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Posted: 8/14/2010 1:28:27 PM EDT
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Hope I am not beating this topic to death, I skimmed back 4 pages and didn't find any topics on the subject.
I am finishing up my SHTF/Z-day/whatever-you-want-to-call-it kit, and I browsed through the gear porn pics on here and I notice a surprisingly high number of comms setups on people's kits. I was just wondering if there were any unofficial guidelines for fellow "zombie killers" as far as what bands(frequency ranges), encryption types, data types (ANDVT, HQI2, Basic), and frequency hopping or burst transmitting methods that are commonly used by civilians. Even going as far as exact frequencies and brands/models of voice comm platforms? I am a SINCGARS, EPLRS, USB/HF, and SATCOM radio master so I am quite knowledgeable on various military platforms, but don't have a clue as the the limitations/licensing requirements for the civilian sector. As well I obviously don't know what is in common use or what is "normal" for ya'll. Hoping someone here can school me. |
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I'm also from a military commo background, have used HF, VHF, UHF and SATCOM equipment. The freqs we are used to are reserved for military use. Civilians are restricted to amature radio bands or HAM. They have similar setups as far as brick like handhelds as well as vehicle/desk mobile units. They even have repeater capabilities.
Amature radio on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio Check out the HAM forum: http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=10&f=22 |
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Do they ever use any type of encryption or detection prevention? HAM radios Universal Side Band, correct? What kind of licensing is used for that? What do you have to do to get said licensing? I know how easy single channel-plain text can be detected, triangulated, and intercepted, so if no one is using at least some kind of encryption, I think I'll save my money for something else. Thanks for keepin' us talking out there(I am assuming you are 25 series or similar) |
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Quoted:
Do they ever use any type of encryption or detection prevention? HAM radios Universal Side Band, correct? What kind of licensing is used for that? What do you have to do to get said licensing? I know how easy single channel-plain text can be detected, triangulated, and intercepted, so if no one is using at least some kind of encryption, I think I'll save my money for something else. Thanks for keepin' us talking out there(I am assuming you are 25 series or similar) group buy on ky-57s? |
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Wallace11Bravo
Hope I am not beating this topic to death, I skimmed back 4 pages and didn't find any topics on the subject.
I'm guessing because most of us don't have anyone to talk to... In a true SHTF, I'm going to be working on protecting my family and I don't have anyone I can call on a radio.  So I don't find the need to have my self decked out in full comms on my gear.
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Quoted:
Do they ever use any type of encryption or detection prevention? HAM radios Universal Side Band, correct? What kind of licensing is used for that? What do you have to do to get said licensing? I know how easy single channel-plain text can be detected, triangulated, and intercepted, so if no one is using at least some kind of encryption, I think I'll save my money for something else. Thanks for keepin' us talking out there(I am assuming you are 25 series or similar) For licensing, you have to study some materials from a book (either purchased or passed along), and then request for another hobbyist to administer the test, for a fee. The licensing process is covered in the HAM Radio 101 thread: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477 I'm still researching HAM myself, but I have yet to see anything that provides any form of COMSEC. The problem with getting other equipment that is secure is that the other end has to have compatible equipment. Remember that HAM is an amatuer hobby, so in a SHTF scenario you won't have anyone to talk to unless of course your secure comms can go unsecure and use the same frequencies that HAM operators are licensed to operate on. Roger on the 25 series, although I'm USAF. A similar MOS to my AFSC would be 25C or 25Q, however we only do maintenance, we don't operate the radios. We also do maintenance and preventive maintenance on air traffic navigational and weather equipment / sensors. |
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Encryption or code of any kind is illegal in the Ham / Amateur Radio Service Bands. Try it, and they WILL go after you for it.
Apart from Amateur service, there is also MURS (15x.xxx mhz, about 7 channels) and GMRS and FRS (46x.xxxx MHZ, 22 channels for GMRS, 14 for FRS). FRS has power and equipment restrictions, where MURS and GMRS have much fewer restrictions. MURS and FRS do not require licenses, while GMRS technically does. |
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Quoted: If you want to read until your eyes fall out, head over to the Outdoor section and look for the HAM radio forum. There is literally so much to read there that you will spend lots of time getting more and more confused. Hope I am not beating this topic to death, I skimmed back 4 pages and didn't find any topics on the subject. I am finishing up my SHTF/Z-day/whatever-you-want-to-call-it kit, and I browsed through the gear porn pics on here and I notice a surprisingly high number of comms setups on people's kits. I was just wondering if there were any unofficial guidelines for fellow "zombie killers" as far as what bands(frequency ranges), encryption types, data types (ANDVT, HQI2, Basic), and frequency hopping or burst transmitting methods that are commonly used by civilians. Even going as far as exact frequencies and brands/models of voice comm platforms? I am a SINCGARS, EPLRS, USB/HF, and SATCOM radio master so I am quite knowledgeable on various military platforms, but don't have a clue as the the limitations/licensing requirements for the civilian sector. As well I obviously don't know what is in common use or what is "normal" for ya'll. Hoping someone here can school me.  Maybe it's just me. The general concensus over there will be to get your HAM license...personally, I don't want to take on yet another certification, so I've chosen to buy a radio and my buddies will buy or have radios that can transmit and receive on the MURS channels, plus have the capability to have other freqs too. The MURS channels are free and you don't need a license. Here's some basic FAQ's on it: http://home.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm If TSHTF, the FCC isn't going to be operating, so our radios might have other, non MURS channels that we could use if needed in a post SHTF scenario. |
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Before you get all spendy on coms, make sure you have people to talk to.
