Ham Radio is NOT Useful for SHTF?

This comes from a reddit article I found about using Ham Radio in SHTF situations. At first I thought I was going to disagree with most of what was said, but I actually found myself agreeing with most points that the author makes. I am curious on your thoughts also.
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Thanks for watching!
#Hamradio #kc5hwb #shtf

[@richiec7602]

During WWII, when the Germans occupied France, they confiscated all radios, both receive only and transceivers. Some French people managed to hide their receivers and when the invasion of Normandy was about to happen, the British and Americans transmitted coded instructions to the French people to go out and disrupt the Germans. Talk about the SHTF situation. Listening is more important the transmitting.

[@HamRadio2]

Indeed!

[@rkaag99]

I was given some valuable advice from an experienced ham many moons ago while studying for my no-code tech. He said, 'Listen more than you transmit. That's why you were given 2 ears and only 1 mouth.'

[@patthesoundguy]

Around that time the allies used crystal radio sets because they were completely passive and would not give locations away to the Germans.

[@stuartlent2645]

"The Longest Day" movie and the message sent to one of the Resistance groups. "jean has a long mustache."

[@RobR386]

Indeed, also knowing where to listen, what frequency. Crystal sets were often used in those times because they couldn’t be detected unlike hetrodyne recievers with a local oscillator.

[@TECHTHINGSANDMORECOM]

Greetings from Puerto Rico!!! Hurricane Maria made me a hardcore prepper. I was without electricity almost 2 months, 1 month without water and no comunications. Learned a lot.

[@NA12495]

Sorry main land didn't help out more.

[@scottlaughlin2447]

I'veben handling radio traffic for thirty years using Army MARS and Satern. During 9/11, I worked with Satern relaying messages, not originating. During the '92 Gulf War I worked with Arm MARS and we connected thousands of troops with their families. The biggest porblem is too many bosses for a paper hat job.

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed. But thanks for your service, also.

[@adrenalinowner7992]

All the reasons why I kept my analog phone around

[@GabrielCriado]

Real life experience, on Feb.27 2010 in Chile we had an 8.8 earthquake and a tsunami afterwards. What happened we he had no electricity for several days, cell phone was down due to saturation first, and after of lack of electricity and people couldn't charge their phones. What worked was SMS, only way to communicate in the first hours. The radio (fm/am) to hear the news and find out what had happened, people used the car radios mainly, was the main source for the general public to get information. The HAM community started working about 15 minutes after the earthquake, mainly on 146.520, creating bridges to get information from one city to another. The great advantage was that all communications are logged, so no fake news were generated. On the government level, fire department was requested to serve as a link between different agencies, since all other agencies had shifted to rely on IP only, and nothing worked. The fire department still has the old VHF and it worked like a charm. Also other agencies use VHF and HF for communications, like Red Cross and Civil Defense. Until today, everyday, on 146.520 there's an exercise at night, to test communications between all amateur ham operators. 73

[@HamRadio2]

Do you have a link to a news article about this event in 2010? Or anything about the exercise on 146.520?

[@GabrielCriado]

@@HamRadio2 yes, I'll send you an email with the information

[@hamradiotube]

I think this is probably the best video you've ever done. "Some sort of radio is always going to be better than no radio at all". Truth.

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks Mike!

[@user-jy7to4nh3w]

Listen to your radio. Don't speak, listen and try and figure out what is is good information and what is just someone passing gas. Knowledge will help.

[@HamRadio2]

Well said

[@ssmith7163]

My folks were stationed in Mexico City during the earthquake in the 80’s. Fortunately one employee was a HAM whose new job became making COMMS with DC and monitoring local VHF traffic. The grid is fragile and was down hard.

[@ve3cwq47]

When it comes right down to it, the most useful feature of the Baofeng might be its flashlight. The panic alarm might come in handy if you're trapped under a collapsed building.

[@JoeHamelin]

Or the weather channels.

[@GregEmburyK4GTE]

On April 27, 2011,Sixty-two tornadoes tracked across Alabama over an 18-hour period, carving out a damage path of more than 1,200 miles. At least 240 people died, and even more were injured. In my county, the first tornado severed the primary fiber optic line. The second tornado severed the secondary fiber optic line. First responders had zero communications. For 11 days after, amateur radio operators rode with first responders, relaying messages. It was the only form of communication available, no power, no internet, no cell service. The author of this article is wrong.

[@robertlyman9789]

A guy was telling me of a friend who had a heart attack while camping. He used his CB, to shoot skip to a guy in another state to call a local SHERRIF dept for help

[@ricksshop]

Every time I think about a TEOTWAWKI event, I think about the millions of people who only know how to get food from a supermarket, and the very different standard of morality today compared to a few decades ago. I pity anyone that lives in a city when that goes down. Us rural folks will band together and ride it out, and ham (and cb/GMRS) will have it's place.

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

It will be the "have nots" coming out for "visits". I've heard many say seriously their plan was to just take the supplies from others. I just shook my head and thought about my ammo stores and the abilities of my neighbors.

