If you are interested in becoming a ham radio operator, you must simply take an exam - and we have someone that will help you pass! We can have a class on it if we have enough interest. Let me know! The test is free and after you pass you can purchase the kind of ham radio you want.
COMMUNICATION FOR SURVIVAL
© 2006 RogueTurtle.com
Two tin cans and a string. It still works. But in a survival situation, you just might need something a little more modern. The ability to receive information in a timely manner will greatly increase your chances of survival in almost every scenario you can think of. There are many different ways to get information. More than you're probably aware of. You just have to plan ahead to have the necessary equipment with you. Yeah, once more we're back to the 6-P's: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Communication requires three parts: A sender, someone talking to you; a mode of transmission, telephone, for example; and a receiver, which is you. Talking face to face is always the best form of communication, but when you and your friends and family are scattered to the winds, this is impossible. You have to rely on some form of electromechanical means to assist you. I'm going to examine most of these systems so you can decide for yourselves which system will be best for you.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
When the Power is OFF
1. TELEPHONE
The most obvious first choice is the telephone. Mr. Bell's little invention that changed the world. We all have those ugly black wires hung on our houses, running through the walls. Now, the newest rage is the "cordless phone". Pick it up and walk anywhere in the house to talk. No more dragging a curly and tangled cord behind you. I have one that has two handsets. Actually, they are a very small, limited range radios, broadcasting around your house. But, when the power is off, so are the cordless phones.
The older rotary dial phones and push-button phones don't use radio to transmit or receive signals. They don't even need household electricity to work. Your house can be totally blacked out and the phone will still work. Why? Because the phone companies' power is still ON. Most phone companies have backup generators. The real trick is finding the ringing phone in the dark.
The limitation that the telephone has is that it is still tied to a hard-wired plug-in jack and the cord only goes so far before you have to stop moving. We've all pulled these phones off the desk or off the wall by tugging just one more inch of reach out of the cord. The other limitation is that there are only just so many phone wire (pairs) available for anybody to use. Once they are in use, nobody else can talk until a line comes open. This has caused many a customer to have a dialed number fail to connect.
A. UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
A newer trend in modern neighborhoods is to free up the landscape from unsightly poles with wires strung all over the place. So, they bury them all in the ground. Looks good. But, the first time someone digs a hole, they are bound to cut the wires. I think it's a law. The second problem is that anything buried gets drowned when it floods. Electrical wires, TV cable wires and telephone lines buried underground will short out when flooded. This is also a law. Underground service vaults (where the connections and relays are located) fill up shorting out the whole thing. Until these dry out, you are out of luck.
B. ABOVE GROUND UTILITIES
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't". Above ground lines are even more susceptible to damage from other sources. Hurricane and tornado strength winds blow down trees and short out everything. Cars and trucks crash into them. Crazies blow them up. Forest fires burn them up and avalanches crush them. All utility lines are vulnerable to be damaged or destroyed. At least underground, they won't burn up.
C. FAX MACHINES
The facsimile machine is just another type of telephone. Only this one needs even more electricity to run than the telephone itself. It is actually a type of mini-computer tied to a phone line that received digital "codes" to make an accurate copy of something somebody sends you. So, if your house power is off, the fax is also off.
2. CELLULAR PHONES
Cell phones operate within cells, and they can switch cells as they move around. Cells give cell phones incredible range. Someone using a cell phone can drive hundreds of miles and maintain a conversation the entire time because of the cellular approach. The problem with the cell concept is that at the center of each cell is a tower that is powered by electricity. Without electricity at the tower, the entire cell phone system falls on its collective behind. No electricity – no cell phones.
Of all the competitive communications systems out there, the cellular phone business has got to be at the top of the list.
3. SATELLITE PHONES
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a mobile phone that communicates directly with orbiting communications satellites. Iridium was the first satellite phone company. Depending on the architecture of a particular system, coverage may include the entire Earth, or only specific regions. The mobile equipment, also known as a terminal or earth station, varies widely. A satellite phone handset has a size and weight comparable to that of a late 1980s or early 1990s cell phone, but with a large retractable antenna. These are popular on expeditions into remote areas where terrestrial cellular service is unavailable.
The advantages over the land-based cellular phones is obvious. You talk and receive phone calls on your hand-held equipment that uses rechargable batteries. The satellite has its own source of power, the sun. It is the ultimate alternate energy project so far. All satellites are, for that matter. You don't use household electrical power EVER to use this system (except to recharge the battery). You can also recharge the battery off of a plug into your automobiles' electrical system. As long as your batteries keep a charge, you can talk anywhere in the world...almost.
The "almost" means that if you call somebody on a standard cellular phone, it still won't work if the power is not working around the cellular phone. It takes TWO satphones to guarantee communication. All other type phone systems will eventually fail when all power is lost...except the satphones. They just keep on, keep'in on.
Sat Phone companies will lease you a telephone and charge by the minute just as they did if you were around when cell phones first came out. As competition increases, the rates will go down. One company has 66 satellites up there for world-wide coverage.
THE SATELLITE PHONE IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE MOST RELIABLE OF ALL THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AVAILABLE TO THE SURVIVALIST. While there are moderately high-end monthly fees, the safety and protection they provide are head and shoulders above any other means of communication.
4. AM and FM Commercial Radio
All the countless radio stations in the country will NOT all go off the air at the same time. A disaster in your local area will probably not affect a town 25, 50 or 100 miles away. That means that they will be broadcasting news and weather to you, provided you have a radio to hear it. For a national level emergency, the start will be from the EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
The EAS system was established by the FCC in November of 1994 with the approval of Part 11 EAS rules. The EAS replaced the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) as a tool the President and others may use to warn the public about emergency situations.
All participating commercial radio stations in the country, in times of national crisis will be issued an EMERGENCY ACTION NOTIFICATION MESSAGE:
"This is an emergency action message requested by the White House. All broadcast stations will follow activation procedures in the EAS Operating Handbook for a national level emergency. The President of the United States or his representative will shortly deliver a message over the Emergency Alert System."
All licensed radio stations receiving this notification must then make the following announcement:
"We interrupt our programming; this is a national emergency. Important instructions will follow."
The next announcement (for participating manual operations...that is, there are people there working and not a pre-recorded program) will be:
"This is an Emergency Action Notification. All broadcast stations and cable systems will broadcast this Emergency Action Notification Message. This station has interrupted its regular programming at the request of the White House to participate in this Emergency Alert System.
During this emergency, most stations will remain on the air providing news and information to the public in assigned areas. This is (station call name). We will continue to serve the (EAS local area name). If you are not in this local area you should tune to stations providing news and information for your local area. You are listening to the Emergency Alert System serving the (EAS local name) area.
Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines should be kept open for emergency use. The Emergency Alert System has been activated.
