So you want a ham radio for emergency communications!

Amateur Radio Band Chart:
www.arrl.org/files/file/Regula...
Amateur Electronic Supply (AES): www.aesham.com
Ham Radio Outlet (HRO): www.hamradio.com

[@1234bogusname]

I just got my tech, studying for my general, and yup, your videos have helped a bunch! I'm going to start recommending your channel in the various forums, as it's so hard to wrap your head around these concepts, and you did such an amazing presentation for us. Thank you sir!

[@Gilgamesh347]

Wow, you’re gifted in presenting information succinctly and in a format that is easy to understand. I just got my Technician license a few weeks ago and this was helpful!

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dragosb2165]

I am new to ham radio. You are the first one to explain very clearly the basics of communication, radio band, and license class. Thanks

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks.

[@TangoTexan]

Great video! I am asked a lot here lately exactly what you're talking about. I am saving your video to show folks so they might better understand what they should consider. I get very annoyed with folks who get a radio (and MAYBE their license) to have in an emergency. Yet they put the radio in their closet and fail to practice with it and know how to simply program a simplex frequency if need be. If the SHTF then just how exactly are some of these fools gonna know what and/or how to use their equipment? I explain to them to get on the air, join a net, meet other hams and be ready for when it does get bad. Keep up the good work with your videos Commsprepper, you do really good work. Thank you.

[@Commsprepper]

+TangoTexan Thank for watching and taking the time to comment. Respectfully, Hank/CommsPrepper

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks DEMCAD for the positive feedback. I think I good communications plan is a must for any emergency. Amateur radio has always been about emergency preparedness. Thanks for watching.

[@bluenetmarketing]

Extremely well presented material. Thank you very much!

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@Commsprepper]

My pleasure - happy you liked the video and will like the channel.

[@ds525252]

Great video. I went through about 10 before finding yours that laid out rough costs per performance. Thank you.

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it helped.

[@Commsprepper]

Can't move but happy to advise. Thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@Jvance325]

Dude, your videos are awesome. Thanks for the pointers.

[@kennyzail6224]

Excellent video. Best I've seen for explaining ham radio. Most videos assume they are talking to fellow hams. If you are new you don't know terms or acronyms. Thanks!!

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@3v068]

Thank you for this video. I see a lot of people talking about the benefits of ham radio but not what kind of radio to get as a beginner.

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks for the comment and channel support.

[@BBSPaul]

Thanks again. So professional. I really like your videos. Perfect for someone like me trying to learn ham radio.

[@chrisfrench12]

Technician Class are permitted to operate on 6 meter (50-54 mhz), 2 meter (144 - 148), 1.25 meter (222 - 225 mhz), 70 cm (420 -450 mhz), 33 cm (902-928 mhz), 23 cm (1240 - 1300), and 13 cm band (2300 - 2310 mhz, 2390 - 2450 mhz). Technicians are also permitted to communicate a some HF bands as well. 80 meter ( 3.525 - 3.600 mhz), 40 meters (7.025 - 7.125 mhz), 15 meter ( 21.025 - 21.200), and 10 meter ( 28.000 - 28.500 ). Chris French KD2CLQ

[@shaleknight6224]

Christopher French I'm looking at getting a 6m rig ONE of these days 73 de KB0ODB

[@inyourdefense0]

As a relatively new "HAMster", this was a nice orientation review. My comms requirements will remain local, with mobility beyond an "HT" add as soon as I decide which model and how to get a quick disconnect configuration designed do that I can easily move between vehicle and desk.

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@sustainlight1]

I am trying to be a beginner, so I'm blind about all this radio-communications, but thanks for all the information, I feel that I'm starting to learn something. thanks​ a lot

[@Blakehx]

Great info, 1 of the best videos I've seen! Subscribing right now, Thanks!

[@Commsprepper]

+Blakehx Thank you. I hope it helped.

[@PM4HIRE]

You're doing a fine job of explaining complex stuff.

[@DoRC]

thank you so much. i cant believe how hard it is to find all this info in one place and stated in an easy way for a noob to understand.

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it helped.