[@GrandPoppyA]

First off the Ham Radio Prep is a fantastic learning tool. Just got my General a month ago and once I'm recovered from surgery I will go for my Extra. I have seen so many preppers who spend thousands on equipment, but really don't learn how to use it. They buy a freeze dryer, but don't spend the time learning what it can and can't do or how to prepare food for it to work. A couple 55 gallon drums that they fill up from the garden hose with nothing to stablize the water or water filters with no practice on how to use it. Then it comes to communications... With a $30 radio on their plate carrier with no knowledge how to use it other than a couple videos they watched on KZbin. They don't know how the radio works either. When I ask basic questions they get a bit frustrated. So it comes to this. There are preppers who I would link up with after an event and those who I would loot. I think it's about 50/50 on my list at this point. :)

[@fyrearm]

I constructed a 33-gallon Faraday cage using a trash can and stored approximately 12 Baofeng radios, a G90, solar panel, battery, and various other electronics inside. While it's possible for unforeseen events like explosions, earthquakes, fires, and more to occur and all my work up in smoke, this setup might safeguard my devices during an EMP or Carrington Event scenario. It's possible that my efforts might be viewed as excessive by some, but taking these precautions offers me peace of mind. Being prepared for extended (6+ months) power/internet/cell outages provides a sense of security that I find invaluable.

[@HamRadio2]

I've been looking at doing the same thing

[@OH8STN]

Back in the early 2ks, I was "stuck" in a country with a beheading fetish. I was able to let my family know what documents I needed, having them forwarded to the Consulate. That happened over HF radio. Doomsday takes on many different shapes and forms. Discounting the usefulness of ham radio is the #1 reason for failure. Constant training, constant practice, being proficient with station to station comms in addition to nets, will get us much closer to our goals.

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed Julian, thanks for commenting.

[@anthonyglaser929]

yeah, so if a giant solar flare reaches out from our sun to us living on the third planet and scorches the whole earth to crumbling cinder instantly incinerating all life on the planet then yes ham radio will probably not do you too much good. However if anyone has ever been through a time when all conventional comms are down. like if you were in N.Y. on 9/11, will attest a ham radio and plan to connect with people you need to connect with is a something worth having.

[@HamRadio2]

Well said

[@major__kong]

There are other radio services, though. It doesn't need to be Part 97. Get a CB (watches the comments section have a meltdown).

[@anthonyglaser929]

good thinking@@major__kong

[@HamRadio2]

I've mentioned this in a few videos, in the past

[@trumpdonald6911]

My ham station is fully prepared for the apocalypse. As long as the chariots of fire don’t knock down my antenna.

[@HamRadio2]

Heard that

[@dougdaniels]

The author of the article fails to differentiate between Ham Radio the hobby and ham radios the equipment. In any situation, from POTA to SHTF, the ability to communicate is dependent upon two (or more) people having electrical power to use radios and antennas that are interoperable, nothing more, noting less. He has over complicated the situation.

[@Arby1965]

Best to be licensed so one can already have a foot in your local radio community. We do 2m simplex nets along with 2m SSB and know our reach limits. Also lets us know who's centralized to relay for others.

[@JoeHamelin]

Yep, best to know the local emergency management people and for them to know you. You do that by working with them year in and year out, for decades, so when things go south, they know who they are talking to and your capabilities.

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

@@JoeHamelin Truth.

[@sink009]

The biggest issue I’ve seen with SHTF preppers, larpers, etc are that they don’t take the craft of radio operation seriously. They don’t learn how antenna’s work, they don’t learn how repeaters work, and they don’t invest into infrastructure to make sure that they still have a functional grid even when everything goes down. There’s a ton to radio that people just don’t bother to take the time to learn.

[@HamRadio2]

Indeed true

[@MrDosonhai]

Buddy, we have more important shit to learn than something we may rarely use. I have to learn a lot of survival-related skills such as hunting, first-aid, knowledge about edible plants, nutritional knowledge, how to fish, how to craft stuff from leather if my boots are torn, how to build a shelter in the wild, how to filter water (using an off-the-shelf water filter to building a water filtration tank with sand, pebbles and activated carbon), how to farm for food (farming requires the most learning and I'm still learning it), how to build a cabin, learning to identify common symptoms and related medicines to treat them, learning about spirituality (you have no idea how much it helps you stay calm and make good decisions. Basically, tons of things to learn from. And even after a few years of learning, I still need to learn a lot more about farming and how to fix electrical appliances if they are broken. Like I said, radio is the least of my concern. I'm building a bug-in location far from the city. High chance I will be staying there most of the time, farming. If my family members and friends are alive, they know where to find me, there is no need for ham radio. The only possible use for it is listening to the government emergency broadcast.

[@sink009]

@@MrDosonhai Which that is fine. As long as you know what your use case is and what your capabilities are, then there’s no problem. What I was more referring to are the guy’s who think they’re going to be able to have military grade communications network capability because they bought a 25 dollar radio from eBay. And trust me, I’m well aware of what all there is to learn. While my homestead/bug in location is far from complete, I’ve already got a fair bit of it set up. I’m putting an orchard in next spring, working on building a better garden over the winter, I built a way better chicken coop and a way better flock over this past summer, am constantly logging and getting firewood stored up, have multiple power sources to make sure our well keeps running if anything happens to the main grid, etc. Just because there’s a whole lot that goes in to building a homestead, that doesn’t mean you can’t also know about radio craft, too.

[@JayTX.]

I just accidentally ordered some baofengs for my kid some walkie talkies and was unknowingly elsited in the ranks of a ham radio turf war ....we just wanted to talk ...it was supposed to be fun

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

@@MrDosonhai Where have you been all your life? As I read your list of things to learn I realized I knew most all of it decades ago at a young age. Driving a tractor years before driving a car does have it's advantages. I would advise not presuming what "...you have no idea ..." regarding other people you don't know. If you think ham radio is about your friends finding you then you are indeed a poor example of understanding. I'm so thankful I've not led a sheltered life as you must have. I learned as a child that "Be Prepared" was a good motto to have.

