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Post by eddiewouldclearhot on Mar 26, 2014 8:24:29 GMT -5
I think this is one of the most underrated and un-talked about part of being prepared for UW/SHTF/whatever. Does anyone here know anything about communications? Specifically, suggestions on radios to operate at a team/squad/platoon level. I know this is a loaded topic, since there are obvious legal issues with the FCC. That said, if it comes down to SHTF, the FCC will probably be a very small concern. there are some good topics over on the MVT forum right now, I have posted the links below. Just wondering if anyone has first hand experience, and can break it down for us barney style. On what would work and tips on set up. forum.maxvelocitytactical.com/forums/topic/sigint/forum.maxvelocitytactical.com/forums/topic/team-radio-selection/In afghanistan, I saw the effectiveness of handheld radios despite the latest high tech direction finders. I think understanding of SIGINT is critical, but I you apply it properly you can make it difficult to find you or understand what you are talking about.
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Post by norinco on Mar 26, 2014 11:13:42 GMT -5
James Yeager just had a short video on comms on his Youtube channel you might want to visit.
I and most of my family have ham radio licenses. I've played with them enough to know that to get good at them you need to use them regularly. I used to listen in on local nets with an Yaesu HT while out walking in the evening with the family. But I haven't touched them in years.
You need to use them for normal ham radio comms just to get used to how your radio functions. You need to be able to adjust your power output on the fly depending on the situation. With my Yaesu HT it was an easy change. On the Baofeng's that a lot of people have I think it's relatively impossible to do.
All this being said, I'd recommend you get a ham radio license so you can start practicing now with your radio and be legal doing so rather than having to figure it out later.
I was on a prepper campout some years ago and a older guy told me that had been doing this for a while that if you don't have comms then you don't have anything.
I think he was right. Good posting and I look forward to the replies.
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Post by Hawkeye on Mar 26, 2014 12:28:41 GMT -5
Old school 31C here. So I've had a little commo experience. I think for intel gathering, etc.. having a HAM radio on hand, whether your licensed or not, is a good idea. You don't have to be licensed to listen, and, if you ever need to use it for the purposes of discussion here, a license isn't going to matter. Now, obviously, if you want to talk on it now then you have to be licensed. Having good mobile and base station CB radios are also a good idea for shorter range as well as mobile communications. For individual small unit/personal use though, I am a very big advocate of FRS/GMRS radios. Many folks don't like them because of their pretty short range. I on the other hand, like them for just that reason. The further you are broadcasting, the further away someone can be and listen to you. The shorter your broadcast range, the closer they must be. The closer they must be, the better your chances of detecting them. Also, the short range acts kind of like a safety line. As one example..... If you ever have to deploy these in actual use, then it will obviously be in a catastrophic/shtf/wrol situation, (again, for our discussion purposes here). Chances are, that you wont have vehicular transportation and things such as your security patrols (you are doing security patrols aren't you???) will be completely done on foot. This means that should your patrol run into trouble, any assistance from the rest of your group will be coming on foot as well. If your very far away from your retreat/base of operations, then help/backup may take a LONG time to get there. Time you may not have. By using the FRS/GMRS radios, you force yourself to be careful how far out you venture.
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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Mar 26, 2014 14:36:48 GMT -5
Old school 31C here. So I've had a little commo experience. I think for intel gathering, etc.. having a HAM radio on hand, whether your licensed or not, is a good idea. You don't have to be licensed to listen, and, if you ever need to use it for the purposes of discussion here, a license isn't going to matter. Now, obviously, if you want to talk on it now then you have to be licensed. Having good mobile and base station CB radios are also a good idea for shorter range as well as mobile communications. For individual small unit/personal use though, I am a very big advocate of FRS/GMRS radios. Many folks don't like them because of their pretty short range. I on the other hand, like them for just that reason. The further you are broadcasting, the further away someone can be and listen to you. The shorter your broadcast range, the closer they must be. The closer they must be, the better your chances of detecting them. Also, the short range acts kind of like a safety line. As one example..... If you ever have to deploy these in actual use, then it will obviously be in a catastrophic/shtf/wrol situation, (again, for our discussion purposes here). Chances are, that you wont have vehicular transportation and things such as your security patrols (you are doing security patrols aren't you???) will be completely done on foot. This means that should your patrol run into trouble, any assistance from the rest of your group will be coming on foot as well. If your very far away from your retreat/base of operations, then help/backup may take a LONG time to get there. Time you may not have. By using the FRS/GMRS radios, you force yourself to be careful how far out you venture. What Hawkeye says, but I'll go a bit further. The WROL will likely end at some point so having comms, like a HAM, may be beneficial for those longer patrols that will need to be taken at some point. Of course you will have limited range with a HT, but still better then the FRS especially with a portable, roll-up J-Pole antenna. I have a FT60r and am licensed HAM operator and in my opinion having the HAM option for Intel gathering at the retreat is useful. The FRS radios are useful for retreat patrols or comms between your LP/OP/TOC due to shorter ranges, like Hawkeye said. Just remember though there will be bad people trying to lure out good people by using a radio of some sort. There will also be a lot of misinformation bouncing around the radio waves, so vet everything.
