Shortwaive radio for a diaster? What else should I get?

[Linox]

I am looking for some ideas to set up communications.

I have a Wilson 5000 Antenna. Can I run a scanner and short waive off it?

I have a portable C. Craine pocket shortwaive that I highly reccomend. Should I get their clip on antenna amp? What are my optons for getting more range?
What tricks should I know to using a shortwaive?

C. Crane Company - Freeplay Shortwave Reel Antenna - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

Whats a good affordable base station scanner that I can run in my home and hook an external antenna up to?

I have an Eton FR600 and hate it. Reception stinks, battery life stinks even more, and when you hand crank it the life is only a few seconds. I noted that it has a weather alert feature. I am thinking about selling it to purchase a dedicated home mounted auto weather/emergency alert; or buying a power pack and running the eton as a weather alert system. Would I dedicated alert system be better than the eton with reception and such or should I keep the POS eton?
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card...uctDbId=915890

 

[ka3jjz]

Linox as I see you're a newcomer, you would be better served to ask your scanner related questions in our New User forum (anything in blue is a link). This forum is for topics regarding HF (i.e.Shortwave) frequencies below 30 mhz, and that's where I will concentrate my answers.

It's possible to run a CB antenna like the Wilson as a little HF antenna in a pinch - just connecting the center conductor of the mount, and leave the coax unconnected. The whole thing will load as a single length of wire. I did something like that years ago with an old AOR handheld, and it worked quite well.

However, little pocket radios won't do what you really want, and that is to hear the amateur radio ops who are almost always in the midst of a disaster relaying communications of one kind or another. The Eton would be just fine for local AM/FM coverage, and the fact that it has a wind up handle (and some have a solar power option) would be useful in an emergency. However, it's possible that the local AM/FM stations would be clobbered in a big disaster, so I wouldn't waste much time with this.

What you need is a small battery powered portable that is capable of what is known as single sideband reception. These signals sound a lot like Donald Duck if you try to copy them on a little handheld radio (most of these little toys from C Crane don't have this capability). The clip on antenna is fine - and probably a decent choice if you were trying to put together a little go kit. You're going to have to narrow down how much money you can afford to spend, and learn about the various portables that can receive SSB (single sideband). Our receiver reviews category from our wiki is a good place to start. I would look at the eHam reviews first, since they tend to be rather more user oriented, and not particularly technical in nature.

HF is not like scanner listening in many ways. Not all frequencies are open all the time; there are many other 'tricks' (and they're not tricks in any way - they are based on sound scientific principles established long ago). Our HF wiki has numerous links to all sorts of information on the basics, and even a bit on amateur radio.

Which leads me to my next suggestion - studying for your amateur radio license will teach you a great deal about how all this works...once you get your license, you can see if the club you join has an emergency communications group (some do). Dig around a bit - we don't know where you are, so trying to recommend a club or organization is very difficult (city/county/state will do). This point of information is also critical when researching scanners, so do be specific when you go to the New User forum and ask for help. You should also read this article before posting anything there - as it will give you something of an introduction to the world of scanning...

Scanning 101 - The RadioReference Wiki

best regards...Mike

 

[gewecke]

I am looking for some ideas to set up communications.

I have a Wilson 5000 Antenna. Can I run a scanner and short waive off it?

I have a portable C. Craine pocket shortwaive that I highly reccomend. Should I get their clip on antenna amp? What are my optons for getting more range?
What tricks should I know to using a shortwaive?

C. Crane Company - Freeplay Shortwave Reel Antenna - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

Whats a good affordable base station scanner that I can run in my home and hook an external antenna up to?

I have an Eton FR600 and hate it. Reception stinks, battery life stinks even more, and when you hand crank it the life is only a few seconds. I noted that it has a weather alert feature. I am thinking about selling it to purchase a dedicated home mounted auto weather/emergency alert; or buying a power pack and running the eton as a weather alert system. Would I dedicated alert system be better than the eton with reception and such or should I keep the POS eton?
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card...uctDbId=915890

I suggest you do some reading at your local library or college.
n9zas

 

[SCPD]

Wow. I've never thought that the shortwave frequencies were a viable communications link for a local disaster. If a major earthquake were to strike my locale, how is HCJB Ecuador going to be of any use to me?

Obviously, if you have a scanner that can pick up local police and fire, that's probably going to your best bet for finding out what's happening locally. But that's just for LISTENING. What happens if your phone line is knocked out and your cell phone is knocked out and you've got somebody in your household dying because a roof beam fell on them? Well, might I suggest HAM radio.

