Shortwave Radio Emergency Communications

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by monkeywrenching

Getting a radio from C.Crane called freeplay is a good idea as well.

link provided below.

C. Crane Company - Freeplay Plus Radio - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

Sorry but the link says this radio is discontinued.

[monkeywrenching]

Originally Posted by Tightwad

Sorry but the link says this radio is discontinued.

try these from the same site as emergency radios.


C. Crane Company - Wind-Up Emergency Radios - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

[mojavedxer]

Originally Posted by monkeywrenching

Getting a radio from C.Crane called freeplay is a good idea as well.

link provided below.

C. Crane Company - Freeplay Plus Radio - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

Thats one of the original baygen radios like mine and are hard to find new. Here is some info on them Play for Free – The Baygen Freeplay Plus AM/FM/SW Radio: yes Virginia, there is a free lunch « http://frrl.wordpress.com

That model has such good wide range audio for a portable. Mine runs fine on sunlight on a overcast day. I need to figure out how to repair the crank generator.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Tightwad

Does your "cheapie" work well enough so that you can hear news if need be? If so why spend money on another radios that may not be as good as what you have.

(Tip: older radios may have been made in Taiwan or Japan whereas almost all radios today come from...........China! )

It was a "pick one of these items for free" when I ordered something else.
This is really a cheap as in cheap crap cheapie..full of static but will get me by in a pinch.

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

It was a "pick one of these items for free" when I ordered something else.
This is really a cheap as in cheap crap cheapie..full of static but will get me by in a pinch.

Good! The whole point of this thread is to have "something" to listen to for news during an emergency.

[Grandpa Pipes]

"While the regular radios cover the standard FM and AM circuits, most emergency radios are designed to cover much more than that. This is because during a major power outage, there might also be problems with the FM and AM stations, and they might not be able to broadcast as they have been. The emergency radios do cover these channels, but also cover the shortwave radio channels. This is because shortwave radio channels are easier to keep running, and in the event of a major emergency they would be the most likely radio stations to work."

The History of Emergency Radio & Current Uses

-and-


Guide to Short Wave Radio Equipment (edited version)
Short wave radio equipment keeps the line of communication open when standard methods fail
By Ann Lette

Once the primary source of communication for ships, offshore oil platforms and remote locations, shortwave radio equipment now plays a backup role in many cases. Capable of delivering and receiving signals from around the globe, shortwave equipment is capable of even keeping Antarctic communication open when satellite is unavailable.

The advances in digital technology have made shortwave radio equipment less expensive and smaller. Handheld equipment for shortwave radio is common and even a desktop computer can serve as reliable shortwave radio equipment. Primarily used for emergency communications today, shortwave technology is a reliable alternative to common communication services. Consider the following when buying shortwave radio equipment:

1. Select handheld short wave radio equipment for personnel on the go.

2. Keep yourself abreast of weather and other emergency situations when normal communications fail with receiver-only shortwave equipment.

3. Buy used shortwave radio equipment to save money on your current business radio needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Handheld shortwave radio equipment gives your business big radio capability in a portable package

Even with the popularity of satellite and cellular service, there is still a need for handheld equipment for short wave radios. Capable of operating in almost any condition, handheld shortwave radio equipment is an excellent choice for emergency communication in extreme mobile environments. Handheld shortwave radio equipment also performs well for weather and emergency updates at any point on the globe.

I recommend: Dan & Dave Engineering carries reliable handheld and portable equipment and accessories. With decades of shortwave experience, Hamcity carries a full range of handheld 2-way radios and supplies for short wave radios.

Stay on top of local and national weather and emergencies with a shortwave radio receiver

Weather and emergency news around the clock make shortwave receivers a safety device for any family. Sellers of shortwave radio equipment provide piece of mind during times of emergency such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Even if all of family stay in one location, a shortwave radio receiver helps keep family safe when there is no other way of getting vital information.

I recommend: RadioShack is a large seller of short wave radio equipment from handheld to crank powered models. C. Crane specializes in survival equipment and short wave radio supplies.

Get more radio for less money when you buy used shortwave radio equipment

Buying used shortwave radio gear saves money on a fully-tested product. Shortwave radio equipment is designed for long life and emergencies, which makes it an ideal used or refurbished purchase. Finding used shortwave radio equipment for sale is easier than ever thanks to the abundance of specialists online.

I recommend: Hamstore.com carries used and consignment shortwave equipment and manuals from many manufacturers. With multiple locations and decades of servicing the shortwave industry, HRO is sure to have the used or open box radio that fits your business needs.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
• Shortwave radio equipment with battery or hand crank backup is ideal to include in your family's emergency preparation kit.

Short Wave Radio Equipment Information | Business.com

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by mojavedxer

Being a SWL DXer since 1978, I really don’t agree. 95% of the current international broadcasting can be heard via web broadcast. During emergency conditions ham radio will still have its place using low lower power to communicate via Morse code or packet radio. When the SHTF I am 100% confident that the international shortwave bands will remain quiet. It takes allot of power to run those kilowatt transmitters and that why international broadcasters have opted for web broadcasting entirely or have really limited the amount of shortwave broadcast programming.
Now that was said, I will continue to monitor this thread and will offer advice on receiver selection, antenna selection and construction, propagation and band conditions and any other questions you may have.

