Posted on 04/21/2011 12:09:48 PM PDT by publius321
Sportute girl calls Truckguy using Radar Love.
tube HF ham is the answer
With all the storms that hit Arkansas, my wife and I thought it would be a good time to get a weather radio with SAME technology. Amazon shipped us yesterday, Midland WR-300 and I set it up last night.
As I was entering the SAME codes, my wife looked at Midland's little brochure and said, "You know, with all the family we have in Central Arkansas, and all the storms (and potential New Madrid Earthquake), it would be prudent to get all ten (10) family members a CB radio for when the lines are down/under control of the govt.
I may be an expert on guns, but I have no clue of what to do for commo other than yell, "FRAG OUT!" or "bring more belts!" If you guys could give me and the wifey a lowdown on GOOD reliable, commo (not cheap) for the family and I, we would appreciate it.
As we listened to the CAREN (central AR Radio Emergency Network), made up of Amateur Radio and ham operators calling out the funnel clouds, my wife said that I should get my ham radio license so I can hear whats going on. Our old Radio shack Police scanner by the bed just won't cut it.
THanks in advance!
Thank you!
ping!
I think ham radio operators would make great “servers” in the network, especially where rural gaps would occur.
I don’t see millions of Americans operating ham radios, myself included. CB’s are very portable and will serve well for the -local- aspect of the project. You ham operators should sign up as area managers so you can relay the local groups, tea parties etc through the gaps.
Best!
Publius
Many ham radios (e.g. VHF/UHF) rigs have wide band receivers and can be set up to scan the public safety frequencies as well as receive the ham communications - simplex, repeaters, voice and digital. You don’t need a license to buy or listen but getting a license has never been easier. No code for any level, all test questions are multiple choice and are published. You can take practice tests on line (www.qrz.com for example) and the test is only $15 with license good for 10 years before you have to send in another $15 for renewal.
Obama was all it took for several friends and me to get our licenses and we are now quite capable in HF and VHF and participate in regular voice and digital nets. Some of us are running server (radio to email and store-forward) stations whose primary purpose is to handle traffic in an environment where infrastructure is unavailable locally, regionally, country-wide or world wide.
As an example, I can send an email to another ham across the country using radio to connect to the internet in Europe or Canada.
Much of what hams do in message handling is routing “3rd party” traffic - i.e. messages from non-hams to or from destinations that might or might not be a ham operator. Certain rules apply e.g. no commercial traffic, no swearing, etc.
For example, my server station over the past few hours has handled traffic from VA, GA, FL, NM and a British sailboat in the Caribbean.
excellent.
This is a great plan
Thanks for posting
My pleasure Loriane. “Facebook it” if you can and/or forward to your friends because the way things are going, things may hit the proverbial fan rather soon. Time is critical to covering the nation. Tea Parties need to notify their members too. That would help to cover large areas more quickly.
When I sold our boats I kept the hand held Marine Band jobs we had basically because they have the Wx freqs built in. Since we're well inland of any large water ways they might work well for a crude COMSEC. Not many folks in our area are going to have access to those VHF fregs.
Not that we would use them in any way not authorized by the FCC of course....
I think it can also stand for Family Radio Service, which uses the relatively new walkie-talkie radios with privacy codes and up to five mile (open line of sight) range.
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