Simple Two Way Radio for Preppers

[NorthernRaider]

Simple Two Way Radio for Preppers
© NR 2012

I believe that a radio system for prepper families, prepper groups is advantageous in the current climate, and I equally believe it should be as SIMPLE as possible as well.

Prepper communications need to be first and foremost set up with PREPPERS in mind and not Amateur Radio Enthusiasts. Most preppers are just ordinary everyday people who become preppers and they need to be able to simply pick up and use a very simple radio and use it when the whole world could be unraveling around them.

People in life threatening high stress situations do not need to start worrying about technical issues apart from have they got the right batteries and is the antenna plugged in.

A system that is NOT requiring licensing by the state or other authorities as to maintain the low profile status required by most preppers our privacy is vital and its simply unnecessary risk putting yourself on government held lists such as licensing authorities.(poor opsec)

It will need to be set up, tested and operational long BEFORE TSHTF so issues like local radio dead spots are identified, best ranges are identified, its ACTUAL useable range determined etc. The kit needs to be comfortably familiar in the hands of its users NOW so that when TSHTF they do not become frustrated or hampered because of over complicated equipment.

It needs to have a reliable useable range even in bad weather, different people will have different requirements but a straw poll among a few preppers I work with say 5 miles in a urban environment and up to ten miles in a rural environment would be highly desirable, this negates PMR 446 in its standard legal form according to industry experts**** (See technical advice from Durham Communications at bottom of page)

The handset needs to have CHANNEL numbers not frequencies, but a display showing both would be equally acceptable. Civilians under stress need to know to go to Channel 9 or 19 not start looking for 26.68125 or 27.78125.

The radio needs to be simply picked up and turned on to be used and not require cables, computer programs, band allocation, step selection, algorithms, programming or any other specialist technical requirements, Simplicity MUST be the key.

Ideally it needs at least some channels available that are not commonly used by CB and Amateur radio users (especially after TSHTF) BUT currently the CB and 10 meter bands do offer the easiest option though both bands are frequently inhabited by unpleasant types (CB) or potential official trouble (Amateur) But again accessing the more secure channels must be exceedingly simple to achieve.

The antenna fitted to the radio needs to be of a quick change design enabling longer or shorter pre-tuned antenna to be used as the situation allows.

Naturally common sense insists that the radios utilize commonly available batteries such as the AA or slightly less popular AAA sizes, the radio itself needs to be able to use Rechargeable as well as Disposable batteries.

Brief summary

For a basic reliable very simple to operate radio system the current CB 80 channels of 27 FM UK and 27 FM CEPT offer the simplest option though it must be admitted that in many areas you still find retarded half with the IQ of a cabbage swearing, shouting and playing music over some channels, we can simply hope these cretins do not survive the initial catastrophe.

Some modern CB sets offer CB and 10 meter amateur bands on the same hand set that are accessed by the simple cutting of a wire link. But at least if you get bitten by the radio bug and decide to get an amateur license you won’t need a new radio.


Reliable
Affordable
Suitable for the job (have good range even in bad weather)
Use commonly available batteries (normally AA)
Use Channels not frequencies
Be at least 4 / 5 watts output
Be unlicensed (For maintaining operational security)
Not require relay or repeater stations
Can easily be fitted into vehicles of home base station duty
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PMR 446 information courtesy of Durham Communications

http://durhamcommunications.co.uk/Range.php

“Two Way Radios
Range to be expected.
Unlicenced Handportable Radios (PMR446)
Ever met someone who had a radio that covered half the planet? They don’t have it now to demonstrate its amazing capabilities but they remember that it worked for miles and miles and only cost about £20
Seen brochures claiming that the particular radio being promoted will work over
a distance of anything from two to five miles or more?
So what’s happening, and what can really be expected?
Check the small print and you will find something like this (Taken from an actual brochure): The communication range quoted is calculated based on an unobstructed line of sight test under optimum conditions. Actual range will vary depending on terrain and conditions, and is often less than the maximum possible. Your actual range will be limited by several factors including, but not limited to: terrain, weather conditions, electromagnetic interference, and obstructions.
The unlicensed radio market (PMR446) is very competitive, with each manufacturer trying to find a gimmick of some sort to increase their market share. So when one manufacturer decides to claim a maximum range under ideal conditions, all the other manufacturers tend to follow to remain competitive. So until there is a standard range test to which all manufacturers adhere to, it would be prudent to ere on the side of caution when looking at these claims.
As a matter of interest "the claimed" long distance record for a PMR446 radio is 535.8 km (333 miles) from the town of Blyth in the United Kingdom to the the city of Almere in the Netherlands. Let’s hope the manufacturers don’t cotton on to this!
Back to reality: The actual range of a radio is dependent on many factors including environment (inner city range is far less than in open field), height above surrounding obstructions and to a very much lesser extent weather conditions. The radios recieve sensitivity, the antenna type & effficiency will also affect the range of the radio. Good quality radios used "back to back " will in most conditions, work in a line off sight path, with range being gradualy reduced or even curtailed by any buildings or geographical features obstructing that path.
Distorted speech quality: can often be attributed more to build quality than to “range” problems. After all in the real world you generally get what you pay for, and you cannot realistically expect, optimum aerials and premium voice quality to equate with radios costing from as little as £25 a pair that are built to a price for the consumer/hobby market.
From our experience you can realistically expect with a commercial quality handportable PMR446 radio, a workable range of about three quarters of a mile to a mile outdoors, or about a half of a mile or less in a built up city environment. If additional range is needed for your application, licenced radios or a system useing licenced radios may be more appropriate.
In the typical factory, hotel, school, leisure centre or swimming pool pure distance isn’t usually the main requirement. More likely the radio needs to be capable of penetrating walls between rooms and other obstacles with decent voice quality being the norm rather than the exception.”.