Scanners

[Lightspeed]

Ali, you are right. Expensive and time consuming, unless there is an emergency.

Not having communications equipment, or having it but not knowing how to use it could be a problem after a big event.

What HP recommends ( UV5r) is a good building block. Add a shortwave capable receiver to that to have a wide rage of listening options and the UV5r will also give you the ability to communicate on two Ham bands, marine, and PMR446.

See radio communications PREPCOM standard on the main SUK site.