Three Types Of Radios You Need Right Now. Radio Readiness 101. How To keep Informed These Days. 

Must have been near the sky "ears" dead zone.

Where's that town?

@@Jcrpdx the NRQZ is zone 3 and zone 4 of a electronic limited zone located in west Virginia. Zones 3 and 4 cover 13000 square miles. Within 10 square miles no electronic transmitting devices are aloud including gasoline engines.

@@mustangdemon87 Facinating. Thank you.

​@@mustangdemon87 Green Bank Telescope?

That sounds like a fantastic life- simple

Are you still there? Living off the grid??

That really does sound perfect.

same east coast Maine works ok not great up in the woods too

Sadly VHF marine is illegal to use on land (in US).

A Fire and Police scanner is always a good idea and a hand crank am/fm radio just in case you run out of batteries.

​@@reducecotwo most fire & police are now digital. Digital scanners are definitely not cheap. Nice to have, but probably lower on the list due to price.

I guess I don’t understand. It sounds expensive. You buy radios to pass out to people who didn’t buy themselves a radio, and you have a medical kit that exceeds your knowledge and training so that you can pass it to a “DR” (medical doctor?) in an emergency? You’re assuming a medical doctor with emergency medical skills wouldn’t already have a medical kit? Are you going to provide food, water, electricity, and security to your neighbors too? It sounds extremely expensive and if you’re dealing with people who didn’t prepare even basic stuff like buying a battery powered radio, then you’re dealing with the type of people who will consume ALL your resources to the best of their abilities. If I lived next to a couple of kids who just graduated high school, sure, I’d assume they are naive and didn’t know to be prepared. Adults with families could have prepared.

What frequencies?

Good advice!

With at least an alarm capability and if desired an auto-activate audio option when the alarm goes off. But keep your eyes open. Some of the units with an standby/alarm function drain a LOT of battery power even when in standby and the alarm isn't sounding...which isn't good for battery life...so find one that uses very little power when it is in standby. When on battery-only power, it should be able to run for days in standby before needing battery recharge or replacement. It's also nice to have one with standby that runs on AC adapter or battery and automatically switches to battery during a power failure. Personally, I prefer radios that can use a user-replaceable high-capacity rechargeable lithium cell.

I remember some old multiband shortwave radios that also included the weather band.

Sadly, the NOAA is shutting down the transmitter in my area. It covers 2 large cities. Sign of the times I guess

@@Leo_Davis_ I wonder if they will keep the hardware in place to be brought back up in the event that a disaster takes down land lines and cell towers.

Unfortunately I live in a building that does not allow antennas so using my CB radio is out ugh. I do have a short wave radio. So that’s good.

@@Multiplemom3452 where there’s a will there’s a way….

@@Multiplemom3452 LOts of us have antenna restrictions but we find ways it's fun to find ways to get around the overlords. Lots of videos on stealth antennas if your interested.

If there’s a national emergency 🚨 no one is going to worry about if you have a license or not🤷‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@@johncrouch8988 That's true, but operating amateur radios effectively requires practice and investment in real gear (not an inexpensive Baofeng HT). You can't practice/train during non emergency windows. It's a bit like buying a firearm, keeping in the box, never training with it, and thinking you'll be an effective high speed operator the one time you need it.

These are the ones to get! Shortwave is #1 for getting info, and CB is #1 for trading it. FRS is #1 for keeping in touch at close range.

I'm 2/3rds of the way ready where communications is concerned. I have an HT, a shortwave radio with ssb, need to get another CB. I used CBs in the 70s and 80s both at home and otr as a charter bus driver. Retired now. Own a condo in an HOA which limits the ability to have outdoor antenna but using a wire extended near a window greatly enhances reception on shortwave. CB is line-of-site and the ham radio may depend on a local repeater. Thank you for this video, had forgotten about the CB.

No worries!

I recently bought the president handheld cb because of your video on it, I’m slowly getting back into the hobby, the radio is awesome and I appreciate your knowledge on the topic, thanks again

Off sub here but what a cool name Buffy van buren,

When we live near a nuclear reactor- we were given a NOAA radio to alert us in case of an emergency- The downfall is that it alerted us to every emergency (storms 40+ miles away) We turned it off more than we had it on.

@@FarpointFarms Yes. "All Hazards Radio"

Heck, you can just pick up a Baofeng UV-5R for $25 which allows you to tune in on weather stations.

I'm sure they have ways to kill these comms as easy as they will pull the plug on every other non-official comm source, but at least with these we will last longer than with a cell phone and cable tv.

Many thanks!

Those are decent radios with decent charging options.

I was thinking the same thing. Seems a little over-simplified to say "lots of CBs sold. CB is best." The best radios are the ones with helpful people on the other end.

