Ham Radios and Fox News

[raven818]

Alrighty, I've been here just long enough to decide I probably need a ham radio. I watched Sean Hannity on Fox last night ( twice, recorded it and watched it again with my wife ).

Boggled my mind. He had 15 conservative reporters and bloggers in his audience, who do not work for Fox, but believe the country is going to hell in a hand basket. And are really concerned about bHo's belief that he must do away with all of our natural resources b y regulating them out of business.

He played excerpts from bHo's book ,Dreams From My Father. I always watch him, or record for later, but I honestly didn't believe anybody, including Fox, would ever go there.

There was obozo, in his own voice, alluding to Whitey, and his passion for drugs, smoking dope and attending socialist meeting. I flipped. The most watched news in the country, finally doing it. Malcolm X, a hero to him. He absolutely listened to Jeremiah Wright, duh.

We, at this forum, are not alone anymore in our thoughts and rants about the socialist in charge. That's great to know.

What's this got to do with a Ham Radio? Well, it was publicized that bHo gave himself the ability to Turn-Off the Internet. Thoroughly eliminating any possibility of the citizens of this country being able to communicate with one another, world wide, should such an occasion arise where we actually need to reach out to each other, including strangers who may help us in a time of need.

Enter Ham Radios.

I don't know much about them. I do know one needs a license to operate one ( ). I know one needs a tower, something like I had with my CB years ago ( ground plane ).

If there are any operators here, who can get me started in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

I am not looking to control the world thru a radio. All I think I need, is a basic radio ( used maybe ), that would suffice in keeping me connected to the outside.

An antenna ( are they very conspicuous? ).
I think I need some kind of Tower to mount the Antenna on?

Once set-up, can you just turn them on and listen?

Is there an " emergency channel " that one would automatically tune to in case something national should occur ( aren't the feds listening too? )?
Are you easy to find if you have one operating?

To some, this will sound like my typical paranoia. I'm not paranoid. I just don't want to be caught with my proverbial pants down.

Used, in good working order would suffice. Maybe they're not expensive at all, I haven't looked yet.

The NDAA... can declare Martial Law in peace time...socialist/marxist/communist-who knows for sure..and all the rest, well.

Either way, with Fox getting behind the possibility there could be issues in the future. Fifteen well known reporters and bloggers are going to go after him with his own words.

It's time, IMO, to take a step or two in the right direction, for me anyway.

Any help would be appreciated.

Pleeze, save the 'what I do with mine " comments for the time being. I'll get back to you when it's time for that assistance.

[johnnyehlers]

Please check these out, there are plans in place. Peacefully, Lawfully and with a pen.


http://www.republicfortheunitedstates.org/

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/




All Rights Reserved UCC/1-308

[twobit]

go to www.arrl.org for information on amateur radio / ham radio. Licenses are easy. No morse code required anymore. With a $400 radio and a general class license you can talk to the world with no infrastructure needed. Just your radio and the radio on the other end. I've been a ham for several years. Also a member or MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio Service) . MARS does disaster work. Amateur radio is true stand-alone planet covering communications. On the ARRL site you can find information on local radio clubs that will help you.

[cycloneman]

When shtf the govt will JAM all radio communications. They have tried and successfully done it in TX years back and it worked.

Anything you say that get transmitted from an antenna ANYTHING, ANY COMMUNICATION DEVICE, YOUR PHONE, A N Y T H I N G WITH AN A N T E N N A WILL BE HEARD BY SOMEONE ELSE! Use that knowledge for disinformation.

Ham radio during times of shtf will be good for general info only. How is grandma doing and such.

[jack404]

Packet data look it up

steganography look it up

[dons2346]

There are to many modes of operation us ham guys can use for the govt to stop them all.

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by dons2346

There are to many modes of operation us ham guys can use for the govt to stop them all.

You know not of what you speak. If indeed, you are in an area that they want
to either A: Find you... B: Prevent you from hearing..

The best and greatest microburst( CIA)/data packet/ or whatever
method of "analog or digital wave (same wavelength per modulated carrier
signal) you can invent or use existing, is of little use when you "have no
ears" or your receiver's IF is flat lined per signal...

