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By the creator of The Prepper’s Guide to Post-Disaster Communications.
Let’s say the poopy has hit the fan, and also you’re now residing in a post-collapse society. Each man is for himself, and there’s no resupply. You already know that info is vital to survival, and a big a part of that info is gathering as a lot information in your area as potential. That’s why you’ve been utilizing your scanner.
Fortunately, Sherlock Holmes resides with you.
The one downside is that one thing has occurred to Sherlock’s ears, making it in order that he can’t hear a factor. He nonetheless needs that will help you out at your own home, although. He sits in entrance of a scanner anticipating when a radio frequency pops up on the show, telling you what he thinks he can deduce from nothing greater than the frequency alone.
Right here is a few of what he might discover…
What are you able to deduce when you choose up an FRS/GMRS frequency?
There are a selection of frequencies that fall inside the FRS a part of the radio spectrum. These frequencies are listed under:
In case you are listening to your scanner (and you should have one) and also you hear certainly one of these frequencies, there are some things you can deduce with a comparatively excessive diploma of certainty.
For starters, whoever is transmitting is shut. We’re speaking about perhaps inside half a mile or so. The explanation for that is that the majority FRS radios are the walkie-talkies that folks choose up at Massive Field Retailer. They are saying they transmit for 30+ miles. They lie. When you choose up certainly one of these frequencies, any person is nearly proper on prime of you.
These little walkie-talkies don’t transmit very far in any respect, and so they’re nearly all programmed for FRS/GMRS.
When you’re bugging out, chances are you’ll wish to transfer camp or keep further vigilant. When you’re at dwelling, chances are you’ll doubtlessly have guests within the subsequent half-hour. When you’re touring, chances are you’ll wish to head in a distinct route.
There are GMRS repeaters on the market, however in my expertise, they’re few and much between. Almost certainly, you’re coping with a bunch of bubbas – rednecks on the market with their radios and rifles. That doesn’t make them any much less harmful, nevertheless it does allow you to to have one thing of a deduction as to who you’re coping with.
Whether or not the individuals you’re near are organized will depend upon a couple of elements. They’re most actually extra organized than the gang of individuals you’ll be able to see together with your binoculars off within the distance with out ANY radios, however are they ORGANIZED organized?
You’re going to should hearken to how they use the radio and what they are saying right here to get a greater image.
What are you able to deduce when you choose up an beginner radio frequency?
Specifically, let’s study the 2m, 70cm, and 1.25-meter bands. When you choose up individuals speaking on a type of frequencies, you then’re possible listening to any person with a great deal of radio expertise. If so, I’d make the case you can at the least assume that the particular person has higher radio gear than the vast majority of individuals on the market.
And if they’ve higher comms gear than loads of the opposite individuals on the market, what else might they’ve that others don’t? Are they headed your approach armed for bear? You don’t actually know, however you do know that these persons are possible extra severe of an issue.
With regards to the space, you primarily simply know that these persons are inside your geographical area. Possibly they’re inside 5 miles; perhaps 30. It’s actually sort of onerous to inform with nothing aside from the “Hey, look. Any person is on 146.500” knowledge level.
What are you able to deduce when you choose up a marine band frequency?
For starters, you might be close to a physique of water. When you’re on The Lengthy Stroll Dwelling after an EMP strike forces you to trek again to your own home, this can be info of curiosity.
After all, there are guys on the market who use marine band frequencies within the woods away from any physique of water. It’s one thing that folks get in bother for in a functioning society, however there are guys that do that.
So selecting up certainly one of these frequencies isn’t an computerized indicator of water, however you usually will discover much more radios utilizing marine band frequencies whenever you’re near a lake, ocean, or river.
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What are you able to deduce when you choose up a CB frequency?
Almost certainly, the particular person you’re listening to is in a automobile. There’s an opportunity that they’ve arrange a rig in a home, and there’s an opportunity that they’ve a handheld, however the majority of CB rigs that I each see and listen to are coming from those that are on the street – particularly from truckers.
There are CB handheld rigs on the market just like the President Randy, however I don’t personally know of lots of people on the market with them.
Whereas it’s potential to get sporadic long-range contacts with a CB radio, the final rule of thumb is you can attain out a mile for each foot-long your antenna is. So, a truck might have a 4’ lengthy antenna, that means they might usually have a four-mile vary.
What are you able to deduce when you’re selecting up bizarre buzzing noises and on a frequency exterior of the ham radio spectrum?
Sherlock would want working ears right here, however there’s nonetheless one thing to be discovered.
We’ll assume that you simply’re selecting up one thing on the 2-meter band that’s exterior of the place ham radio operators usually would speak. If so, you’re listening to a digital mode.
Let’s say that you simply hold listening to this type of noise on 154.3475 MHz. You’re listening to P25 – a digital mode. (You will discover different nice audio examples of assorted digital modes HERE.) Contemplating that it’s exterior of the standard ham radio spectrum, you’re possible listening to a police officer or different emergency responder.
When you’re in a grid-down atmosphere – let’s say a hurricane just hit – that might be welcome information. You now will know that there’s any person inside your area.
What when you’re selecting up buzzy noises inside the ham radio spectrum?
These persons are nonetheless utilizing a digital mode radio. If so, there are two stuff you’ll know off the bat: these persons are severe about their comms gear, and so they possible have superb coaching with their comms gear as effectively. For what it’s price, you additionally know that they have been possible hams.
Digital radios are each costly and tough to function. Analog radios are low-cost and comparatively simple to function. For as apples-to-apples of a comparability as is probably going potential, you’re prone to see a $200 value distinction between a high-end analog handy-talky and a strong, digital handy-talky.
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Alright, Sherlock Holmes. What do you deduce?
There’s obtained to be extra potential deductions right here that I’m lacking. Are there others that you understand about that I don’t? Do you agree with the above deductions kind of? Are you doubtlessly freely giving extra info than you realized? Let’s examine collectively. Inform us your ideas within the feedback part under.
About Aden
Aden Tate is an everyday contributor to TheOrganicPrepper.com and TheFrugalite.com. Aden runs a micro-farm the place he raises dairy goats, a pig, honeybees, meat chickens, laying chickens, tomatoes, mushrooms, and greens. Aden has 4 printed books, What Faculty Ought to Have Taught You, The Faithful Prepper, An Arm and a Leg, The Prepper’s Guide to Post-Disaster Communications, and Zombie Choices. You will discover his podcast The Final American on Preppers’ Broadcasting Network.
