Entry Level Emergency Comms Kit.

[Moab]

How to put together an entry level communications kit. For vehicle or hiking: 

This guys site is fantastic. In very simple terms, and links to key products, this guy describes how to put together an entry level comms kit for vehicle or hiking. 

It's the best solution I have found. 

It's basically comprised of two handheld ham radios, batteries with several charging options (including AA), carrying case, and printed documentation.

He also gives valid upgrade options. If you have the money to do so. He could have bought two expensive name brand handhelds or 10 Baofengs. So he went with the Baofengs for now. With plans to upgrade as money allowed. 

He uses Baofeng UV5R's. That transmit at 5 watts. But recommends newer tri band versions. That also transmit at 5 watts. Many new Baofengs transmit at 8 watts. I could not find the triband version in 8 watt.

Another, affordable, entry level option is the Baofeng UV5RTP's. They are dual band, 8 watt, and tri power. Tri power gives you the option of transmitting at 1, 5, or 8 watts. Giving longer battery life if you don't need higher watts (longer distance).

BAOFENG UV-5RTP 8/4/1W Two-Way Radio, High Power Dual Band Long Range for Adults, Tri-Power Handheld Ham Radio with Speaker Mic, Programming Cable (2 Pack) https://a.co/d/hb5j5T0

So the main choice in what he recommends and the choice in the link above. Is being able to communicate on a third ham band. That is not as busy as the other two. Or being able to transmit with higher 8 watts.

I've chosen the 8 watt option. For greater range. And both these radios have a large amount of freqs you can communicate on. FRS, GMRS, Ham bands. So there are plenty of freqs to find a quiet channel to communicate on. It's not like your going to have a hard time finding a freq to communicate on. 

And even on the third ham band your still going to be communicating in the open for anyone to hear. So privacy with either radio, no matter the freq, is not a concern. 

These are links to his pages. But there are various additional links within each page for further exploration.

I've been trying to develop a kit like this for some time. If I'd have found this site earlier. It would have saved me a ton of time and research. But that research was valuable. As I completely agree with the kit and recommendations he has set up here:

http://www.tothewoods.net/Comms-vehicle-emergency-communications-EMCOMM-kit.php

http://www.tothewoods.net/Comms-Baofeng-battery-recharging-options.php

http://www.tothewoods.net/Comms.php#EMCOMMCard

[Moab]

@TACAIR 

I respect your opinion alot. What is your take on the above? What mught you add to an "economical emergency radio kit" beyond just a pair of ham handhelds? And considering rx of maybe police, weather, sw and any other important radio tx or rx for a bug out? Or shtf/paw situation?

I think this forum would benefit alot from your take on this. You understand both radios and prepping to a great degree. 

I have an entry level to moderate level of radio knowledge. I was in the military and spent a fair amount of time with scanners as a Private Investigator. I really appreciated that guys site linked in my above post. As he speaks in laymans terms. And uses common sense as it pertains to specifically preppers and those possibly bugging out on foot or in a vehicle. Sort of - "This is why you need this. This is why you need at least this level of quality. This is where you can save money. And why as ut oertains to a bug out ir bug in."

As you know, there are several factors at play here. Weight, size, cost, functionality etc and what we need as preppers during a bug out. We also have thousands of dollars of other prep items to aquire and maintain. It seems like there is always a financial and functional equation to be found.

What do we really need in terms of tx and rx? And where can we save money vs where do we really need to spend?

Thank you so much. If you decide to weigh in. It would be greatly appreciated. 

[TACAIR]

@TACAIR

I respect your opinion alot. What is your take on the above? What mught you add to an "economical emergency radio kit" beyond just a pair of ham handhelds? And considering rx of maybe police, weather, sw and any other important radio tx or rx for a bug out? Or shtf/paw situation?

I think this forum would benefit alot from your take on this. You understand both radios and prepping to a great degree.

I have an entry level to moderate level of radio knowledge. I was in the military and spent a fair amount of time with scanners as a Private Investigator. I really appreciated that guys site linked in my above post. As he speaks in laymans terms. And uses common sense as it pertains to specifically preppers and those possibly bugging out on foot or in a vehicle. Sort of - "This is why you need this. This is why you need at least this level of quality. This is where you can save money. And why as ut oertains to a bug out ir bug in."

As you know, there are several factors at play here. Weight, size, cost, functionality etc and what we need as preppers during a bug out. We also have thousands of dollars of other prep items to aquire and maintain. It seems like there is always a financial and functional equation to be found.

What do we really need in terms of tx and rx? And where can we save money vs where do we really need to spend?

Thank you so much. If you decide to weigh in. It would be greatly appreciated.