We will also be acting as a message distribution and relay source to other broadcasting stations."
The priorities for Emergency Action Messages to be broadcast are:
Presidential messages to be carried "live".
Local area messages
State messages
National Information Center (NIC) messages
Termination of the Emergency will be almost a repeat of how it started, but the final notification to the radio station will be:
"This concludes the Emergency Alert System. All broadcast stations may now resume normal programming operations".
Stations then will return to "normal" programming however they see fit.
It is also important to know that this same Emergency Alert System can be activated at the local and state level for local emergencies, not just "national" emergencies.
ALL THESE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS MEAN NOTHING UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD RADIO TO RECEIVE THESE MESSAGES. YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON IT.
5. Citizen's Band Radio
"Breaker one-nine for the Rubber Duck" ... Movie lore is full of the uses and abuses of the CB radio. Truckers have for years installed these radios in their trucks to keep them alert on the road. Any citizen of the United States can purchase and install a CB radio without needing any license or permit. Outside the US, there may, or may not, be restrictions.
The FCC has set aside a band of frequencies for CB use: All frequencies are MHz.
27 27.275
Channel 09, in red, is the emergency channel, but to be honest, it is not monitored very much by anybody.
Channel 19, in blue, somehow got adopted as the unofficial truckers channel. If you monitor this one, be prepared for all sorts of graphic traffic conditions...language varies.
The primary use for CB is while traveling to and from home, either by talking to a home base radio or from car-to-car. CB radio allows you to keep informed with up to the minute status of the occupants in the vehicles and the condition of the vehicles (fuel status, etc.). You can coordinate group efforts between vehicles, such as a mutual place to stop for fuel or food.
The other use for CB is to monitor the road conditions both ahead and behind you. The truckers will let you know about the traffic delays, and usually graphically describe how long they have been stuck in stalled traffic. Time is money to them.
From a lot of years of experience with CB radios, I can tell you without hesitation that "going cheap" will be a really BAD IDEA. Cheap radios do not transmit or receive very well. The radios are limited to 12 Watts of power ONLY and you won't even get that with a cheap radio. At the maximum, most CB radios (unmodified) will only get from 3 to 5 miles range. This, of course, depends a lot on your pocketbook.
CB MOBILE UNITS
Some expertise is needed to wire up and install a CB radio without shorting out your ignition and battery system. All the units sold in the USA use 12 volt, negative ground systems. The more powerful the radio, the heavier the power wires have to be. Here is the radio I use:
Cobra 148 GTL CB Radio $159.95
12 watts power SSB RF output increases range capabilities with SSB operation. 4 full watts AM RF power output. Dual converstion AM receiver - maximum frequency response and spurious rejection. Professional driver-requested improvements include a front panel microphone connector, tactile controls (for added convenience and safety when adjusting functions).
Includes microphone, mounting bracket, mount knobs, & power cord.
Approximate Dimensions:
Height - 2 3/8"
Width 7 7/8"
Length - 9 1/4"
Add approx 1" for knobs on front & 1/2" antenna connection on back.
Additional Features:
40 CB Channels
Front Panel Mic Connector
Full RF Power Output
Dynamike Gain Control
RF Gain Control
PA Function
1 year warranty*
But, you're not done with the expense yet. Every good radio uses a good antenna. Without the antenna all you have is a brick. Here's the one I use:
High Power Ability To Handle 5,000 Watts AM, 20,000 Watts SSB (ICAS) Made with high impact Mobay Thermoplastic 6 gauge solid copper silver-plated wire Exclusive low loss coil design 62" 17-7 PH Tapered spring stainless steel whip Frequency range 26 MHz to 30 MHz Weather Channel Ready Available in Roof Top, Trunk Lip, or Magnetic Mount Removable coil for safe storage & garage entrance Weather Cap included to protect mount when coil is removed 2 year warranty.
Price: $99.95
You may be asking yourselves why I use an antenna capable of handling 5,000 watts when the radio only puts out 12 watts? The answer is that I could "expand" my capability beyond what the factory and the FCC says I can use. I won't admit to anything, but there are ways to "boost" or "kick up" your power for transmission. Since telling you exactly how to do this would be skirting some law or another, all I can say is that if you get with a group of CB knowledgeable people, someone will know how to do it. Inside some handheld radios, there is a capacitor that can be "clipped", boosting the output power from 2 or 4 watts to 12 watts. From there, the outgoing signal can be further boosted by adding a LINEAR AMPLIFIER that goes to the antenna. The going rate (used to be) about a dollar and a half per watt output. A 400 watt amp would be around $600.00 (new). You can get better deals on Ebay, if you know what you're doing.
CAUTION: Not all amplifiers work on CB. Find an expert and find out EXACTLY what you need.
CB BASE RADIOS
These radios attach to a much larger antenna than the mobile units. It can, therefore put out and receive much better. They usually are supplied with a 120 volt/AC power source, but almost all of them can be connected to a 12 volt/DC battery and still work very well. As always, the charge in the battery is the limiting factor. Any radio, however, could be a base radio, it is just installed indoors, instead of in your car.
I have a couple of base radios I can use, but right now they're not in service. Here's an example:
RANGER'S NEWEST 10 METER RADIO $ 279.95
Features:
10 Watts AM, 25 Watts SSB
Adjustable Dual Echo (Not Just On-Off!!)
Selectable Talk Back, Roger Beep and Mic/RF Gain
6-Digit Frequency Counter
6 Position Band Switch With +10KHz Offset
Cobra power mike - 4 pin. Good for Base or Mobile radios. $19.95
Wired for Cobra, Connex, Uniden, Galaxy, General, Ranger, 4 pin models only and the Magnum and Cobra 148 (new) 4 pin version
RogueTurtle and clan each use one of these and they are terrific.
Has a 9 volt battery to send a "boosted" signal into the radio before it ever gets transmitted. Improves the broadcast of your transmissions and adds clarity to the spoken word.
Since it's attached to your house or shelter, the base antenna can be much larger than the mobile antenna. This helps collect weak signals from long distances, and greatly improves the power output of any base radio.
The MACO Comet $239.95 plus coaxial cable (extra)
A long-distance 6-element base station with 12.5 dB gain and dual polarity. This antenna is designed for CB'ers who want a booming base station, but space is a problem. And, it has the MACO 2 kw power handling capability!
This is just a "teaser" on CB equipment. If you are serious about getting a Citizens Band radio set up, you need to sit down with an expert and tell him or her what you need. Mixing incompatible components will be costly and could damage sensitive radio equipment, putting you out of business before you even get started. There are uncountable combinations out there, but they are NOT all compatible with each other.
For car-to-car information, you can't beat the hard-wired CB radio. It has a range of 12 to 30 miles depending on your "improvements", and is a very reliable form of communication.
