With what I have seen on this forum, some preppers considerations have included ham radio. I received an article that might be of interest to them and possibly some of the Non-preppers that presume the Government will take care of them in a crisis.
This struck me, because I was in a little ham radio club meeting that one of the members stated that his son worked for Kenwood (Ham radio manufacturer) and at that time had received a government contract for 2000 HF radios. (Ham radio operators use HF to talk world wide).
This is the text of what I was sent:
Another agency planning HF
===============================================
Negating the need or use for Amateur Radio.
Due to the faltering Amateur (HAM) radio systems throughout the CONUS,
the Obama Administration Plans to Build a Nationwide High-Frequency Radio
Network to Communicate During Emergencies.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to build a nationwide
high-frequency radio network to connect its medical facilities in case
of an emergency that knocks out other forms of communications --
applying century-old technology to current needs.
VA said in a contracting notice Tuesday it intends to award a
five-year, fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity
contract for the fully functional "turnkey" Emergency High Frequency
Radio Network.
VA plans to issue a formal request for proposals by Oct. 31.
The network will include an undefined number of high-powered
"backbone" stations equipped with 200-watt transmitters designed to
receive and automatically relay communications from 125-watt stations
located at approximately 200 Veterans Health Administration
facilities, VA said.
The network would provide emergency two-way radio communication and
links to national wired, cellular and IP telephone networks enabling
radio-to-telephone communications, according to the agency.
High-frequency radios operate in the three-to-30-MHz bandwidth and can
transmit signals for hundreds or thousands of miles as the signals are
refracted off the ionosphere. Changes in ionspheric conditions require
HF radios to be periodically retuned, done automatically with a
technology known as Automatic Link Establishment built into the
radios. VA has specified ALE radios for its HF network.
Though outmoded by satellite and internet communications, HF networks
still serve as an emergency backup for federal agencies, including the
Air Force for communications with Air Force One as well as its
transport, tanker and bomber fleets.
The Department of Homeland Security operates a high-frequency network
called SHARES, which provides additional capabilities for users with a
national security and emergency-preparedness mission to communicate
when landline and cellular communications are unavailable.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army National Guard
also operate national HF networks. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has set up the National Public Health Radio Network as a
communications back up in all 50 states.
Bernie Skoch, a retired Air Force general, consultant and amateur
radio operator, said high-frequency remains the only reliable
long-distance communications capability that depends entirely on
terminal systems for end-to-end communications.
"There is no copper, no fiber, no space segment and very thin network
management requirements" -- just radios, antennas and the ether, he
said.
That independence from complex infrastructures, coupled with
relatively inexpensive portable and mobile packages, makes it ideal
for command and control, disaster and continuity-of-operations
systems, Skoch said.
********
What a statement for the advantages of being a Ham radio operator to be able to do the same from my house ----- but:
If they can buy up all of our ammo, do they think they can use up all our ham airwaves? I do not think so. I have ammo, I will shoot, I have radio, I will listen and talk.
(not in a specific order) I have extra ammo and ham radios that are 12V. I have back up batteries that are ready, gas in the 12V powered cars for recharge those batteries that are at least 1/2 full at all times, gas cans for the mower and boat are full to replinish my back up generator, and my 1000 gal propane tank that can power my same back up generator that is 90% full. I can stay on the air a while to compile what is going on for further action by contacting my friends around the area, around the state, around the nation, around the world if needed, to analize the situation to decide what I will do next.
I am not invincible (like I was when I was younger), but I would like to have the opportunity to pick and choose my time to make my insiginificant mark.
This is just one more option I have in my "survival kit."
Ham radio is easy, just find an "Elmer" person to help you out. Yes you might be able to do it at the last minute, but why not pack your bag now with knowledge of what you might need to do?
PM me with any questions you may have. I can be an "Elmer". Ken WB5Y,
1-A licensed, with knowledge of how to talk around the world using the fundimentals of the earth, 2-A firearm constitutionally allowed or "licensed" to use the fundimentals of physics to shoot in the USA.
