Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
Local radio amateur group volunteers can help maintain communications until the normal operations resume.
Attachment 32756
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Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
Local radio amateur group volunteers can help maintain communications until the normal operations resume.
Attachment 32756
And the cool thing is you don't need to learn Morse code anymore for entry level licensing but I guess if the grid went down there would be no need for a ham license and people will be using all the frequencies available. Certain frequencies are more conducive to long distance communication. I wonder if Bill has a setup down in Ecuador that can reach out and touch us?
Just seen this:
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...cf&oe=57B55A35
A classic example of how useful amateur radio still is.
(I've got a beacon running undetectable below the noise level on 10 MHz being picked up across Europe and N America. To be honest it doesn't carry much useful data, but it's only 0.4 watts - equivalent of a torch/flashlight bulb - and shows what can be done surreptitiously if required!)
Found this one a while ago, but they were not selling, it was a prototype, then I subscribed to their newsletter and I received the email they have a working model available..
https://beechat.network/
It says is compatible with Android phones.
from their website
"Our new quantum-secure portable mesh network communications device that turns your phone into a next-gen communicator. Beechat's first product is launching in January 2022."
I got a few Baofeng two ways radio, tested with my kid, such a nice thing to have, in our land there is no cellular towers, not even close, hence phones does not work there, no internet either unless I subscribe to a satellite plan which is not cheap here. I went up to the hills for a hike, I carried one of the radios with me, I got quite deep into the jungle at first, and I could communicate very clearly with my kid which was about 1.5km away from me, then I went all the way up to the top which is around 770m high, the radio started fading a bit, but still could hear well.
Test was done and I am happy with these little radios, they are dirty cheap, I hope they will last longer :)
I do recommend to buy one, can be useful in many situations, in the manual says it will work at max of 5km of distance in straight flat line.. for me worked pretty well up the hills and more or less 2.8km of distance.
Thank you for the suggestion. For the readers:
The Baofeng Store
¤=[Post Update]=¤
Is anyone else having difficulty accessing the link??
I can't get in. "Can't find the server" message.
Just to add: I got the BF-888S model (UHF) and BF-UV-5R model (this model is a bit better, dual band UHF and VHF).
I got mine on Aliexpress, very cheap. :)
About the link, it seems the domain name is down, I could not access either. But here it is a copy on Archive.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20160206...-Shutdown.html
I know it's not very practical for most people, but there are still huge advantages to using Morse code (aka CW - continuous or carrier wave) for emergency communication.
- The transmitting equipment can be really very simple and very reliable.
- It has up to 20dB (100 times) signal advantage over voice communications, meaning it can be copied easily when a voice signal is lost deep in the noise.
- It can be used on any frequency - choose the frequency that will give you the coverage you need. Ground wave for just up to say 20 to 100 miles, or sky wave for trans state or international communication.
- Antennas can be simple, very discrete and hard to spot.
- Transmitters need be no more powerful than 50 watts, and often much less. This means battery operation is easy.
- It can be used to send messages using light/laser if required.
- If you have someone who can send and receive Morse at both ends you have the advantage; will the Bad Guys be listening for Morse signals? Without the right receiving equipment the signals wouldn't be detectable! And if they were who can transcribe it even if you use plain language?
I recently used just one watt of CW on 21 MHz using a 15 metre bit of wire for the antenna to communicate UK to Turkey. No phones, no internet, no gatekeepers. Just a cooperating ionosphere...
Hi Nick,
I used to do Morse code about 20-30 years ago on the 20m HF before the digital modes came out on the HF/VHF/UHF. This is pre-internet. Back then we used to connect to the University 2m gateway link and used packet radio to hop into the US from Australia.
I remember using the MFJ TNC 1278 Multimode radio modem. It was a nice piece of equipment.
Here is a bit more about Apranet and it's roots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_Radio_Van
This is how I got into the IT industry.
Cheers,
Szymon