I mention this of course, in same spirit and conditions as when I hear those
speak of the "mountain" of cached and stored weapons for "shtf"...which will
be good for barter currency perhaps if and when such event(s) could ever
take place...otherwise...load and store what you will...if indeed you are
under a sustained and "determined" attack based on a force wanting
"you"...make no doubt, your life expectancy at best (and even then unlikely)
will be to expel all the ammo you currently have loaded in your weapon at
hand.....

So, nothing wrong with a ham set up/rig, especially now that code has been
removed or reduced as to license..and of course is a good hobby to boot...
And if you are "rural" and want to to comm with other rurals long as you
can (if indeed the shtf scenario is BBrother taking over all) that is OK.

A possibly better scenario might be to obtain one of the available
receive only mass band short wave radios (especially with built in hand
crank batt charger) AND readily available more localized private radio
equipment for home to car(s)/ handhelds etc....and of course...all this expects a very
good solar cell to battery bank recharge set up, or generators etc...

I am not downing anybody as to their own personal desires to keep in a
comm situation...but as to when a situation come about as to the often
touted "Govt. stops communication"...make no doubt...they will stop
it....yes, certain areas in certain ways more than others....but as i already
said...not much use in getting out...if others cant hear at their locale...


yellerdawg

[raven818]

Thanks for the info, all.
Jack, looked up both..steganography looks very promising.

[terryu1]

When I was in Boy Scouts, a few of us got interested and went to classes and got our Novice licenses, (morse code only at that time), I was assigned WN3JQK. I never studied to take the technician or general class test. General required quite a bit of studying of electrical components etc and I never really found the time for it. I do miss it though and did not realize that the licenses got easier to get. I may have to look into it. I miss trying to make DX contacts.

[jack404]

Raven packet radio is limited by the frequency , now hiding JPG data is static in "mashed" spectrum is one way of communicating both securely and discreetly

the higher the freq the more data can be transmitted ( faster pipe )

but by slowing the data flow to whats laughing called "below threshold level " say 1 packet a couple seconds instead of milliseconds on a normal data route , add spurious data that when the JPG is assembled is noise , but filters out of the hidden data , you can send send pretty much anything you want , its a flaw in the systems last system that would recognise this was a soviet system retired .. US stuff cannot do less that 1 second scans as it slows the system too much ( client server operation) 1second is a huge amount of cache to read live , it creats log jams in the system so the system wont process ..

i think the secret is to flood the net with encrypted traffic and radio spectrum with noise but have that only you can grab the gold out of the stream of noise flowing about

thats not that hard a task with computers a decent digital transmitters



by mixing B&W and colour and then stashing something inside , it further compounds recovery difficulties . and recognisable visibility

[jack404]

then you could use narrow focus WIFI

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

[jack404]

http://www.element14.com/community/groups/raspberry-pi



and food for thought

The DAS (DTMF Accessory Squelch) acts like a switch connected in series between the speaker output of your VHF or UHF transceiver and an external speaker. DAS will monitor a radio channel for you, with the speaker switch open so the speaker remains silent, until someone sends one of the DTMF sequences you have selected. When DAS hears your personal Touch-Tone ID sequence on the radio channel it will light a LED, sound an buzzer and close the series speaker switch so that you can hear the audio of the calling station

now you break down the transmission before sending then send at a fraction or real time, the receiving computer assembles all the bits and when all together plays the audio for you in real time , you record your responce , run it through the system and send , to anything out there its noise too slow to be anything else , slow makes patterns much harder to see in a digital environment , slow is treated as hash ..

[dons2346]

Code talkers ,native drums, and smoke signals.

[Caneman]

don't forget to store your radio in a faraday cage to protect it from an emp

[raven818]

Thanks jack...all. The cage is a good idea.

[Caneman]

Originally Posted by twobit

go to www.arrl.org for information on amateur radio / ham radio. Licenses are easy. No morse code required anymore. With a $400 radio and a general class license you can talk to the world with no infrastructure needed. Just your radio and the radio on the other end. I've been a ham for several years. Also a member or MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio Service) . MARS does disaster work. Amateur radio is true stand-alone planet covering communications. On the ARRL site you can find information on local radio clubs that will help you.

i would just like to listen to ham radio... what device would you recommend? seems interesting...

