Connunications update following Polls:

[Lightspeed]

(9 July 2012, 19:43)Paul Wrote:

(9 July 2012, 10:13)Lightspeed Wrote: Good points NR, and largely I agree with you. But how many preppers are within 10 to 15 miles of you at the moment?.....and how are you going to find out? That's the probable max range you'll get with a fixed CB station and good antenna......

I'm chipping in here.
There is one prepper close to me and 9 other CB'ers.
All have useful skills, all within walking range (10 miles)

Hi Paul,

Odd my reply last night just shows an empty space (no gags please)

Here it is again:

Thanks for this Paul,

Its good to hear what is possible in real life, not just in theory. Have you any idea how many actice CB stations there are in the UK now? Does anyone know? Large parts of the country seem completely dead...

I'm going to stay on track with the NVIS stuff, but that in no way means thatthe CB route is abandoned. As you say for close in 10 mile radius working its an excellent choice.

73


How were they found? By random calling on CH.19. Found one, he knew one so that's how I met him. Count is two. He knew one, had a chat, then it was 3. The rest joined in gradually as they scanned for users.
Total 10. I've met 3 face to face.
No calling plan was invoked, just "19 for a copy" and "breaker on the side".
Not even remotely complicated.

When my car burst a hose one of the CB'ers collected the new hose, delivered it, and helped me fit it. (I hadn't met him before, just chatted). That's now four face to face meetings. I have still to meet the prepper.

If I had called my old CB / freeband group they are 155 miles away.
Too far to help me HF frequencies or not. Local help was what I needed and what I got.

CB may not be powerful, no real range( unless you know what you are doing) yet for me potentially 9 sources of help and visa versa for them. Good enough for me.

Note:- 4 out of the 9 run mobiles in their car. 3 more have battery backups to 'their mobile working as a base station' set ups as mains round here is basically rubbish in winter as it the phone system. The other 2 run hand helds in tractors.

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Nope, something very strange happening on this thread, replies not being posted as written

I'll try again

Thanks for this Paul,

Its good to hear what is possible in real life, not just in theory. Have you any idea how many actice CB stations there are in the UK now? Does anyone know? Large parts of the country seem completely dead...

I'm going to stay on track with the NVIS stuff, but that in no way means thatthe CB route is abandoned. As you say for close in 10 mile radius working its an excellent choice.

73