[@DominicMazoch]

Ice Storm Uri was as close to a prepper situation the Texas Triangle has gotten. Batteries and my IC 703 plus really helped.

[@KOAOutdoors]

Every aspect of radio communication has a place in SHTF. Do you think our military carries around radios to look cool ? As a former feild radio operator in the Marine corps I wish I had been involved in ameteur radio back then. The knowledge I've aquired as a ham operator would have added greatly to my " toolbox ." Is ham radio relevant to SHTF ? YOU BET IT IS.

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed, and thanks for commenting.

[@AaronBond007]

The biggest issue I have seen (I sell radios at a large radio sales outlet) is not that preppers buy ham radios (which is a great tool for whenever the grid goes down) but that many have no desire or expectation that they need to know how to use the radio. GMRS and CB are basically plug and play. Ham radio needs a little care and feeding to use properly. Moral of the story is, get your radio and learn your radio. Know how to tune up a particular frequency and mode... get your antenna(s) setup and tested (of course get your license so you can do all this to stay legal before disaster hits) so you'll be effective once the SHTF....

[@robertknight5024]

I have a complete off grid power setup for my radio. I know it won't do any good if everyone else is off the air. The main thing to think about is planning for grid down situations. The other important part of that is planning with fellow Hams so you have a group to coordinate with. Plan plan plan.

[@OH8STN]

Bingo!!! 👍👍👍

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

Don't ever think "everyone else" will be off the air. Like minded people will be around.

[@jackK5FIT]

While ham radio may not be good for doomsday, it sure is good for local and regional emergencies. I live in what has become tornado alley plus we have hurricanes, Katrina as an example, and although I live inland we had 80 mph winds (not gusts) causing lots of damage. So bottom line, I will have my radios available and practice portable comms with my group on a monthly basis. You are right Jason, better to have a radio than not, and practice using it. Good video.

[@K0MRDRadioPrepper]

As a Prepper, I prep for things that can and will happen, storms/Blizzards/Tornados; not the End of The World As We Know It, or A World Without Rule of Law. I agree thar POAT/SOTA is a great way to make sure that your gear is operational, and it is also a great way to pratice with your Long Range Comms.

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks for commenting, good hearing from you

[@nobody2021]

I think this is part of a broader attitude that exists with people who have disdain for preppers and the concept of prepping. It comes across to me as defeatist, where they think you're stupid and arrogant if you don't simply not plan for anything and in the event of a disaster, just shrug your shoulders, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye. They think "youre probably going to die so why bother". Well what if you don't? If you survive, and they survive, and you prepared, you're going to be very glad that you prepared and they are going to be sad that they didn't. Maybe it will work out for you in the end, maybe something will happen where you'll die anyway, but if you didn't prepare, then you're almost certainly guaranteed to die, rather than having a somewhat better chance at survival. People who don't prepare are sure going to wish that they had done so And I think their defeatist attitude of "none of this matters" and "well at least I'm not one of those paranoid crazy prepper types" is going to go out the window when shit gets real for them And they're probably going to be scrambling to either barter, or just outright steal what they need from other people who thought ahead and obtained all of that stuff back when everything was okay. You wouldn't have to steal everything you need if you just prepared properly for the scenario and bought this stuff when it was easy to get it.

[@HamRadio2]

Well said

[@robertengel8342]

Everything has limitations. Look at your limitations and plan accordingly. I wouldn't transmit very much in a shtf event unless your security is very, very squared away first. I plan to use my radios for intel purposes. Listen and avoid bad areas as much as possible.

[@donaldsmith3048]

I live in Florida. When a storm is coming the local ARES net does a check in with updated information and what the EOC needs us to do. We also give weather where we are. So there are nets when things go bad. We sometimes do to shelters to give information from the shelters to the EOC. So checking into a Net is done when things go bad. It may not happen in all cases but it does happen is some of them. 73 W4DES

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

Many "preppers" and others don't realize the most valuable thing, by far, is what resides between your ears. Your skills and knowledge are what will save you. Buying a radio and never using it is pretty useless when the rubber hits the road. It's a lot like buying a rifle and ammo, never developing your abilities, and expecting it to be of value. That's not to say having supplies and resources on hand are not of value. What's important is to recognize the priority and importance of EVERYTHING and maintaining a good balance. Communication abilities are always important and being prepared to be self supporting in times of need is a good thing. One thing I think is overlooked a lot is the need to have a group of people with diverse skills that support each other. Radios can provide communication to those within the group. It can be as simple as a security patrol checking in. Ham, GMRS, FRS, CB which is the best fit? Only you can decide that. Consider also that I'm recognized by the other members of my club and community from pre-event experiences. After an event there is a flood of newbies. Who do you think is going to get a response? BTW, I recommend having a short wave receiver also. Your ham radio antenna knowledge may come in handy if you have to hang a wire in a tree. You asked for thoughts and opinions, there you go.

[@dadofmichelle]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in all the what can Ham Radio do during an emergency is get the word out to distant family members that you are safe if other communications are down. If any frequency is available, word can get out. This could be across town if power/communications haven't stopped everywhere in the community (rarely does it stop everywhere), or via HF. A priority traffic message sent via HF from Arkansas that is heard three states over will get relayed by some ham to the person's family in California. These are very important during an emergency, having been through a major hurricane and flood. I stayed off the ham repeaters, but I had the only cell phone with an antenna and amplifier (so bear in mind, all communications rarely do go out), so neighbors used my cell phone to call their families. If cell had been out, I could have gotten messages out via HF or VHF on my ham transceiver with a battery/generator. I stayed off of 2 meters, but did listen, and heard hams talking about getting cots to the school so people could sleep there if their homes were damaged or gone. That's another way ham radio helps in an emergency. And regular joes should stay off the repeaters unless it's serious during these emergencies.

