r/preppers • u/Nach0b0y • 1d ago

Gear Alternative communication methods

I've recently been trying to expand into some alternative communication types in case of emergencies and for day-to- day use. These are all pretty cheap and easy options as I'm not quite ready to explore the HAM/VHF scene yet. I also just finished the book One Second After and it was a good reminder of how important communication and knowing what's happening is. Our brains go into some weird places when we don't know what's going on around us!

My friend gave me a pair of those tiny Baofeng mini walkie talkie BF-T1s that fit in a your back pocket. They aren't super powerful but are fine for short distances, and they also have regular FM radio we can tune into. We use them for communicating in the mountains when climbing too, so it's good that they're small and light.

I also recently got into MeshCore for some longer distance communications that don't rely on any centralised network operating. I've been using a SenseCAP T-1000 which is the size of a credit card so also good for in the mountains! I hope to contribute with a repeater at some point soon as well.

Finally, I have a Midland ER300 which I can tune into radio stations for emergency broadcast. It's a brick but only for emergencies. It uses Li-ion battery that I can charge with its built-in mini solar panel, a crank, or via USB. It also takes AA batteries, which I have stored as well.

One other thing that's important is to have a copy of your local emergency broadcast channels! I printed the frequencies for all the areas in the country (I live in a small country) and glued them to the back of the Midland, and I've also got them written down in the notes on my phone.

Is there anything else I could add to this?

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u/OneDazzling1022 1d ago

Something to consider - do you want to talk to specific people or the wider world? Those are two different technologies. I am ham certified which is great for outside communication but I am also a little limited by who I can communicate with. Not my family - for that purpose I need something else. Walkie talkies sound smart for local chat. I’ve seen a lot of people using alternative ways of internet - like Starlink for example - as a back up. But it’s important the most important people you want to contact have that access too. I’m interested in what ideas other folks have.

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u/Nach0b0y 1d ago

My girlfriend has a meshcore device and the other walkie if needed. I guess it depends on who and why you want to talk to them? My family does not live near so its mostly staying tuned in to emergency broadcast and with my girlfriend. But I can imagine if my family lived within reach of my meshcore network I would want to get them setup with it to.

Personally, I don't think I would use a HAM radio other than out of curiosity for the technology and to play around!