Let me start with "I'm not a fan of the Baofeng radios.  Mostly cheap "CCP crap"
Now that is out of the way....what are you really looking to do?

Whan traveling Outsisde (away from Alaska) I carry:

A VX-5R HT.  Covers 6, 2 and 70 CM (UHF) in one package.
Also covers BCB to 15 MHZ rx, but no SSB.

For HF, carried a (tr)uSDX which will be replaced by a QRP Labs QMX. 
(https://dl2man.de/)  for (tr)uSDX
(https://qrp-labs.com/qmx) for QMX
see  Welcome to Yaesu.com  for VX-5R specs.

I just bought a VX-5R (via QRZ.com, a ham site) for $50 - in good condition.  This with cig plug and battery clip-on power cables for all the rigs.  I can use AA battery cells in the lot as well.

This gives me HF ham bands from 80M to 20M TX/RX and 0.5 to 15 MHZ RX for SWBCB.  In can TX/RX on 2M, 2M and 70cm (UHF on ham bands) plus wide-band VHF and up RX. 

An older FT-817/818 will do all of this in one package and offers all HF ham bands 80M and up, plus 6M, 2M and 70cm.  Wide band RX for HF and VHF.  AM/FM/SSB/CW.  This is the original 'shack-in-a-box".

As far as 'what do we really need' raises this point:
You cannot define a radio system for an undefined need in an unlikely to happen situation. 

Which brings me back to: "what are you really looking to do?"
****

Nobody knows what your needs are like you know what is needed for you.

IOW, one size does not fit all.




 

[NT2C]

You cannot define a radio system for an undefined need in an unlikely-to-happen situation.

I'm stealing this, but I promise to give you full credit.

[TACAIR]

You cannot define a radio system for an undefined need in an unlikely-to-happen situation.

I'm stealing this, but I promise to give you full credit.

Mi meme, yo meme.

Oddly some people consider this as "condescending."  

My reply - I cannot provide a specific answer without a specific question.   And radio is all about specifics - 'cause math and physics and science shit.....

[Z.O.R.G.]

I totally agree with TACAIR - if you "fail to plan, plan to fail."

What are your objectives for radio in a SHTF/PAW/Disaster/Emergency situation?  Having a radio is a start, but who do you want to talk/listen to?  Answer that, and you're on your way to knowing what radio(s), antenna(s) you need.

For VHF/UHF radios, higher powered radios are guaranteed to do one thing - go thru batteries faster.  Terrain, physical interferences and elevation are the biggest factors in determining your range for VHF/UHF comms as they're strictly line-of-sight.  Here's a real-world example.  

A little techno-babble first.  in the radio world we commonly speak of gain (or) loss in terms of decibels (dB).  I won't get in the math or details, but here's a simple way of understanding it.  For every +3dB your signal strength doubles.  For every -3dB your signal strength is cut in half.  So, an antenna with a specification of +6dB gain, makes you signal effectively 4x what the radio is transmitting.  +9dB is 8x the transmit power.  

I live in a relatively flat area, with an excellent ham repeater 40 miles away on top of a 200+ foot tower on one of the largest hills in the area (it's a ski mountain).  I grew about 100 miles away in a very hilly area.  Driving back home, I could hold the repeater until I made it about 10 miles away with my 5 watt (FT-817) and a no gain over the window antenna.  I switched to a 50-watt mobile radio with a +6dB gain antenna, giving me an effective radiated power of 200 watts or 40x what I was previously using.  With the terrain, I picked up an only half a mile of extra range. However, if I drove an extra 5 miles to the top of the hill that I grew up on I could reach the same repeater with the FT-817 on low power with the no-gain antenna - using less than 0.75-watts.  

The easiest ways to boost the handheld VHF/UHF comms are to get higher in elevation and get a better antenna.  You can do both of these by getting a J-Pole antenna (+6dBish gain) and connecting it to your handheld with 10-20 foot of coax.  

[TACAIR]

Right on!

A higher gain antenna is almost always less cost than an amplifier or high-powered radio for increased 'range' or performance.

A half-wave mobile (6dB gain in theory) make a massive difference for performance.

[NT2C]

Right on!

A higher gain antenna is almost always less cost than an amplifier or high-powered radio for increased 'range' or performance.

A half-wave mobile (6dB gain in theory) make a massive difference for performance.

Gospel!

I once had a QSO with a buddy on the club repeater here in Fredericksburg while I was parked on the northern outskirts of Baltimore and using an Arrow beam mounted on a tripod.  Scratchy as hell but we managed.  Distance of ~125 air miles.  It helps that the antenna for the repeater was on a 450' tower and where I was parked was the highest terrain between the two points.  25 watts on my end, 40 on the repeater end.