Communicating During An Emergency

Prep-Blog ^ | 3/22/13 | Butch C

[Kartographer]

Being able to effectively communicate with family and friends during an emergency is critical. In the past we’ve seen disasters quickly take down the infrastructure needed for cell phones to operate as well as situations where cell towers were undamaged but overloaded. When too many people try to use the same means of communication the cellular networks can quickly become overloaded and calls simply will not go through.

[null and void]

If Jack D. Ripper can launch WWIII with POE or was it EOP? you can have a pre-arranged code word or 2 yourself.

Alas Babylon! ping...

[Marcella]

“you could even make a set-up using a car battery.”

I am a girl and I don't do car batteries. Don't have an extra one, too heavy for me, don't want one. I'd end up electrocuted.

[CyberAnt]

I have a Kaito Voyager. Purchased it at NormThompson.com for about $60.

It’s great. it’s multi-band; weather; crank, and it has a solar panel. It even comes in several colors. It’s about 5x8 in size - 2” deep, and not very heavy. It has an attached strap, and two flashlight settings .. one is flashing red, and the other is solid white.

Great buy. Gave a couple away as gifts to people who live in bad weather places.

[Marcella]

“When the electricity goes down you got no internet, no phone, no email, no web, nuttin.”

Not for me. When Ike took out power, I had lights that worked, had a TV that worked, my old time plug phone in the wall worked, I had fans that worked.

What I can't do, is contact someone in a scenario when even the plug in phone doesn't work.

[Marcella]

“When the electricity goes down you got no internet, no phone, no email, no web, nuttin.”

Not for me. When Ike took out power, I had lights that worked, had a TV that worked, my old time plug phone in the wall worked, I had fans that worked.

What I can't do, is contact someone in a scenario when even the plug in phone doesn't work.

[JRandomFreeper]

Yes, CBs work on large batteries. Think car battery.

Maybe on the 10 miles. Depends on the terrain and antennas.

No, hand-talkies won't work without a repeater like the ham radio operators use.

/johnny

[Kartographer]

You can use something like this as well:
,img src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-71823206232715_2253_305862.jpg">
STANLEY DPS109 DIGITAL PORTABLE POWER STATION

[Marcella]

“One reason I don’t care for VoIP at home and recommend to my business customers keeping a POTS for contingencies.”

Please treat me like I don’t know jack about these communications (which I don’t). WHAT IS A “VoIP” AND A “POTS”?

[Kartographer]

[Marcella]

Exactly what does that Stanley do?

[Kartographer]

12 volt power supply with a built in 12 volt dc to 120 volt ac inverter and it has a light and it can be used to jump start a car as well.

There are a number of different makes and manufacturers of the same type of equipment.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Thanks! I may grab one of those.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I looked at this problem many years ago, when we thought that the Soviets were going to blow us up.

With one watt of CW and morse code, one can get around the world. CW also is hard to jam. But you need to learn Morse code. There used to be Mac compucer programs that would teach you.

What I never found was a good source for CW radios that didn’t require an arm and a leg to buy. I needed about 10 at the time.

[Vendome]

POTS+ Plain Old Telephone Line. It is typically powered by −48V direct current (DC) and backed up by a large bank of batteries (connected in series) and in some cases, an additional electric generator in the local exchange, resulting in continuation of service during most commercial power outages. The subscriber loop typically carries a "load" of about 300 ohms, and does not pose a threat of electrocution to human beings (although shorting the loop can be felt as an unpleasant sensation). VoIP= Voice over Internet Protocol. Powered by yer standard 120/220 volt that runs TV, Fridge and computer. When theyz down, time to break out a book.

[Vendome]

But you can do it twice...

[Atlas Sneezed]

Best advice on this thread. Data gets through when voice is jammed.

[William of Barsoom]

A lot of the advise so far given is good.
Some of it is not so good. Some of it is way over-optimistic.

Get a copy of “The Dummies Guide to Amateur Radio” from Amazon. Used copies are as cheap as five bucks.

By all means get some Family Radio Service HTs. Get simple ones. A lot of doo-dad features will drive you crazy. You should be able to find some nice ones for less than $20 a pair. Try them out.

The “Dummies” book will put you in the general picture, and it has good stuff the most advanced licensed ham can learn.

Look also at the “Multiple Use Radio Service” in the 150 mHz region. Also the “General Mobile Radio Service.”

Look these up on Wiki.

Eventually, get a Technician or General Ham license. (The sooner, the better.)

73 & GL

[Marcella]

Okay, the Stanley needs to be charged before it can work. How would one charge that with no power?

[TheRightGuy]

or these ..

[Bogey78O]

All cell services still require a tower. But text messaging is done on a control channel which doesn’t require a voice channel to be vacant so you can get it out if you’ve any connection to any tower across even greater ranges. Whereas you may be too far out to carry on a voice conversation or grab a voice channel the tower will still relay a text.