[@HamRadio2]

I've actually mentioned this in several videos. You are correct about the rest, though

[@toml.8210]

I think the 'TV' thing refers to the "Rambo" movies, where Rambo just turns on the radio, and makes a connection to HQ. "TV" people probably think you can turn on the ham radio, press the PTT, and start yelling "HELP ME!" And get an answer...

[@ke8mattj]

I was going to write a long comment showing I was a Sad Prepper, but I'll just mention the major issue is that he associates preppers with the likes of Doomsday Preppers. Those preppers are a very tiny minority.

[@stevenkeller386]

It seems to me that it is impossible to actually plan for any type of SHTF scenario. There is a long list of scenarios that one could dream up. There is an equally long list of scenarios that no one could dream up. How severe? How long does it last? How big of an area is affected? In my opinion, the best approach would be to have the simplest style of radios that can operate across multiple bands, requiring the least amount of technology to operate, and be skilled at improvising antennas.

[@korlilkatana7653]

Does using a Baofeng radio on a pipe require CW? When I lived in the DFW area I was asleep when a tornado was approaching, my wife woke me up dragged me under the stairs. I turned on my Baofeng radio and we listened to the storm spotters on one of the nets. She felt so assured that professional sounding people were giving useful and real info. After that experience she has seen how it can be useful and supported my hobby and has learned to not ask to see HRO invoices, lol

[@HamRadio2]

Nice!

[@ItsEverythingElse]

"It's not the odds, it's the stakes".

[@johnjohnson9980]

Ham Radio Emergency Frequencies 34.90 MHz: Nationwide emergency channel for the National Guard. 39.46 MHz: Emergency communication channel for local and state police. 47.42 MHz: Nationwide relief operations channel for the Red Cross. And there are more. Police monitor channels. Probably not bc all.

[@rickprice407]

A few things Preppers usually skip: A major city (NYC, Chcago, LA, Atlanta, etc), with out power (and as such without drinking water and sanitation disposal/treatment) is only livable for 3 - 4 days max. This means people (lots of them) will be leaving the cities looking for food and water. Suburb dwellers will get them first and radios wan't help once they get found. An EMP strike is going to be a bad day for them as a handwrapped radio in screening isn't going to be much good as anything but a rock to throw. A true SHTF disaster (not tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis and such - because help IS on the way) will keep you so busy trying to not get dead that radios will be mostly energy using junk. For the aforementioned disaster types, they can be quite useful and more so if you coordinate with local LEOs on how they can help.

[@majic5zero]

As the old adage says, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." 73s from Hawaii.

[@HamRadio2]

Yes

[@intoeverything2023]

Good point about cellphone networks getting overwhelmed. From personal experience at large sporting events cellphones can act very erratic. Oh , and living in coastal NC hurricanes definitely make a cellphone useless.

[@HamRadio2]

Indeed

[@major__kong]

Try plain SMS if you know how. It uses a more basic part of the cellular protocol involving heartbeats and handshakes between the tower and phone. Add to that it's super low bandwidth and SMS will get through when phone calls won't. This includes low signal strength and tower congestion.

[@JoeHamelin]

Remember trying to make a long distance phone on Mother's day back in the 1970s?

[@chrissewell1608]

In a local club, one of the hams, whos into prepping and ARES, Sky Warn, etc. Is also Big into HF. He and I have debated the usefulness of the 2M/440 radios for local communications, in local disasters. I am pro 2M/440, and he is all HF. My argument is always "Who / Why am I going to call in Kentucky, for help, when a tornado has leveled my house on top of me, in Georgia?" Both have their places for different situations!

[@little-wytch]

Is that really what most of the SHTF preppers think about Ham radio? I consider myself a mild (realistic) prepper. I live in northern NY. The ice storm of 98 left the region without power or comms for 2 weeks. That's the sort of prepping I think of. But even if there was a worse situation, like Zombieland suddenly became real life or something, I wouldn't think of a VHF/UHF HT as some magical fix-all. How HTs like that are useful is as portable scanners for local emergency frequencies, and local comms to and from your home base. Using the Zombieland idea as a reference, if you and your family or a group of neighbors/friends are sheltering in place, you'd use something like an HT for scheduled check-ins when out hunting/fishing/scavenging for supplies, or as part of a neighborhood watch type of check-ins. You don't need Ham radios for that, any basic FRS/GMRS or MURS radios will do for such check-ins. Those HTs will eventually be useless though if you don't have a way to keep them charged, so charging solutions are a more important part of prepping. If you don't have a power solution, but some fully-charged HTs, that's when knowledge of things like local nets and wilderness protocol and such are useful, as ways to check in while battery life is a very finite resource. And even before any of that, everyone should have a basic receive radio for LW/MW/SW HF/VHF/UHF AM/FM.