[@JudithGriffith]

Thank you for the reply ~ I'll order the cable and go from there

[@CroPrepper]

I am currently learning for the test to the basic license in Croatia. We only got 2 licence types here, basic and professional. But with the basic license I am also allowed to use 80m, 40m, 15m, 10m, 2m i 70cm bands on 100W max.

[@ranzamaceanruig]

I know I am viewing this like 8 years after the fact, but this was a very helpful video. Thanks very much.

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks for the comment and channel support.

[@N2RRAny]

@Commsprepper - the reliable short wave bands depending on time and day will always be 80m, 40, and 20m. Once you learn how propagation works then you can ways schedule, or just know where the activity will be. The 2m and 70cm. bands using repeaters are great, but if there's no power for its repeaters FM direct can be a problem without proper antennas. Look into weak signal work like SSB, Meteor Scatter, CW, EME, and digital/Packet on the VHF/UHF bands.

[@markgunderson7057]

Thank you, Just passed my general and was looking for info an HF radios. Great video.

[@Commsprepper]

congratulations.

[@daveg9068]

Thank you for doing this video. Exactly the information I was looking for.

[@Commsprepper]

+Dave G Thanks for the feedback. Glad the video was helpful. CommsPrepper

[@mikeadrover5173]

Thanks again. Always very helpful, as I am new to communication.

[@drdexter33]

Excellent presentation!

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@rchopp]

Well done, I appreciate the videos.

[@olechuga2]

Sir, an excellent video. Thank you for your service to us "newbies". Oscar

[@Commsprepper]

+Oscar Lechuga Thanks

[@MrGchiasson]

Got my Technician class....Now..gotta start studying for my 'General'. Thanx for your Ham' blig!

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks. Hope to keep them relevant.

[@kf4esh]

Great vid that answers alot of questions I get from fellow preppers. One recommendation I would make should you ever offer and updated vid.. I recommend NOT using the "all in one" radios because that limits you. If you invest in an all in one rig and that rig goes down, you are off the air! I advocate having sep radios for each band where possible IE one radio for 6m, on for 2m, one for 70cm and one for HF. This way even if one goes down, you are still on the air. And, it can be cheaper!

[@Commsprepper]

@ardorlan I will work the home station into future vids. my comms preps focus on radio email and digital communications. I used it more than one during local grid-down events. allows us to keep in touch with distant family and weeds out the scanner people.

[@RESlusher]

Yeah, I'm hoping to pull the trigger on an FT-857D very soon. You're definitely right about the 8900 too. Looking back on it I wish I would've just saved up the extra money and gone right to the 857D.

[@blizzardfpv9584]

Thank you for your support Commsprepper

[@Commsprepper]

You bet

[@terryleethompson6245]

Great information for us late in life newbies. I just subscribed & Thanx for your time and expertise . . .

[@Commsprepper]

+Lone Ranger Glad it was a help. CommsPrepper

[@yazenaswad]

Thank you so much for this informative video! very useful. Keep up the good work!

[@KeithGrommes]

Outstanding job explaining everything. Great video. 73, KG1USA

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@jacknifedbl]

dont forget the tech lic you have access to almost all bands via cw and digital modes!!

[@tom_olofsson]

Very nice overview. Thanks.

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks Tom.

[@Commsprepper]

Let us know how the test goes and if you have any questions. Do you have a radio yet? If not, what are you looking at?

[@Commsprepper]

It depends on the radio. International communications takes place on frequencies between 2 and 30 mHz. This frequency band is known as the High Frequency or HF band.

[@KA7AOK]

A good presentation with one major shortcoming - no mention of handheld battery operated and mobile (vehicle mounted radios) which are generally much less expensive than the radios you showed.

[@Commsprepper]

It's hard to capture every aspect of Ham radio. Thank you for the feedback. Hank

[@dannyfivefifty]

A technician class, amateur radio license or even better a general class amateur radio license, is a must for all preppers. With those licenses as previously stated in this KZbin video you can communicate locally or worldwide(with other preppers).I would also like to inform everybody that cw or continuous wave (cw) morse code signals can get thru world wide with very very low power 1+ watts.I have worked Euorpe and other countries with (5) watts,or less.

