addition of an external TNC (terminal node controller) and a simple cable...

Dual and Tri-band HT's

ICOM

http://www.texastowers.com/ict7hsport.htm

http://www.texastowers.com/ic91a.htm

http://www.texastowers.com/ict90a.htm tri-band My price pick for tri-band HT

Kenwood

http://www.texastowers.com/thf6a.htm Tri-band
I personally have one of these, great rig! I highly recommend this rig... It offers Upper and Lower Side band (half of the AM carrier) reception of the HF and shotwave bands... It also offers the 1.25 meter ham band (220mhz) which is a RARE band that hardly anyone makes equipment for... One of the only rigs I know to offer this band!

Yaesu
http://www.texastowers.com/vx6r.htm tri-band

http://www.texastowers.com/vx7r.htm triband

http://www.texastowers.com/ft60r.htm affordable dual band MY PICK FOR A DUAL BAND HT

http://www.texastowers.com/vx8r.htm quad-bander and one of the 'Cadillacs' of radios... pricey though

The Yaesu VX-3 is a tiny handheld, but I don't recommend it for it has a lack of a keypad... and low power levels...


Next up mobile rigs :)

[Zombie Axe]

Next on this list are mobile radios...

Again same format... single bands will be lumped together and dual or Tri-bandswill be as well...

VHF Single band mobiles

One of my favorites. It is one of 2 radios I have in my truck. I paid $129 for mine, but with the declining dollar prices are up on Jap made radios... So without futher ado... the Icom IC-V8000!

http://www.texastowers.com/icv8000.htm

http://www.texastowers.com/ic2200h.htm Reasonably priced radio with decent power out

http://www.texastowers.com/tm271ak.htm Another reasonably priced radio, very good quality :) My ZA pick for the $149 range :)

http://www.texastowers.com/ft1802m.htm Another $149 VHF radio.

http://www.texastowers.com/ft2800m.htm This one is $119 after $40 rebate, and ain't a bad deal...

Now for the dual and multibanders with the main focus on those in the two most popular bands 144/440mhz aka VHF/UHF.

Dual banders and multibanders

We will start with Yaseu since that is where my browser is at ;)
http://www.texastowers.com/ft7800r.htm dual bander

http://www.texastowers.com/ft8800r.htm dual bander with dual receive My pick of this bunch for a dual band also has Xband repeat... read belcw for explanation.

http://www.texastowers.com/ft8900r.htm Nice quad bander, but 10M FM is WORTHLESS... However one of the few mobiles (or any) with cross band repeat... Xband repeat is a neat way to setup an ad hoc repeater network... this is why a dual band HT comes in handy...


http://www.texastowers.com/ftm10r.htm Neat Waterproof radio, but other than mounting on your motorcycle, 4 wheeler or boat, kinda gimmicky IMHO.

http://www.texastowers.com/ic2820h.htm Nice radio with D-star capability as well as other capabilities... very pricey... dual bander

http://www.texastowers.com/ic208h.htm Nice compact dual band rig...

http://www.texastowers.com/tmv71a.htm Nice dual receive/dual band mobile kinda pricey and bulky for a Kenwood...

http://www.texastowers.com/tmd710a.htm Nice radio and it is a NEWER version of an older model (TM-D700A) that I have... VERY nice but costs some jack... still when you figure up the costs... not a bad deal for something with a built in TNC... IMHO CADILLAC of all dual band mobiles...


Well there is my epic review of all the equipment in mainly the VHF/UHF range...

Still have not covered the HF and do all wonder rigs... maybe later...

These radios are all usuable (except for the FT8900 on 10 Meters but you could use part of that band as well as ALL the other 3) with a SIMPLE Technician License :eek:

[Ragnar Redbeard]

I have two soup cans with a string attached to themselves for my comm., the range isn't so good but The soup was..

[Zombie Axe]

I have two soup cans with a string attached to themselves for my comm., the range isn't so good but The soup was..

Think it is all those cars whizzing by between us that keeps cutting the string into;)