6. AMATEUR (HAM) RADIO
Ham radio operators are a special breed of enthusiasts who take their radio skills and craft very seriously. Broadcasting on a relatively small range of closely controlled radio frequencies, they virtually police themselves. In some advanced CB radios, using a SSB or Lower Side Band setting can bring your CB dangerously close to the frequency used in the 10 meter or 12 meter bands. I have been chewed out on the radio more than once by Ham operators who felt I was infringing on his sacred bandwidth. I, of course, apologized and changed channels immediately.
Unlike CB radio, all Ham operators are licensed by the FCC as well as their local clubs. Many frequencies are dedicated not only to Ham operators, but are restricted to a certain class of license that is eligible to use the channel. I'm not a Ham operator, so I don't know all the details, but in order to get a "full ticket", that is, fully qualified in all channels, takes years and years of work and study. There are a series of tests administered to determine skill level in the operators. They take great justifiable pride in their skill levels, and (unfortunately) many look down on the "lowly" CB people as some sort of sub-species. At least I'm not a geek.
Unless you're willing to get into a local radio club and study your brains out, Ham operations should probably be avoided. Their equipment and antennas are very expensive, and each bandwidth is monitored, somewhere in the world, by an egomaniac.
The advantage of Ham Radio is their vast world-wide (capability). Depending on atmospheric conditions, Ham operators can talk to anywhere in the world. Talking city to city in the USA is easy...talking to Japan or Germany takes a better radio than CB can offer. However, most Ham operations are fixed, not mobile. They make it hard to "bug out". I cannot recommend Ham Radio for survivalists. It's not flexible enough.
7. MARINE RADIO
A marine radio is mandatory for all boats over 65.5 feet, and optional for all those smaller boats out there. Marine radio is in a very small frequency band that is always crowded on even a good day. They have one frequency called a "hailing frequency", and when you are answered you are directed to another, lesser used channel. With a line-of-sight range of only about 35 miles (barefoot, or non-amplified), the marine radio has limited use. Inland from either coast, marine radios could be used, but there are better uses for your money. I can't recommend using a marine radio for survival purposes, unless you are surviving on a boat. In that case, you should have TWO radios, in case one breaks.
8. AIRCRAFT RADIOS
An aircraft radio becomes very expensive whenever the word "aircraft" is attached to it. It could be the same Radio Shack components available in a $100.00 radio, but when it's an "aircraft radio" the cost doubles or triples. Aircraft radios are set up to use aircraft-compatible antennas that may not be appropriate for your vehicle. I know you can't drive as fast as an aircraft can fly. Many aircraft radios use standard aircraft (24 volt) power supplies not available in most cars. Since the possibility exists for you to interfere in the orderly flow of aircraft traffic, DO NOT USE AIRCRAFT RADIOS. Let the pilots get along with their own problems without you adding to them. Can you tell I used to fly in the Air Force for a living?
Exception: If you are using an aircraft for your bug out, by all means use the installed radios to follow all the required Air Traffic Control regulations governing your flight. Survival means keeping you and your family safe. If the airwaves are not cluttered with misused radios, your flight should be as uneventful as possible. Flight = hours of boredom followed by moments of panic.
9. SPECIALTY RADIOS
These are special radios or radio frequencies you don't normally think about during your normal daily life. Most of the following items are available at a relatively low cost, or are a free service provided by the Federal Government.
Global Positioning Satellites
(GPS) Over 50 satellites now cover the globe since their first launch in 1978. Handheld and fixed receivers in vehicles now are taken for granted by many car buyers. Accuracy has now improved so much that the GPS signals can guide you through crowded city streets over open and rough terrain. First designed by the military for foot soldiers (who get lost easily), this service is now free for civilian use. However, in time of WAR, the military could just adjust their GPS satellites so that only the military version would be accurate. This takes away the use of GPS by the enemy. It makes sense.
As far as I know, there would be no way to tell exactly when the military decides to make this move. It would, for sure, be during a time of national emergency and/or an imminent threat to our troops in other parts of the world. I suppose that reading your GPS in your front yard in Indiana and finding out the GPS says you are in Alaska would be a very good "clue".
For all other type emergencies (short of WAR), GPS will continue to work on its own power sending signals to earth, to your receiver.
There are now hundreds of models and styles of GPS receivers now in use. Many cell phones have allegedly had a chip installed in them so your location can be followed by "somebody". (Big Brother???) Cars routinely come off the assembly line with GPS services, as well as other costly aids to navigation provided when the warranty is up.
I like GPS. Its fun to use, particularly walking at night, under the clouds, with no way to tell where you are except for the GPS and a compass. Again, if your batteries die, so does the GPS. Use it for a weight to catch fish.
A. NOAA Radio
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is part of the US Department of Commerce. The National Weather Service is part of NOAA. Since the National Weather Service has a primary responsibility to monitor severe weather, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, they have their own severe weather warning radio system.
By tuning into the local NOAA radio stations, you can keep up to date on the progress of severe weather that is going on NOW, and forecast for the future. It gives a whole lot of weather information that could be critical to your safety. Many manufacturers now produce small, desktop radios that only turn on when NOAA sends out its warning signal for local area bad weather. This system has now been refined down to warning only the radios within a certain geographical area. In the past, NOAA warning radios would go off for a tornado in Cleveland, even if you lived in Tampa. Now, only the Tampa area gets a warning when the weather is bad in Tampa, not Cleveland.
Special radios are for sale that are easily carried in a pocket while you are in the bush. If you think that bad weather is approaching, turn on the radio and get the official version from NOAA.
B. WWV, Fort Collins, Colorado
A little-known, but much used in the military, these frequencies give you the exact date and time. Based on the atomic clocks, this station sends out a synchronous time signal and verbal time announcements 24/7/365. If you are in doubt as to the exact time, remember that the time given is Universal (Greenwich) time and you have to adjust it for your own time zone. GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time (called "Zulu" time in the military) does not change for seasons or local politicians. It does not care if you're on daylight savings time or not, it just gives out the most accurate Universal time possible.
C. WWV FREQUENCIES:
The station broadcasts simultaneously on five distinct frequencies: 2.5 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz and 20 MHz. Many newer model radios have the capability to receive time signals in this area of the radio frequency band not covered by AM or FM radio. If all you own is the AM/FM radio, you cannot receive WWV radio signals.
D. SATELLITE TELEVISION
"Direct TV", for example.
Another source of information. Most of the hardware and electronics that power the satellite TV receivers is 120 volt/AC current. This is not battery voltage and must be supplied by a generator while in the woods. A lot of campers now have the little dishes mounted on trailers or on tripods that sit by the campfire. All satellite TV dishes must have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky because that's where the satellite hangs out. As long as you have gas for the generator, your satellite TV will still work. When your out of gas, the satellite TV goes OFF. I don't use the satellite TV any more, it got to be just too much trouble and went out whenever it rained. Others swear that the rain never affected the signal. I know it did on my set up. I switched back to land-based, ugly black wire cable.