[jack404]

laptop withn a freq link

[Caneman]

I am thinking more shtf situation where internet is down, and i can use my off grid solar power plant to fire up a ham radio receiver... what type of receiver am a looking for?

these ham radio bands are confusing, seems like there are multiple bands, not sure which ones are which...

looks like anywhere from 1.25m to 160m, is this correct?

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by Caneman

I am thinking more shtf situation where internet is down, and i can use my off grid solar power plant to fire up a ham radio receiver... what type of receiver am a looking for?

these ham radio bands are confusing, seems like there are multiple bands, not sure which ones are which...

looks like anywhere from 1.25m to 160m, is this correct?

Pardner, you need something like this..a World band (multi bands)
receiver with hand crank and charge battery...crank a bit..listen for a
long time...then crank some more..can also be charged externally etc..

example only...not a gained endorsement...

---

Eton Grundig FR300 emergency radio AM/FM/NOAA Weather/TV VHF, LED flashlight, and Cell Phone Charger
The Eton FR300 emergency radio is an all-in-one unit that offers functionality and versatility that makes it ideal for being prepared and aware in emergencies. The FR300 provides you with radio, light, and cell phone charger when you need it most. The Hand-Crank Power Generator charges the internal rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack and just 90 seconds of cranking provides up to an hour of radio play.
The Eton FR300 emergency radio is an affordable portable that receives AM (530-1710 kHz), FM 88-108 MHz, TV VHF channels and NOAA weather channels and "Weather Alert". You can find weather forecasts or listen to TV shows.


$ 99.95

You can find such with World Bands (short wave w/squelch ) etc...and will have antenna jack,
so you can string a wire outside....etc...
---





And Jack. as a Digital and Microwave Engineer, I dont want to squabble..but such folks
looking for "generic" means of reception and similar.. I mean..a very qualified and
prepared "group" may have a very sophisticated means prepared...but, wont help
general old John Joe who wants to listen only, as example..but still..no matter what
you get out on the air...if enough of an areas "ears" are cut off....won't get through...
if your target is within a scoped out environment being "totally jammed" as to
a black out effort.

Time you get to packet data and encryption and "chirp" broadcasting etc....they gotta
be in the loop as to expected equipment, technologies...etc..

And besides...as I said earlier...I dont care what means you transmit or manage to send..from low band/hi power (submarine) or keep going up using magnetrons to power your hi/microwave up the spectrum till you reach visible light...whether directional yaggi
set ups to omni reception of lowers..."if" is a Gov effort to "stop" or thwart private
comm...no matter what you send or get out, they can and will flat line any carrier
reception in populated areas or at a locale of their choosing...because of modulated carriers
required for transmission and reception....even regarding any conventional microwave data/voice/
video usage...

And my point was, such properly prepared and effective very proprietary and advanced
arranged means as you suggest aside....the "general" public can be cut off much easier than many think. I am sure numbers may be higher by now...but last time I saw a report a while back...less than 25 locations even here in the U.S. need to be "managed" with procedures already in place...to completely disrupt cross country comm per ISP, and
not that many more as to "major" telco disruption...for example..if and when such
should happen...maybe you still have electric...typical scenario would be...you might
still hit google...see its stored web bot info as to your search...but when you
try going to results..maybe 75% of addresses you try...."no response"...and this
number will start increasing....

But...as I say...especially with latest relaxed requirements per short wave license...ie: no code...or 1st class rad/telph license.(if indeed you dont need that any longer)..etc..and similar...by all means those especially in very rural areas should set up a good and reliable receive set up at least...and any type transmitting, even better...
but....good communications and relations to several stations in New Zealand,
and some in Canada...wont be of much use when an armed and starving mob have
spotted your wire/tower and are swarming you by increasing numbers..and you
are in middle of a Kansas plain....


'Anything" acquirable here in the U.S. (non Gov) utilizing encryption, "rolling code"
or as advertised "secure" communications, including stuff we make that can only
be sold abroad per FCC....is of no barrier as to the Gov (if such a scenario) other than
possible very rural and very spotty locations.....very powerful set ups, they will quickly be found if used...

