Today, many individuals and
groups are on the “prepper” kick. There are a host of survival shows catering
to this market. Unfortunately, one aspect that is often neglected is emergency
communications also called EMCOMM. Too many people are complacent when it comes
to EMCOMM’s and still falsely believe that all they need is their cell phone.
This is pure ignorance and not realistic. Reality has proven time and time
again that cell phone service during an emergency is not reliable. To prove
this point we only need to look at 9/11, the Boston marathon bombing, hurricane Katrina,
and a host of other natural and man-caused events. Cell phone service quickly
failed if only due to the amount of people attempting to make phone calls at
the same time which overwhelmed the networks. During a crisis you must assume
that your cell phone service will not work. No cell phone service! Now what?
If you are looking for a
form of reliable communications one of your best options is utilization of
amateur radio also known as ham radio. Ham radio has been around for years and
while “old school” is great for EMCOMM. Two of the best assets of ham radio is
that it is very reliable and widely available. Even during a crisis ham radios
will continue to function in most circumstances. While ham radio is probable
the best form of communications during an emergency, like anything else, there
are advantages and limitations.
Advantages of ham radio
include:
- Various data types such as voice, text, data,
photos, documents, e-mail, television. Many people do not understand the numerous
capabilities of ham radio. Also, like many products, the radio that you
are using may not support each of these functions.
- Range in excess of 100 miles with repeaters (If
repeaters are not damaged)
- Operates using simplex or repeaters
- Ham radios are widely available and easy to
obtain
- Moderately priced. You can get a high quality
entry level radio for $150.00.
- Handheld, mobile, and base stations available.
During a crisis you will benefit most from a handheld radio which is
referred to as a “handy talkie” or HT.
- Reliability
- Interoperability
- More simultaneous conversations possible
- Connect to computer assuming that you have
power.
- Connect to global positioning system (GPS) and
automated position reporting system (APRS) as long as your radio supports
these functions
Limitations of a ham radio
include:
- Requires license issued by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
- No business use is authorized
- Operators cannot be paid except for a very
limited circumstance that will not apply during an emergency
- Complex radios that require a learning curve and
practice
- Complex protocols that take time and practice to
get comfortable with especially for emergency use
Ham Radio Basics:
In order to operate a ham
radio you must be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The
website to the FCC is http://www.fcc.gov/. It is illegal to operate a ham radio without a license. There are
three classes of licenses available to new ham operators: Technician, General,
and Extra. Each license provides you access to different frequencies. It is
recommended, although not necessary, to obtain at least a General license for
EMCOMMs. If you only receive a Technicians license you will still be fine
during an emergency and better off than most people. Receiving an Extra class
license is not necessary although it will not hurt. To start out you will need
to pass a 35 question exam to receive a Technician’s license. In order to pass
the exam you must get at least 26 questions correct on the exam. All of the
exam questions are available for free on the internet. The Technician class
(Element 2) Pool is effective July 1, 2010 and is valid until June 30, 2014.
The question pool consists of approximately 394 questions. You can download a free copy of the question pool
at:
You can also take free practice tests at:
Other highly recommended
study references are:
The Ham
Whisperer's Technician Class License Course by Andy Vellenga available at: http://www.amazon.com/Whisperers-Technician-Class-License-Course/dp/1456484818/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
The No-Nonsense
Technician Class License Study Guide by Dan Romanchik available at: http://www.amazon.com/No-Nonsense-Technician-Class-License-ebook/dp/B004G8QVD2/ref=cm_cr-mr-title or for free at: http://kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/2006techstudyguide.pdf
HamElmer.com
Technician Test Self Study Guide available for free at: http://hamelmer.com/Assets/Docs/Tech/HamElmer%20Technician%20Study%20Guide%202.1.pdf
Technically speaking you can
study and prepare for the test without having to purchase any additional items
as all the information is available for free on the Internet including all of
the test questions. Don’t be overwhelmed by the test questions as with a little
practice and studying you can easily pass the test. There are 10 year olds with
a Technicians class license! The question pool is changed every four years.
Once you pass your exam your license is good for 10 years and you never have to
retake the test. You only have to reregister your license with the FCC.