[@timm2020]

T = Technician are allowed on other bands besides 2 Meter and 70 cm. They are also allowed to use: 6 Meters (50 mhz) 80 meters (3.5 mhz) 15 meters (21mhz) 40 meters (7 mhz) 10 meter (28 mhz) 23 cm (1240 mhz)

[@Commsprepper]

Yes but those bands running CW are less useful for prepping purposes.

[@hammer-dh9xi]

Thanks Commsprepper for the info. I did signup at qrz and I have some study materials ordered. I will get my technicians license and then start looking for a mobile unit.

[@tdww8456]

+hammer 1963 That's a great plan man, you'll enjoy the skills you're going to learn, you can do it!

[@labrat311]

Nice vid man. It's good to see preppers getting into ham radio. Working a rig takes some amount of skill. It kills me to see people buying ham radios and don't have a clue how to use them but buy them for shtf emergency. Like buying a ak and keeping it in the box and never shooting it till shtf. Thanks.73s

[@Commsprepper]

+T Martin Thank you. That't the principle goal of the channel - to show folks the proper way to use Amateur radio equipment with appropriate licensing to ensure our hobby retains its credibility, support, and respect.

[@onemarktwoyou]

Kenwood ts-2000 base and TM-d710 mobile have sky command. Also I believe they have a handheld with sky command. If someone wanted a complete package this would be the way to go. The TM-d710 can cross-band repeat. Ideal for mobile emergency needs. These radios together can do more than 99.99% of what hams would want. if you have a few thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, not including a tower, antennas, and some extras. Personally I couldn't go without a good dual band UHF/VHF mobile with cross band repeat function. Cross band repeat is great for camping, running around the neighborhood with the handheld, local group activities, and ect. Park the truck or car at a high point. You have a little repeater setup. Or set your base up with it and you are generally good for the whole town/little city. Please keep power levels low, good ham practice. I personally turn the function on only when I am going to be using my handheld in areas of poor reception.

[@Commsprepper]

Congratulations on getting your Technician class license! Go for General class now. With General - you get HF and HF is the best part of Amateur radio!

[@mrfaisaldean]

Very informative video. Thank you for posting.

[@Commsprepper]

mrfaisaldean Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@bobt471]

Excellent information.... Thank you !

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrGchiasson]

I'm one of those quiet 'closet-preppers' and test for my Technician class..in two days.... Thanx for this video.... Very good.

[@tdg911]

If I were you I would look into obtaining your ham license. It teaches you a lot about radio and communications. Imagine every fool jamming the frequencies because of either not knowing proper etiquette or just being an asshat. I passed my technician test on march 3rd and tonight just passed my general. it's well worth it.

[@romanmejorado5495]

Thank you thank you thank you very informative for me

[@waltwintsch7483]

Excellent video!!

[@fredorsack3822]

Great Video wish I would have seen it when I started in to ham. I learned this the hard way.

[@Commsprepper]

+Fred Orsack Glad it helped.

[@Commsprepper]

Congratulations! Welcome to the world of HF!

[@Commsprepper]

You must have a nice station!

[@4train_bxny343]

Great video You really informed me on where I want to go with it. Thanks :)

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it helped.

[@techwithnoel1475]

Great video it was very educational you really help me out👍

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks. Glad it helped!

[@jerryhartlein]

Good explanation. Very clear.

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it helped.

[@Nodularguy1]

So with the Cloves stuck in the ham does that make it a Ham Yagi with a dipole top section? Excellent video as always. Many thanks for the time you spend and the knowledge you share. You and Guerrillacomm have helped me a ton with calm, complete explanations.

[@1billiedale]

Good explanation and video. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@Commsprepper]

Yes. Over the horizon communications on the HF bands (3-30mHz) is common - even when each station is opposite. Use google and look at the Amateur radio terms "long-path" and "short-path."

[@DEMCAD]

Great information, thanks.

[@Hunter-xy6qq]

Very informative video. Thanks for sharing!

[@Commsprepper]

+Adam Dilamanie Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@SignalsEverywhere]

Technician does have a small portion of the 10m band. You can get some international skip however that band is only up during the day and.... well its not as active as it used to be.

