Below is an excellent posting that was put up over at the forum by Popeye. I thought it was worth reposting on the blog, to help everyone understand the concept of what we’re attempting to achieve through AmRRON. It is the link between Hams and Non-Hams (and volunteer Relays, licensed or not). Main Points that I got out of this:
1. A Ham is the most valuable tool in your communication toolbox. Find one, either by using the AmRRON directory to see if one is near you, or become one and get to know others through your local Ham club, or locate one through word of mouth. Consideration: All Hams love to communicate, for any reason, but not all Hams may share your political views. So find one who is compatible and shares your patriotic/American Redoubt views.
2. Start NOW! If you’re not a Ham and don’t plan to become one, then get your SW Receiver (with SSB) capablity and antenna and PSK-31 Software and WINMOR software downloaded and put on a disk NOW. Hook it up and start listening to TAPRN communications so you can ‘play’ with your equipment. After TEOTWAWKI is NOT the time to take it out of the box and scratch your head as you read the directions with your kerosene lantern. If you ARE a Ham, then download the pertinent software (if you don’t already have it) and start using it and participate, or at least start monitoring, TAPRN. Regularly scheduled nets are going on over there several times a week.
3. Redundancy! Just having one ham within 10 or 20 miles of you might not cut it. Each of you can receive some sort of communications that others can’t hear, and you can reach other Hams and CH3 preppers/Redoubters that others can’t. Don’t assume that just because your AO has one Ham, that your part of the state, county, or city is ‘covered.’
4. Note to HF-Capable Non-Hams. I know of several of you who have HF transceivers but are not licensed (and some don’t plan to). Still, get your rig up and running NOW. In an emergency where life or limb is in danger, you can operate the radio. Let us know so we can update your profile with ‘HF CAPABLE – Non-Ham.’ We’ll know what that means. If you non-Hams and Relays haven’t purchased your SW Receivers yet, then try to get a Ham Transceiver, instead of just a RECEIVER. The cost difference is nominal and in an absolute emergency, you can talk TO others instead of just listening. Otherwise listening and not being able to talk would be like being in a coma listening to the doctors talk about what they’re gonna do to you, but you’re unable to yell, “NO!”
Happy Communicating. Thanks, Popeye!
-John Jacob Schmidt
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Communications Between Groups
First, let me make a point clear: you REALLY need to to thoughtfully recruit at least one ham radio operator into each area’s group. I’ve been at this for decades and there is absolutely nothing like the type of communications that a ham can bring to a group. It isn’t just the hardware, it’s the knowledge and experience. Just like buying a rifle does not make a person an Army Ranger, buying a radio does NOT make them a communicaitons officer. Once you have your ‘communications officer’, ‘chief geek’ or whatever else you want to call them, then you can begin to communicate muuuuuuch further than you can yell.
1. First priority is to be able to communicate between each other in YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA when the phones and internet drop dead. This could happen for any reason from EMP to a simple “Ooops” at the wrong time and place. If you lived in the Bozeman , Mt. area, could you do THIS right now if the lights went out?
If not – you need to consider the implications of no communications with family and team members during an emergency – then fix it! We can help.
I just found this website via Survivalblog. I am also a ham radio operator in NW Nevada.
I have to second Popeye’s suggestion to START NOW. Using a radio is like any other skill,
it is only developed with practice. I have a few more suggestions:
1. Volunteer for radio support of public service type of events, like bicycle/running fundraisers,
etc. This will force you into using your equipment in unusual ways, which will cause you to
out of your comfort zone and learn how to solve problems you wouldn’t normally run into.
2. Go on camping trips with friends and bring your radio(s) along. Keep a schedule with other
friends via radio. This will give you a handle on reading terrain and determining where and
how to set up your radios. Terrain may or may not matter depending on which band of
frequencies you are using. Do you know how to select which to use?
3. Look into the new digital modes that can be run with a laptop’s sound card. Some of these
are basically ‘poor mans spread spectrum’, and can produce amazing results. I have seen a
video of a short communication between Ohio and the Far East with only 8 watts of broadcast
power! Granted, they ham knew what he was doing, but this sort of thing is possible.
Good Luck
Like Bear I just checked this out via survivalblog. I’ve been a ham located in central NC for 15 years and hold a general class license. While I do operate locally on VHF my passion is for HF and communicating worldwide. One thing I would add to the mix is this. If we are in a situation where the grid is no longer functioning the use of data modes would be a potentially unnecessary drain on limited power supplies. The one thing that would be most efficient would be CW (Morse Code). Yeah, it takes power to run a radio but I can talk around the world for long periods of time with AA batteries using CW. Furthermore, the number of people that know CW is relatively small so to a certain degree it acts as a non-secret, secret code. Additionally, CW can be generated, in an emergency, by simply touching two wires together even without a proper key. In my estimating it is the ultimate survival mode of communication. Just my $.02 worth. Thanks for the great article!
I am a Ham operator in NE Tennessee. I have HF capabilities and local 2 meter as well. If any hear this area, please feel free to contact me. Am interested in setting up HF net for likeminded in this area and further. I have been working with groups in the area, helping get local comms up and running. I agree with Popeye, START NOW!
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