[Phillip Beall]

All,

Each day when I get up, over a cup of coffee I scan several news websites and at least a couple of “prepper” blogs/websites.  One of them is Notes From The Bunker which is a blog that is regularly updated by a guy that writes under the pseudonym of “Commander Zero”.  He covers all the material you would expect; emergency comms is a topic that gets some coverage.  Last week (October 10, 2024) he posted Article – Through Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Amateur Radio Triumphs When All Else Fails. with a link to the article and his comments on the topic.  Both are good and the reader comments are a really worthwhile read too.

His post briefly discusses how amateur radio factors into his preps, his lament/ambition to enhance his knowledge and planning for its possible use, etc.  The reader comments are all over.  A few are by the people with an obvious superiority complex while others are a bit snarky; all are worth reading.  There are also some really – REALLY – good links provided by some of the readers.  Everything from links to personal debriefs reference Milton to suggestions for HF antennas to Baofengs and kind of what I would call “emergency communications distribution radios”.  And there is of course the usual discussion of  whether one is smart or dumb if you buy a radio and keep it in a box and never get licensed and/or use the radio.  I always get a laugh out of these types of comments because it is always the same.  Some wise guy waxes about how regulations allow for emergency use when unlicensed, clearly conveying he is both lazy and clueless as to the need for the license in order to practice and get familiar with the gear, not to mention the myriad stories of FCC fining the heck out of people who have attempted to use such emergency authority, but they are so smart they will smugly disagree with both points.  Whatever.  I scan nincompoop blather like that, remembering the classic line from John Wayne’s True Grit – “When you have bested a fool you haven’t accomplished anything.” – and move on to the posts made by people that DO know what they are talking about and who ARE trying to be helpful.  Thankfully those outnumber the others by a substantial percentage.

I strongly urge everyone to read Commander Zero’s post Article – Through Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Amateur Radio Triumphs When All Else Fails.  Then PLEASE read the comments.  If you have any follow up thoughts on the matter I would love to read the follow up here.  Ironically enough, like Commander Zero, Kathy and I have recently started setting up an HF listening option while we study to upgrades our licenses.  A Yaesu FT-710 AESS which will cover where we can currently operate, but one which is very capable as an all-band HF radio once our licenses are upgraded.  Unlike the geniuses that think they will unbox a radio and be able to figure out how to use it beneficially in a crisis, we both harbor no such illusions.  We are starting off with an end-fed wire antenna and are studying up on near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) so that we can communicate regionally, like 100-300 miles away.  And so our preparedness experimentation and learning experience continues.

73

Phillip Beall (W5EBC)

• This topic was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Phillip Beall. Reason: Bolded story link

[Steven Smith]

Wow!
Those discussion on that website are all over the place.

IOW I enjoyed spraying coffee on my Monitor reading a few of those.
It is interesting reading in the fact I was not bored 🙂

Cheers!
Steve KG5VK

[Cliff Leath]

I read through quite a bit of it. Subscribed to ones persons blog.  The ems rescue person

I am afraid most people that responded to the post, and from my personal dealings with people who think similarly are clueless to what being completely isolated and unable to get help easily is like.

I know from experience what it’s like trying to get help when things get sketchy.  Having actual experience in using radio in less than ideal situations is paramount.

thanks for sharing

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