A nice article about the utility of amateur radio in a crisis and the people who appreciate that utility.
There’s the old saying that ‘knowledge is power’, and I’ve never disbelieved that. And, we are also familiar with the old expression that ‘forewarned is forearmed’, yes? When there’s a crisis it is often of tremendous importance to have as much information as possible about whats going on. You can get that information from ‘official’ sources, which is always a rather suspect idea.
So, yeah, having the ability to communicate with whomever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want, is something that is worth ensuring.
Remember, in some countries it is perfectly illegal for citizens to own radio communications equipment. Some countries it’s highly regulated. It doesn’t take much more than the stroke of a pen to suddenly turn your scanner or transceiver into a ‘clandestine radio station’ or ‘terrorist communication network’. It seems like it couldn’t happen here but the simple fact is, you dont know that it wont. So, while youre dropping coin for that new AR, don’t overlook spending a few bucks to make sure you know whats going on in the regions around you.
It already has. During WWII, all US licensed hams were ordered to cease all operations. Don’t think for a second that it can’t happen again. The Feds (and the military) have equipment to identify a radio’s “fingerprint”. This is kind of like how ballistics can prove which gun fired the bullet – only far more sophisticated. The entire radio spectrum is continuously recorded – not just your cell phone, but all radio signals. Computer analysis of the spectrum can identify the specific radio that transmitted the signal. This is due to the unique characteristics of the electronic components in each particular radio. If you really need to be able to communicate in a bad situation, it might be prudent to keep a radio that you have never transmitted on. It is also more difficult but not impossible to locate and identify a receiver since the local oscillator generates a tiny signal that is mixed with the incoming radio wave. That oscillator also has a unique fingerprint and can be detected with very sensitive equipment.
If radio operation is made illegal, you need to be able to setup and operate from a remote location, and then skedaddle quickly when done.
Thanks Doc. Your knowledge base descriptions is enlightening to a shortcoming that has technology wise is / or will limit any Freefor type of off grid and off line comms. I watch old analog methods in war film comms scenarios, and think of what they used that worked, “back in the day”, old is new I guess. One time pads and scrappy errand running lads it is. Keep comms lines open and Stay Frosty.
Following. Agreed on the high priority utility of having alternate communications. MSM and .gov news is proven compromised with agendas and useless beyond a weather report. Having a well established, and regularly scheduled comm link lines of info flow with other folks in immediate A.O. and further out territories will indeed more valuable than another “muh gun”. Banning such devices are as simple as jamming signals and direction finding. The Russian Chads are jamming our own missle tech to send them off target into the dirt, so comms can easily be defeated as well. Ham for dinner and Hams for comms is cool but other methods probably should also be considered for alternate methods, jic. Stay listening and stay frosty.
Anyone who thinks they can get by with their cell phone in a SHTF scenario needs to reassess! It takes NOTHING to break the cell network and even LESS of “they” want to take it down! A couple of things on ham radio; quite a few folks out there feel they have adequate comms with their VHF/UHF Beofeng handy talkies (HT’s or “handhelds”). I’m not knocking this, because having ANYTHING is better than having NOTHING. Just know that VHF/UHF (Very High and Ultra HIgh Frequency) ham is Line-Of-Sight (LOS). Unless going through a repeater, if you can see it you can talk to it. If you can’t see it you CAN’T talk to it. This also means that if “they” can pick up your signal they can follow it right back to your mouth! HF (High Frequency) is somewhat harder to trace, as it has both a ground wave that, wait for it, follows the ground, and a sky wave which bounces off the atmosphere and clouds and returns to Earth several times during a transmission. Even CB will do this, as it’s also HF. CB’ers call it “skip.” That’s how worldwide comms are possible on HF. If “they” pickup your signal on HF, they have to ask themselves “Is it local or is it a sky wave bounce?” They have to figure this out first. Even the Taliban figured this out! Look at videos of these people and you’ll see them talking on HT’s with long, floppy antennas. Those HT’s are HF!!! In any case, if you need to transmit, do so AWAY from your hidie-hole. Turn on your gear. Make your transmission… SHORT. Shut off your gear and MOVE. DON’T transmit from that spot again!
I thought worldwide comms were possible because the earth is flat.
Nicely stated. The most important thing is to make sure that, if operating mobile, you STAY mobile. Don’t continuously operate in the same place, expecting that the enemy won’t track you down. If you’re offering an alternative to the standard official message, you are a threat.
Commander:
There is NO “good decision”
Politicians lie.
So do determined consperacy believers.
Finding honest information is almost impossible.
Look for the hard to find “middle ground”
Best of luck with that…
Ceejay
Smog Signals and even signal fires on top of a few strategically located Bald Knobs here in (opsec) would do the trick nicely for a few emergency communications…one if by land two if by see stuff…it’s really too easy to over think thangs these days!
It is already against the law- when they want it to be.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/606