If and when an apocalyptic event occurs, one of the first things likely to go will be the communication grid, particularly the mobile network. Smartphones, telephones, and the internet will eventually come to an end. The electrical grid will also go down. This means the days of chatting up friends and strangers online, Facebook likes, memes and cat videos will be things of the past. Don’t worry. There are still ways to strike up a conversation without coming face to face, especially when emergency communication means life and death.
Once SHTF or you’re forced to go off the grid, your best way to contact others is through old-school communication tools. But don’t go busting out the homing pigeons or pony express just yet. Though these methods could be used eventually, the better way to communicate, especially in emergency situations, is through radios, particularly CB, HAM, and GMRS radios.
CB Radio
In the hit TV series The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes and the gang are seen using a variety of communication tools. Long before Darryl and Dwight shot arrows to exchange love notes on how to get rid of Negan, the survivors used Citizens’ band or CB radios. Early in the show, the Atlanta group picked up Rick’s transmissions made on a CB radio in his patrol car. Later on, Glenn talked Rick out of a dire situation (read: trapped in a tank surrounded by hungry walkers) using a CB radio.
Uniden 40-Channel CB Radio, $34 at Amazon
A CB radio helps you communicate or receive transmissions in a limited range. It is a short-distance, two-way communication system, which typically has 40 channels within the 27-MH-z (11m) band.
CB radio had its heyday in the 1970s and 80s but it’s still used today, especially by long-haul truck drivers. Taxi drivers and other people whose jobs require short-range radio communication with their main office also use CB radios. They’re useful in emergency situations, as well. Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams (REACT) use CB radios, particularly Channel 9 in the United States, to track down emergencies ranging from stranded motorists to natural disasters such as flash floods.
Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio, $80 at Amazon
As mentioned, CBs are good for short-distance communication. If you want to reach out further, you’ll need an amplifier. Unfortunately, amplifiers have long been banned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and finding one when society breaks down will be a tedious task.
HAM Radio
Preppers dream of owning a HAM radio not just because Christian Slater made it cool in Pump Up the Volume. HAM or amateur radio is a great communication tool in SHTF situations. HAMs have a better range than CB radios, especially if the antenna is positioned higher. Obstructions such as hills and mountains may also affect the range. While HAM radios can reach space, it’s impossible to place the antenna high enough to contact someone in the past like what happened in the 2000 film Frequency.
BaoFeng BF-F8HP 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio, $63 at Amazon
Aside from better range, HAM radios are also useful when the power goes out but radio broadcasting is still possible. When Hurricane Sandy hit the U.S., Hams were instrumental in reaching and rescuing people trapped by the flood.
AnyTone AT-778UV Dual Band Transceiver Mobile Radio VHF/UHF Two Way & Amateur Radio, $122 at Amazon
The FCC requires potential Hams to pass an exam and get a license. There are classes that teach people how to use them. This is one class you shouldn’t skip if you wish to survive the apocalypse.
GMRS Radio
Midland GXT1000VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio, $62 at Amazon
A General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio is perhaps the best way to communicate within a group, especially when you’re on the move. When SHTF and you have to leave your shelter, bug-out bags and weapons are not the only things you should bring. Aside from being portable, the handheld GMRS radio is built for the outdoors. It’s rugged, durable, and waterproof. It’s perfect to bring on supply runs or other tasks where a group needs to spread out and still communicate.
Midland LXT600VP3 36-Channel GMRS, $43 at Amazon
A GMRS or a two-way radio sends signals through frequency modulation or FM waves. In theory, a pair of GMRS radios have a range of up to 3 kilometers between them. Mobile versions can have an 8 km range while a high-powered version with a repeater and an external antenna can get up to 32 km of range. Some GMRS radios have a feature that sends distress signals when you’re in trouble, which is especially useful when you can’t talk out loud.
Having a method of communication in the event of a mobile network meltdown can spell the difference between surviving and getting overtaken by a horde of zombies. Emergency communication tools such as the CB radio, HAM radio, and GMRS radio will let you talk to or pick up transmissions from other survivors who may hook you up with supplies or get you to a better and safer location.
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