[@peccatumDei]

@funkyprepper: It can indeed be very technical. The exams are intended to ensure that licensees understand how radio functions, ground waves vs. sky waves, antenna theory, FCC regulatory requirements, etc. In return, Hams are granted permission to operate on many different frequency bands. Hams are allowed to transmit with enough power that they or others could be in physical danger if the station is set up incorrectly. We're even allowed to design and build our own equipment.

[@chuckewacks8511]

thanks for posting, great stuff

[@Commsprepper]

+Chuck Ewacks Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@ecenarro]

Very good explanation.

[@Commsprepper]

eecenarro Thank you.

[@tangobayus]

NVIS antennas on 80 meter and 40 meter are good for local and regional. You need a General license for them. If you have a Technician license, you can use these other bands IN AN EMERGENCY IF NO OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION ARE AVAILABLE. If cell towers or repeaters or the internet (with Zello) are up you must use those before the other HF bands. Technicians can use 10 meters, and the CB frequencies also fall in the range of typical HF transceivers. At the 10 meter and CB frequencies you can get extra punch with SSB.

[@doublel7337]

I recently talked to another Ham operator in Buffalo, NY at the time they were covered with 76 inches of snow. He was fine, but if he had been without power or phone service, he could have used his radio for reaching emergency help directly, or though even myself. I saw the vehicles which were stranded during the blizzard, radios such as the Yaesu 857d could be a lifesaver in these situations. They are tough radios, I know an 18 wheeler who uses one in his truck, and it takes a beating. I have talked to him in 27 different states, and have heard him talk to Australia while driving. It's not that hard to acquire a General class license. I have used handheld VHF radios to talk 150 miles using repeaters, so there are a lot of choices. I own a base, full coverage with SW listening capabilities, and a handheld VHF radio at the present. My next purchase, and if I was a beginner would be the Yaesu 857D because it can be used as a base with a power supply, or as a mobile in a vehicle. It could also be used with a wire antenna, and a 12 volt car battery for remote "bug out" communications. I am only promoting the 857D because of my friend who has hauled his radio to all the lower 48 states for about 8 years and it has never required servicing.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I have a general license. haven't used it much I have a kennwood eight ninety.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I also have a yeasu 75o I use in the car. it covers all ban except 220

[@motorbikeray]

Great info. I like how you categorized usage for Local, Regional, and International. The only HAM radio restriction you seem to have was mentioned at (8:57). Too bad there isn't an FCC license to remove that restriction.

[@Commsprepper]

Yeh... limitless radio purchase card would be great.

[@MrHamAndPrepper]

See your point just want folks to know they do get some HF with Tech class license. Again great video and I am sure it will be very helpful to many !

[@richardnorwood5860]

I use D-STAR and ECHOLINK on my HAM RADIO on VHF/UHF

[@BFD378]

I got my tech in November, got extra last week because I wanted to be able to use the capabilities of my hf radio & not worry as much if I was allowed to transmit on a given frequency. Fewer gaps in authorization, means fewer borders I need to worry about.

[@ardorlan]

Great video, Any plans to go into your personal setup more? reasons why, and what you would want to get in the future?

[@eddaley2804]

A very good explanation of the band spectrum and frequency allocations! Trying to read the FCC chart is an eye test. Good basic info and suggestions on equipment. I operate mostly HF CW, but trying to get into packet.

[@kd5inm]

You dont need a General to get international, Technicians can go on CW using a computer on an HF rig at 200 watts or less on certain sections of HF bands and also voice on 10meters.

[@DrMichaelMillerPhD]

Off Grid Texas Homestead AND 11 Meters ( CB Radio)

[@stevefox3763]

DrMichael MillerPhD +1 to 11meter CB band, it can go international when the conditions and setup are right, even from a mobile setup!

[@VanishingNomad]

A General is easier to get than the Tech, because you have the foundation everything else is built on already. Of course if you are just memorizing answers to talk, it's just as easy to memorize the general answers as it was for the Tech. CB btw, can talk long distance as it is HF too. If conditions are right the signal skips just like any other HF radio.

[@freethegeek4403]

I am a Technician. I have a 50' Tower with a 60' Antron, 10-160 dipole, IC7100 and FT891 eaxh 100 watts. We all hang out on 28-360L around here and couldn't be happier! :) 73, and good DX!