[@shtfcomm]

Shouldn't be too hard to figure out where I am on this topic; even for those that ain't so good at figuring... with almost three decades of military, SAR, and disaster relief experience, I tend to agree with the author of the subject post, mostly. I have been involved in several large scale disaster scenarios (World Trade Center, Baader-Meinhof, SHOT Show, etc.) and when every swinging Richard that ever bought a set of bubblepack radios or still has dad's CB in the garage, connects a battery and start screaming for help... well, it makes the Super Bowl look like a group of well organized RTOs. In fact, my number one rule of radio comms is, "stay off of the freaking radio". Seriously, not much good ever comes from pushing the PTT... listen and leave it alone. I will admit that all of those man-pack, MPU5 wannabe setups are cool, but basic grayman survival rules tell us that on the EOTWAWKI playing field, someone is saying "that guy's gear is different than the others... shoot him first". But I don't focus on BLOS Comms that much... I have zero use for a 10 watt HT, much rather have an HT that I can drop down to 1 watt (or less). And a key thing that the author touched on is this: having a radio is useless, if you do not have someone to talk to... develop that now, have a good SOI/CEOI/COMMSPLAN now, before you need it... and really, don't worry about DXing some dude three time zones away, chances are he can't do shit for you anyway. Lastly... I am not willing to say that Amateur Radio is not useful for SHTF, it is what teaches you how to use a radio, to develop your comms plan, and so much more... Amateur Radio is where you learn the basics of radio, and go as far down that rabbit hole as you want!

[@johnjohnson9980]

MARS membership is limited to Amateur Radio operators, who operate their Amateur Radio stations as military Auxiliarists, usually from their homes. There are no government agency or military unit MARS stations. Provide contingency HF communications as tasked in support of DOD and Service communication requirements.

[@user-lp3cf5yn5b]

Lol, oh it certainly can be, but not in the way some of these preppers who throw a few baofengs in their bag, or think theyre gonna give all their family who are not hams baofengs and be able to communicate at all, much less across a state.

[@HamRadio2]

Yeah I mention that in the video

[@user-lp3cf5yn5b]

@@HamRadio2 lol, I was just getting my pre-test in! Seems I made a B+ (lol)

[@kyrenegade858]

That is why I got my extra class license years ago. So I can move to HF and be able to communicate outside of repeater range....

[@johnjohnson9980]

Good only if others in family have it too. But hans who have trained to help in emergencies have helped everywhere in the world. The Ham radio did everything modern cell phones did. But modern chips allowed to condensed package and have it all in palm of hand. Quite nice. Evolution. Must learn what channels are for emergencies and practice ahead of time .

[@texasprepperprojects]

Amen. I did a video called 'Why is Ham not for Preppers' and got a lot of hate over it. Guys that just buy a baofung and throw it in their bug out bag are going to be very surprised when they pull it out and realize it doesn't talk 1000 miles. Literally every single day on R/preppers, r/hamradio and r/amatureradio someone asks the question "What radio do I buy to talk to my friends in an emergency. The answer that they are always given is ham radio. (and always a baofung).

[@HamRadio2]

The answer to that question isn't a wrong answer, but it needs to be explained in greater detail. With an HF setup, you can certainly talk to friends several hundred miles away, and keep tabs via RX on traffic coming from other areas. But a handheld radio isn't going to do any of that for you. "Ham Radio" is much more than just a 5-watt HT.

[@texasprepperprojects]

@@HamRadio2 and it's not gonna happen on your first try! It takes work and testing to get the antennas and other setup right!

[@pauljenkins6877]

Communications are important in many emergencies, including SHTF events. Talking to someone a long distance away strikes me as a lot less useful than the ability to talk to members of one’s own group at a variety of distances, for security purposes such as alerting you to threats. Does this mean that a Ham radio is what you need, versus other kinds of transceivers? I have no idea.

[@squaredwon]

If there is ever marshall law, pretty good chance government will shut off cell phones.

[@richryan6326]

some groups have created the 3-3-3 plan. even have pdfs out explaining it. our county em has purchased mobile vhf/uhf and hf for comms in city, county and ems buildings. now just need a strong plan

[@hamradios-wd8nvn]

When SHFT happens: The hell with Ham Radio, I will be running to the mountains. 😆😆😆😆

[@HamRadio2]

I'll have my radio with me while running

[@major__kong]

I'm standing my ground because I'm armed to the teeth.

[@korlilkatana7653]

Then don't forget SOTA :)

[@Biff2136]

Running to the mountains just like everyone else?😮

[@patthesoundguy]

I have been putting a lot of thought in to this over the past week or so, and I have been coming to some conclusions... None of these radios are going to be any good without some major preplanning with other people you are going to want to communicate with. You need to pick frequencies ahead of time that will be available when things go sideways and agree on them with your people. Otherwise you'll be sitting there with a radio and no idea of where to find everyone. In a terrorist scenario choice of frequencies would be crucial because maybe they will be monitoring FRS,GMRS and ham bands. Frequency choice might need to be illegally using business radio frequencies or something not likely to be monitored by someone looking for frequencies likely to be used by regular people. Another reason I've been thinking about this is our communications grid here I'm Nova Scotia is quite unreliable. We lose power for more than a few hours, many of us lose landline phones, cell phones and internet because all of the batteries on the poles die.

[@robertmeyer4744]

great video. great points came up. I say best to learn about radio now . learn how to use. I am in NY . we know Sandy and outers. Ham radio really came threw . we have sky warn hear. with the blizzards and bad weather this has been very help full. the power grid goes down quite often. internet goes out. cell phones loose service. even parts of radio don't work very well. storms can bring up noise floor to the point of un usable. best to learn what bands to use and what the limitations are before things go very bad. 73's

[@steveschroder8782]

Consider comparing having a ham radio license and experience to being an licensed, experience driver. UPON SHTF for a while derivers will know how to drive, deal with intersections, have adequate vision, etc. As SHTF continues, some drivers will be underage, impaired and inexperienced. At first, experienced hams will know how to use their equipment, organize, pass traffic, etc. That level of competency will degrade as SHFT continues.