This is true , as me being a licensed ham for almost 50 years can attest to, but the drawback is the License. CB radio shines when it comes to being able to communicate locally to neighbors and family that live close by without requiring a license. Either way, both are great and I thank you for your input. Don, wb1o Greater Boston area

The nice thing about CB is you can find decent ones dirt cheap on ebay and you don't need a license. Just grab one and go. Ham is a bit more work due to needing to mess with getting a license and higher cost of equipment. Then again ham has other benefits so I suppose it depends on how involved one wants to get into it.

There is both in that are. Lots of CB's. But information from a ham

Glad to hear you liked it!

Hearing a numbers station is pretty awesome and freaky.

I agree. When I look at the ongoing back n’ forth battles regarding censorship and/or the accusations of censorship, I think a campaign to revive SW radio listening is needed.

I agree! I would put that 4 or 5 on the list

SSB CB could be used for cross country communication with a little help.

SSB = Single Side Band. You sound like Donald Duck, but it has great range.

@@ericsmith1801 that's true and funny

how do i do what you do

Agreed.

Thanks!

I am glad I could help!

Erik has a three part antenna series he posted, he covers the basics regarding base station antennas. Surf around his channel under videos, youll fibd it.

Small world! Isn't that a neat thing to do?

There's a whole world of clandestine stations out there. Numbers stations are spooky...lol

I think KCNA (North Korean News Agency) still transmit news (read 'propaganda') on HF using Radio Teletype. A computer with sound card and a HF receiver and you can decode it. There's also a LOT of 'digital' modes, with everything from FAX to Slow Scan TV to various other modes that let you send and receive written text rather than use voice. Just the software (free) and a computer is all you need. AX25 packet radio is still used a lot, but there's also HellSchrieber, Piccolo, RTTY in various forms and speeds and a host of others. What's potentially useful is that some modes sound like atmospheric noise or just random noise of some kind, so it's got a certain level of stealth, if you don't know it's there, you often won't realise it's actually sending information. Hams use many of these modes on a routine basis, mostly on HF but they will work on 2m FM or even US style CB (27mhz) though its technically illegal. Obviously after the SHTF that's no longer an issue. So, you could, say, set it on a particular channel you and your contacts use, connected to the computer and leave it unattended while you're out doing whatever you need to do, then you can come back and read anything that came through and respond as needed at your leisure. AX25 packet 'mailboxes' will work well too, but there are many other modes to choose from. Google 'digital modes' and see what pops up.

Good stuff! Thanks for the info.

Great! You will love shortwave if you were a fan of Rush.

I am sure that a CB is useful now like it was back then ,think about it . I am looking into getting a C.B. myself.

I just got my old single side band cb radio out of the garage! Purchased a new cb antenna and going to put it up , if things go south in Ukraine it could go very bad quickly! I have thought about ham several times but never had time! If things go south I believe people will dig their old radios out and cb will be used around the country with the help of hams , cb and gmrs radio users!

Bingo! Yup. I've been there my friend. CB is a lifesaver.

We are blessed that we have 2 springs on our property- One is more seasonal and the other is running great year round

Welcome to the hobby!

The 980 is a great little radio!

They have come down in price and there are still a lot of cool programs hidden away amongst the static.

@@FarpointFarms I am already in radio professionally, but I would love to get another shortwave again.

Right on!

Glad I could help!

You could pick him up on skip on like 2-3 different stations, would fade in and out. Miss those days

Art Bell. Great show.

Great idea!

Well SDR needs to come with instructions, NOT an easy radio to figure out!

Not every one is allowed to use them…..

@@jimnorrish5507 Yes, but anyone can monitor. And in times of emergency anyone can, I encourage all to get the license and practice, but having it is a lot better than not.

When the tribulation starts, then the true colours come out . Watch out for the one with the yella streak.

Charge them once every 6 month and your good for long time. And yes they are replaceable. All talkie-walkies have replaceble batteries... So it's up to us to order more and leave them in the package unopened for future usage. ;) For the Multibands receiver radio, yes, you have to put one, brand new, in your Faraday Closet, in case of emergency. Not so much have replacable AA batteries, sadly. But the one like the Crane C. Skywave SSB or the Tescun PL880 that most radio amateur people recommande, they have 18050 or AA batteries, replaceable, and are the best models on the market probably.

I have a solar powered 9800mw pack that can charge cell phones and small radios.

@@kfsrmn I have 4 x 100w solar panels + Bluetti 1500wh solar generator. Just in case.

Mine is battery operated but it can take rechargeables and has a charging station. Best of both worlds.

It's easy to remove the batteries from said radio and directly wire a power bank, or wire up to a USB port of a solar panel and run them that way.