Kinda the same difference to me.
This struck me, because I was in a little ham radio club meeting that one of the members stated that his son worked for Kenwood (Ham radio manufacturer) and at that time had received a government contract for 2000 HF radios. (Ham radio operators use HF to talk world wide).
This is the text of what I was sent:
Another agency planning HF
===============================================
Negating the need or use for Amateur Radio.
Due to the faltering Amateur (HAM) radio systems throughout the CONUS,
the Obama Administration Plans to Build a Nationwide High-Frequency Radio
Network to Communicate During Emergencies.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to build a nationwide
high-frequency radio network to connect its medical facilities in case
of an emergency that knocks out other forms of communications --
applying century-old technology to current needs.
VA said in a contracting notice Tuesday it intends to award a
five-year, fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity
contract for the fully functional "turnkey" Emergency High Frequency
Radio Network.
VA plans to issue a formal request for proposals by Oct. 31.
The network will include an undefined number of high-powered
"backbone" stations equipped with 200-watt transmitters designed to
receive and automatically relay communications from 125-watt stations
located at approximately 200 Veterans Health Administration
facilities, VA said.
The network would provide emergency two-way radio communication and
links to national wired, cellular and IP telephone networks enabling
radio-to-telephone communications, according to the agency.
High-frequency radios operate in the three-to-30-MHz bandwidth and can
transmit signals for hundreds or thousands of miles as the signals are
refracted off the ionosphere. Changes in ionspheric conditions require
HF radios to be periodically retuned, done automatically with a
technology known as Automatic Link Establishment built into the
radios. VA has specified ALE radios for its HF network.
Though outmoded by satellite and internet communications, HF networks
still serve as an emergency backup for federal agencies, including the
Air Force for communications with Air Force One as well as its
transport, tanker and bomber fleets.
The Department of Homeland Security operates a high-frequency network
called SHARES, which provides additional capabilities for users with a
national security and emergency-preparedness mission to communicate
when landline and cellular communications are unavailable.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army National Guard
also operate national HF networks. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has set up the National Public Health Radio Network as a
communications back up in all 50 states.
Bernie Skoch, a retired Air Force general, consultant and amateur
radio operator, said high-frequency remains the only reliable
long-distance communications capability that depends entirely on
terminal systems for end-to-end communications.
"There is no copper, no fiber, no space segment and very thin network
management requirements" -- just radios, antennas and the ether, he
said.
That independence from complex infrastructures, coupled with
relatively inexpensive portable and mobile packages, makes it ideal
for command and control, disaster and continuity-of-operations
systems, Skoch said.
********
What a statement for the advantages of being a Ham radio operator to be able to do the same from my house ----- but:
If they can buy up all of our ammo, do they think they can use up all our ham airwaves? I do not think so. I have ammo, I will shoot, I have radio, I will listen and talk.
(not in a specific order) I have extra ammo and ham radios that are 12V. I have back up batteries that are ready, gas in the 12V powered cars for recharge those batteries that are at least 1/2 full at all times, gas cans for the mower and boat are full to replinish my back up generator, and my 1000 gal propane tank that can power my same back up generator that is 90% full. I can stay on the air a while to compile what is going on for further action by contacting my friends around the area, around the state, around the nation, around the world if needed, to analize the situation to decide what I will do next.
I am not invincible (like I was when I was younger), but I would like to have the opportunity to pick and choose my time to make my insiginificant mark.
This is just one more option I have in my "survival kit."
Ham radio is easy, just find an "Elmer" person to help you out. Yes you might be able to do it at the last minute, but why not pack your bag now with knowledge of what you might need to do?
PM me with any questions you may have. I can be an "Elmer". Ken WB5Y,
1-A licensed, with knowledge of how to talk around the world using the fundimentals of the earth, 2-A firearm constitutionally allowed or "licensed" to use the fundimentals of physics to shoot in the USA.
Kinda the same difference to me.