[@Chris_KS5KY]

I agreed with him before you ever started going through the article but we all know, there's "some people" out there that would be exactly how he said in the funny example. Someone is bound to get on the local repeater and ask if anyone is going to run the nightly/weekly net or not. Great video and thanks for sharing the info. Chris, KS5KY.

[@radiohobbyist13]

The old acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) still applies. All of those fancy digital modes won't be worth "Two hoops in hades" when the SHTF thing happens. None of them are compatible with one another but analog is always compatible with analog. And I can field program all my radios on the fly without a computer. And yes, I'd like a cookie 🍪 and glass of warm cocoa for that last revelation! 😂

[@ohenekojo2561]

I think prepping is a hobby in and of itself at this point. Having said that, knowledge of radio; theory and practice COULD be useful in a crisis. Just like you said, I’d rather have it than not. One thing I do know is that callsigns, licensing restrictions and band plan observances are out of the window if S truly HTF. Imagine the band police shouting “you don’t call CQ on a repeater!” With bullets whizzing around them.

[@kevingaukel4950]

The main reason I got into POTA activating was that I want to activate an HF station in a park or other location should I lose the ability to operate from home. It has been very helpful. The fact that I am ready for EMCOMM is a nice bonus.

[@3asyrider75]

I think HF will be useful to keep in contact with countries not affected by war. If anything but for information when Internet is down

[@slick8086]

I think the tech prepper guy has the right idea. If you never practice you will never be able to use it during a real emergency. Also getting into ham radio exposes you to many more facets of it, when you learn about ARES for instance you can see how real emergency networks operate.

[@Lkeyhacle1465]

I been learning to crawl before I can walk... I got a cobra handheld and a mobile CB radio I’m going to use for my house... And still studying for HAM radio just not a lot of time with kids.. I love radios though stuffs so cool 😎

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

News flash...in the event of hurricane, my behind ain't hanging around to play radio. Me and Mamma and the younguns are leaving for high ground. The radio is basically for listening.

[@HamRadio2]

Without a radio, you wouldn't be able to listen, either. Hams are good at setting up comms for after-events with Hurricanes, too.

[@richardmillican7733]

I actually believe that the ability to "LISTEN" and have the know how to operate RX is more important than chatting to "Big Bubba" at gate 3, looking out for Zombies!! The ability to work a receiver, have knowledge of antenna builds, to RX. Well, isn't that important??

[@HamRadio2]

Yes

[@mikechimeno7004]

KI5SOK, I agree 100%. Living in SWLA through hurricane season, Ham Radio, GMRS, and other radio services make great family comms when natural disasters arrive and standard communications are down.

[@larrystokes8787]

any situation is “possible. In my area it is going to be forest fires, extreme snow events, or floods. Civil unrest rest? We are pretty remote with only two ways in and out. Radio would be for local communications in our valley or just monitoring the outside stupidity.

[@ronc9743]

Best use of a Baofeng radio ever, bang on the pipes. 😂

[@HamRadio2]

Yes

[@Adamdaj]

I think in a true SHTF Ham Radio is not going to be as useful as we think. Not all Amateur Radio Operators are signed up for ARES RACES or REACT, which isn't really just Amateur Radio. For those organizations, they're the ones that are going tie up repeaters and portable system. Average Amateur Radio Licensee who isn't affiliated with ARES or RACES isn't going much luck with passing traffic on their own. Just as Non Hams will have a harder time making phone calls or sending/E-mails.

[@Heater__]

Anyone watch the PMR-171 testing with the TinaSA? Jason and the boys knows what they was doing and were still struggling with setting up a radio. TX was disabled. Trouble with connectors. Murphy will be in full effect if you don't have field time with your rigs.

[@Mike-yq7ce]

I agree it's better to have a radio than not have one. I do think being prepared for dealing with the natural disasters that can occur in your local area is a good thing. Ultimately, we are our own first response. Just like a cell network can get overwhelmed first responders could very well be overwhelmed in a natural disaster situation. I do disagree with speaking to someone in Germany on HF part. With a properly configured antenna one can get closer range coverage using NVIS propagation on the lower bands. The chances of the doomsday scenario happening is slim. Though I do think being ready for a conventional civil defense situation is not a bad thing.

[@msh441]

As you’ve said, a HAM transceiver is only as good as what you put into it. Like most programable hardware, garbage in/garbage out. IMO (and experience) they absolutely are useful in catastrophic situations. First and foremost as a MONITORING tool. News, weather, LE/MIL/EMS scanning services. Just for listening. Determining where activity is taking place, where you need to stay (or what routes to AVOID if you’re on the move) is really, really, really important when bad stuff is going on all around. Also, short range handheld simplex transceivers are very important for families/small groups/neighborhood communities working together. Groups working together, but who can’t be in each other’s immediate vicinity 24/7. As far as reaching out talking to others over distance? Possible, I guess. But that’s way down the list, and possibly not the safest decision in some (more realistic by the day 😳) scenarios. Only nuts pray for the Apocalypse. But scary things happen. And getting any news during chaos helps with decision making, as well as confidence to keep pushing on.

[@Bulldurham20]

I think best use of ham if shtf is local comes with friends and family that have the knowledge to operate. Shoot, move, communicate.

[@toml.8210]

I think he's referring to long-rage comms, when you need repeaters powered and available. In a total SHTF The repeaters will be very busy, probably, as well as the local comms, so you may not be able to contact your family easily.

