Ham radio is one of those constants that many of us were interested in when we were younger, lost interest as life took over, but still remains a dependable, viable communications platform.
Because it is international, you also can get different perspectives about what you are facing in the event of a major survival situation; here are some other reasons why you should consider getting your ham radio license.
Ham Radios Are Packed With Emergency Related Options:
Ham Radios come packed with all sorts of options these days. Even a standard handheld VHF/UHF radio, that you can get for under $30 on Amazon, is bundled with useful features. Besides its obvious transmitting and receiving capabilities, you can also listen to standard news stations. When you need some R&R time, you can even tune into your favorite FM music station. Some radios have impressive flashlight features with additional sirens & strobes to utilize if you are in need of rescue.
With a couple of cables and simple modifications, you can send texts and emails from your Ham Radio. With all of the useful features on the newer Ham Radios, you can think of them as an additional compact and lightweight survival kit.
Listen In On Police, Fire & First Responder Frequencies:
In an emergency, listening to what the local Police and other first responders are communicating about is crucial for your short-term planning. It can help you figure out whether it is best to hunker down at your current location or should you and your family bug out! This can also boost your security needs by knowing if looting and break-ins are occurring in you neck of the woods.
There are organizations like NOAA, ARES, MARS, FEMA, RACES, The Red Cross, Salvation Army and many others that are great resources for life-saving information. In an emergency, I can even monitor the Marine radio channels so that I can evaluate the info coming out of the local ports in the area.
Ham Radios Will Still Function When The Grid Goes Down:
When I talk to certain friends about Ham Radio they quickly reach into their pockets and pull out their mobile phone.
They look at me and say, “I have all I need right here in my hand.”
What they do not understand is that if SHTF, the cell towers will be one of the first things to go down. Two examples from my experience were the 9-11 attacks in NYC and Hurricane Sandy. When these events hit my area, it was impossible to reach anyone on my cell phone. During 9-11, there was so much congestion that all the cell tower circuits were overloaded rendering them useless. During Hurricane Sandy, cell towers were actually collapsing!
The one form of communication that remained in constant use however, was Ham Radio.
The Ham operators were out in my neighborhood receiving and conveying life-saving information via their Ham Radios. The fact is that since the early 1900’s, Ham Radio has made it through every major emergency and disaster. With a track record like that… we can see why Ham Radio is a valuable resource for any prepper.
Interact Frequently With Your Prepper Group:
Let’s face it… Not everyone is as motivated as you are to work on their preparedness. Couple that with members of our group that may be some distance away and you can understand why it is difficult to coordinate your full group for hands-on training and meet-ups. Standard operating procedures are vital for effective group planning and everyone needs to be in the know in order for it to work.
What many preppers with a Ham Radio license do, is hold weekly netmeetings over the Ham Radio frequencies. This will kill 2-birds with one bullet… You will be able to convey and share vital information about updates to your group plan, while simultaneously working on your Comms skills.
Locate Other Groups Via Radio Direction Finding:
In a SHTF situation, knowing who is around you with transmitting capability is vital. It can be a group that you can barter with for needed resources. Or… It can be the flip side of the coin. Not all groups will be friendly in an emergency situation. Being able to do a bit of recon to know where their basecamp is will give you the upperhand.
By utilizing your Ham Radios, directional antennas and some know-how, you can effectively triangulate the position of where the “others” are operating from. This skill is even a part of the Boy Scouts of America’s Radio merit badge requirements.
There are also competitions held around the world called Foxhunting. Ham operators compete in a race that involves orienteering with a map & compass and directional finding with Ham gear. Having a Ham license you allows you to compete in these types of events. By competing in these events, you will learn and refine the skills needed to fair much better in any emergency situation.
You would need a power source, but with preparation, even that becomes a manageable obstacle as it pertains to operating a ham radio.
If you plan ahead and get several people to invest in a license and alternative power source, you can set up your own emergency network that will allow you to coordinate survival steps and keep up to date on what is happening throughout the crisis.
To learn more about ham radio licensing and operation, check out Survival Life.
Featured Image via Survival Life
Hilda Amyx
Anyone know what antenna that is, end fed 70cm perhaps?
It is a positive thing to learn. My father has been a ham radio operator for years. I recently got a technician license. I can honestly say that it is pointless to have anything less than a general license. Cell phones are too prevalent these days the only thing i ever hear is the repeator in my area. I would recommend you find a local club to become associated with its not so much about getting the license as it is about learning the fundamentals of operating the radio and learning how to cummunicate in the jargen of radio. You also need to understand how wave lengths work. And how to manipulate what you have to extend your signal to suit your purposes. When a shtf situation happens it wont matter if you have a license. But you must be prepared for that and getting your license is the first step to preparing for that moment.
You can pick up one on eBay for a decent price
You better off doing the passive listening. Leave the transmitting to the big boys anyway. Collect intel and leave it at that.
Terry, do you have a ham license?
I had a really nice rig and a mobile side band radio way back in the day, but it’s all gone now.
I do not, my twin brother does. When we were kids we belonged to the club up in Carthage, MO W0LF, learned Morse, attended field days, etc. My life got busy, his did not. I have since vowed to get them (Tech, General and Extra) but my life is still busy. This will irritate those licensed but the reality is in a SHTF scenario, no one is going to be enforcing that are they? I keep a pair of very inexpensive rigs for two bags.
That said, one of these days I will get licensed anyway and set up a shack here where we are now which is at a high elevation or perhaps by that time, another location even higher and more remote. I have studied off and on but I would really need to dedicate a few weeks to the effort. The ADF offers testing here and I understand they are stepping that up.
This is a pretty good tool that will refresh you or help you re-learn Morse. I don’t recall what it cost me but it wasn’t too much and it comes with audio files. I keep it on my laptop for when I travel and put the audio files on an iPod so I can listen when I fly or drive. One of these days I will get it done.
So let’s pretend that I’m not that electronically or radio-knowledgeable. Can someone explain to me like you would tell a 6 year old how this stuff works? Is it standard radio? Or is it the oddball click code that I have heard of?
Joe Allen
It’s a standard radio, the new standards for an entry level they took away the code portion