Posted on 03/06/2009 9:40:37 AM PST by George from New England
Edited on 03/06/2009 10:19:26 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
We need to learn of local ham/amateur radio operators and us ham operators need to have a pre-established network with designated frequencies to get our message out and around.
Don't wait for the day that either due to martial law or other catastrophic events, our communication paths are severed or greatly blocked.
I suspect there are many ham license holders that are freepers as well. We need to know about each other before the day when we wished we had done this.
George, [Edited by poster's request - AM]
LLS
There is something about Florida that generates this “stuff.”
Thank you.
I recently got into photography (very expensive!!!), so this could cost me my life, should I tell my bride of another hobby. ;>)
I was pretty good with Semaphore flags as a boy scout but never learned morse code......
might be nice as a 1st step to get an excel sheet set up with operator/freq/alt freq/zone/time of broadcast.
The michigan militia page has a good sw equipment and antenna page under the “communications” tab.
The likelihood of the internet being censored a la China is very real - it is the next step past the Fairness Doctrine. The Chicoms would be delighted to sell us the software.
During WWII, ham radio was shut down due to security reasons, and in the patriotic fervor of the day, there was total compliance. Ham operators tend to lean to the right, and the overwhelming majority are disgusted by how the FCC has become overrun with lawyers instead of engineers. Any attempt to impose radio silence on the part of 0bama and his thugs would be ignored by a large fraction of the hobby.
Ham radio is ‘regulated’ by the same FCC that is supposed to regulate CB radio. There are simply too few FCC field agents to regulate the thousands of illegal CB operators. Ham radio is primarily self-policing. The FCC generally acts in accordance to complaints from other hams who observe illegal operation. If it were inundated by thousands of ‘illegal’ ham operators, it would not be able to react to all of them.
For those not currently involved in amateur radio, the licensing process is quite easy, as the morse code requirement has been eliminated. Now is a good time to pick up the gear, and familiarize yourself with its operation. Regardless of whether you become licensed or not, it is a good idea to own at least a VHF/UHF scanner capable of receiving the 2-Meter ham band, as well as local fire and police transmissions. A shortwave receiver is also essential.
Resurrection of any broadcasting avenue would be priceless ... supposing there were others to receive/send like it.
Thank you, for the response. I appreciate it.
http://people.seas.harvard.edu/~jones/cscie129/images/history/chappe.html
Optical Telegraphy
The Chappe Telegraph Systems
Shortwave Preparedness:
http://www.michiganmilitia.com/como.htm
I’d be interested in your review of the aboved linked info....
IIRC, when other governments turned repressive, not only ham radios, but all transmitters were outlawed.
Even possession of a receiver was usually outlawed.
While burst transmissions might help, as would low power levels, the government seems to be in a position to easily control radio frequency comm efforts of the citizens.
If some EE can provide other data, please let me know.
Is licensing controlled by FCC? Is Morse Code required for licensing?
You can count me in: K5KKX, 30 mile NW of Dallas.
How many of us would be up and running if the power grid went down though? I could continue to run on vhf/uhf locally with my car and solar chargers, but haven’t got the setup and funds to invest for my HF rig.
Re. EMP and nukes:
EMP is a very real threat. There are ‘EMP’ bombs that are low-tech and non-nuclear, that can still cause a lot of localized damage. Mostly the effect will be propagated along lengths of wire. It will have the effect of a nearby lightning strike. You can buy EMP-surge suppressors - which are actually less substantial than lightning surge supressors. Regardless, you can expect widespread power outages, blown power tranformers, blown commercial comm equipment, no telephone, internet, or satellite. If you have gear that is in a metal cabinet (as is most ham gear) and UNPLUGGED it will not likely be affected.
There is another effect of a nuke that will have an effect on radio, and that is the ionizing radiation will wipe out HF (shortwave) signal propagation. The most likely remaining service will be AM radio, which propagates via ground-wave, and will be less affected. Most AM broadcasters have backup diesel generators and weeks worth of fuel, and lightning-hard transmitter installations. They won’t have their satellite feeds of Rush anymore, but they will be able to run local, live programming.
One of the best things that could happen is for them to force us underground. It gives their minions a false sense of security, while we worm our way into the infrastructure and make a niche they can’t deal with.
Old technology can be use very effectively, plus it screws up new technology in the process (in many ways). You have to know electronics and physics but old technology can be extremely effective as well as easy to construct from common materials.
The best way to get your ham license is to go to ARRL.org, and locate a local ham radio club. Most of them offer yearly licensing classes. Alternately, you can purchase or download a license manual, and study on your own. Most of the information can be memorized, and the math and electronics component is at a junior-high school level.
With a license and 2-meter gear, it is good to join in with the local ARES (Amateur Radio Disaster Services) ares.org, who sponsor radio net, traiing courses, etc.
One of the big brother intrusions into the ham licensing world was the mandate of entering your social security number in their database, or no license.
No reason for this other than control.
Thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.