[@jfrphoto01]

@@freethegeek4403 A 60' Antron? I want to see that!

[@MrHamAndPrepper]

Fantastic job with this video! Preppers need to get licensed if only to get educated. Many are running out and buying the cheap import radios and will be frustrated if they ever need to comm. in SHTF etc... One thing to add is the 10 meter band which Tech class licensees do have limited privledges on. Great local / regional and when band conditions are right allows worldwide comm with very little power (even 5 watts sometimes)

[@RESlusher]

Another good radio with multi-band capability is the Yeasu FT-8900R. It covers 70cm, 2m, 6m & 10m bands. It's cheaper than the FT-817ND at about $500. I know you can't name every single one that's out there though! :) 73! Keep up the good work, CP!!

[@yeahdude1986]

Loved the video. Do you have a similar format video for antennas?

[@willfrancone3908]

Great video thank you.

[@Commsprepper]

Thank you.

[@jameswkndmechanic174]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@Commsprepper]

Glad it helped.

[@geraldscott9446]

Technicians can use CW (Morse Code) on certain segments of the 80, 40, and 15 meter HF bands, and voice on part of the 10 meter band. Even if you can only do 5 WPM, you will find plenty of people on those bands to communicate with at those speeds. I had to wait until they finally did away with the code requirement before I got my general. 5 WPM was about the best I could do, and a general class license required 13 WPM, way beyond my reach.

[@Commsprepper]

I don't know much about scanners and don't know one. I could see a scanner being a plus for monitoring Amateur radio communications and NOAA weather radio to know what's going on during an emergency. Scanners could serve a purpose for someone who does not want to get an Amateur radio license.

[@carmas54]

excellent and thank you

[@JasperStoneChroniclesIIAngiboo]

Great information... thx

[@N2RRAny]

@KC9QNC - yes, but in SHTF scenario if there loss of power and if 110/220v is not a available you can forget about anything over 25 watt transmitters. The QRP radio is eccentrically the must and only have radio. You can still operate around the world with QRP levels with no,little, or more difficulty.

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks - I was not sure and thanks for watching. Respectfully - CommsPrepper.

[@5150ToddB]

Great info..Thanks..!

[@CPLBSS88]

LOVE the into...lol! Can I pay you to move to my area and be our 'comms guy?' lol.

[@J_David_Worthington_III]

Great video! Thanks for sharing it with us! 73's KD9JEO

[@N9IBZED]

Another good place to get equipment is R&L ELECTRONICS great customer service and shipping is prompt also the ts2000 is a great radio that will allow you to cross and repeat I have one and use it to cross and using a handheld radio back to my base on hid and hit a repeater farther away on vhf and I have used it to work at least 34 different countries so far using 2 (two) 102 inch whip ANTENNAS in do-pole configuration and just the 100 watts the radio puts out

[@kd5inm]

Main Trading Company in Paris Texas has very good prices and many times will beat any HRO or other stores prices.

[@mountainmandan007]

thank you so much! My experience comes from the citizens band as a kid the singuards in the Army. Now I'm going to do ham in a day and want to buy a base all band and get all the class license's quickly. I'm also looking for info on a handheld for shtf wrol. any advice on handheld would be appreciated as well as a dvd to help me study. thanks again!

[@AppalachianFreedom]

Great intro video Sir!

[@Commsprepper]

+Appalachian Freedom Outdoors Thank you. It's one of my first. I wish I could do it over.

[@AppalachianFreedom]

Great info for a new Ham!

[@MrGchiasson]

Thanx! I test today. I already bought a Tyt TH-9000. ( i bought the radio..to push myself to really take the test. Haha! )

[@videoric]

Thanks so much for this very clear and concise explanation! I know the radio selection is a little outdated, but it really helped me to understand where to begin. Have you done an updated radio recommendation? Thanks again!

[@Commsprepper]

You're very welcome!

[@N2RRAny]

@n5rdn - they can also us CW (morse code) and digital modes which a low noise modes that use computer programs that are more efficient through noise and use less power.

[@kf4esh]

I would also recommend including websites like QTH classifieds for locating good used gear to save money. Most are not going to be willing or able to spend NEW prices but they can find great rigs for 1/2 or less of the new price on classifieds sites. :)