[@christinacarmenate2919]

best option for talking with family within 25miles miami fl thx!

[@rlfernandez3803]

Jason can you help.. Im talking about this new radio called ERMAK though on the panel it says EPMAK. Its an SDR but with as always mysterious information. No price or anything..

[@DellFargus]

The lady on MacGyver obviously didn't use the Baofeng's built in alarm.

[@HamRadio2]

Indeed

[@macnottsuk]

Who wants to get a Licence for a Ham handheld radio when you can get a Handheld CB and your good to go. BTW Hams will not be on Air when the Power grid goes down. You'll be stuck with 4 watts Handhelds same as CBers but CB has a lot more people to connect with. So my advice, if you are a Hammer then get a CB for SHTF

[@HamRadio2]

CB is limited to a 4 watt handheld, not Hams. Hams can use up to 1500 watts. How exactly do you think CBers will be on the air when Hams aren't, if the grid is down?

[@45auto]

#TeamReplay In a few weeks I will once again try to get my family to check out GMRS. They show no interest in ham radio. Chances are not great but just like my parents pestered me with unsolicited advice that proved useful I will try to spread the word of radio.

[@ve2cii]

Here is a good scenerio that every prepper can partake of. Take a trip right now to Gaza. Let us say just outside of Jabalia. Setup your HF or VHF station and see what happens. How many contacts can you make? There will probably be no electricity, but that is ok, as you will be all prepared for it. Let me know how it goes.

[@nerdlywehunt]

Ham radio MAY be useful in finding the soup and bread lines bexause we all know that we Hams gotta eat!

[@BrassCatcher365]

I think when it comes to HAM radio and SHTF, it's a two sided coin. It will pay dividends to enjoy the hobby, be well educated about radio and become experienced with effective communications in field conditions.

[@HamRadio2]

Yep

[@TaterFarmer154]

Let us not forget the government and everyone else who wants to knows where we (licensed hams) live and will probably take our radios along with the other stuff you mentioned.

[@JaxWatchesandEDC]

Your example is the exact reason I am against any kind of licensing record.

[@devilsatan2973]

That's why you use a PO box on the license application!

[@HamRadio2]

By the time it gets to that, we will be fighting back, I think. Also if they want to find you, they aren't going to use FCC records. They will use IRS records, driver's license, passport info, etc. Being against licensed radio for the purpose of "them finding you" is ludicrous and ignorant.

[@TaterFarmer154]

I hope my post didn’t come across as anti-licensing. I am happily licensed and having fun with the hobby POTA, SOTA, Field Days, rag chewing, etc.

[@truckinprepper8743]

CB is more common, both be good or both useless if you cant recharge or supply power!

[@HamRadio2]

That is why we have batteries and solar

[@DominicMazoch]

How qbout that EF5 tornado that took out that EOC near Austin That town lost first responder comms from the get go

[@Lugeix]

Gen Z Hams can't even figure out how to program their HT. In my day, the test was essay test with a code test. Which weeded out the wannabes from the real hams. Now we have Gen Z on social media asking question like, What antenna for my HT will get me more power? Which HT gets me both CB and GMRS? How do I get more channels on my 2m HT? I hope we don't ever have to find out.

[@davidketcham1688]

i have radtel 470 10w hand held radio . im studing for my lic so listen to local police , fire n ems for now but is a radtel 470 a radio for startig out with

[@rusty-oc2tj]

obviously everyone wont be rolling out antennas post comunication failure but there would likely be someone ready to set up, thats when a hand held could be your only link to whats happening, allowing word to be passed to others as quickly as possible, and increase emergency responce, so i would place ham radio absolutely critical top priority especialy in a shtf event, i just bought 3 radios and knowing nothing im binge watching videos struggleing to get up to speed, another point, there will be very many who did not forsee radio importance, those that did will be depended on heavily, ive warned those i know only to be disreguarded as a fear monger,

[@DCDura]

Not giving his call sign/name and what his experience is negates his opinions, while some may be more valid than others. As many that may agree with him, there's just as many professionals in emergency management who'd blow his thoughts away. Preparedness and Resilience is not SHTF Preppers. Writer needs to say from whence his opinions come from. Since we have not had the SHTF event that he blasts in his piece as a Country-albeit parts of our Country have, what's his evidence? It's just opinion, that's all without it.

[@ChrisHirner]

If it got real bad license and call signs arent gonna make any difference. Someone will show you how simplex works and off you go. If you set up a repeater everyone will want to use it. So they will be darn good walkies but as for policy and procedures its gonna be wide open CB type comunication. Sub bands be damned any clear channel will be used for what ever the group wants. Old advanced class operator here. I dont hear many 2x2 calls anymore.

[@JoeHamelin]

It's like the III%ers coming to CERT training thinking they are going to get battlefield medic training. No, that's not what we're about. We're about helping our neighbors until the professionals have a chance to get caught up and back on their feet. Then we stand back and support them IF they request.

[@curtstacy779]

I think along with covering the situation people need to know the frequencies used most. the time of day on what frequency and what radio and antenna combination will work best. and also what each radio type will require to use it and set it up. I don't believe most will spend the time to learn it. and if not the small handheld like the Baefang would probably be best. tell them what frequency to go to. buy a better antenna! if there are no repeaters or you don't know how to program a repeater you are probably only going to talk a mile or so. this is the helpless part of the situation. people need to learn to set up an antenna and tune it. that is the only way you are talking over a mile or so. or a repeater is working and you know how to program it in. but small groups of people that can communicate is not all lost you can relay information from group to group. but I can say one thing that is most important battery battery battery and a way to charge them or you won't last long on the air.

