What radio channels should I program for a long drive?
There are channels you should program in your radio for emergencies. I have only used them a few times, but it comes in handy.
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Is a weather radio necessary?
I get asked this question a lot. The answer is a resounding yes. Weather radios can give you information about what is going on, what is coming (in most cases), and what they recommend if severe weather is imminent.
Are CB radios any good for survival?
People think that CB radio is dead, but in fact it is still very well used by truckers and people on the road a lot like RVers. With GMRS usage picking up and repeaters throughout the country, you would think most have moved off CB radios.
What do you carry in your daypack when you go hiking?
I love this question. All of this can be packed, nested in different items, or worn and it doesn’t take as much space as you would think. It weighs less than 20 lbs. In the event I get injured or lost (I have never been lost yet), this provides enough items to survive until I am evacuated by a medical helicopter or found by search and rescue.
What’s a good ham radio to buy?
This one is a loaded question. A good ham radio is one that works when you need it. Here are my favorite ham radios, in no particular order, for survival.
How do I get a license to use a HAM radio?
This is definitely the most asked when I tell people that I have a HAM radio for adventuring and survival. It is a 5-step process in getting a FCC Amateur Radio Technician license.
Can you send text messages/e-mail without cell or internet?
This has been a problem with many situations from power outages, fires, floods, wide internet and cell outages, and many other events that causes both cell and internet outages. The short answer is, YES, there are many ways to do this. Some sort of still requires internet, and some do not require internet or cell…
Should I buy a repeater for my GMRS radios?
This seems to be the most common question I get after people have purchased GMRS radios and started using it. The short answer is, NO, but it depends. There are GMRS repeaters (which I will be reviewing in the near future) that allows a group of people nearby to use to communicate at a further distance than they can using just their handheld GMRS radios.
Will satellite phones work when the power is out?
Short answer is, YES. But you need to make sure that your sat phone is charged, and you have a means of charging it. There is the dilemma of other sat phone users. Does everyone in your household have a sat phone? It’s quite expensive to buy the equipment and pay for the service (reminds…
GMRS or ham radio or satellite for survival?
The short answer for this is GMRS. That answer would have been different 15 years ago. It is the fastest way to have communication devices that the entire family or household can use. All it takes is getting an FCC license by completing a form and paying $35 for a 10 year term. The radio selection is key here, and the more you spend, the better the quality. You want high quality as opposed to something you can buy at a local superstore.