E. SCANNERS
Scanners are another source of information that can be used to search for where the action is. It is important in using scanners that you have some idea which section of the radio band you really want to search. If you spend a lot of money on a scanner, but search in the wrong band width areas, it will appear not to work. Companies such as Radio Shack, sell guides on scanner frequencies that include Fire, Police, Ambulance, Civil Aviation, CB, etc., etc.
WARNING: The scanner must NOT be ON when you are broadcasting from a radio in or around the scanners' antenna. I blew out a perfectly fine scanner in my own truck when I forgot to turn it off and it scanned around to the frequency I was using to broadcast. I burned the poor little thing to a crisp. Lesson learned...an expensive one for me. I now use a less expensive hand-held scanner.
A lot of scanner fans keep close records of the active frequencies in their local area. If you can find one of these folks, have him/her copy it for your use. Now you don't have to wonder who's voice it is you're listening to. Roger? Ten-four. Over and Out.
F. SATELLITE RADIO
The newest radio on the block, Satellite Radio has its broadcasting antenna high above the atmosphere. It can reach almost anywhere a normal line-of-sight radio receiver can get a signal. You can listen to the same station driving from Los Angeles to New York. Curiously, many controversial radio personalities have signed up for Satellite Radio, but I'm not sure why.
Due to their newness, I don't know if these stations are participants in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) I talked about under AM/FM radios. I hope they are. Their use during a national emergency would be of tremendous assistance to those people trapped outside reception areas where the power is out to the local broadcasters. I'll try and find out. If anybody out there knows, let me know so I can update my site.
Satellite radios operate on a frequency not available on normal AM/FM radios, so a special radio has to be purchased just for this system. As long as your batteries hold out, you can get music, news, and (controversial) talk shows. I would monitor the kids use, however, while the naughty ones are on the air.
G. WALKIE-TALKIES
Today's miniaturized walkie-talkies are a far cry from the 20 pound monsters carried by our troops in Vietnam. Kids run around with them in amusement parks keeping parents up to date on their latest mischief (don't we wish). Most often, its parents looking for their kids. These little items use frequencies in a very limited band width, and are very low powered.
There are, however, some pretty good hand-held CB radios around that can be used to augment base and mobile radios by people in your party out of the vehicle for any reason. You can keep track of them while in public areas or off in the woods. Their range is usually about 1/4 to 1/2 mile, so you can keep pretty good track of them as long as they don't wander too far off.
Their limited range and low power output make them only good as an augmenting radio to an existing system, such as mobile or base CB radios.
More expensive and more powerful, VHF and UHF walkie-talkies are available, but usually operate on commercial frequencies such as public utilities, business channels, or taxi frequencies. Most people I know don't use these as during the day they are very busy with business traffic.
H. SATELLITE INTERNET
This access may be worth considering. It's ideal for rural Internet users who want broadband access. Satellite Internet does not use telephone lines or cable systems, but instead uses a satellite dish for two-way (upload and download) data communications. Upload speed is about one-tenth of the 500 kbps download speed. Cable and DSL have higher download speeds, but satellite systems are about 10 times faster than a normal modem.
Firms that offer or plan to offer two-way satellite Internet include StarBand, Pegasus Express, Teledesic and Tachyon. Tachyon service is available today in the United States, Western Europe and Mexico. Pegasus Express is the two-way version of DirecPC.
The key installation planning requirement is a clear view to the south, since the orbiting satellites are over the equator area. And, like satellite TV, trees and heavy rains can affect reception of the Internet signals.
Some systems are specifically designed for mobile use, including the Mobile Universe system shown on the left. The dish automatically tracks the satellite as you drive giving you uninterrupted internet access while on the move.
Their stated price is $139.00 per month.
Laptop computers now range in prices from $600 to $1500 each and many are now wireless compatible.
As I write this article, almost all the information is already obsolete. Advances in computer technology are moving so fast that by the time a product reaches the market, it is "old fashioned" by some newer, faster technology. There is no such thing as "state of the art" computer systems. I cannot recommend these systems for emergency use unless you have really deep pockets and everyone in your party has access to the internet. One system, set up in the final shelter may be a great idea, but I would rather have a satellite telephone than a satellite computer. Nice toy but not back-pack friendly.
10. PORTABLE TELEVISIONS
I grew up during the entire development of television, from its inception in the 1940's and rapid growth through the years. Today, you can get tiny little television sets – in color – for a relatively tiny price. A far cry from the heavy, round screen TV's of the 1950's.
For example, the Casio 4" Handheld TV (EV4500) is sold at Radio Shack for $199.00. It uses either AC power or 4 AA batteries. It has a headphone jack as well as a built-in speaker.
For survival purposes, this type TV would be a pretty good choice, provided you have some way of replacing or recharging your batteries. They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words, and its true. Visualizing a problem is much easier when you can actually see what's going on.
Most TV stations are part of the EAS system so they will all be involved in broadcasting news about whatever the EAS guru's tell them to. The LOCAL news, however, may be of more use to you since that directly affects you in your travels, or at your survival site. If pressed, I couldn't say no to one of these toys without wondering what bit of information I would miss if I didn't have it.
I have a portable TV in my truck that plugs into my 12 volt system. It has a CD and video tape player to keep the kids happy, as well as "rabbit ears" for local news. However, its too heavy to back-pack. I would have to go with the small one if I had to "beat feet" out in the bush.
The major use I see (for me here in Florida) is to follow the track of hurricane winds in my area. If, for some reason, I have to leave my vehicle(s), I would definitely like to have a little set like this to see which direction to travel to avoid the high winds and storms.
SUMMARY
My first recommendation for survival communication will have to be for the satellite telephone. All the forms of communication I have mentioned require battery power, so I have to assume I can recharge my batteries, or will have spare batteries available for whatever I choose.
Next, I would set up mobile CB units in all the vehicles to be able to talk back and forth, and keep updated on traffic conditions. There will be a CB base station set up at the shelter. First occupants in set it up and turn it on, assisting others still on the road.
Without electrical power "from the grid", many services we take for granted today will not be available. Shelters must have some sort of generator system to be able to recharge batteries for prolonged survival.
But, before you rush out and purchase ANY system, be sure that everyone in your select group is willing to also foot the bill or share the expenses. None of these communications systems are worth a plug nickel unless everyone has one with them. Proper Prior Planning (and Purchasing) Prevents Poor Performance.
