Fighting internet problems recently made me think about communications after SHTF! My planning includes linking four family homesteads to enhance survival for all. Realizing that cell phones, and the internet will stop working; I've been planning an alternate method of communications.
We will be running communication on ham radio:
My radio is the most capable of the network, but there will be several units at each homestead.
All mode 2 meter tranciever modes:
Most work will be on FM, but it's nice to have all options on the radio
For the local network:
Handheld 2 meter FM transceivers will add a lot of function to all the homesteads!
And:
We will be using a base station antenna for each homestead. All antennas will be placed as high as possible to make the signal levels as good as we can
For external communication:
This is a multi band transceiver that I'll run on my homestead to gather outside information. This one will reach overseas on some bands, so it will do what we need!
This one will have my packet radio interface on it, which will allow messaging similar to the internet over ham radio. In fact the information packets on the internet were copied from packet radio!
You do have to have a ham radio license, but they have removed the code requirement now so they are easy to get. A technician class is entry Level, and will allow use of a lot of ham bands including 2 meters. My Sister has her's already, and my Brother is studying, but he's an Electrical Engimeer like me; so that won't take long. My Son just bought a study guide off of eBay, and that will radio- activate all the homesteads off lake Keystone.
Do you have a communication plan for your homestead for SHTF? Now's the time to get that taken care of! The handhelds are not expensive, and will have 30 mile range with a good antenna. If the ham repeaters stay running, the same unit will reach 100 miles.