[@pale_2111]

After the bombing in Nashville a few years ago, I was without cellphone service for about 3 days. My ID-5100A and HT's were my main source of communications. When I left the house, I always took an HT with me for just in case.

[@JoeHamelin]

We use to leave the house without comms for most of everything before 2000. We survived.

[@pale_2111]

@JoeHamelin I guess you missed without cellphone service part. During that time, it was winter and expected snow storms coming in.

[@stuartlent2645]

I disagree with caveats. First is we have the equipment, knowledge, and training. As you said we have proved alot with POTA. I dare you to give a CB radio operator a roll of wire and ask them to create antenna. How about setting up an emergency power supply. Some may be able to. Most won't. Give them a cb and a magnet mount and a car battery they might be able to communicate for a little while since they love using amps. A ham radio operator with a radio, TNC, laptop, and wire antenna. The ham operator may not know code but can transmit a 5 watt signal using a TNC to send the code. The ham would have batteries and off the grid chargers. My first thought was a bicycle and a automotive generator. Look give a McGyver a junkyard and he can build anything. Hams are experimenters. I don't recommend that for a local emergency where handhelds and spare battery packs would suffice. Even CB radios would work to areas that ham radio is not available. FRS might work for short range SAR. GMRS would be better. Each of the different radio services have a best use situation. Never knock Amateur radio it fits several purposes. It is easy to say a particular radio service can't be used for something. I like to prove that wrong. In an emergency situation even FRS radios could be used somehow. If you have a radio bring it. Even a shortwave AM/FM radio can have a purpose. Especially one that has a hand crank and flashlight.

[@dah_ditdit_dahdah]

I like clickbait titles, I'm in.

[@HamRadio2]

I'll see if I can find one for ya...

[@dah_ditdit_dahdah]

@@HamRadio2 using a baofeng to bang out CW on a pipe in the rubble, could be a good plan. I am U-571 destroy me!

[@jamess1787]

Relying on the Internet for linking repeaters is dumb. UHF linking ftw. Also, when SHTF: that repeater with 12v battery backup will still be running without electricity for a day or two. 🥳. Okay, so that stinks, I have a car and an HF rig. Got all the power I need as long as I have a tank of gas (and gas in the Jerry cans in the shed).

[@jamess1787]

Book, cover... Guilty.

[@Peter_1512]

So, lets look at some of the points. If there is a Military intervention like attempt to occupy or attack in general, first thing any Military does is interrupting communication by frequency jamming or just deploying EMF explosives. The end. It seems to be better in natural disasters but also here we run in to problems. Usually First Responders use their own comm systems and don't monitor amateur radio frequencies. I think 9/11 was the best example for "failure to communicate" between the different Government entities. And that is where ARES/RACES comes in to play. It will support local Governments to communicate better with each other. As lonely prepper with a Baofeng you most likely are out of luck calling for help. But like Jason said, any radio is still better than no radio at all. At least it will up the chances to be able to call for help or get information.

[@user-sk7zc1fc5u]

Interesting site. You talk about an AP. I don't even know what an AP is. I don't own a smart phone. I am currently looking at online videos that talk about how to use the radio I have. I have very little education. Kids in elementary school are much more educated than I am. Sure I have a college degree but one in the 60's is like kindergarten now. You must be located in an area that is flat. I don't and so line of site is a big factor. My cell flip phone works pretty good if I drive from one to 8 miles from my home. And I live in a pole building so I get nothing on a cell. I had to give up the land line because it's so expensive and tree roots eventually break the line. Several years ago I used a 2-meter some, but mountains and canyons limited my use and at that time there were not a huge amount of repeaters so I have forgotten what I knew. I kept my license up by paying every 10 years. Ham radio activity isn't that active in my area. I do think we have a possibility of a civil war and/or our infrastructure having trouble and the grid going down nation wide, except Texas which is not connected to the rest of the country. I can see how HAM radio would great like after a flood or earthquake or maybe a fire on flat land, but if I were prepared with ratios, who would I phone? How would I know their call sign and what frequency they were using, if I wasn't already part of a net? How could I live in Oregon and then want to call someone in Ohio to find out what was going on there?

[@HamRadio2]

An AP?

[@user-sk7zc1fc5u]

@@HamRadio2 I was born in the last days of WWII. Didn't grow up with computer technology.

[@billcosgrave6232]

I agree

[@etiancontreras3820]

Interesting piece. I think that radios are a lot like guns and trauma kits; they're priceless at a time when needed, but those are not the times to learn. You have to do your homework, get training, learn, practice, etc. before you ever need them. A lot of preppers think that it's enough to just buy and store cool gadgets but you have to put in the time before you ever need them. 73

[@bentrider1972]

Having a off grid setup is always a good idea for anyone.Are the doomsday hams going to jump and save the world from Mars?? Ya sure they will 🤣🤣🤣..I know what happens when the power goes out..We live in Cedar Rapids and was in the middle of the derecho in 2020..Week with no power and cell phones were a maybe in a lot of town..So I have been there and used my radios..Did I try to save the town nope

[@jayzee1968]

Hilarious man. …baofang notes. Thanks for sharing.

[@HamRadio2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@petermckenney7945]

Ham radio during SHTF is mainly a tool for local Intel and coordination of movement. Ham radio is a tool in the bad ass man's tool bag. When SHTF you either have the tools to endure or you don't. 73s