© 2006 RogueTurtle.com
Two tin cans and a string. It still works. But in a survival situation, you just might need something a little more modern. The ability to receive information in a timely manner will greatly increase your chances of survival in almost every scenario you can think of. There are many different ways to get information. More than you're probably aware of. You just have to plan ahead to have the necessary equipment with you. Yeah, once more we're back to the 6-P's: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Communication requires three parts: A sender, someone talking to you; a mode of transmission, telephone, for example; and a receiver, which is you. Talking face to face is always the best form of communication, but when you and your friends and family are scattered to the winds, this is impossible. You have to rely on some form of electromechanical means to assist you. I'm going to examine most of these systems so you can decide for yourselves which system will be best for you.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
When the Power is OFF
1. TELEPHONE
The most obvious first choice is the telephone. Mr. Bell's little invention that changed the world. We all have those ugly black wires hung on our houses, running through the walls. Now, the newest rage is the "cordless phone". Pick it up and walk anywhere in the house to talk. No more dragging a curly and tangled cord behind you. I have one that has two handsets. Actually, they are a very small, limited range radios, broadcasting around your house. But, when the power is off, so are the cordless phones.
The older rotary dial phones and push-button phones don't use radio to transmit or receive signals. They don't even need household electricity to work. Your house can be totally blacked out and the phone will still work. Why? Because the phone companies' power is still ON. Most phone companies have backup generators. The real trick is finding the ringing phone in the dark.
The limitation that the telephone has is that it is still tied to a hard-wired plug-in jack and the cord only goes so far before you have to stop moving. We've all pulled these phones off the desk or off the wall by tugging just one more inch of reach out of the cord. The other limitation is that there are only just so many phone wire (pairs) available for anybody to use. Once they are in use, nobody else can talk until a line comes open. This has caused many a customer to have a dialed number fail to connect.
A. UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
A newer trend in modern neighborhoods is to free up the landscape from unsightly poles with wires strung all over the place. So, they bury them all in the ground. Looks good. But, the first time someone digs a hole, they are bound to cut the wires. I think it's a law. The second problem is that anything buried gets drowned when it floods. Electrical wires, TV cable wires and telephone lines buried underground will short out when flooded. This is also a law. Underground service vaults (where the connections and relays are located) fill up shorting out the whole thing. Until these dry out, you are out of luck.
B. ABOVE GROUND UTILITIES
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't". Above ground lines are even more susceptible to damage from other sources. Hurricane and tornado strength winds blow down trees and short out everything. Cars and trucks crash into them. Crazies blow them up. Forest fires burn them up and avalanches crush them. All utility lines are vulnerable to be damaged or destroyed. At least underground, they won't burn up.
C. FAX MACHINES
The facsimile machine is just another type of telephone. Only this one needs even more electricity to run than the telephone itself. It is actually a type of mini-computer tied to a phone line that received digital "codes" to make an accurate copy of something somebody sends you. So, if your house power is off, the fax is also off.
2. CELLULAR PHONES
Cell phones operate within cells, and they can switch cells as they move around. Cells give cell phones incredible range. Someone using a cell phone can drive hundreds of miles and maintain a conversation the entire time because of the cellular approach. The problem with the cell concept is that at the center of each cell is a tower that is powered by electricity. Without electricity at the tower, the entire cell phone system falls on its collective behind. No electricity – no cell phones.
Of all the competitive communications systems out there, the cellular phone business has got to be at the top of the list.
3. SATELLITE PHONES
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a mobile phone that communicates directly with orbiting communications satellites. Iridium was the first satellite phone company. Depending on the architecture of a particular system, coverage may include the entire Earth, or only specific regions. The mobile equipment, also known as a terminal or earth station, varies widely. A satellite phone handset has a size and weight comparable to that of a late 1980s or early 1990s cell phone, but with a large retractable antenna. These are popular on expeditions into remote areas where terrestrial cellular service is unavailable.
The advantages over the land-based cellular phones is obvious. You talk and receive phone calls on your hand-held equipment that uses rechargable batteries. The satellite has its own source of power, the sun. It is the ultimate alternate energy project so far. All satellites are, for that matter. You don't use household electrical power EVER to use this system (except to recharge the battery). You can also recharge the battery off of a plug into your automobiles' electrical system. As long as your batteries keep a charge, you can talk anywhere in the world...almost.
The "almost" means that if you call somebody on a standard cellular phone, it still won't work if the power is not working around the cellular phone. It takes TWO satphones to guarantee communication. All other type phone systems will eventually fail when all power is lost...except the satphones. They just keep on, keep'in on.
Sat Phone companies will lease you a telephone and charge by the minute just as they did if you were around when cell phones first came out. As competition increases, the rates will go down. One company has 66 satellites up there for world-wide coverage.
THE SATELLITE PHONE IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE MOST RELIABLE OF ALL THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AVAILABLE TO THE SURVIVALIST. While there are moderately high-end monthly fees, the safety and protection they provide are head and shoulders above any other means of communication.
4. AM and FM Commercial Radio
All the countless radio stations in the country will NOT all go off the air at the same time. A disaster in your local area will probably not affect a town 25, 50 or 100 miles away. That means that they will be broadcasting news and weather to you, provided you have a radio to hear it. For a national level emergency, the start will be from the EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
The EAS system was established by the FCC in November of 1994 with the approval of Part 11 EAS rules. The EAS replaced the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) as a tool the President and others may use to warn the public about emergency situations.
All participating commercial radio stations in the country, in times of national crisis will be issued an EMERGENCY ACTION NOTIFICATION MESSAGE:
"This is an emergency action message requested by the White House. All broadcast stations will follow activation procedures in the EAS Operating Handbook for a national level emergency. The President of the United States or his representative will shortly deliver a message over the Emergency Alert System."
All licensed radio stations receiving this notification must then make the following announcement:
"We interrupt our programming; this is a national emergency. Important instructions will follow."
The next announcement (for participating manual operations...that is, there are people there working and not a pre-recorded program) will be:
"This is an Emergency Action Notification. All broadcast stations and cable systems will broadcast this Emergency Action Notification Message. This station has interrupted its regular programming at the request of the White House to participate in this Emergency Alert System.
During this emergency, most stations will remain on the air providing news and information to the public in assigned areas. This is (station call name). We will continue to serve the (EAS local area name). If you are not in this local area you should tune to stations providing news and information for your local area. You are listening to the Emergency Alert System serving the (EAS local name) area.
Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines should be kept open for emergency use. The Emergency Alert System has been activated.
We will also be acting as a message distribution and relay source to other broadcasting stations."
The priorities for Emergency Action Messages to be broadcast are:
Presidential messages to be carried "live".
Local area messages
State messages
National Information Center (NIC) messages
Termination of the Emergency will be almost a repeat of how it started, but the final notification to the radio station will be:
"This concludes the Emergency Alert System. All broadcast stations may now resume normal programming operations".
Stations then will return to "normal" programming however they see fit.
It is also important to know that this same Emergency Alert System can be activated at the local and state level for local emergencies, not just "national" emergencies.
