Being prepared for worst-case scenarios has become a priority for more people, as 45 percent of Americans reported that they have stocked up on survival supplies. More and more people realize that things can fall apart faster than they can rush to the grocery store. But any seasoned prepper will tell you it takes more than hoarding toilet paper to prepare for a survival scenario. Whether you’re putting together a bug out bag or adding prepper necessities to your stash, congratulations on joining the ranks of prepared preppers. 

One prepping category to educate yourself on is communications devices. Familiarize yourself with the different tools you can use to communicate when SHTF.

Why Survival Communication Vital For Every Prepper 

Disasters are a part of life and disrupt the traditional way of doing things. As it stands, the comms tools we use are incredibly centralized simply because they depend on networks such as the internet or cellular towers. There’s no guarantee that these networks would hold up in a disaster, emp, or against cyber attacks. And indeed, the historical precedent has shown us that these comms options can fail us when we need them most. 

When an SHTF event happens, like a particularly bad hurricane or an earthquake, it’s information and awareness of what’s going on around you that could save your life and that of your loved ones. But just as you can’t predict when a disaster will occur, you can’t anticipate just how bad things will get. As the old adage goes, you should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. If things are worse than you initially expected, chances are you won’t get much mileage from that hand-cranked radio. Communication needs become more diverse as the situation deteriorates, and every devoted prepper should strive to be ready for all of them.

Emergency Hand Crank Radios 

One of the most basic one-way communications tools, these radios are highly dependable even in the worst of situations. Their simple construction makes them resilient, and the hand cranks are very efficient. There’s a reason almost every household in a hurricane- or tornado-prone area has at least one of these. But even if you don’t live in a stormy region, they’re a must-have in every prepper’s stash. So many things can take out the power, from earthquakes to solar flares, and when that happens, you want a low-tech device that will persist through these challenges and give you the crucial information that you need. 

Since their power source comes from mechanical energy, you’ll be able to receive news updates from NOAA and the like even if it takes weeks for the power to come back on. In the event of an EMP due to solar flares or manmade phenomena, they’ll also continue to operate, according to FEMA. Some models also come with USB charging ports so you can charge your phone by hand crank as well. Others feature supplementary power sources, such as solar power. But while these devices are nifty and can make you feel safer in a pinch, it’s often not enough to just have access to radio broadcasts during a more advanced emergency situation.

Portable Two-Way Radios 

The simplest two-way communication tool, two-way radios, will let you contact neighbors nearby or anyone else who also has them and know which frequency to tune to. These can be subdivided into toy walkie-talkies, professional walkie-talkies, and desk-mounted two-way radios. Business walkie-talkies are portable radios that are commonly used by professionals (police, fire fighters, EMTs).

If the situation allows after a disaster, you’ll probably be out and about to survey your surroundings. In that case, portable two-way radios are going to be instrumental for you, your friends, and family to be able to track one another and exchange information.

Modern models can often transmit and receive simultaneously, just like a phone call. Older walkie-talkies were mainly half-duplex, meaning you had to wait for the other person to finish transmitting before you could send your message. Most toy walkie-talkies remain that way to make them more bandwidth- and power-efficient. Toy walkie-talkies are great for kids since the interface is designed to be easy to operate, and they’re much less expensive. Range is on the lower end, only reaching up to 2 miles (around 3 km) on average, but that’s alright since you’d want them to stay close by anyway. For reference, business walkie-talkies’ ranges average at over 7 miles (over 11 km). The great thing about these handheld devices is that they’re license-free and quite hardy. Choosing the correct model for your needs is as simple as checking two-way radio reviews online. Scores of preppers have tried out countless brands of radios in the past, so there’s a wealth of reliable information out there as to which brands perform the best in which aspects.

Stationary Two-Way Radios 

Meanwhile, you have desk-mounted or wall-mounted two-way radios, commonly referred to collectively as mobile radios. These are much more powerful than handhelds, with ranges going up to over 30 miles (48 km), and are often full-duplex. The increased power and bandwidth helps work around environmental issues such as obstructions, which can hamstring the range on handheld radios. Quality of life features are also more common with these radios, such as group calling, direct calls, privacy codes, whisper modes, SOS signaling, receiving emergency alerts, and others. These features are less likely to appear on portable devices, and often just one or two of them appear if ever. 

Citizen Band Radios 

Alternatively, you also have the CB radios. Citizen Band refers to the portion of the airwaves specifically reserved for civilians. This was mostly used by truckers and cars back before the cellular phone came along. They’re required by law to be low-power, and so their range is limited to around 4 miles (6.5 km). But this comes with the advantage of them being cheap and energy-efficient if you’re trying to conserve your resources. Although illegal, boosting a CB signal is an option if you have no choice. Police and emergency services also broadcast over CB frequencies when communications are out, as well as listen for any calls for help. Plus, you don’t need a license to operate them. 

HAM Amateur Radios 

HAM radios are the big guns of your communications arsenal. You need a license to operate one, but this is justified by their high degree of power and utility. Without relays, HAM radios have a maximum range of 4000 miles (6430 km). But with relays such as the worldwide HAM network and even bouncing the signal off of the moon, you can theoretically reach the whole world. Modern HAM radios can even send images and connect to the internet. Their versatility and range makes them the ace in the hole when even CB and other two-way radio communications fail. Although it’ll take more than a hand crank to power them, you’d still want one handy when things go from bad to the worst you can imagine. 

All of these communications tools serve a specific purpose that you’d do well to remember. Ideally, you’ll have one of each kind in your shelter. But if you’re pressed for cash or are trying to prep in a hurry, a quality two-way radio and a few reliable handheld ones should serve you well.

The post Survival Communication Tools Every Prepper Should Be Familiar With appeared first on Survival Prepper.

By: PreppersSurvive
Title: Survival Communication Tools Every Prepper Should Be Familiar With
Sourced From: www.prepperssurvive.com/survival-communication-tools-every-prepper-should-be-familiar-with/
Published Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2022 03:30:19 +0000

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