Tag: emcomm
-
Why HF Radio Matters Most When the Grid Goes Down
Why HF radio is critical when the grid goes down: NVIS keeps you connected to your region, and HF DX lets you poll other states and continents for news.
-
Your Repeater Is Not a Plan: Why HF NVIS Matters Just as Much
Without the repeater, VHF/UHF is line of sight. Here’s why HF NVIS matters as much, and how I’d layer both into a real SHTF comms plan.
-
My Yaesu FTX-1 Go-Box: 100 Watts, HF Through UHF, in One Watertight Case
My FTX-1 Optima go-box: a watertight hard case holding the radio, the SPA-1 amp, and antennas for HF and VHF/UHF. 16.5 lbs, 12 x 12 x 7 inches.
-
What Is an HF NVIS Regional Net?
What an HF NVIS regional net is, why it beats a repeater net as a regional comms test, plus modes, antennas, radios, and four station builds.
-
Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts: How They Work, and Ham Radio’s Role
EAS and WEA are not the same system, and understanding both tells you exactly where ham radio actually fits in.
-
CERT and Amateur Radio: How the Programs Overlap
Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. CERT and ARES get confused for each other constantly, and while they are separate programs with different scopes, they overlap enough that many hams find real value in doing both. What CERT Actually Is Community Emergency Response Team training is a FEMA-backed program that teaches civilians basic disaster…
-
The FT-857D as a Shack in a Box: Why It’s One of My Favorite SHTF Radios
Part of our The Yaesu FT-857D: The Complete Guide. One Box, Every Band You’d Actually Need When I think through what a grab-and-go radio needs to do in an actual SHTF scenario, the list is short: reach the local repeater network, monitor and work HF for anything past line of sight, and do it all…
-
What Is ATAK (CivTAK)? Tactical Mapping and Team Awareness Explained for Hams
Part of our Emergency Communications and Preparedness guide. If you’ve spent any time in EmComm, SAR, or preparedness circles lately, you’ve probably seen the acronym ATAK thrown around next to phrases like “situational awareness” and “common operating picture.” It sounds military because it is military, but the civilian version has quietly become one of the…
-
Packing an FTX-1 Go-Bag: What I Actually Carry
My grab-and-go FTX-1 bag, built for showing up ready whether that’s an EmComm callout or a last-minute activation.
-
Building a PACE Communications Plan for Grid-Down Scenarios
How to build a PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) radio communications plan combining GMRS, ham radio, and non-radio backups.
-
Setting Up Winlink: RMS Express, VARA, and Sending Your First Message
Part of our Emergency Communications and Preparedness guide. I’ve explained what Winlink is and why EmComm operators rely on it, but I’ve never walked through actually setting it up. This is that post: getting RMS Express and VARA installed and sending a real message through the system for the first time. What You Need A…