|
|
Post by USMC0331 on Nov 13, 2014 10:46:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by norinco on Nov 13, 2014 13:16:03 GMT -5
My radio gear has ebbed and flowed over the years with my interest in it. I've gone from having a mobile Yaesu dual band in the car that I listened to on the way to work and couple of Yaesu HT's that I carried on evening walks to paring things down to a single Baofeng HT and a mobile 2 meter somewhere in the back of the closet.
I listened to the recent Forward Observer podcast with sparks31 as a guest talking about comms monitoring and it was so broad that it didn't really pique my interest to get out and listen to my radio anymore that I do. Which is hardly at all. And if I had to hear that guy say, "Area of Operations" one more time . . . well. Listen to it and you'll get my drift.
sparks31 suggestion for a Uniden Home Patrol scanner was interesting. I hadn't noticed that product before. It looked to be about $300 and change from Amazon and is probably worthwhile to buy. You'd likely want to upgrade the antenna.
An older prepper told me years ago (that had probably been doing this longer than I've been alive) that "if you don't have comms you don't have anything."
And I think there's some wisdom in that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Nov 13, 2014 13:36:41 GMT -5
Have a Yaesu HT, but like norinco, I haven't done much with it. Seems like too many other issues to get going on.
|
|
|
|
Post by panzer0170 on Nov 13, 2014 16:58:17 GMT -5
Uniden make some cracking scanners - My uncle has the bearcat and it covers pretty much everything. Dedicated scanners are important because the scan function has some actual speed to it, unlike standard radios. They also tend to cover airband and other frequencies. I would like to think that if anything went wrong, someone somewhere will be trying to air drop supplies to someone (aid agencies etc) and I want to know when and where. usmc0331; I'd add to your comm plan; work out what your Tx limits are. There is some online software that will do this for you, if you're that way inclined. If you're not that way inclined... Get a buddy with a radio that will drive round till he can't hear you, and mark your limits. Both for COMMSEC and practical reasons. |
|
|
|
Post by USMC0331 on Nov 13, 2014 20:29:51 GMT -5
That's part of this months "Skill Builder" actually. I will be doing comm checks all over our "AREA OF OBSERVATION" or OA for you civilian types. ;P
The best use for a scanner is as a Bubba detector IMO. I think it was SPARKS article I read on using the near feature on scanners to know when they are close, but it was so close it's kinda useless I would think.
Just hearing local FRS/GMRS/MURS is worth more to me than EMS. Get an idea for what others in the immediate area are doing. I did find out using the mapping system on the fcc site that there are two HAM on top of the mountain behind me that can see for 5 miles. Gonna have to try and make contact!
|
|
