prepper radios?

[drjoker]

Hi,

I was wondering, if anyone knows how to get schematics on bruce's ark ii radio system that connects to your computer to communicate. You can text chat with your computer over long distances by bouncing a radio wave off the ionosphere. I saw in national geographic and thought it was cool. internet without the internet.

thanks.

[The Annoyed Man]

What are you going to do if there's an EMP?

[LSL]

Use radio equipment designed with valves (aka tubes) and slide rules!

[Keith B]

Hi,

I was wondering, if anyone knows how to get schematics on bruce's ark ii radio system that connects to your computer to communicate. You can text chat with your computer over long distances by bouncing a radio wave off the ionosphere. I saw in national geographic and thought it was cool. internet without the internet.

thanks.

It's called Radio Teletype or Packet Radio (other modes that do it too.) Get your Amateur (HAM) Radio license and you can do just that. http://www.arrl.org/new-to-ham-radio" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RPB]

What are you going to do if there's an EMP?

Biggest mistake everyone makes in shielding a whole house is shielding the radio/computer etc, but not all lines connected to it ... forgetting to:
1) disconnect (or otherwise protect) all outdoor antenna/cable/power wires from radios/computers etc which act as antennas in creating the voltages from EMPs
2 ) take walls apart first, wrap each electrical wire which could act as an antenna with shielding too; then reassemble house

[Dave2]

Hi,

I was wondering, if anyone knows how to get schematics on bruce's ark ii radio system that connects to your computer to communicate. You can text chat with your computer over long distances by bouncing a radio wave off the ionosphere. I saw in national geographic and thought it was cool. internet without the internet.

thanks.

I saw that too, and thought it was interesting until they said that "ham radios are widely used among preppers because it relies only on naturally existing radio waves", at which point I was so consumed by the on the part of the show's writers that I forgot what they were talking about.

[i8godzilla]

Buy a handheld 2M transceiver and put it in a Faraday bag. Get one that is rechargeable and get a small solar panel to recharge it. Put the charger and panel in the same or separate bag. There are quite a few radios available that are 'packet' ready.

[drjoker]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

Buy a handheld 2M transceiver and put it in a Faraday bag. Get one that is rechargeable and get a small solar panel to recharge it. Put the charger and panel in the same or separate bag. There are quite a few radios available that are 'packet' ready.

[apostate]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

Buy a handheld 2M transceiver and put it in a Faraday bag. Get one that is rechargeable and get a small solar panel to recharge it. Put the charger and panel in the same or separate bag. There are quite a few radios available that are 'packet' ready.

To transmit on ham frequencies you need a ham license of the appropriate class.
Here's a list of some of the users of the VHF spectrum around 2m.

[chasfm11]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

Buy a handheld 2M transceiver and put it in a Faraday bag. Get one that is rechargeable and get a small solar panel to recharge it. Put the charger and panel in the same or separate bag. There are quite a few radios available that are 'packet' ready.

Yes. The Technician class (I have one) takes about 20 hours of study and a test. It gives you access to 2 meter band. A great little HT (handy talkie) on 2 meter is the Wouxun. It is very easy to protect it from an EMP. Without repeaters, 2 meter radios are good for about 25 miles, though I haven't tried mine at that distance.

For longer distances, you need a General Class Ham license (I'm working on that one). It requires a lot more study and another test. Most of the bands that you can bounce off the Ionosphere require a General Class license. Often in emergencies, Hams set up portable equipment that can go about 350 miles and that is enough to get past the local power grid issues.

[Kythas]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

I would imagine if the balloon goes up nobody will be checking licenses.

[sjfcontrol]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

I would imagine if the balloon goes up nobody will be checking licenses.

My thought exactly -- Armageddon cancels all licenses!

[chasfm11]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

I would imagine if the balloon goes up nobody will be checking licenses.

My thought exactly -- Armageddon cancels all licenses!

The problem is that, like firearms, waiting until the radio is needed to figure out how to use it is a mistake. Yes, I understand that you just push the button and talk but it is likely that those on the other end of the conversation will understand correct operation and you are banking on their willingness to listen to you, even in an emergency.

For example, there are lots of frequencies on the 2 meter band. Knowing which ones are frequented in your specific area will help you to reach someone faster. The rubber antennas that come with portable radios have limited capacity so if you want greater range, you have to do something different. There are lots of what Hams call "home brew" antennas that can significantly improve reception and reach but you have to have understood the need for one and put it together in advance. By the time that you need the 2 meter radio, chances are that your Internet connection is not available to you for information that could help you with the antenna.

I prefer a broader solution. I agree that licenses are not in issue in a TEOTWAWKI scenario but there are lesser emergencies where the radio would be a tremendous asset. I really see it as no different than getting a CHL. You could (assuming concealed is concealed) carry an unlicensed gun for years but we have gone to the extra lengths to do it legally. I'm in no way equating the punishment for unlicensed carry with that for unlicensed use of a Ham radio, I'm simply pointing out that you either believe in following the rule of law or you don't.

[RPB]

Do you need a ham license to use this?

I would imagine if the balloon goes up nobody will be checking licenses.

and I believe that the wonderful section 90 of the FCC code book will still tell you, something like: in the event of an emergency, you are authorized to use any frequency that is available to you..

Just please ... do not say "good buddy" or anything that was in any of the 1970s CB Radio trucker type movies

http://hlarc.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Highland Lakes Amateur Radio Club
I was going to go to this, but will next year ... I hope. But I need to review what I knew back in 1989 first and have forgotten since.
CANCELED!>Ham Slam 2012 Training for Technician AND General Class Licenses
CANCELED!>Ham Slam 2011 Training for Technician AND General Class Licenses

Ham Slam 2010 was a Big Success with 100% passing rate of students!

Ham Slam Class was March 26, 27 and 28 2010

Congratulations Everybody!