In the town where I live, Placentia, California, there is an active cadre of amateur operators that train to handle emergency communications in the event of a major disaster. In the event of a major emergency that knocks out landlines and cell phones, I know I'll be able to reach one of these guys on a simplex frequency using a mere one watt of power, should I need to call upon medical assistance.

My point is this. You have to be an imbicile NOT to pass the FCC's Technician Class licensing exam. Once you have your HAM ticket, then you can visit your local Ham Radio Outlet store, or visit them online, and for about $125 you can pick up a 2 Meter HAM Walkie-Talkie which cranks out 1.5 watts, plenty of power for you to hit a local repeater to call for help or, in the event that EVERY repeater in your locale is knocked out, still has plenty of power for you to reach somebody locally on simplex who you can call upon for help.

I've never understood why anybody would buy one of those hand-cranked emergency shortwave radios/flashlights/phone chargers if you're really expecting that the shortwave portion is going to be of any real use to you in an emergency. Hell, even the new CCRadio has now added 2 Meter HAM coverage, because they realize that HAM operators are the last line of communications should every TV and AM/FM radio station be knocked out.

So my advice to you is, get your amateur license, buy a cheap emergency handheld and keep it charged just in case. Heck, you might even find yourself using the handheld during non-emergency periods and making new friends over the airwaves.

Dave
KA6TJF

 

[ridgescan]

I remember during Katrina they had a shortwave station set up in the New Orleans area which I was getting out here. I still don't understand why, especially when one could tune to another AM station out of town. I suspect they wanted a reliable daytime signal for the people for instructions and stuff. Please if anyone knows about this come in and elaborate.
In a major disaster that wipes out major comms, shortwave receivers would be very handy. The hams down on HF would cover a much larger area in short order, than the hams on VHF UHF simplex that would be relying on relays if repeaters are down. The AFRN would probably have shortwave stations relaying to the people in a downed area right? IMO shortwave would be the last line of defense. but not the "toy" ones

 

[SCPD]

The hams down on HF would cover a much larger area in short order, than the hams on VHF UHF simplex that would be relying on relays if repeaters are down.

Possibly, but my point is this: those hand-cracked radios branded with the Red Cross logo don't cover the HF amateur bands. They only cover the SW broadcast bands, and so are of no use. Plus, my real point is, any shortwave radio is of little use to you if you need to call out for help and all the landlines and cell towers are down. Hell, if you don't want to study for a HAM ticket, then pay $85 for a GMRS license and pick up one of those radios. Just have something that you can BROADCAST on should you desperately need help and can't phone somebody.

Dave
KA6TJF

 

[ridgescan]

Possibly, but my point is this: those hand-cracked radios branded with the Red Cross logo don't cover the HF amateur bands. They only cover the SW broadcast bands, and so are of no use. Plus, my real point is, any shortwave radio is of little use to you if you need to call out for help and all the landlines and cell towers are down. Hell, if you don't want to study for a HAM ticket, then pay $85 for a GMRS license and pick up one of those radios. Just have something that you can BROADCAST on should you desperately need help and can't phone somebody.

Dave
KA6TJF

I see what you mean-I think you mean there aren't enough hams to go around-I agree
For example, here in San Francisco, I think there are maybe 3 HF ham stations! They have a net up on VHF that does roll and siren checks, but there you have maybe 15 folks, which may or may not be able to cover the 7 by 7 mile area of hilly city on simplex. I really ought to get cracking on a ticket.

 

[ka3jjz]

3 ham stations in SF?? I highly doubt that...

Anyway, this thread has been moved to the Amateur radio general forum (bump)

best regards..Mike

 

[LtDoc]

ridgescan,
There are probably as many, or more hams in S.F. as there are people with red hair. I've no idea of even a close guess, but I'd be willing to bet on multiple thousands of them at least.
I think being able to cover all, or most of the emergency communications frequency possibilities is a bit lacking in realistic expectations. There are just humongus possibilities in that depending on the 'size' of the 'disaster'. It's certainly possible to get in on at least a 'piece' of it though for listening purposes. Actually being able to use those services is an order of magnitude of difference. Ham radio is certainly one means of doing that, but not the only one. If you can thinnk of some means of communication, it'll probably be useful to some extent, FRS, MURS, ham radio, CB radio, whatever. You can count on it costing more than you'd ever think. Depending on who/what you may have radio privileges on/with, the cost will go down some. Unfortunately, there's just not a -sure- way of accomplishing all that.
One thought is to contact the local 'EOC' Emergency Operations Center (if any). Most/all of them would probably be happy to tell you what you can do in such instances. That varies with location, so who knows?
Good luck.
- 'Doc

 

[ridgescan]

I specifically said HF ham stations-but I should've said HF ham stations that I know of sorry to jack the thread.