Tag: emcomm
-
SkyWarn and Weather Spotting: How Ham Radio Ties Into Storm Reporting
Long before radar could see everything, ham radio operators were the eyes on the ground reporting severe weather in real time. SkyWarn still relies on that today, and it is one of the most genuinely useful volunteer roles in the hobby.
-
ICS-213 and Message Formats: How EmComm Traffic Actually Gets Passed
Passing a message accurately over a radio net is a specific skill with its own format, and ICS-213 is the standard form most served agencies actually expect. Here is how real message traffic gets handled.
-
ARES vs RACES: How Emergency Communications Are Actually Organized
Nearly every EmComm post on this blog assumes a general familiarity with how volunteer emergency communications are organized. ARES and RACES are the two structures actually behind most of it, and they are not the same thing.
-
What a Real SHTF Communications Plan Actually Looks Like
Most people’s SHTF comms plan is a radio in a drawer and a vague hope it’ll work when it matters. Here’s what an actual plan looks like, and why it’s mostly about people and documentation, not gear.
-
The Fldigi Family: Fldigi, Flrig, Flmsg, and the Other FL Apps
The FL suite is a collection of free, connected ham radio programs for digital modes, rig control, and message handling. Here is what each one does.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
VARA vs. PACTOR: Choosing a Winlink Modem
VARA and PACTOR compared for Winlink, and which one actually makes sense for a home EmComm setup.
-
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.