Until you have a group that is on the same page, simple FRS radios from Academy or at the best, MURS radios will suffice. These are good 1st steps to take, and you will appreciate having them even if you do upgrade. |
| What everyone else said. One thing to keep in mind also is even on this site there are a number of people in the military and also LEO. It's not Lightfighter, but many are found here too. My Company CO is into HAM and it's pretty much everything already posted on this thread. There is also a lot of HAM comms done over the intranet, someway you can hook your handheld to it if I recall correctly. There is some civilian satalites too for Sat comms. More info. on the intranet that you can ever want to read about. I'm not a HAM guy, It's just a tool to me on my kit, so my info. is limited to what I pick up along the way. |
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Thanks for the info, very informative.
I think I'll hold off on the HAM for now. I do have a simple GMRS/FRS system that is in my 3 day pack, that I would never use if I suspected someone were trying to track me, as well as a solar/wind-up powered FM/AM/HF receiver that I picked up for free. I think I will just stick with that for now. I have no family, so my basic outline for a SHTF scenario is to go where I am needed/can help. Hence the desire to be able to reach people I do not know otherwise. I am spending a nice chunk of change on a color screen/mapping garmin(have not yet decided which one) to supplement my wrist garmin. Other than that and a few odds and ends, my SHTF kit is nearly complete. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the info, very informative. I think I'll hold off on the HAM for now. I do have a simple GMRS/FRS system that is in my 3 day pack, that I would never use if I suspected someone were trying to track me, as well as a solar/wind-up powered FM/AM/HF receiver that I picked up for free. I think I will just stick with that for now. I have no family, so my basic outline for a SHTF scenario is to go where I am needed/can help. Hence the desire to be able to reach people I do not know otherwise. I am spending a nice chunk of change on a color screen/mapping garmin(have not yet decided which one) to supplement my wrist garmin. Other than that and a few odds and ends, my SHTF kit is nearly complete. A GMRS radio is GTG for a lot of stuff or a small programable HAM type HT radio such as one of the radios here. They can be programed to GMRS and a variety of other channels. You are suposed to be HAM licensed to use one but if we are talking SHTF I doubt there would be an FCC around then. http://www.radioshop888.com/ The quality of some of these is very good. One item of note from a SHTF type perspective "to go where I am needed/can help. Hence the desire to be able to reach people I do not know otherwise" If you are doing this in the capacity of the military or government that is one thing, but if you would do this on your own because you are a good guy and want to help, not such a good idea in a survival situtation. In this case if they are not family or very good friends is this where you want to start running into people you don't know. People need stuff and if Walmart ain't there they will take it often starting with people who have a desire to help. If you in the military think about a lot of thirld world nations, one of which you appear to be located in right now, if your site registration is correct. If the system collapsed here into a SHTF type place we would likely be worse off since we are not used to dealing with it on a day to day bases like they are. The main goals of survival is the ability to blend with those who don't have anything worth taking or to E&E from the majority of people and defend yourself and your property if needed, and above all don't draw attention to yourself until the situation passes and order is restored. Your not in it to help others, your trying to survive yourself. You may be one big bad MCLMM but one wrong move and the bad guys split up your gear. With the cool items like GPS gon't forget about a good old Lensatic Compass, like the one you should be issued, and some topo maps of your area you live in and/or expect you would have to E&E to. Batteries run out and electronics go down or get lost and nothing replaces basic land nav. skills. |
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Thanks for the link.
The FM/AM/HF receiver is just to pick up information, and the GMRS/FRS is to talk to anyone I may link up with. I'm not talking about responding to every distress call, but hoofing it on my own isn't a very viable option in most situations either. I haven't lived in the states for 5 years. I don't know anyone there. I am quite familiar with 3rd world countries, and am fully capable of analyzing the situation to develop the best course of action to deliver the desired intent, while negating or avoiding risks. I do it every day. My land navigation and terrain analysis skills are just fine The GPS is just a convenient way to view and store a 1:100K national base map. I plan to acquire imagery for urban areas and topo maps for areas local to me.
Not to mention GPS is incredibly easy to jam, and the satellite network only has a lifetime of 10 years without maintenance. |
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