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Post by USMC0331 on Mar 26, 2014 22:41:43 GMT -5
Everything I learned about SHTF comms, I learned from a Guerrilla ( GuerrillaComm Youtube Channel) I went with the TYT, TH-UVF1 Dualband radio based off this guys excellent videos. Now I would go for the BaoFeng UV-5R and may still for my next set of handhelds. The TYT has shift encryption that will mask your comms enough that the average guy with a scanner or MURS (radio) can't listen in, but for the cost/benefit the BaoFeng is way better IMO. The biggest reason for a HHDB is that while using MURS allows for an uncluttered freq in my area, I can talk to all the FRS guys that I might hook up with, as 90% of them will likely have them if anything. Add to that the ability to scan all the local EMS channels and an FM receiver and what's not to like?
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Post by eddiewouldclearhot on Mar 30, 2014 18:33:52 GMT -5
jackpot. thank you for the link, that is a wealth of info.
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Post by USMC0331 on Mar 30, 2014 20:56:42 GMT -5
Your welcome. Something to think about for vehicle rigs (for non HAMS) is picking up Marine / CB base radios off ebay fairly cheap. The handheld HAMS will be able to comm with you on the Marine channels (over water of course, since it's a violation on land) and mobile to mobile will increase dramatically with the extra wattage.
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Post by USMC0331 on Apr 24, 2014 20:53:32 GMT -5
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currahee
New Member
"Stands Alone"
Posts: 151
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Post by currahee on Apr 24, 2014 23:13:38 GMT -5
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Post by tarheel55 on Apr 25, 2014 20:08:17 GMT -5
Tin Hat Ranch did a good vid on the GRMS radios and how to get that system setup. Looks like that is a good way to go.
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Post by Silent Snake Light Fighter on Apr 26, 2014 6:30:41 GMT -5
i have some very short range GRMS/FRS radios for small perimeter patrol, but i am seriously looking at the bao feng radios for longer range and better comms...i am also looking at reliable throat mics that cut out ambient noise... surprisingly there are a lot of good ones out there that have just recently begun to explode on the market due to paintball and airsoft demand... some are better than others, (be wary of reviews one way or the other but pay special attention to how they handle whisper comms, or if they cut words off) but it is a good bet if you have a vox capable radio, there is a throat mic made for it... and if they are good enough for people on motorcycles, then they are good enough for patrols...
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Post by omnivorous on May 13, 2014 0:02:07 GMT -5
Ok, newb question, but is it unlawful to use a transceiver to broadcast on frequencies which don't require a license to broadcast upon? Are there transceivers even capable of doing that? I'd like to get some practice with the device, before going for a full-on license.
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Post by USMC0331 on May 13, 2014 0:55:35 GMT -5
Licenses get you repeaters for the most part. A handheld is good for 2-7miles depending on the antenna @ 5watts. MURS gives you the benefit of handheld HAMS without a license and what I use. In an emergency it's legal to use repeaters without a license, but unless you do some serious homework online, you will not know how to get into one. Unless your team all know how or you setup their comms, you will not have the advantage of repeaters other than to monitor them for traffic which they are useful for in SHTF. I learned about the San Diego blackouts from a local repeater before reading it on the news. Join a local club if you want to use repeaters and get your license. I see my handheld as a monitoring device for EMS which uses MURS and FRS to talk to my immediate group. I also use Dakota motion sensors that broadcast on MURS. Spell checked by iPhone
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Post by panzer0170 on May 13, 2014 5:49:06 GMT -5
The gear from Dakota, especially the MURS based stuff, looks awesome. Especially if you can guarantee people will come from a specific direction (also hunting, and perhaps a bear alarm?): also serves as an excellent way of letting the Mrs know to put the kettle on! Is MURS just an allocated frequency with power limits, or is there some need for specific handhelds?
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Post by USMC0331 on May 13, 2014 10:50:56 GMT -5
5watt max on MURS and no repeaters allowed. There are "poor man"(<$200) repeater options for any freq. but they are not legal. Guerrillacomm on YT has done some videos on it. Spell checked by iPhone
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