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Long Distance Communication

6K views 21 replies 12 participants last post by  WoadWarrior 
#1 ·
I looked but, haven’t been able to find any thread on communication. Does anyone know any style of long distance communication that requires little energy? i.e. Can be used with solar panels but, I can get some serious distance. I’m building my house out in the middle of nowhere in Germany and it would be nice to speak to some peeps if SHTF. Any help is MUCHOOO apreciated. I'm an weapon expert not communication expert! ::redsnipe::
 
#5 ·
CB Radio's would be ok for around your area (20-50 Miles) Depending on your set up. But if I was you I would go with a HAM Radio. I need to read up on this subject myself and at my new place I am going to be setting one of these up. Once that is done I will show a picture.
 
#7 ·
Will the HAM work in Europe? I'll do some digging but, if anyone knows before I get a chance to feel free to chime in!
 
#10 ·
About 10 of us locally, here all have cb.s and one if not two the other people have ham radios./ We are all set on channel 5 on the cbs and can all talk to each other from our houses/trucks within about 6-10 miles We are in a hilly area but that is more then far enough to keep in close contact with each other. All powered by solar sysems, as we are all also on total solar. No powerlines out here at all.
 
#11 ·
If you go with a CB... keep in mind they are commercially regulated in the US to somewhere around 5 watts of power (physical limitation by the manufacturer). I can't remember if that is exactly it but I'm sure someone can help me out. For years... Truckers have been getting busted for using boosters (i.e., huge fines) because they walk on everyone (anyone who uses them probably remembers getting blasted). However, if you are in a situation where you need one, I doubt the FCC equivalent in Germany will be around to complain. So... my recommendation would be to get a booster, hook it up to learn how (but use it at your own risk), then remove it and store it for emergencies. Also... with CBs... antenna height is an issue... so make sure you have a means of getting that sucker high for max range (but keep in mind... a visible antenna is it's own message) so you might want to figure out a way to mask it as well (maybe with an old worn weather beaten flag from some event a few ago. Let the neighbors get used to it and let anyone new thing it's a remnant from years past.
 
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#12 ·
I'm taking the Technician's exam in 4 days! Yes, in Germany you can talk on a HAM radio around the world. But do keep in mind that the FCC (for United States only Region 2 ITU) has certain restrictions on what you can do to "transmit" outbound. For example, I just purchased the Yaesu FT-60R HT (Hand held mobile) and until I see my call sign registered in the FCC database, all I can do is listen. After I get the technician licence, I am going for the "General" licence, which gives you more frequencies to operate on. The exam after that is the "Extra" class licence, which again gives you more privileges and frequencies. The higher you get, the different ranges you can talk. Some are better than others and some work better in the daytime and with solar flares etc etc. Basically RF waves bounce around in and off the ionosphere layer and sends them back down to Earth hitting another radio. For CB (citizen band), FRS (Family Radio Service) and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), you are limited to a good 20-30 miles and usually this is by line of sight without obstructions. If something happens, then these services might be flooded with "talkers" on them. With certain HAM licence, you'll have a huge range to talk through. Although as some folks might think these are "private", and that you can talk without others listening in, this is not the case. Even the FRS and GMRS radios state they have privacy features, which is a misunderstanding. Basically these types of radios have certain types of squelches, which responds to your partners "tone" to make it more of a private feature, but by no means is it really "private". Also to note that even though there are multiple channels on these types of radios (GMRS/FRS) there are certain channels that you cannot use by FCC guidelines. I will not go into detail, but this is a misunderstanding from little johnny playing paintball and puts his "walkie talkie" on channel 1 and transmits. Big no no!

My HT setup is below, with a 5watt battery charger solar panel (from HF $23 down from $55). I'm going to carry this in my BOV and if the power runs down, then I have a cigarette charger, and thus the solar panel to charge the battery. My base "control station" is of course at my home, which at anytime the FCC is allowed by law at no notice to come in and take a look at your setup to make recommendations etc, which is fine with me. Just a tidbit of information that I know a lot of OPSEC folks worry about. My base is still in the research mode of what I'm going to get, but I'm purchasing a triband to be able to utilize everything I can with my licence as they come to me. I'll be able to talk around the world and even to my antipole location! The HT (Hand held) is good for usually 30 miles, unless you hit a repeater, which are towers owned by other HAMs that relay your signal along the way. In the event of something bad (earthquake for example), there should still be some repeaters around. In fact, there are about 10 in my local area (10 mile radius) that cover 1/4 of the entire state. If you are not hitting a repeater and communicating directly to another HAM (Simplex), then your communications will still work.

CW (Internation Morse Code) is the best thing to learn in the event of a disaster. It utilized the smallest bandwidth on 150 hz. Although morse code has been removed from the tests, I'm still going to learn it and increase my speed with this type of communication. When power goes out, Internet goes down, cell phones stop working, you'll hear Morse code on anything electric.

Yaesu FT-60R with 5w solar panel (battery charger)
Product Black Wood Font Tablet computer


Yaesu FT-60R VHF/UHF Dual Band FM Transceiver 5w
Computer keyboard Office equipment Calculator Font Material property


Line of sight of repeaters in my area (Hard to see, but there is about4 from this photo you can see)
Cloud Sky Plant Natural landscape Tree
 
#13 ·
Thanks Gents! I did some research and found a Military HAM radio club here in Germany! What are the odds. Maybe they can teach/instruct me on the process to get my license here in Germany. If that works out then all I'll need is a helllasous setup for the house. I live on one of the highest peeks in my area. So range should be awesome I would assume.
 
#18 ·
My idea to use two tin cans and some string doesn't sound so good anymore. :(
 
#20 ·
I was always interested in HAM radios... but it never went past interest. Too many things to do.... And.... I don't really like to talk to people although you wouldn't know it by my interaction on this forum. So... maybe I just don't like to "talk" but typing is o.k. Hmmm... time to psychoanalyze myself again. Do I think people are following me? Yes. Do I love my mother? Yes. Do I smell gasoline before I light the fuse? Yes. Yep.... I've definitely got a problem.... and I doubt learning about HAM radios will fix it.

Congrats by the way! :)
 
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#21 ·
WoadWarrior there are also what they call digital modes of HAM radio. Those are computer/text chat only modes. One I use is called psk31 mode and I can text chat with people all over the world using my computer, my HAM radio, a simple wire antenna, and 100 watts or less of power. It's very cool. In the USA you need the general license to get out across the ocean. For starters I highly recommend the 1st level class called technician. With that u can still get out all over the world using other HAM tools such as the free program called Echolink or another Internet
Enabled method using repeaters called IRLP. There is a lot more to the hobby than just walkie-talkie type stuff.
 
#22 ·
Thanks DJ. My experience is limited. I've used CB, the little portable walkie-talkies, some military radios, some older VHF hand helds, and now I'm learning the new trunked emergency service radios for LE, fire, EMS, etc. This whole "dragging your talk group" issue is going to be hard to get used to. But... other than CB and the walkie-talkies, all of that experience is work related. The HAM idea seems like a great idea for establishing personal comms.
 
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