ALL THESE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS MEAN NOTHING UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD RADIO TO RECEIVE THESE MESSAGES. YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON IT.
5. Citizen's Band Radio
"Breaker one-nine for the Rubber Duck" ... Movie lore is full of the uses and abuses of the CB radio. Truckers have for years installed these radios in their trucks to keep them alert on the road. Any citizen of the United States can purchase and install a CB radio without needing any license or permit. Outside the US, there may, or may not, be restrictions.
The FCC has set aside a band of frequencies for CB use: All frequencies are MHz.
CHANNEL FREQUENCY
01 26.965 MHz
02 26.975
03 26.985
04 27.005
05 27.015
06 27.025
07 27.035
08 27.055
09 27.065 Emergency
10 27.075
11 27.085
12 27.105
13 27.115
14 27.125
15 27.135 Traditional Sideband
16 27.155 Traditional Sideband
17 27.165
18 27.175
19 27.185 Traditional Truckers Frequency
20 27.205
21 27.215 Traditional Truckers Frequency
22 27.225
23 27.255
24 27.235
25 27.245
26 27.265
27 27.275
28 27.285
29 27.295
30 27.305 Traditional Sideband
31 27.315
32 27.325
33 27.335
34 27.345
35 27.355
36 27.365
37 27.375
38 27.385
39 27.395
40 27.405
Channel 09, in red, is the emergency channel, but to be honest, it is not monitored very much by anybody.
Channel 19, in blue, somehow got adopted as the unofficial truckers channel. If you monitor this one, be prepared for all sorts of graphic traffic conditions...language varies.
The primary use for CB is while traveling to and from home, either by talking to a home base radio or from car-to-car. CB radio allows you to keep informed with up to the minute status of the occupants in the vehicles and the condition of the vehicles (fuel status, etc.). You can coordinate group efforts between vehicles, such as a mutual place to stop for fuel or food.
The other use for CB is to monitor the road conditions both ahead and behind you. The truckers will let you know about the traffic delays, and usually graphically describe how long they have been stuck in stalled traffic. Time is money to them.
From a lot of years of experience with CB radios, I can tell you without hesitation that "going cheap" will be a really BAD IDEA. Cheap radios do not transmit or receive very well. The radios are limited to 12 Watts of power ONLY and you won't even get that with a cheap radio. At the maximum, most CB radios (unmodified) will only get from 3 to 5 miles range. This, of course, depends a lot on your pocketbook.
CB MOBILE UNITS
Some expertise is needed to wire up and install a CB radio without shorting out your ignition and battery system. All the units sold in the USA use 12 volt, negative ground systems. The more powerful the radio, the heavier the power wires have to be. Here is the radio I use:
Cobra 148 GTL CB Radio $159.95
12 watts power SSB RF output increases range capabilities with SSB operation. 4 full watts AM RF power output. Dual converstion AM receiver - maximum frequency response and spurious rejection. Professional driver-requested improvements include a front panel microphone connector, tactile controls (for added convenience and safety when adjusting functions).
Includes microphone, mounting bracket, mount knobs, & power cord.
Approximate Dimensions:
Height - 2 3/8"
Width 7 7/8"
Length - 9 1/4"
Add approx 1" for knobs on front & 1/2" antenna connection on back.
Additional Features:
40 CB Channels
Front Panel Mic Connector
Full RF Power Output
Dynamike Gain Control
RF Gain Control
PA Function
1 year warranty*
But, you're not done with the expense yet. Every good radio uses a good antenna. Without the antenna all you have is a brick. Here's the one I use:
High Power Ability To Handle 5,000 Watts AM, 20,000 Watts SSB (ICAS) Made with high impact Mobay Thermoplastic 6 gauge solid copper silver-plated wire Exclusive low loss coil design 62" 17-7 PH Tapered spring stainless steel whip Frequency range 26 MHz to 30 MHz Weather Channel Ready Available in Roof Top, Trunk Lip, or Magnetic Mount Removable coil for safe storage & garage entrance Weather Cap included to protect mount when coil is removed 2 year warranty.
Price: $99.95
You may be asking yourselves why I use an antenna capable of handling 5,000 watts when the radio only puts out 12 watts? The answer is that I could "expand" my capability beyond what the factory and the FCC says I can use. I won't admit to anything, but there are ways to "boost" or "kick up" your power for transmission. Since telling you exactly how to do this would be skirting some law or another, all I can say is that if you get with a group of CB knowledgeable people, someone will know how to do it. Inside some handheld radios, there is a capacitor that can be "clipped", boosting the output power from 2 or 4 watts to 12 watts. From there, the outgoing signal can be further boosted by adding a LINEAR AMPLIFIER that goes to the antenna. The going rate (used to be) about a dollar and a half per watt output. A 400 watt amp would be around $600.00 (new). You can get better deals on Ebay, if you know what you're doing.
CAUTION: Not all amplifiers work on CB. Find an expert and find out EXACTLY what you need.
CB BASE RADIOS
These radios attach to a much larger antenna than the mobile units. It can, therefore put out and receive much better. They usually are supplied with a 120 volt/AC power source, but almost all of them can be connected to a 12 volt/DC battery and still work very well. As always, the charge in the battery is the limiting factor. Any radio, however, could be a base radio, it is just installed indoors, instead of in your car.
I have a couple of base radios I can use, but right now they're not in service. Here's an example:
RANGER'S NEWEST 10 METER RADIO $ 279.95
Features:
10 Watts AM, 25 Watts SSB
Adjustable Dual Echo (Not Just On-Off!!)
Selectable Talk Back, Roger Beep and Mic/RF Gain
6-Digit Frequency Counter
6 Position Band Switch With +10KHz Offset
Cobra power mike - 4 pin. Good for Base or Mobile radios. $19.95
Wired for Cobra, Connex, Uniden, Galaxy, General, Ranger, 4 pin models only and the Magnum and Cobra 148 (new) 4 pin version
RogueTurtle and clan each use one of these and they are terrific.
Has a 9 volt battery to send a "boosted" signal into the radio before it ever gets transmitted. Improves the broadcast of your transmissions and adds clarity to the spoken word.
Since it's attached to your house or shelter, the base antenna can be much larger than the mobile antenna. This helps collect weak signals from long distances, and greatly improves the power output of any base radio.
The MACO Comet $239.95 plus coaxial cable (extra)
A long-distance 6-element base station with 12.5 dB gain and dual polarity. This antenna is designed for CB'ers who want a booming base station, but space is a problem. And, it has the MACO 2 kw power handling capability!
This is just a "teaser" on CB equipment. If you are serious about getting a Citizens Band radio set up, you need to sit down with an expert and tell him or her what you need. Mixing incompatible components will be costly and could damage sensitive radio equipment, putting you out of business before you even get started. There are uncountable combinations out there, but they are NOT all compatible with each other.
