HAM radios for survival?

dougo83

dougo83

Joined
Feb 28, 2008
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I didn't want to lose track of the other thread, but DPKnives posted this and I am opening the HAM radio idea up for discussion.

I have one question for all of your survival training how come I never have seen mentioned any thing about a hand held ham radio. the one I carry will receive from .5 mhz to 999 mhz, it covers 11 different bands and will transmit on 4 bands. It will cover the FRS, GRMS, MURS and 4 four amateur bands for transmitting. it has a full 5 watts and gets out very well. not only could you use one to call for help, but listen to radio and tv broadcasts. The thing only weighs about a pound and a half, and with one extra battery pack could be used for up to 3 days. Just some thing to think about from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Emergency Coordinator for my county. I could give you lots of scenarios where they could help and it is very easy now to get licensed for ham radio. Doug This could be your best tool in the tool box.
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Like any other equipment it's a matter of learning how to use it and to know what it can and can't do.The variables include your location, the terrain, propagation conditions etc.Many of the hand held tranceivers are small and convenient but lack abilities. AC2RC
 
In winter Japan, carrying radio communication device to certain mountain area where is famous for its serious weather condition is mandatory. I have no license nor radio set but my climbing partner has one.
 
When it comes to what to carry, there is a cost/benefit analysis one goes through with every decision like this. I certainly find ham radio at a minimum fun, and often actually useful, especially in an urban setting. Like the quote notes, you can receive police, fire, NOAA, 2-meter ham communications, AM/FM, tv, etc. And if you are in range of a repeater, you can continue to communicate even with all landland phone, cellphone and electricity is out.

Here's a small 2-meter rig. Only 1.5 watts transmit, but its about the size of a deck of playing cards.

july2408012Medium.jpg
 
Thanks dougo83 for opening this. I also carry a Yaesu VX7R my wife has the VX5R great little radios. You can get started in ham radio pretty easy you can either take the courses that are offered or just buy the book for 24.95 study it and then take the test. The book can be ordered at most book stores or from the ARRL (just do a search for ARRL) they have all the info to get you licensed. Yaesu also makes an all mode portable radio the FT 817 it will do AM, FM, upper and lower sideband as well as morse code this one is pretty pricey but great way to go portable. One other thing to think about is that if you are lost or hurt and there will be a search crew looking for you most likely they will have ham radios. The test cost 14.00 to take and your license is good for 10 years and can be renewed for free right over the internet. If you are in the wilderness every hour on the hour you are suppose to go to make a call on one of the simplex frequencies and see if anyone else is out there or even let someone else know you are there as well. ok long enough on this one. I wll be glad to answer other questions if any pop up you could even pm me. Doug KC2MVC Wyoming County ARES Emergency Coordinator.
 
I carry a VX-6R with an extra battery. I find it very useful at times. There are a couple of wilderness areas I visit that have excellent 2 meter and 440 repeater coverage but zero cell phone service. A good portable antenna makes a huge difference (a J pole) in coverage. I've been licensed since '79 and seldom travel without a handheld. N4DJC
 
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I've been wanting to get started in Ham for quite a while. I like to do alot of canoeing and kayaking and it would be nice to have a decent, waterproof radio.

The only thing that has stopped me is the cost. Well, that and not really knowing what to buy or even look at.
 
The newer Yaesu radios the vx7r and the vx6r are submersible in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without damage to the unit. I know I use mine in the rain and all and have never had a problem. I have used it in a row boat a time or two as well. I just saw the vx6r on sale for 249 it is a tribander it will do 2 meters (144-148 MHZ) 70cm(440 MHZ) and the 1.25 meter (220-225 mhz) and it is waterproof the receive on it i think is 0.5 mhz to 999 mhz. good price for a new radio. Doug
 
I got into HAM (very recently)after getting involved with Emergency Management in my county. When no other communications will function, HAM operators can get a network up and talking PDQ! I carry either an ICOM IC-T7H Sport or Yaesu FT-60 (both dual band 2m/70cm transceivers)in my EDC bag.

Todd KE5UAP
 
I have had my ticket since 1994 but am not really active. At one time I had some old Radio Shack 2m gear and was on the local net quite a bit. The equipment eventually died (along with Radio Shack's amateur line) and a kind of put things on the back burner. I am currently radioless. The recommendations for HTs made so far sound good. I'm actually considering a 50w 2m/6m/70cm mobile for my vehicle before another HT. I'm enjoying this thread. Let's keep it going.

73s
N2XWU
 
Sounds good to me lets keep it going. I must say to date my single most prized contact on a 2 meter hand held is with the International Space station. even though very brief it is my best to date. Eyegor you should without a dought get back active again. Doug kc2mvc
 
The cheapest way to study for the test is to google technician license test. There are tests like this one http://www.eham.net/exams/ that rotate through all the questions that could be on the test. This was basically all the studying I did and I passed the test with something like a 97%.

At least in the area I am in there are lots of repeaters so you are never too far from being in radio contact and the local SAR monitors certain frequencies.

Chad
 
I got a Tech license maybe 15 years ago when it was the best license you could get without knowing morse code. I guess they have done away with the code now. I have an old Kenwood TH78A dual band handi-talkie. I did not use it much as I did not have any friends into ham and most of the air time people spent talking radios (imagine that). I guess the radio would be good in a disaster if I could figure out how to use it again. Those radios are so feature rich they are hard to set up. Maybe someone in the Houston area knows what frequencies and tones would be used in a disaster.

HornyToad KB5UZQ
 
I'm a VX-7r guy for the handheld and my call sign is KD0JXB. Ham radio is perfect for this forum but few ever mention it. When the crap hits the fan in the community ham radio lights up. Smart thing to do.
 
My Gramps had his yard encircled with HAM antennas. His call sign is N8KBU. Best I can do is the CB radio in my truck. It's a portable unit with a rechargable and AA battery pack so it's better than nothing. And listening to truckers is a riot.
 
I carry a VX170, which is a LOT more programmable than the Icom T2H I used to have. But the Icom worked better as a radio *shrug* Borg (yaesu) radios never seem to transmit quite the way a good icom does.

I'm saving for - and waiting to see what's coming out next- a kenwood that has not only all the receive capability of the vx7r, but can receive ssb. It doesn't do 6 meter tx, but that's not that big a loss to me.


Regarding the original post-I and others have posted about ham radios before. I think they are an excellent resource, and have used them for both voice and data during power outages locally.

Everyone go get a license!
 
I carry a VX170, which is a LOT more programmable than the Icom T2H I used to have. But the Icom worked better as a radio *shrug* Borg (yaesu) radios never seem to transmit quite the way a good icom does.

I'm saving for - and waiting to see what's coming out next- a kenwood that has not only all the receive capability of the vx7r, but can receive ssb. It doesn't do 6 meter tx, but that's not that big a loss to me.


Regarding the original post-I and others have posted about ham radios before. I think they are an excellent resource, and have used them for both voice and data during power outages locally.

Everyone go get a license!
 
I would love to have a hand held with 2, 6, 220, and 70cm ssb. Boy that would really work great. the vx5 and vx 7 the wife and I have can be programed via a computer as well. I take the vx7r when I go hunting or to work or just out for a walk it is just nice to have that extra option that will most likely work better then a cell phone.

Bruce the cb is a start at least it is portable you should have yourself a little wire dipole to take with you they are about 17.5 feet long and could hang them almost anywhere. that would help you a bunch. Doug
 
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