Getting Started:
In order to obtain your
Technicians license there are a few steps to follow.
1. To get started
get a PO Box that you can use to register with
the FCC. The reason for doing this is because once you are issued your call
sign anyone can go to the FCC website (http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp) and enter your name or call sign and your address
will appear. If you put your home address it will be there for all to see. Get
a PO Box and protect your home address.
2. Then go to the
Federal Communications Commission Universal Licensing System website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home and register to obtain an FCC Registration Number
(FRN). This number will be used to uniquely identify you in all transactions
with the FCC. Also, when you get a FRN you won’t have to use your social
security number on your license application. Once you obtain your FRN do not
lose it because you will need it on the day you take your Technicians exam.
3. Study, take
practice exams, study, take practice exams, etc. Do this until you are
confident that you can pass the test.
4. Take the test. To
find an exam location go to: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session. Generally, the cost of testing is $15.00.
So you studied, took
numerous practice tests, and passed your exam. Congratulations, you now have a
Technician’s level ham radio license. You have taken a serious step towards
having emergency communications abilities. Now what?
Getting your First Ham
Radio:
Now you decide what type of
radio you want. There are generally three types of ham radios: portable handy
talkies (HT), mobile, and base station. For EMCOMM’s consider getting a HT. The
advantage of a HT is that you can carry it with you in your everyday carry (EDC)
bag. These radios are 5 watt radios so they are not high powered radios
although repeaters can significantly increase the power of your transmission.
You can get a 100 watt mobile radio but they are much bigger and heavier than a
HT. It all comes down to your needs. I will provide a specific recommendation
of your first HT radio but before I do I want to go over three companies that
produce high quality ham radios. When purchasing a ham radio I highly recommend
that you buy one from a quality company that makes a quality product. The
companies I recommend are: Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood. There are other companies
that make ham radios but these three are, in my opinion, the best. When looking
to purchase a radio I recommend Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) at http://www.hamradio.com/ as they generally have the lowest prices and a good
selection (I have no relationship with HRO.) While I love Amazon.com they tend
to be high on their prices for ham radios except on BaoFeng ham radios which
are a low cost radio from China which you can get for under $50.00 at http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Band-Improved-Stronger/dp/B0097252UK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=7H6CLRWJD4QR&coliid=I3JERALUAJXN1A. What to get
for your first ham radio.
Choosing your first ham
radio is a daunting task. I know as I recently went through this process. I did
a ton of research, went to a lot of company websites and forums, talked to
members of different CERT teams, read a lot of product information, did a lot
of comparisons and consulted with my partner at Survival Skillcraft. At the end
of the day we decided on a basic dual band 2m/70cm handy talkie. The radio we
chose was the Yaesu FT-60R. This radio is an excellent choice for those with a
Technician’s class license.
The Yaesu FT-60R does not
have a lot of “bells and whistles” but it is a very solid, rugged, and
dependable radio that has proven itself over the years. I purposely wanted to
learn on a basic radio so that I focus on learning the fundamental skills of
operating a ham radio instead of focusing on the “gadgets” that come with some
of the newer radios. I can always upgrade to the latest and greatest radio in
the future but not before I master the basic rudimentary skills. I was going to
get a Yaesu VX-7R and grow into the radio as my skill set grows but I decided
to stick to the basics. This approach has never failed me when embarking on new
endeavors whether learning firearms, martial arts, or other relevant skills.
Learn the basics and learn them well. Also, the Yaesu is very reasonably
priced. I do recommend upgrading your antenna to the Diamond SRH77CA which is a
2M/440 Dual + Wide Band 15 inch antenna that costs about $22.95. For more
information go to HRO at: http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006297.
If you are serious about
emergency preparedness, disaster planning, prepping, or survival then amateur
radio is the way to go. It does take some effort on your part but the reward is
reliable communications when everyone else is looking dumbfounded and in
frustration at their useless cell phone. Ham radio provides you a capability
that will come in handy during a crisis. You have to earn this skill but the
effort is worth it. Now start studying and in a few weeks you will be prepared
to take the test.
73’s (Ham speak for Best
Regards)
TC
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