[publius321]

Subsequently, my scenario begins with the notion of “waking up one day and turning on the TV to learn that the meltdown occurred. That is making the assumption that the power grid is still up.

[Texas Fossil]

My old Collins twins (75S3/32S3) would still work and I have a generator. There are many more like me.

[umgud]

Think of what it will be like one day if we wake up one morning, turn on the television and find out the Internet and cell phone networks have been shut down due to a financial meldown or some other inconceivable event.

This would truly be a SHTF sit for more reasons than just communication between the people. But yes, CB's would become invaluable.

[RitaOK]

Morse Code and smoke signals anyone?

[taxcontrol]

Study up and get your amateur radio license and drop about $400 in gear. That will get you basic coverage for a couple of dozen miles in most situations. Possibly longer with the use of repeaters.

[jdfromny]

Thanks for the heads up. I’ve been hoping such a group would form and apparently my prayers have been answered. I have purchased two walkie-talkies for my family to use in emergencies and will definitely be checking out your link. Thanks.

[MrEdd]

If we have a meltdown it will trigger a civil war.
Communication will be a tertiary concern, after water, food, heat, and defense.

You can worry about communications and electricity after the basics.

[Le Chien Rouge]

My Plan if power, cell phones and internet are out:

1) Immediately eat as much as my stockpiled food as I can.

2) Grab bug out bag and carry as much essentials as I can.

3) Try to drive, if roads clogged, hike on foot( I run 30 miles a week—I’m in very good shape) to friends farm 50 miles outside of town.I have my escape route planned.

4) Hunker down and pray.

5) There is a 24 hour window to reach safety. Most will not know what is going on or believe the government will help them.

6) After the 24 hour mark when the food empties out of the stores, legally or by looting, hell will break loose.

7) There will be no help. You are own your own.

8) Wait out the hell, most of the riff-raff will kill each other off in the first month.

[Lorianne]

There was a good thread on FR about a week ago on ham radio to keep connected. Now I can’t find it.

Can someone post it?

[Myrddin]

I’ve been a ham since 1976. My “go bag” for emergencies includes a
2 meter rig with a cigarette lighter power plug and mag mount
antenna. A pad of paper and pen for collecting/sending messages is
useful too. Dispatch to work with Animal Rescue Reserve, ARES or
RACES to support fire and other emerency responders has been a
common activity over the years. One of my ham buddies in San Digo
is blind. He worked almost 40 hours non-stop coordinating rescue
efforts when a large earthquake rocked El Centro. Participating in
service activities e.g. marathon communications allows for practicing
your skills before a real emergency strkes. California Dept of
Forestry conducts free training classes to help survival skills when
supporting fire emegencies in the field.

[crazydad]

Don’t forget the most important commodity other then food and water. AMMO!

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

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[pyx]

You very likely already know that Citizen's Band (CB) radio and ALL CB radios are set function in the 27 Megahertz (MHz) ( or the 11 meter) band of the radio spectrum sometimes called the radio frequency (RF) band. Some other countries like Canada use the 26 to 28 Megahertz band. Frequencies in the 26, 27 and 28 MHz band are exceedingly simple to JAM, often using no more than a microphone keyed open.

I would recommend FReepers consider getting a Amateur's (HAM) license that is very easy to get. Then one can easily transmit using Carrier Wave, if they wish. Carrier Wave (often referred to as Morse Code) radio can be transmitted and received world wide using extremely low power (QRT). In fact, Morse code can often be run from nothing more than a 9 volt battery as a power source. Morse code can be easily learned and can be transmitted and received within a one month period.

Basic NO COST learning webpages are here and here.

An example of a very simple Voice transmitter and a very simple CW (Morse code) transmitter can be seen on YouTube and here's another on YouTube .

Longer range (World Wide) very low power transmitters and receivers can easily made from FREE kit schematics available all over the internet. A webpage with FREE information about Low Power Receivers is here.

There are even easy ways to connect a CW transmitter and receiver to your computer so you can use your computer keyboard to send and PC to receive.

[Nailbiter]

bfl