COMMUNICATION ISSUES

Hand Crank cell phone charger (for obvious reasons)

Just google it. :) You can get one for about $20 USD.

Here is one site that sells it http://www.soscharger.net/ (I have not purchased from them so I can not endorse this company, I am simply giving an example)

CB radios are a great way to communicate when everything else fails.  A standard CB signal only travels about 4-8 miles, but mods can be made.

A friend of mine, who turned me on to this site, has done some research regarding converting base stations.  He found ways to enhance the signal across multiple states.

It's not cheap ($500-$700), but it might be a great way to continue this forum.

I, or my friend, will post more detailed info soon for anyone interested.

Right now the problem is time.  To get on the really long bands requires an FCC license.  While I'm sure the FCC won't be knocking on our doors during an emergency, we'd not only be clueless but also in the way of the real Hams, who have proven, over and over again to be the backbone of communication in a true crisis.  However, it's not too hard to find CBs that have been modified to also transmit and receive in the 10 meter band, these also have builtin amplifiers boosting them from 4 watts CB to up to 200!  Alot of truckers have been doing this.  The 10 meter band has some distance and is also considered a 'Ham' band.  You could communicate with friends, as well as the outside world.  At your leisure, you could take the 35 question test and do the morse for the FCC to get legitmately on the band, but in the meantime, if H5N1 happens, you've got two-way, both CB and low level Ham for about a $500 investment.

Heh.  It's been along time since I took the test (1977) - the FCC does'nt even have me on record anymore.  I talked to a Ham friend of mine and said they do lapse. 

Anyway - after long discussion with said Ham, I've concluded that 2-meter is probably the best way to go for what I'm seeking.  He and most of his Ham friends also maintain 2-meter set-ups.  We live an a suburban system with a heavy 2 meter infrastructure that has a lot of generator backup.

What I'm seeking is not so much the "big news" worldwide - I think I'll get enough of that sensationalist stuff.  I want news from all the towns and stuff within a 30 - 50 mile radius.   The stuff like, "If I leave my house to go to town, what's happening out there?"

Also, for myself and few likeminded friends, we'd like to simplex and not use the repeater system to communicate with each other.

The cost and technology is right - for $400 we can get up and running with a maybe 50 mile radius and airwave connection to many Hams.

The Downside: we can listen, but if we transmit, we're breaking the law until we get our Techniciains licenses, though I doubt we'd be hunted down unless we made nuisances of ourselves somehow.

The Upside: we can install, study ( my guides on the way and I already know Morse, which isn't even required any more for a Technicians), and if there's time, take the test at a local Repeater club.   If we run out of time, we still have a communication system.  

Anyway - that's the current game plan!

 

-The Rock is Gonna Fall on Us - Harry Chapin

 

I got a nice radio (Freeplay Summit) - they are available from many places on the internet but I got mine from 21stCenturyproducts.  I paid about $60-$70 for it. 

I like it because it has a crank generator and a solar panel - plus a normal 110 volt wall charger.  The batteries are NiMh - which are nice and have no charge memory. 

It is also entirely digital with a scan feature.  Many of the cheaper crank radios only have analog tuning - and I think this would be difficult to use.  In the Freeplay, once you have zoned in on the signal you can store it in memory and easily get back to it when you need to. It plays am/fm and shortwave bands.  I think the shortwave feature will be useful if the local radio stations run out of power and stop broadcasting.

For local communication in the immediate neighborhood I have GMRS/FRS radios.  They use AAA batteries - and I have a solar charger for those.   The range is only about a mile, though - even though the advertised range is 10 miles!

-R

The VHF radio in my boat travels a long way and can talk to Coast Guard and some police too. Gets weather and can talk to other people. It's parked in my driveway. So it is handy. Under $250.00 for complete set up. Doesn't have to be in a boat either.

Hi MM,

Bannor and I just recently set up VHF transceivers (2-meter HAM) on both ends... it works.  We can communicate no matter what happens.  We can also here a lot of what's happening in our area.

If you're interested, I or Bannor can give more detailed instructions.  Each setup ran about $500 (radio, AC power supply, 100' cable, antenna and mount).

You should get a license.  Not that difficult.  We're in the process but wanted to set up the radios first to make sure we could communicate.  For now we just listen... soon we will be able transmit legally.

Mississipp Mama,
The one in my boat runs on 12V. Solar panels to recharge batteries. Yes it could be set up Inside the house. nNot hard to set up either. You would need 12V power supply. Antenae would have to be outside is all. You could talk to friends if they are close enough. Otherwise strangers. But you could see how other people are coping.Check out boaterworld online. Then you would be able to see prices.

  Thanks for the infor Spoon. I am very intrested in this set up .  Please post it.  How do i go about getting a license?  Who should I contact?  What are the chances of a strong wind blowing this systen down.  I guess you just put it back up right.  Thanks guys.

I wonder how people will know when it is safe to go out if there is no telephone service or electricity?  I live out in the country and I don't have any close neighbors.