Radio Communication needs, wants and fairy tale dreams

[Lightspeed]

Radio coms solutions, just like most other aspects of preparedness come down to subjective needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

1. The first question is why bother, when broadcast radio, TV, mobile phones and internet VOIP services are now reliable and available around the entire globe?

Answer: Because these systems are not under our own control, they depend on services supplied by others and these services can either fail or be purposely closed down.

2. Second question to ask is would a communications system actually be NEEDED in your plans? If mobile phones and VOIP were no longer operating, would you still NEED to communicate over greater than shouting distances? By communicate I mean receiving as well as sending communications.

Needs can be further broken down:

2.1 Need to gather news and information from the outside world.

Solution to consider:
radio receivers, FM / AM / LW UK and near-continent broadcast stations

Shortwave receiver As above, but with world-wide coverage.

Ham radio receiver: To listen in to UK and possibly world-wide discussions among Ham operators.

2.2 Need to be able to communicate tactically between members of your own group and outsiders over a short distance ( up to 1km)

Solutions: Self-contained hand held walkie talkie type radios are ideal for this role. Types: CB. PMR446, VHF, UHF

2.3 Need to be able to communicate tactically between members of your own group and outsiders over a distance equating to a days’ on-foot foraging ( up to say 30km)

Solution: This is probably the hardest need to meet. CB and high powered VHF/UHF radios give best chance of success

2.4 Need to be able to communicate tactically between members of your own group and outsiders nationally:

Solutions: Ham / Military High Frequency Shortwave equipment using NVIS techniques ( see NVIS threads). Plus appropriate specialised antenna Plus knowledge / skill to operate the equipment

2.5 Need to be able to communicate tactically between members of your own group and outsiders world-wide

Solutions: Ham / Military High Frequency Shortwave equipment. Plus appropriate specialised antenna, Plus knowledge / skill to operate the equipment


So, determining what is NEEDED drives choice of equipment and learning how to use it. There is no right or wrong choice, just choices that allow more or less capability.

Of course, with radio being a personal interest/ hobby for me, my group has equipment that covers all of the needs I've described, but the radio equipment that we use most is the simplest of the lot: 8 Channel PMRs turn out to be absolutely the most used and most versatile of the lot for this household.

And the Fairy-tale dream?
This is the TV and Film based illusion that there are simple walkie-talkie devices that can basically meet all of the above needs easily and reliably, like a kind of private mobile phone service. Sadly, no such device exists, its just fiction at the current time.

[Devonian]

test

[NorthernRaider]

I would add though that setting aside privacy issues a ham licence is a useful skill to have, plus where s once over HAM gear cos a fortune these days its often cheaper than PMR or CB gear, EG £35 for a UV5R against £ 80 for a similar CB

[Midnitemo]

I could have probably got by with my Motorola walkie talkies or maybe just gone with a PMR set up but I went with a combination of stuff , couple of grundig worldband radio's, 3 yaesu ft60e's an ft7900 basestation and the aforementioned walkies , doesn't hurt to have options.

[Midnitemo]

oop's forgot the old midland 40ch cb I found in the loft while moving.

[Midnitemo]

P.S. are Nagoya stubby aerials any good? can buy 3 with change for the cost of one Diamond and I'm worried i'll get a fake if I buy the diamonds as they seem to be rife , want the stubbies for close in work(saves getting a poke in the eye when its in your breast pocket/webbing)

[NorthernRaider]

I fitted nagoya na 771s to my PMRs and they are fastly better than the OE kit.

[Lightspeed]

(4 June 2016, 15:21)Midnitemo Wrote: P.S. are Nagoya stubby aerials any good? can buy 3 with change for the cost of one Diamond and I'm worried i'll get a fake if I buy the diamonds as they seem to be rife , want the stubbies for close in work(saves getting a poke in the eye when its in your breast pocket/webbing)

I purchased a couple of the supposedly Diamond brand Stubbies as I was looking for an ultra low power solution with minimal RF footprint. They were rubbish knock-off, only just within SWR tolerance and only on the UHF band I seem to remember. I have some notes somewhere.

Nagoyas are also a little hit and miss SWR-wise. Some good some not so.

It is a good idea to invest in a VHF/UHF SWR meter and patch leads / plug convertors so that you can accurately test antennas on your desired frequencies.

[Lightspeed]

(4 June 2016, 15:14)Midnitemo Wrote: I could have probably got by with my Motorola walkie talkies or maybe just gone with a PMR set up but I went with a combination of stuff , couple of grundig worldband radio's, 3 yaesu ft60e's an ft7900 basestation and the aforementioned walkies , doesn't hurt to have options.

What sort of range are you able to achieve between your base station and FT60s?

Have you played with the ARTS system between your units? I keep meaning to set mine up but never seem to get enough time:-(

[Midnitemo]

Have only unboxed and powered it up once to check it works.....transmiting just within the confines of my house on the lowest power just the once and it obviously worked flawlessly if not a little to well , I have a portable antennae mounted on a scaffold pole into a cast iron parasol stand , quick to mount/dismount am very pleased with the set up and i may in time go legit as a ham projects permitting.