"Preppers"? are you one?

And again.

 

I have 6 of them. Love them and use one or two very often for traveling and the others are storing items.

 

I guess watching the signs of the times is ongoing, but once now and again, I realize where I am in having some of the basics covered.
Got me thinking about a fallback communication method.
Or keeping enough cash for present purchases, as well as future ones.
Aldi is one store where an item can disappear for a day or three, or permanently (molasses has been gone for a few years). Happens regularly, so I hate going there because we've run out of an item.

 

I bought one of those cheap baofengs for comms, they are frowned upon due to spurious emissions but in a shtf scenario it's better than nothing.
I don't have a license yet so I'm not using it. It's another tool in the kit though and good to listen in on.
I also picked up a shortwave radio, no comms there but being able to listen in is a good thing.
I'm going to get another better radio I hope before I can't. Been looking at the xiegu g90, lots of people like it. Doesn't seem over the top $$ either.
Cash is king but I think having some precious metal is good to have.

 

In the same boat, looking for a decent comms solution. My goal eventually is to learn the ham radio and pickup a cheap baofeng. I have a few like minded folks in my area, my cousin is exactly 1 mile away point A to B, however many obstructions, trees, roads, buildings, etc.... Going to try out a decent ranged 2way radio. Hopefully that works so we can at least communicate.

We certainly have set many things aside and stocked up on many things. After what we experienced at grocery stores during Covid its' a no brainer to have a few things on hand.

 

Another option I've been looking at is a cb radio with ssb. Something to look at as another option. no license required.

 

Your best bet is what’s common to your area. Having a cheap ham HT is pointless if you’re the only one with one in 20 miles. Same with FRS or GMRS or CB.

cell phones have pretty well killed all other forms.

yes, I have my general class license. I can talk on my HF, FM, am or FRS/GMRS. So the absolute BEST option is to have them all.

Any one of those radios are worthless if you have junk antennas though. Something to most people don’t even consider. Some of the guys I’ve operated with use 1W radios for the challenge and put 100X as much into their antennas. And it shows.

 

It might be pointless today, but discussing prepping and in that situation, some form of comms is better than none and having a license in that situation just may be pointless as well. Cell phones only work when their is power and no load on the network.
RACES would be pointless if cell comms is dependable all the time.
I agree a great aerial is better than a great radio and a junk aerial.

 

Agreed! Looking for something that can run on typical batteries, being we are so close hoping the 2way works out. Can be charged if I have electric but can also run on batteries if I am without power. Batteries I can stock pile. I know CB radios can be hooked up to an alternate power sources even a car battery. Again we are only a mile away!

 

Where did I say it shouldn’t be talked about?

 

So with coms, the ability to listen is one thing. To have 2-way is another, and having something others have, either your mutual aid group or your town, is important. Antenna is critical, as is having a power source. Knowing if you're planning to be mobile or stationary (bugging in vs buggin out) are factors.

 

You didn't say it shouldn't be talked about - you said it was pointless having a cheap ham if you're the only one around for 20 miles with one.
I don't get on here to have debates and arguments over nomenclature or other bs.
No time for that.

 

A friend or two and I were discussing various "when it hits" scenarios. Since I spend lotsa hours at work, commuting, and since that is far from home, we decided that would be the setting for our scenario. I'd like input from those that have thought-tossed this previously.

Location: work, office is 50+ miles from home, and then 30 to 40 miles from my personal vehicle (left at the office) once we leave any one of three offices for the day.

Timing: we work around the clock, all year. Leaving for home could be any time.

Event: that event which would force us to walk back to our vehicles or directly home if that was shorter. So EMP (whatever the cause), end-time, man-made events, natural disasters.

Gear: once we leave our cars, we all take food and water for the day, and leave for the job-site. Once an event hits and leaving on foot is the best option, whatever kit from my cooler, would then be repacked in what amounts to my every day carry bag (which normally contains work gear).

Route considerations: possibly avoiding roads or tracks. Being careful around populated areas.
Avoiding the tacticool appearance, not only being grey, but really below the radar. no hi-vis work gear comes along, fires and cooking to be avoided if able.
I'd consider walking at night to stay warm, sleeping during the day
I have food sitting on my belt line, so for a two to three day walk, I'd need only supplemental food. Water from the job site (filter on hand) would get appropriated.
Something with wheels would greatly speed the trip (razor scooter for example).

I bet each of us here has some pretty different circumstances. But, if stranded at work or elsewhere away from home, your list will be different. This is meant to be a thought provoking exercise.

I don't want to glom up this thread too much, if someone moves to do this via PM or a different thread, I'm good for that.

SCA

 

No food needed. You can go weeks without food. Water, yes.

20 miles per day walking is reasonable. If you need to walk 3 days to get home that’s fine. Most people you run into won’t have gone crazy yet.

I wouldn’t sleep, walk straight home unless you can’t help it.

 

You haven't met my hangry meter......

A lot of ppl are already starting at "crazy" nowadays to begin with....

 

I've learned what I am like without food for an extended time, while working a physical job. And I am in shape (no longer round). Snacks are easy to keep handy, even if they taste like sawdust and burlap (protein bars).

If the highway was jammed with inop vehicles, once people realized they now had to walk, possibly with their kids, having little or no information, I can see things getting desperate almost instantly. If there are injuries, that could lead to excitement as well.

In neighborhoods, I can see that taking a couple days. Three meals missed makes for a cranky population. The have's and have-not's will stand out fairly quickly.

Talking with a friend, we're going to do a shakedown walk. We'll show up with our work gear, and lunch coolers (as we would appear when arriving to work), unpack work junk, repack necessities for the walk, and go for a 10 or 15 mile walk. Probably will not do an overnight, but a good long walk will take place.

 

This sounds interesting. Do you normally have a backpack type bag available, or will you take one for this exercise? Thinking about this, it would be a good idea for me to have one in the vehicle at all times, so if that in this event it could be loaded and wore, freeing up the hands. Also, I assume you will be using/walking roads on this try-out. If this were for real, you may have to stay off road/put of site more. So maps of the area (assuming phones with gis/aerial maps will be non-working), or even print out aerial photos, would be a good idea to have on hand.

 

Worry bout ery-body!