Communications in the Post Apocalypse World (PAW) are going to be critical to the success and safety of a community.
Communications Options
There are several methods that can be used that do not rely on electricity or electronic devices, though the electronic and electrical methods are the most efficient, by far. Some are more secure than others, though by using fairly simple codes, if needed, all can be made secure from casual listeners/readers/watchers.
Some of these are:
Messengers Couriers Signal flags
Signal mirror
Heliograph
Horns/trumpets
Drums
Yodeling
Whistles
Though some form of power or lighting source is required, for nighttime comms a signal light can be used, as can lasers, if used carefully.
Other simple short-range systems, that require a wire connection:
Telegraph Sound powered phones
Simple powered telephone system
Realistic radio ranges
The following is based on quality radios, and excellent antennas for maximum RELIABLE communication under good conditions:
Very Short range (1/4 mile hand held to hand held) – FRS – no license
Short range (1 mile hand held to hand held, longer ranges with repeaters) – GMRS – license
Longer short range (2 miles hand held to hand held) – MURS – no license
Longer short range (2 miles hand held to hand held, longer ranges with repeaters – 2 – meter Amateur – license
Longer short range (2 miles hand held to hand held) – CB – no license
Medium range (10 miles mobile to mobile) – CB – no license
Medium range (10 miles mobile to mobile) – 6-meter/10-meter Amateur – license
Longer medium range (25 miles base to base) – CB – no license
Longer medium range (25 miles base to base) 6-meter/10-meter Amateur – license
Long range (25+ miles mobile-to-mobile/base-to-mobile/base-to-base) – HF Amateur – license
Yes, everything over 25 miles, without using repeaters, is long range. Handheld to handheld, without repeaters, is limited to about 5 miles under ideal conditions.
GMRS/FRS communications
Radio types
When it comes to radio communications there are several options for short range, medium range, and a couple for long range communications. Some are relatively inexpensive, others quite expensive.
For short range radios:
FRS – UHF, no license, fixed antennas, handheld only, ¼ mile to 1 mile, no repeaters
GMRS – UHF, license required, ¼ mile to 2 miles, more with a repeater
MURS – VHF, no license, ½ mile to 3 miles, handhelds and bases, better antennas, no repeaters
Amateur UHF – 70 cm, License required for each operator, ½ mile to 5 miles, more with repeaters
Public service UHF – For official government jurisdiction use, ½ mile to 5 miles, more with repeaters
Business Band UHF/VHF – commercial radios in these frequencies require a system license and are restricted to business activities only. Fairly expensive. ¼ mile to 5 miles, more with repeaters
For medium range radios:
CB AM/SSB – HF, no license, limit to 4 watt input on AM (equivalent to 12 watts on SSB), 1 mile to 15 miles
Amateur VHF – 6 meter, 2 meter, each operator requires a license, high power options available, 1 mile to 15 miles, more with repeaters
Business Band Low VHF – Same as UHF/VHF business band except a bit more expensive and much longer range, more with repeaters
For long range radios:
Amateur HF – License required for each operator, 1 mile to worldwide, moderate expense Business Band HF – Same ranges as Amateur HF. System license required (quite expensive), equipment is more expensive than Amateur but usually heavy duty. Very expensive. Long range HF radio communications are dependent on the type, quality, gain, and height of the antennas on each end; the amount of power used; and most importantly, atmospheric conditions at any given time. However, with the wide spectrum of HF for Amateur Radio, there is usually a band open for where you want to talk to at the time, if both ends can calculate propagation and are using a coordinated communications schedule. Plus, Amateur Radio operators are usually pretty good about relaying messages to points where a sender cannot get to, but they can.
There are VHF and HF options in the Aircraft Band and Marine Band, but using these radios prior to the PAW will result in serious penalties, unless used for their intended purposes.
Which radio solution is best?
For the most inexpensive and practical use radios I would go with MURS for short range (about $100 per handheld radio up to $200); CB AM/SSB for medium range mobile-to-mobile/mobile-to-base/base-to-base; (about $100 to $200 plus $40 to $200 for antennas)(with 6 meter Amateur an option), and Amateur HF for long range manpack, mobile, and base (about $1,000 to $2,500 plus $100 to $2,500 for antennas).
Amateur radio is the best way to communicate for any distance, by far. And it is a decent information source because of it. But for information acquisition, there are some other possible needs that Amateur radio does not easily cover.
I would suggest you set up a monitoring suite while working on getting your Amateur Radio license (Go ahead and go for both Technician and General. If you can pass the Tech, with only a little more study, you can pass the General at the same time. Use the practice tests that are on-line.).
Radio receivers to stock
First: A dedicated NOAA weather radio with SAME alert, with a crank-up back-up version.
Second: A good AM/FM portable multi-power radio, preferably with crank up power option.
Third: A scanner capable of receiving trunked communications. Even if the locals are not using a trunked system, they may eventually, and there are probably agencies that might be in the area, or going through, that do.
Fourth: A decent quality dedicated shortwave receiver. Get a good one, that has SSB capability. If your back-up weather radio has shortwave, that is good, if not get a crank up, or at least a multi-powered back up shortwave radio, too.
Fifth: A good general coverage receiver. A just HF version would be okay, but better to go with an all-band/all-mode version. Mobile or handheld either one.
Antennas
For antennas, you can string a wire around the apartment for the Shortwave and the general coverage receiver. Add a quality active antenna that can be used with either one and you can improve reception some of the time. One of the best options for the scanner is a discone antenna. They look strange, which might even help. Could even attach it to something artistic on the patio/deck and call it an art piece.
Get a couple of FRS/GMRS radios for short range comms (and I mean short range. No more than a mile, if that) with your family/friends. Get MURS radios if you want more range than FRS/GMRS, but still limited to around two miles most of the time.
Then, as you learn more about Amateur radio you will be able to make some informed decisions about the right equipment for your current and future situations.
Just my opinion.
About the author:
Jerry D Young
Jerry D Young is an Author, Prepper, Consultant, Philosopher who resides in Nevada. He has written over 100 books, many of which are available at this link:
“I have been a prepper for more than 50 years. I believe that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have had it right for decades…”Be Prepared.” Unfortunately, we, as a country seem to have gotten away from that philosophy. There has been a disconnect from the “Old Ways so profound, some people don’t really understand where their food comes from.
That’s not a problem until the “System” fails. Be it from a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood or even a closed road or train route. The system is designed to get JUST what is needed to the stores JUST when it’s needed. So if the “System” fails, then the things we need…the things we believe will be there aren’t. That’s when being a prepper makes sense. Being able to be self-sufficient for the the time needed until the “System” recovers…regardless of how long that takes.
That’s why so many of my books incorporate the theme of “Being prepared.” Hope you enjoy them!”
Here’s another 3BY communications article by our contributor Paranoid Prepper. Salty and Spice tested the range of GMRS/FRS radios in the field, and you can read their results by clicking here.