When All Else Fails or SHTF?

when-all-else-fails-logoA while back, Dan KB6NU noted the increasing number of preppers getting involved in ham radioPreppers are people who are actively preparing for emergencies, natural disasters and disruption of social order. In our Technician license course, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of people identifying themselves as preppers.

Of course, amateur (ham) radio has a long history of emergency service and disaster preparedness. FCC Rules Part 97 says this is one of the purposes of the Amateur Radio Service: Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

Historically, most radio amateurs approach the hobby from a technical or radio operating point of view, then find ways to apply it to emergency preparedness. The prepper tends to work the equation the other way…starting with the desire to have emergency communication capability and then working to get an amateur radio license.

Many prepper sites just give a quick overview of ham radio, positioning it with GMRS, FRS and CB radio. See Prepper Communications. Articles like this one give a more complete introduction to ham radio: The Skinny On Ham: Getting Licensed.  This one, too: Every Prepper Should Be A Ham.

You may run into some creative acronyms on these prepper sites:

SHTF = “Stuff” Hits The Fan
EOTW = End Of The World
TEOTWAWKI = The End Of The World As We Know It
YOYO – You’re On Your Own

There are web sites devoted to prepping with radio communications:

Prepared Ham
RadioSurvivalist.com
RadioMaster Reports

Many of these sites have useful information that may stretch your thinking on “being prepared.” Of course, some of these prepper sites (not the ones listed above) are a bit over the top and may have resulted from people going off their meds. Draw your own conclusions.

I’ve noticed a pattern of people creating prepper frequency lists, such as the one shown below. (Note that some of the ham frequencies listed do not conform to generally accepted band plans.) I can see the usefulness of having some assigned frequencies but its not clear to me how they’ll actually get used. I think the challenge for new prepper hams is to think through who they are going to communicate with and for what purpose. It’s also important to get familiar with the equipment and gain experience on the air, so when the EOTW happens you aren’t sitting there reading the radio manual.

shtf_frequency_list_2013e_500

Whether you think of emergency communications as “When All Else Fails” or when SHTF, amateur radio is a resilient communication tool.

73, Bob K0NR

Added 7 Dec 2013: I came across this video that does a good job of introducing ham radio to the prepper crowd:  So you want a ham radio for emergency communications!

6 Replies to “When All Else Fails or SHTF?”

  1. Good observation and article, Bob! While working in the Buddipole booth at hamfest I’ve noticed lots of preppers buying up portable antennas and gear with little experience or knowledge of ham radio in general. But eager to learn! We should take a page out of their lesson book and be more ready for when were “YOYO” (you’re on your on) …we’ve got the know how and the gear …just need to practice with it!
    73, Steve wGOAT

  2. Though their motivations don’t generally lead them to likely be contributors to the hobby, as long as they pursue enough education to follow the rules, more power to them!

    I stumbled upon amateur radio after a brief interest in CB and became enamored with the hobby. We each have our road in and no doubt more than a few of these “preppers” getting licensed will find the hobby to be good fun and good value even when the shit hasn’t hit the fan!

    Andy
    K5PO

  3. There’s a category of ham radio use that I call “crossover activity.” That is, some other hobby or pursuit is the primary focus but ham radio fits into it nicely. Examples include sailing, hiking, paragliding, 4WD, and, yes, prepping.

    For many of these folks, ham radio will remain a secondary activity but some will get hooked on this wireless hobby and go all in. Both approaches are fine with me.

    Bob

  4. I first got into ham radio out of my interest of storm chasing and being able to call in storm reports and communicate with other chasers on VHF. That’s when I discovered there was a whole other dimension to the hobby and it’s been non-stop since I picked up my General. New hams can come from anywhere!

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