Category: Preparedness
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Assigning Radio Roles in a Multi-Generational Household
Not everyone in a multi-generational household needs the same radio or the same job. Here’s how to actually divide it up.
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What Frequencies Actually Belong on Your Family Comms Card
FRS, MURS, GMRS, and ham simplex, and which ones actually belong on a real family comms card.
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Integrating Meshtastic Into a Preparedness Plan (Without Overselling It)
Meshtastic gets pitched online as a SHTF communications solution. It’s useful, but it’s not that. Here’s an honest look at where it actually fits in a preparedness plan.
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What Is Winlink, and Why EmComm Operators Rely On It
When the internet and cell towers go down, Winlink lets you send and receive real email over radio. Here is how it works, and why served agencies lean on it so heavily.
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Waterproofing and Weatherproofing a Go-Bag Radio
Water kills radios faster than almost anything else. Here’s what actually protects one in a go-bag.
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Documenting Your SHTF Communications Plan: The One-Page Reference Everyone Needs
A plan only your one radio operator understands isn’t a plan. Here’s what to actually put on paper, in what format, and where to keep copies so it’s useful when it matters.
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DMR Talkgroups Are Great Fun, But Don’t Mistake Them for a SHTF Plan
Brandmeister and TGIF talkgroups are a fantastic way to stay in touch and play radio every day. Just understand what they depend on, because that same dependency is exactly why they fail when it matters most.
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VARA vs. PACTOR: Choosing a Winlink Modem
VARA and PACTOR compared for Winlink, and which one actually makes sense for a home EmComm setup.
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Why a Single-Band Radio Isn’t Enough for SHTF, and Where Digital and Encryption Actually Fit
One band and one mode is a fragile foundation for emergency communication. Here’s the case for multi-band, digital-capable gear, an honest look at where encryption is and isn’t legal, and what a MARS mod really does.
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The Reality of Off-Grid Mesh Comms: Meshtastic, LoRa, and Why the Hype Outpaces Reality
Meshtastic and LoRa mesh networks get hyped online as an unbreakable off-grid comms solution. Here’s an honest, technical look at where the hype outpaces the current reality.