What you have said here agrees completely with what I have heard.

Decades old SW programming has been going away, in favour of WWW streaming.

When the WWW goes down, there simply will not be much SW available for anyone to receive.

[Submariner]

I can understand the usefulness and purpose of having a hand-crank or solar powered AM/FM radio; to listen to local radio broadcasts of local news.

However during a SHTF scenario all local AM/FM radio transmitters will likely be shut-down. [either the radio stations will be destroyed, or the power grid to energize them will be destroyed, or TPTB will have shut them down]

While living in Europe I bought a SW receiver. I had it for a number of years and we did rather enjoy playing with it. The lists of programming broadcasts, figuring out which band each was on, working out which time-zone they were in and what local time their broadcast would be, lining up the antenna to hopefully the right direction to pick-up the signal. It was all a lot of fun and our children did enjoy it, more so when we found a comedy program that we could tune in to each week.

In the context of listening for 'news' though. If I am in a SHTF situation, how important is it to me to listen to Uganda and how one tribe is fighting another tribe there? Or French political commentary about their latest scandal?

If I were living through a SHTH scene, I think that I would not be terribly interested in the 'new's of 5,000 miles away, or even of 10,000 miles away.

IMHO, the usefulness of SW is limited.



I grew up watching Hogan's Heroes. I have watched various war-time 'resistance' shows.

If our nation were over-run by a foreign army, I would like to think that I would be among the resistance fighting them.

If there were some other group of allied nations fighting to save us, then I could listen to SW for information on how to better monkey-wrench the occupying army.

It is a nice dream. However it is dependent upon a series of 'if's.

Is it likely that: our nation will be over-run by a foreign army? and that I would then be among the resistance fighting them? and that some group of nations will be fighting to save us? and that they will broadcast news on SW?

Too many 'if's.

IMHO, the usefulness of SW is limited.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I find short wave very useful. I can talk from the truck to anybody from Presque Isle to Kittery for free. There are emergency nets used during blizzards, hurricanes and floods. The governor is a Ham. I was his second contact. In addition to person to person shortwave, there are other frequencies for broadcast. That's where you get info on what is happening in other nations.

For example, I just happened to be listening to the news on Radio Moscow late one night when I learned of the fall of the Soviet Union. Let me explain. The news hour was over and some elderly party apparatchik came on in a droning voice with the following announcement:

"The following program will be a variety of foreign music" I was reaching for the radio to turn it off when an enthusiastic young man came on and shouted,

"Are You READY for some Good Old Fashioned ROCK AND ROLL?" The first song was by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

There it was. That moment was the end of the Soviet Union.

Short wave folks. It's where it's at. It isn't just some wheezing geezers sending Morse code to each other in the dark.

P. S. (There are patriots on short wave.)

By the way forest, It's SHTF.

[mojavedxer]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I can understand the usefulness and purpose of having a hand-crank or solar powered AM/FM radio; to listen to local radio broadcasts of local news.

However during a SHTF scenario all local AM/FM radio transmitters will likely be shut-down. [either the radio stations will be destroyed, or the power grid to energize them will be destroyed, or TPTB will have shut them down]

While living in Europe I bought a SW receiver. I had it for a number of years and we did rather enjoy playing with it. The lists of programming broadcasts, figuring out which band each was on, working out which time-zone they were in and what local time their broadcast would be, lining up the antenna to hopefully the right direction to pick-up the signal. It was all a lot of fun and our children did enjoy it, more so when we found a comedy program that we could tune in to each week.

In the context of listening for 'news' though. If I am in a SHTF situation, how important is it to me to listen to Uganda and how one tribe is fighting another tribe there? Or French political commentary about their latest scandal?

If I were living through a SHTH scene, I think that I would not be terribly interested in the 'new's of 5,000 miles away, or even of 10,000 miles away.

IMHO, the usefulness of SW is limited.



I grew up watching Hogan's Heroes. I have watched various war-time 'resistance' shows.

If our nation were over-run by a foreign army, I would like to think that I would be among the resistance fighting them.

If there were some other group of allied nations fighting to save us, then I could listen to SW for information on how to better monkey-wrench the occupying army.

It is a nice dream. However it is dependent upon a series of 'if's.

Is it likely that: our nation will be over-run by a foreign army? and that I would then be among the resistance fighting them? and that some group of nations will be fighting to save us? and that they will broadcast news on SW?

Too many 'if's.

IMHO, the usefulness of SW is limited.

You may get lucky; During Katrina AM station WWL was rebroadcast by shortwave station WHRI. All these HF backup systems from the article Tightwad posted are not in the clear for broadcast. They use HF transmitters to transmit digital data in case the satellite system goes down. Any portable radio with a backup source of power will suffice in an emergency.