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Post by missj on Sept 26, 2012 22:58:38 GMT -7
I'll put it out there right here...I'm no good with invisible concepts of real world things.
Electricity, radio waves, radiation, attenuation of beams etc. I've heard all these things explained and attempted to understand them. I'm actually a pretty smart person, but I get the duncecap award for anything electronic.
But, I'm at the point in my preps where the beans, bullets, and bandaids are basically covered as well as fuel, shelter, light, heat.
Now I see one glaring hole in my preps and that is communications.
What I basically need is a "emergency communications for kindergarteners" course. I don't need to know HOW it works. I don't need to get any kind of license or certification. I just need to know WHAT to buy, how to use it, how to practice with it, and how to change the batteries. If it's more complicated then that...I'll just be honest...I'll wake up when my face hits the keyboard.
Right now I've got 5 walkie talkies that run on AA batteries. That is my only plan. 3 of them are crappy motorolla ones, we mess around with them while camping and have fun. 2 of them are fancy "hunters" walkie talkies with headsets...they are still in the package because they overwhelm me....it's pathetic, I know....I'm just being honest.
HELP!
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Post by tjwilhelm on Sept 27, 2012 8:48:21 GMT -7
You definitely do NOT need to understand electricity, radio waves, etc., just to buy and use a communications radio set. Don't get me wrong...I think understanding those concepts is a good and useful thing; but, not necessary just to be able to use a 2-way radio.
You have multiple options. You need to decide what will be guiding your selection: price? transmission distance? ability to maintain secure, secret transmissions? etc?
C'mon gang! Whaddaya got for missj?
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Post by karatediver on Sept 27, 2012 9:17:07 GMT -7
The most important thing to ask: What do I want to be able to do?
Radios are kind of like guns. All guns shoot but they have different abilities based on type of firearm, action, caliber, need, etc. My single shot 22LR isn't the best gun for hunting deer or self defense but it works great for target shooting and small critters. My 1911 works great as a self defense handgun but probably would not be very good for shooting deer at 200 yards. Different guns have different uses and abilities. Same thing goes for radios.
Some people just want short range communications with their immediate family and maybe neighbors. Others may want to communicate over a longer distance like their town or county. Others may want multiple county range. Other still want to be able to communicate throughout the U.S. and even world wide. Some folks want short range communications but also the ability to recieve long range transmission such as AM/FM radio stations and short wave. As you go up in distance the price for the equipment also goes up as well as what is required.
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Post by urbanprep on Sept 27, 2012 12:03:58 GMT -7
Adding to karatediver's post, I think you need to decide what you want to do. Based on what you wrote your options appear to be - fun (like camping)
- homestead communications (your hunting radios)
- local communications
- long distance communications
- world wide
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has a good website (http://www.arrl.org/) on getting started. One of their links can help you find a class in your area to get your technicians license. I plan on doing that class later in the year with a local club.
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Post by missj on Sept 27, 2012 21:27:45 GMT -7
- My main objective is perimeter security.
- Second objective would be ability to communicate and co-operate with neighbors for shared security intel
- third objective would be ability to go on scouting and scavenging missions (on foot most likely) and remain in contact with the homestead
Those are my MAIN objectives. secondary objectives that don't deserve a lot of weight in my decision making would be: - ability to communicate with homestead on longer missions (still most likely on foot, or maybe bike)
- ability to monitor other people's comm's in the general area (monitor for hostiles, or calls for help, or warnings from people in the vicinity)
- Security would be nice....but I think we could also achieve that with coded messages...so I don't want to pay a bunch of extra money, or end up with really complicated equipment based solely on having a secure transmission.
Price is always a consideration, but not my main consideration. My main consideration is time....in that I don't have much time to devote to learning these skills....I'm swamped with working, parenting and learning other skills. I want EASY and FUNCTIONAL and I'm willing to pay more for it. I guess my ballpark price range would be something like $200-500 but that is based on zero informed opinion....I know nothing except that I have spent probably about $100 so far on walkie talkies. I'm not opposed to the idea of "field phones" either with a hard line...but I don't know how complicated or expensive those are....
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Post by karatediver on Sept 28, 2012 7:50:55 GMT -7
Your standard FRS or GMRS radios from Costco, Radio Shack, Walmart, etc should work fine for what you want to do. Another option is hand held CB. All very inexpensive and good for short range comms.
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Post by urbanprep on Sept 28, 2012 15:53:46 GMT -7
Woodscustom posted a great write up on MIDLAND XT511 (http://survivalbunker.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=techtalk&action=display&thread=527) which could act as your base station allowing you to use your current radios to communicate with the base.
If your neighbors invest in similar radios then y'all will have like set ups and be able to exercise a good communications plan.
while I have not invested in anything other than some midland handhelds (and my marine VHF from when I sailed) I have yet to purchase something for a base station or long distance comms. From my attendance at the Aiken, SC, prepper conference, the radio the "practical Preppers" recommended was a Wouxun KG-Uv2D approx. $110, they said it had about a 20 mile range (line of sight, i.e. no hills between you)
Regardless of what set up you go with you probably want to learn how to set up a solar system for charging/powering everything, and, more importantly, establish a secure communications plan. This should be in your group, and another with neighbors.
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