Communication - Baltimore

[JohnyMac]

With the drama taking place in Baltimore I was thinking "Communication."

The "urban soldiers" had great communication during Monday's drama. I am sure they used cell phones to communicate via text or voice but what happens if SOP 303 is executed and all cell phones go down like what happened in Boston post the bombing in 2013?

I ran across this article written by Sparks 31 that I thought worthwhile to post and discuss. Here goes. Here goes.

Thoughts?

[APX808]

He talks a lot about scanners, although its great to know what's going on with the emergency services isn't something required.

For a small group using VHF handies like the Baofengs UV5R, or something better if you can afford it, is all you need.
Having the local repeaters in the area already programmed in the radio would be extremely useful to communicate if you're out of line of sight.

For people interested in radio comms please take a look at http://www.amrron.com/
Those guys created a radio protocol for emergency situations and run simulations and practices periodically.
Also there are great articles for beginners and a podcast with radio basics.
I'll dare to say that AMRRON is the best web for radio comms for preppers/patriots, everyone needs to check them out.

[Shadow]

Before an answer can be given about which transceiver will do the job for the situation at hand, you first have to look at where the OP lives or plans on bugging out to.

For some people a HT is good enough to be able to listen - if there is anything to listen to.

While for other people - planning on traveling back into the wilderness, a more robust signal is necessary to get the job done.

While others that really wants to know what is going on, nothing less than a HF radio and some type of dipole antenna will be what is necessary to both monitor and use to call for help.

I don't think there is any one answer fits all solution.

[Shadow]

UHF will get you very local communications.
Even a repeater has a hard time penetrating buildings or forest canopy.

VHF gets you slightly more range, but you sacrifice quality of signal.

HF - 10 meters, will work when the band conditions allows. 
10 meters has not been open in a really long time.
About the best we can hope for at this point in the solar cycle is some type of band opening in the winter.

20 meters and lower in frequency - requires at least a General Class License, a more expensive transceiver, a little knowledge on how to use HF communications and antennas.

40 meters - works both near and far, on both good days and bad, usually to somewhere.  Even if it is not until the sun goes down, eventually it usually opens up to somewhere.

75 meters phone or 80 meters digital or CW - requires a very large antenna and a good transceiver that can filter out the noise.

[JohnyMac]

Good stuff Shadow...Keep it coming.

I should have my general ticket shortly. Any thoughts on what receiver/transceiver one should get in the under $500- range. I have no problems with "hand me downs" either. Just want to know what I should be looking for.   

[Shadow]

Good stuff Shadow...Keep it coming.

I should have my general ticket shortly. Any thoughts on what receiver/transceiver one should get in the under $500- range. I have no problems with "hand me downs" either. Just want to know what I should be looking for.

Johnny, I wouldn't screw you like that, giving you advice for something you really don't want to buy.

In my honest opinion, there isn't any good transceivers out there in the $500 range.

Most of the older stuff on eBay is way over priced and junk!

The only transceiver I know of that works and costs less than $500 is the Yaesu FT 101 - which was used as a CB radio, and most times the reason it is for sale is because it was abused and broke.  Unlike a broke watch - that tells the correct time twice a day, a broke old transceiver isn't worth much and usually costs more to repair - if you can find someone to repair it than what it is worth!

I'm Jaded by the Kenwood TS 590S or SG - depending upon how much money you have to spend!
I have seen them used for as little as $1100.00
I paid $1850 for mine and I know that it works when other models fails to pull a weak signal out of a noisy environment.
You would have to spend twice that amount to find another transceiver in the same bracket as far as performance goes.

I would stay away from ICOM or Yaesu or Alinco or Beofung or Woshun right now.
Anyone with a limited budget needs to make wise purchases according to quality and not price.

If TSHTF you got to believe that the band conditions are probably going to be noisy or non existent - especially after a EMP and that you would want something that can filter out the noise and can work digital modes without a Signalink - sound card.
The less you have to carry, the further back into the boonies you can go.
This means that you want to have a Transceiver that has a built in tuner.
This eliminates the Yaesu FT 101 from my list.

While transmitting SSB I only notice a 12 amp draw on my power supply when I am running 100 watts with my Kenwood TS 590S.  My 50 watt FM Yaesu 8900R draws as much power as my 100 watt HF transceiver...  If you are operating on emergency power, you want a transceiver that can punch though if necessary - DSP - and yet can run as little as 5 watts transmit if you need to save your batteries...   The 590 in that regard is almost as good as the Yaesu, Icom QRP mobiles.

[JohnyMac]

Awesome Shadow and much appreciated info on gear.

I have used ICOM SSM exclusively while move boats from X to Y. I had (Sold it) a SSB hooked to my insulated back stay and tuner that worked GREAT. With that all written, I am not talking ship to shore radio but true HAM radios now.

Trying to get unbiased info out of a salesman is a challenge.

I am going to start a separate subject line on this. Thx