For car-to-car information, you can't beat the hard-wired CB radio. It has a range of 12 to 30 miles depending on your "improvements", and is a very reliable form of communication.
6. AMATEUR (HAM) RADIO
Ham radio operators are a special breed of enthusiasts who take their radio skills and craft very seriously. Broadcasting on a relatively small range of closely controlled radio frequencies, they virtually police themselves. In some advanced CB radios, using a SSB or Lower Side Band setting can bring your CB dangerously close to the frequency used in the 10 meter or 12 meter bands. I have been chewed out on the radio more than once by Ham operators who felt I was infringing on his sacred bandwidth. I, of course, apologized and changed channels immediately.
Unlike CB radio, all Ham operators are licensed by the FCC as well as their local clubs. Many frequencies are dedicated not only to Ham operators, but are restricted to a certain class of license that is eligible to use the channel. I'm not a Ham operator, so I don't know all the details, but in order to get a "full ticket", that is, fully qualified in all channels, takes years and years of work and study. There are a series of tests administered to determine skill level in the operators. They take great justifiable pride in their skill levels, and (unfortunately) many look down on the "lowly" CB people as some sort of sub-species. At least I'm not a geek.
Unless you're willing to get into a local radio club and study your brains out, Ham operations should probably be avoided. Their equipment and antennas are very expensive, and each bandwidth is monitored, somewhere in the world, by an egomaniac.
The advantage of Ham Radio is their vast world-wide (capability). Depending on atmospheric conditions, Ham operators can talk to anywhere in the world. Talking city to city in the USA is easy...talking to Japan or Germany takes a better radio than CB can offer. However, most Ham operations are fixed, not mobile. They make it hard to "bug out". I cannot recommend Ham Radio for survivalists. It's not flexible enough.
7. MARINE RADIO
A marine radio is mandatory for all boats over 65.5 feet, and optional for all those smaller boats out there. Marine radio is in a very small frequency band that is always crowded on even a good day. They have one frequency called a "hailing frequency", and when you are answered you are directed to another, lesser used channel. With a line-of-sight range of only about 35 miles (barefoot, or non-amplified), the marine radio has limited use. Inland from either coast, marine radios could be used, but there are better uses for your money. I can't recommend using a marine radio for survival purposes, unless you are surviving on a boat. In that case, you should have TWO radios, in case one breaks.
8. AIRCRAFT RADIOS
An aircraft radio becomes very expensive whenever the word "aircraft" is attached to it. It could be the same Radio Shack components available in a $100.00 radio, but when it's an "aircraft radio" the cost doubles or triples. Aircraft radios are set up to use aircraft-compatible antennas that may not be appropriate for your vehicle. I know you can't drive as fast as an aircraft can fly. Many aircraft radios use standard aircraft (24 volt) power supplies not available in most cars. Since the possibility exists for you to interfere in the orderly flow of aircraft traffic, DO NOT USE AIRCRAFT RADIOS. Let the pilots get along with their own problems without you adding to them. Can you tell I used to fly in the Air Force for a living?
Exception: If you are using an aircraft for your bug out, by all means use the installed radios to follow all the required Air Traffic Control regulations governing your flight. Survival means keeping you and your family safe. If the airwaves are not cluttered with misused radios, your flight should be as uneventful as possible. Flight = hours of boredom followed by moments of panic.
9. SPECIALTY RADIOS
These are special radios or radio frequencies you don't normally think about during your normal daily life. Most of the following items are available at a relatively low cost, or are a free service provided by the Federal Government.
Global Positioning Satellites
(GPS) Over 50 satellites now cover the globe since their first launch in 1978. Handheld and fixed receivers in vehicles now are taken for granted by many car buyers. Accuracy has now improved so much that the GPS signals can guide you through crowded city streets over open and rough terrain. First designed by the military for foot soldiers (who get lost easily), this service is now free for civilian use. However, in time of WAR, the military could just adjust their GPS satellites so that only the military version would be accurate. This takes away the use of GPS by the enemy. It makes sense.
As far as I know, there would be no way to tell exactly when the military decides to make this move. It would, for sure, be during a time of national emergency and/or an imminent threat to our troops in other parts of the world. I suppose that reading your GPS in your front yard in Indiana and finding out the GPS says you are in Alaska would be a very good "clue".
For all other type emergencies (short of WAR), GPS will continue to work on its own power sending signals to earth, to your receiver.
There are now hundreds of models and styles of GPS receivers now in use. Many cell phones have allegedly had a chip installed in them so your location can be followed by "somebody". (Big Brother???) Cars routinely come off the assembly line with GPS services, as well as other costly aids to navigation provided when the warranty is up.
I like GPS. Its fun to use, particularly walking at night, under the clouds, with no way to tell where you are except for the GPS and a compass. Again, if your batteries die, so does the GPS. Use it for a weight to catch fish.
A. NOAA Radio
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is part of the US Department of Commerce. The National Weather Service is part of NOAA. Since the National Weather Service has a primary responsibility to monitor severe weather, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, they have their own severe weather warning radio system.
By tuning into the local NOAA radio stations, you can keep up to date on the progress of severe weather that is going on NOW, and forecast for the future. It gives a whole lot of weather information that could be critical to your safety. Many manufacturers now produce small, desktop radios that only turn on when NOAA sends out its warning signal for local area bad weather. This system has now been refined down to warning only the radios within a certain geographical area. In the past, NOAA warning radios would go off for a tornado in Cleveland, even if you lived in Tampa. Now, only the Tampa area gets a warning when the weather is bad in Tampa, not Cleveland.
Special radios are for sale that are easily carried in a pocket while you are in the bush. If you think that bad weather is approaching, turn on the radio and get the official version from NOAA.
B. WWV, Fort Collins, Colorado
A little-known, but much used in the military, these frequencies give you the exact date and time. Based on the atomic clocks, this station sends out a synchronous time signal and verbal time announcements 24/7/365. If you are in doubt as to the exact time, remember that the time given is Universal (Greenwich) time and you have to adjust it for your own time zone. GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time (called "Zulu" time in the military) does not change for seasons or local politicians. It does not care if you're on daylight savings time or not, it just gives out the most accurate Universal time possible.
C. WWV FREQUENCIES:
The station broadcasts simultaneously on five distinct frequencies: 2.5 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz and 20 MHz. Many newer model radios have the capability to receive time signals in this area of the radio frequency band not covered by AM or FM radio. If all you own is the AM/FM radio, you cannot receive WWV radio signals.
D. SATELLITE TELEVISION
"Direct TV", for example.