Now, of course...if the scenario of the SHTF is just zombie world...economic
only collapse, or total Gov/anarchy collapse..etc..and is every man for his self
etc....then yes...generic comm set ups can be of great use....

best regards,


yellerdawg

[Caneman]

Originally Posted by yellerdawg

Pardner, you need something like this..a World band (multi bands)
receiver with hand crank and charge battery...crank a bit..listen for a
long time...then crank some more..can also be charged externally etc..

example only...not a gained endorsement...

thanks dawg, can this radio pick up ham broadcasts as well, because that is what i am most interested in...

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by Caneman

thanks dawg, can this radio pick up ham broadcasts as well, because that is what i am most interested in...

Well..the example I showed seems to cover about ALL the AM band and
Fm and weather and probably Red Cross and others Emerg bands...etc..

But...check back..I will find you a good short wave (wold band) such
set...

But remember, as Jack said...any "organized" communications will likely
be "digitized" or data encrypted...so the most you would hear from such
proprietary sources would be beeps and sounds like a fax machine or
telephone modem (older) if you have ever heard them.

But..for the public Ham folks...and normal voice communications..yes, I will
find you such an emergency rig and post it or more than one if I like
them...etc..

will be back ...

regards..

yellerdawg

[twobit]

go to this direct link and find your local ham radio club. Contact them and get face-to-face answers to ALL your questions.

http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by twobit

go to this direct link and find your local ham radio club. Contact them and get face-to-face answers to ALL your questions.

http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club

Good advice.



out

yellerdawg

[yellerdawg]

Originally Posted by Caneman

thanks dawg, can this radio pick up ham broadcasts as well, because that is what i am most interested in...

Here is some reading choices....make sure a "ham" choice says at least
2 bands...
And do also as advised per talking to a local "club"...and get all the
answers you can...most would be surprised to learn "many" areas have
such volunteers relating to emergency communication already in place...

I have an older hand held Bear Cat scanner 1.5 Ghz, a friend in the business
sent me in the mid 80's....is a production test model that I really should
not have...before cellular went digital, there were no calls I could not
hear if within a cell in my location...if they were mobile..I woul dlose
them when another picked them up etc...

But..anyway...I still use this old reliable (special) scanner sometimes at night when smoking on porch...and I listen sometimes to the very groups
you were advised to contact...doing drills...delivering data etc....and
just testing and preparing and practicing etc...interesting...

Anyway...read up on all you can...and get something that will "hear"
or cover as much bandwidth as you can...besides the crank feature to
charge batteries...should also feature option to charge from wall (110vac)
per adapter or car lighter socket...and..having AA or AAA for back up to
the charged nicad or similar...is a big plus....

regards,

yellerdawg


http://www.squidoo.com/best-emergency-radio

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm...olesalers.html


Any type similar to those above can be a good start..to get involved anyway...

Remember...a device touting "emergency bands" will be more vital to you
as to your local situation(s)....the Short Wave...or World Band features
will only help you as in listening to those of some distance from you...
however...if the situations have your localized emergency transmissions
out for any reason...the SW or Short Wave (ham) bands or Word Bands
will be critical as they will be utilized to get you localized info as well...

It is best to prepare best you can as to receiving the most frequencies
you can per any units. And if you contact any local groups in your area...and get info and involved....you may get invited into group or
have a chance to join and then you could participate in any local
area endeavors such as established Repeater or trunk set ups..allowing you
reliable mobile to home communications if you venture out etc...

read up ..and talk to a local group if you can..But if you are in and will
stay in a urban crowded environment...is my belief you will find
the local civil defense info on standard AM and FM will be your most
critical source of any info. Besides any "personal" equipment you might
have....(walkie talkies...home base to vehicles or associates etc....)


regards,

yellerdawg

[Caneman]

thanks again dawg, i did some reasearch...

seems like most of the SW action is between 1.8 and 30 MHZ...

short wave radios will receive up to 30 MHZ, but there is some Ham activity beyond the 30 MHZ...

scanners would allow you to listen to frequencies 25MHz or more...

so to get it all, you would need a SW Radio and a Scanner... looks like a really good SW radio is $100-$200, and a decent scanner (SW, Weather, Police, Fire, etc.) is $100-$300...

looks like a really intersting hobby...