Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance
tools for independent minded people…
ISSN 2161-5543
A
Digest of Urban Survival Resources
Using ‘Old School’ Communications Devices to Keep in Touch…Or ‘Can You
Hear Me Now’
Anyone who has read
this column for any length of time knows I’m not a fan of so-called smart
phones. Using them enables bad guys and
police to easily track you, snatch your banking and smart wallet information if
you use it for such purposes, easily track where you have taken photos and in
the event of power outages, cell phone hacks, or an EMP strike – you’re out of
touch and out of luck.
During natural disasters [such as the recent storms which struck Texas
and our east coast], cell phones and land lines service could come to a
crashing halt. What you really need is
an old-fashioned CB radio. We keep two
portable, hand-held units with plenty of batteries and a power cord for use in
our vehicles in our go-packs.
CB [Citizen Band] radio, is made up of 40 channels within the 27
Mega-Hertz band. It’s a short range
communication system used by individuals and businesses alike, but are usually
associated with truckers.
All along our nation’s highways, truckers are linked up through CB
radios, and they’re able to pass information quickly between themselves,
usually about traffic and police patrols, saving their cell phones to
communicate with loved ones and family members.
Every Prepper Should Have a CB Radio
To tune into the truckers and other drivers, listen to channel 19 and
occasionally switch over to channel 17.
These are the channels used most by travelers.
Another important channel to know about is channel 9. This is the lone CB channel reserved for
emergencies by the FCC. That means if
you have a CB radio, you can’t call out on that channel – during an emergency
however, you want to listen to it regularly to gather information as to what is
going on.
Many towns and cities also designate a channel for local
residents. Finding out your own town’s
CB channel gives you another source of information during a breakdown or
emergency. Through this channel, you can
learn from businesses, churches, and community groups about any news they have
to share. Your chamber of commerce or
fire department should have that channel available.
Make sure you pick a radio that
has a few key features. The main feature
to look for is RF Gain Control. This
feature allows you to filter out weak signals to cut down on background
noise. Consider also purchasing one with
a sideband or SSB. This will give you
access to the upper and lower bands on either side of the usual 40 CB
channels. Those bands can come in useful
for setting up a family-and-friends-channel.
You may also look into two-way radios such as those made by Motorola
and sold at Walmart. Some offer a range
of up to 50- miles but do not offer the emergency bands that CB radios offer. Other, new devices say they reach a larger radius and charge from your computer, etc. but cost up to $250 a pair. I just picked up a pair of working CBs with auto power plug-ins for $5!
There are plenty of reasons to take preventive
measures so that you don’t find yourself in an emergency situation, but what
can you do? One of the first steps that should be taken is to complete a survival skills inventory to assess your individual strengths and weaknesses or
those of your group. On top of the skills inventory, have a clear understanding
of what the bottom line, no joke, needs for survival are so that you not only
have them, but that you have enough.
Plan several routes to get out of your area in the
event that one or more is not accessible. Consider using a P.A.C.E. place where
you have a primary, alternate, contingency and emergency option available. This
will provide at least four ways out of the area. Also consider having an atlas
or maps in the vehicle in case GPS is not an option for navigating.
Plan at least two locations where you can go if you do
need to evacuate. If these locations dictate that you must pay for lodging or
other expenses ensure that you have cash on hand in the event that electronic
payment options are down.
More Resources:.
- There are Four
"Preparedness" Stages of Denial
- Why We Don't Prepare for Disaster
- A Survival Guide to Catastrophe
Yours
for better living,
Bruce,
the Poor Man
A Final Note…
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2 comments:
I still have an emergency CB tucked away & occasionally listen to the Chan 9 broadcast while on the road to hear emergency broadcasts...a handy device.
They still work for me! Good post.
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