Which Radio / Comms Gear

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(11 June 2013, 08:11)River Song Wrote: LS

Satcom has no government controlled access. I can go out and buy a satphone on one of three commercial networks today.
Trouble is we are talking around £500-£800 for the phone and around £2 per minute call charges. But at least they are not reliant on earth bound cellphone/mobile network.

I know from my own work that gold/silver/ and possibly bronze is going to be given or already have special sim cards and if the SHTF then only those units with special sim cards will be able to operate. Those are present plans.

I see no plans for the satellite networks but I could be wrong.

Ham Radio could be useful. I have family around 150 miles away. I am in East Anglia and they are in Surrey with London in between !!

I personally reckon it might be easier to run the satphones although the radio waves are not controllable.

Long Term? In the rebuilding phase? I had considered packet-radio as a precursor to a new data network


X

RS

East Anglia to Surrey is very doable on Ham frequencies with as little as 10w power. I know as I used to live in both Surrey and Hampshire and had very reliable comms with friends in East Anglia. Antennas were very simple end fed wires, albeit 20 metres long. Reliable second hand equipment that is suitable for voice transmission over this range will cost around £500.( also this type of radio will have capability as a very high grade world wide shortwave receiver for the broadcast and often airbands as well) Brand new radios that are capable of reliable communications in Morse Code cover this range will cost in the region of £250 each. Such equipment is available to run from 12v power ( car battery / solar chargable arrangements)

CB is sometimes capable of the range you require at the moment. "at the moment" and "sometimes" are critical words here though. At the moment we are at the peak of atmospheric conditions that favour CB, things will get worse and worse over the next 5 years before recovering bit by bit for another 5 years or so. The sometimes bit refers to unreliable and fluctuating atmospheric conditions that take place in the summer months. But the good thing is that you can start using the radios immediately without the need any registration or licensing. Cost for new units from £50 to £250 each

PMR446 type radios be they 0.5w or 5.0w power are good for very local and out as far as line of sight ( generally 6 to 25 miles or so) You will have no chance of point to point direct communications between EA and Surrey with this type of radio. (nor VHF, nor UHF nor Marine band)

Cheers

LS

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Clarification: PMR 446 range quoted is line of sight. Poorest range achievable using this type of equipment can be very short in built up and heavily forested areas....In poorest conditions the maximum usable range is often less than 0.5km