How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It - James Wesley Rawles [74]
If you want a higher-power system, I would recommend buying used marine band radios on eBay. (Search for “marine band radio.”) These do not require a license except for “vessels over sixty-five feet in length,” but be advised that there are FCC restrictions on inland use. Fines by the FCC can be and usually are substantial.
Since most marine band radios draw more current than a MURS handi-talkie, you will need a more capable backup power system for battery charging. I suggest a couple of large six-volt DC deep-cycle (golf-cart-type) batteries for each radio. The beauty of the MURS band and the VHF marine band is that they are both essentially private bands in many areas. But, of course, don’t consider them secure, since they can still be detected and monitored with a multiband scanner.
Some of my blog’s readers have suggested establishing Bulletin Board System, or BBS-style radio networks for communication after TEOTWAWKI. Since traditional telephone services, DSL, cellular services, ISPs, and the Internet are all more or less dependent on grid power, I expect them all to go down within a few days of each other in the event of major catastrophe. There will, however, be some utility in ham-radio-based packet-radio and digipeater networks, which can operate like BBS servers and even like a quasi-Internet. These can operate over long distances in the HF ham bands. There are also some regional 2 meter band networks that are partially served by photovoltaic-powered repeaters, so parts of those networks might remain intact. Because many older hams are retiring, there are lots of used radios and packet TNCs on the market, selling for very reasonable prices.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, I recommend joining and expanding existing packet HF BBS networks. One word of warning: Do not simply bookmark the BBS pages. Like all the other World Wide Web pages, they will vanish if the power grid goes down, so be sure to print out an updated hard copy roughly twice a year. Mark your calendar.
I also recommend joining an existing topic-based, scheduled (“same time, same frequency ”) HF ham call-in.
Regarding “off-band” (or “out-of-band” or “freeband”) transmission: Such transmissions are not legal in the United States except under emergency conditions.
Family Radio Service (FRS) Radio Capabilities
I am often asked about the range and capabilities of “bubble-packed” FRS and GMRS radios. Their effective range can vary greatly. Indoors, the key question is: How much reinforced concrete? Reliable communication in a cluttered urban environment is iffy for the typical FRS and GMRS handheld transceivers on the consumer market. My preference is for the MURS band handhelds. Not only will you get better range but you will also be operating in a less commonly used frequency band. This will give you marginally better communications security (but with the oft-repeated proviso: no radio transmission should be considered 100 percent secure). I recommend the MURS Radios company as a reputable source of transceivers. They also do custom frequency programming, and sell both accessories and MURS-COMPATIBLE perimeter-intrusion detection systems.
Licensing Requirements for FRS Versus GMRS Radio Transmission
The most common FRS/GMRS radios come with several preprogrammed channels, usually numbered 1-22. No license is required in the U.S. for transmitting on Family Radio Service (FRS) channels (channels 8-14). Channels 1-7 and 15-22 are GMRA channels. You must have a GMRS license issued by the FCC to legally transmit on those channels, except in an emergency. For licensing information and application forms, see the FCC Web site (fcc.gov) or call the FCC Forms Distribution Center at 1-800-418-3676.
Military service members: Consult your COMSEC office and/or spectrum allocation coordinator before utilizing FRS or GMRS bands for unencrypted tactical communications. These bands are some of the least secure in terms of interception risk.
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