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Radio communications

Hello fellow preppers. I have a HAM license, KFoKBU, but I don't believe many preppers do. My question is, do most of you prepare for SHTF wtith GMRS? If so, do you usually use a local repeater? Is there a local prepper repeater or group? Any group chats or BS sessions? What freq, do you all prefer??? Thank you!

3 comments

Comments (3)

dus777

Oct 09, 2023

yes, get the general license so you can practice what matters when infrastucture fails.

mike

Aug 24, 2023

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Hey Kapaa,

Congrats for getting your license last year! I drug my feet getting my ham license, but it's been a blast. I should have gotten it earlier!

I think GMRS is great for Preppers to dip their toe in the radio waters. A $35 extended family license and you get far better range than the bubble pack FRS radios. But you keep compatibility with FRS.

GMRS repeaters are mostly privately owned, you typically get permission from the owner to use it. Sign into https://mygmrs.com/map to find GMRS repeaters around your home or farm and you can contact the owner for access. I'm in the KC GMRS club, so there are a few repeaters that we can access.

Since these radios are line of sight, the distance doesn't go too far, so how about setting up a weekly or monthly "Net' with your family and neighbors as part of a Preparedness night?

Some of the GMRS radios can recieve NOAA and Ham freqencies, so I recommend that you also program those in and use it like a scanner. Since you probablly have a ham handheld, then think two is one, one is none.

Are you coming to the Campout? I'll have my camper there and have my HF radio setup. Last Spring I was able to hit Africa and Brazil on one watt.

kapaa

Aug 24, 2023

Replying to

Thank you, Mike. Its nice to see some activity!. I have been a bit disappointed in the HAM experience. I have 3 HT's and a base station, and only have 2 meter and 70 cm. There is very little activity here in Jefferson county. I don't spend much time in the shack anymore, usually do to the paucity of friendly chat. Occasionally I'll catch a traveler passing through. I had thought about the General License, and I like the material, but think, what's the use? As I get more and more into prepping, I think the GMRS is more the way to go. I have 3 sets of HT's, one cheap and two high quality, one set of which is in my away cache. I have been seriously thinking about setting up my own repeater. Sometimes I have a bunch of youngert family out and we do use the GMRS units and that's a lot of fun. Again, unfortunately, no one in the family if really into prepping...

In fact, that is one of my worries! When I get older and feeble, or pass, what will I do with all this material? My wife is "sort of" into prepping, but with just the two of us out here on the farm, I don't hold out much hope. I am SO glad I found out about the MW projuct, I will leave instructions to my survivors to take all this material out to the camping events and give it away! lol.

How are you set up? Are you good as far as security? I've got great neighbors and two great dogs, but the wife is a little shakey with the firearms--me, I've no problem. If anything, maybe a bit too paranoid and aggressive. I hope to be able to expand my network hrough the MW project, so I am very happy I found this link.

Again, TY for the response. Best of luck wiyth your set up and prepping!