Another source of information. Most of the hardware and electronics that power the satellite TV receivers is 120 volt/AC current. This is not battery voltage and must be supplied by a generator while in the woods. A lot of campers now have the little dishes mounted on trailers or on tripods that sit by the campfire. All satellite TV dishes must have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky because that's where the satellite hangs out. As long as you have gas for the generator, your satellite TV will still work. When your out of gas, the satellite TV goes OFF. I don't use the satellite TV any more, it got to be just too much trouble and went out whenever it rained. Others swear that the rain never affected the signal. I know it did on my set up. I switched back to land-based, ugly black wire cable.
E. SCANNERS
Scanners are another source of information that can be used to search for where the action is. It is important in using scanners that you have some idea which section of the radio band you really want to search. If you spend a lot of money on a scanner, but search in the wrong band width areas, it will appear not to work. Companies such as Radio Shack, sell guides on scanner frequencies that include Fire, Police, Ambulance, Civil Aviation, CB, etc., etc.
WARNING: The scanner must NOT be ON when you are broadcasting from a radio in or around the scanners' antenna. I blew out a perfectly fine scanner in my own truck when I forgot to turn it off and it scanned around to the frequency I was using to broadcast. I burned the poor little thing to a crisp. Lesson learned...an expensive one for me. I now use a less expensive hand-held scanner.
A lot of scanner fans keep close records of the active frequencies in their local area. If you can find one of these folks, have him/her copy it for your use. Now you don't have to wonder who's voice it is you're listening to. Roger? Ten-four. Over and Out.
F. SATELLITE RADIO
The newest radio on the block, Satellite Radio has its broadcasting antenna high above the atmosphere. It can reach almost anywhere a normal line-of-sight radio receiver can get a signal. You can listen to the same station driving from Los Angeles to New York. Curiously, many controversial radio personalities have signed up for Satellite Radio, but I'm not sure why.
Due to their newness, I don't know if these stations are participants in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) I talked about under AM/FM radios. I hope they are. Their use during a national emergency would be of tremendous assistance to those people trapped outside reception areas where the power is out to the local broadcasters. I'll try and find out. If anybody out there knows, let me know so I can update my site.
Satellite radios operate on a frequency not available on normal AM/FM radios, so a special radio has to be purchased just for this system. As long as your batteries hold out, you can get music, news, and (controversial) talk shows. I would monitor the kids use, however, while the naughty ones are on the air.
G. WALKIE-TALKIES
Today's miniaturized walkie-talkies are a far cry from the 20 pound monsters carried by our troops in Vietnam. Kids run around with them in amusement parks keeping parents up to date on their latest mischief (don't we wish). Most often, its parents looking for their kids. These little items use frequencies in a very limited band width, and are very low powered.
There are, however, some pretty good hand-held CB radios around that can be used to augment base and mobile radios by people in your party out of the vehicle for any reason. You can keep track of them while in public areas or off in the woods. Their range is usually about 1/4 to 1/2 mile, so you can keep pretty good track of them as long as they don't wander too far off.
Their limited range and low power output make them only good as an augmenting radio to an existing system, such as mobile or base CB radios.
More expensive and more powerful, VHF and UHF walkie-talkies are available, but usually operate on commercial frequencies such as public utilities, business channels, or taxi frequencies. Most people I know don't use these as during the day they are very busy with business traffic.
H. SATELLITE INTERNET
This access may be worth considering. It's ideal for rural Internet users who want broadband access. Satellite Internet does not use telephone lines or cable systems, but instead uses a satellite dish for two-way (upload and download) data communications. Upload speed is about one-tenth of the 500 kbps download speed. Cable and DSL have higher download speeds, but satellite systems are about 10 times faster than a normal modem.
Firms that offer or plan to offer two-way satellite Internet include StarBand, Pegasus Express, Teledesic and Tachyon. Tachyon service is available today in the United States, Western Europe and Mexico. Pegasus Express is the two-way version of DirecPC.
The key installation planning requirement is a clear view to the south, since the orbiting satellites are over the equator area. And, like satellite TV, trees and heavy rains can affect reception of the Internet signals.
Some systems are specifically designed for mobile use, including the Mobile Universe system shown on the left. The dish automatically tracks the satellite as you drive giving you uninterrupted internet access while on the move.
Their stated price is $139.00 per month.
Laptop computers now range in prices from $600 to $1500 each and many are now wireless compatible.
As I write this article, almost all the information is already obsolete. Advances in computer technology are moving so fast that by the time a product reaches the market, it is "old fashioned" by some newer, faster technology. There is no such thing as "state of the art" computer systems. I cannot recommend these systems for emergency use unless you have really deep pockets and everyone in your party has access to the internet. One system, set up in the final shelter may be a great idea, but I would rather have a satellite telephone than a satellite computer. Nice toy but not back-pack friendly.
10. PORTABLE TELEVISIONS
I grew up during the entire development of television, from its inception in the 1940's and rapid growth through the years. Today, you can get tiny little television sets – in color – for a relatively tiny price. A far cry from the heavy, round screen TV's of the 1950's.
For example, the Casio 4" Handheld TV (EV4500) is sold at Radio Shack for $199.00. It uses either AC power or 4 AA batteries. It has a headphone jack as well as a built-in speaker.
For survival purposes, this type TV would be a pretty good choice, provided you have some way of replacing or recharging your batteries. They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words, and its true. Visualizing a problem is much easier when you can actually see what's going on.
Most TV stations are part of the EAS system so they will all be involved in broadcasting news about whatever the EAS guru's tell them to. The LOCAL news, however, may be of more use to you since that directly affects you in your travels, or at your survival site. If pressed, I couldn't say no to one of these toys without wondering what bit of information I would miss if I didn't have it.
I have a portable TV in my truck that plugs into my 12 volt system. It has a CD and video tape player to keep the kids happy, as well as "rabbit ears" for local news. However, its too heavy to back-pack. I would have to go with the small one if I had to "beat feet" out in the bush.
The major use I see (for me here in Florida) is to follow the track of hurricane winds in my area. If, for some reason, I have to leave my vehicle(s), I would definitely like to have a little set like this to see which direction to travel to avoid the high winds and storms.
SUMMARY
My first recommendation for survival communication will have to be for the satellite telephone. All the forms of communication I have mentioned require battery power, so I have to assume I can recharge my batteries, or will have spare batteries available for whatever I choose.
Next, I would set up mobile CB units in all the vehicles to be able to talk back and forth, and keep updated on traffic conditions. There will be a CB base station set up at the shelter. First occupants in set it up and turn it on, assisting others still on the road.
Without electrical power "from the grid", many services we take for granted today will not be available. Shelters must have some sort of generator system to be able to recharge batteries for prolonged survival.
But, before you rush out and purchase ANY system, be sure that everyone in your select group is willing to also foot the bill or share the expenses. None of these communications systems are worth a plug nickel unless everyone has one with them. Proper Prior Planning (and Purchasing) Prevents Poor Performance.
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