Great point- sometimes the propaganda is too good not to listen to. People just need to listen to all sides and make up their mind.

In a SHTF scenario, a license is worthless but the radio is priceless

@@zerohour5747 As you keep saying. Are you not intelligent enough to get a license now and build a network of han to communicate with and learn from?

great point on the antenna

You too!!

I have a eton elite 750 with some scrap speaker wire for a antenna. I listen to Hams all over the western US along with many over seas SW broadcasts. Listening to the Hams yak encouraged me to get my Technician license, working on my General now

I’m a longtime radio buff. I have multiples of all the radios he mentioned + Amateur (Ham) radios and a General license to use them. Cell service is great until it’s taken down and 99% of people will NOT be prepared if that happens. Good video, appreciate your viewpoint very much!

I have a shortwave receiver with only ONE band; but it is a very wide band! 100 KHz to 30 MHz.

@@thomasmaughan4798 👍

A CB antenna is a poor choice for SW unless you are listening from 25 to 30 MHz..

I agree with 2 meter..... but during emergencies having a ham license is irrelevant. "Use all means necessary"

Shhh.. there is no sticker, you must be mistaken,

@@FarpointFarms lol i saw NOTHING at all😉👍🇺🇸

You aren't the resistance, you're the nutjobs attacking our nation's electrical grid. Y'all are the reason we'll need these!

Very very very

@@DonnieDarko727 So your think it's more important to you, than it is to me. OH YEAH! Well bring it on bro!

Cheapest and best CB on the market lol. I have 2 :D

Much appreciated!

Glad you liked!

If all else fails a crystal radio. These radios can be very useful just to get some information. It doesn't need batteries and easy to build. I always have one around just in case. The POW camps of ww2 would build them just to get news from home. These type radios where called foxhole radios. Lots of time simple can be better.

Good call!

most citys have gone to digital encryption thats computer controlled......equipment is expensive and possibly not legal to own.

outdated though. Most agencies now use digital and encryption making listening impossible or very expensive. Ham radio also, even during hurricanes, no one is relaying actual information, just ragchewing.

@@tenfourproductionsllc cb would probably be the best bet ...you can pick used ones up for cheap and locals that have them mobile will talk about whats going on ......i been in cb radio off and on for 20 years and ive been buy new stuff and pulling out some of my older stuff setting it up ....20 years ago out town was hit with a tornado and it took out a substation and main grid wires for our town.....cell was used then but not many towers ...the power was out in our county for 24 hours and you couldnt get any info for what was going on....right after that i ordered me a new dx949 galaxy radio and put it in my truck ........and i can get the info i need now if it ever happens again.....

Glad it was helpful!

Sounds like good advice!

"and I had a modulation kit put in it years ago. So it dead keys at about 8 watts, and swings up to 45 watts when talking. " LOL. Really? How is that power measured?

@@thomasmaughan4798 the technician showed me the difference on his equipment. I had no reason to doubt him because I had been on different channels before in a truck stop and guys on the highway were cussing me to turn off my kicker. I’ve never used a linear. Always ran barefoot.

@@haroldyeager6124 "I’ve never used a linear. Always ran barefoot." An audio compressor increases the *average* transmitted power of SSB radios; has no effect whatever on the power of AM radios but will sound somewhat louder (approaching distortion). Because actual linear amplifiers are illegal on the citizens band, people that want them are susceptible to fraud. One fellow proudly showed me his kilowatt linear amplifier, it had a single vacuum tube with a rated plate dissipation of about 40 watts; half of that is the best you can get into the antenna. Well, 20 watts is certainly more than 5, but not by a lot. That's 6 db, and 6 db is one "s" unit. .

Glad to hear it. A CB Base setup is taking it to a whole new level.

Yep, is because of your content is the reason why. Hopefully sometime when the skip is right I'll be reaching out to you. Just gonna set up a Uniden 510 for now. Have to fig which type 120V power converter to buy. Thanks @@FarpointFarms

Sounds like a great idea!

I am living the dream here my friend!

Those are nice radios!

Ever heard of the FM Capture Effect? Its going to spoil alot of the fun for AM users.

@@forgetyourlife yes as an engineer i have, as a long time cb'er folks have used fm for years below 26.965 mhz to talk skip across America and beyond. My personal opinion is that FCC should have set aside some channels above or below the traditional 40 channels for fm mode.

@@barrysallade3788 Given the compliance rate of Citizens Band, I have a doubt the FCC would be obeyed had they done so. It is a good idea of course but unless citizens sort out which are going to be FM channels it is going to be a bit noisy.

Just a tad delusional, aren't you?

@@efandmk3382 No hes exactly right. What people listen to has put ppl in jail

Good to know.