In a world with cheap, global and easy to use communication via a smartphone in our shirt pocket, to many people, all this business of ham radio and Morse Code is just over-the-top "stupid". I mean, why would a person want all that hassle when cellphones are so reliable - right?
Well, the fact of the matter is that cell phones ARE amazingly reliable, versatile and handy - until one moment they stop. It's rare when it does - but I've been through it more than a few times. There is also the aspect that there ARE places in the US where the is simply no coverage - not a few low spots, but entire regions of the West have no coverage and likely never will - because the population density is too low to make a profit. Remember the silicon valley guy who died after taking a wrong turn in a winter storm in Nevada? No cell coverage, but a sub $100 QRP rig would have been excellent.
There is also the question of what it means to 'communicate'. Yes - there are some who just get on the radio and talk about absolutely nothing for hours - maybe all night, like a teenaged girl on the phone. Listen to 80 meter SSB at night. Some of it would make a maggot gag. Back to topic though; for a prepper, communication is usually more like texting, rather than the endless discussion of little or nothing. Communication for content is like texting. A message like :
AM AT BILLS PLACE. IS IT SAFE AT THE FARM?
Could be the most important message in your life, determining your travel/relocation plans. or
YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY SAFE AND STAYING AT 1ST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BURGESS, VA. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
... or even just a SITREP from camp - which we've done among ourselves on more than one occasion.
Next up is the level of comms to discuss local and world events and their possible impact and even full conversations about everything from politics to - yes - radios. We DO build radios to talk about radios we would like to build. ha ha
In short - real communication, without dependence upon commercial infrastructure can be accomplished with amazingly portable rigs, available for less than the cost of a monthly cell phone bill - per month. It's not as easy, nor as flexible, but it's something to think about. (or to talk about on the radio...)
Your thoughts?
>RadioRay ..._ ._
Well, the fact of the matter is that cell phones ARE amazingly reliable, versatile and handy - until one moment they stop. It's rare when it does - but I've been through it more than a few times. There is also the aspect that there ARE places in the US where the is simply no coverage - not a few low spots, but entire regions of the West have no coverage and likely never will - because the population density is too low to make a profit. Remember the silicon valley guy who died after taking a wrong turn in a winter storm in Nevada? No cell coverage, but a sub $100 QRP rig would have been excellent.
There is also the question of what it means to 'communicate'. Yes - there are some who just get on the radio and talk about absolutely nothing for hours - maybe all night, like a teenaged girl on the phone. Listen to 80 meter SSB at night. Some of it would make a maggot gag. Back to topic though; for a prepper, communication is usually more like texting, rather than the endless discussion of little or nothing. Communication for content is like texting. A message like :
AM AT BILLS PLACE. IS IT SAFE AT THE FARM?
Could be the most important message in your life, determining your travel/relocation plans. or
YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY SAFE AND STAYING AT 1ST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BURGESS, VA. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
... or even just a SITREP from camp - which we've done among ourselves on more than one occasion.
Next up is the level of comms to discuss local and world events and their possible impact and even full conversations about everything from politics to - yes - radios. We DO build radios to talk about radios we would like to build. ha ha
In short - real communication, without dependence upon commercial infrastructure can be accomplished with amazingly portable rigs, available for less than the cost of a monthly cell phone bill - per month. It's not as easy, nor as flexible, but it's something to think about. (or to talk about on the radio...)
Your thoughts?
>RadioRay ..._ ._