Contacting emergency services

I use a sat phone, because tbere's no reception at the retreat. Bought the phone outright, monthly access is $15. Calls and text charged at normal mobile rates.

You can get a phone/data repeater that has 2 parts, a base station that u place where u are working, and an external station that u place where there is signal. The external station has provision for an external aerial as well, so it would have to be a really bad spot not to be able to get reception. The repeater is limited to 5 users at once, not an issue for home use but a bit of a pain at work situations. We have absolutely no reception at work, not even in the yard, but the repeater with an external 14 element Yagi aerial works well most of the time. I think Telstra screws around with the network at times, causing reception to drop out for no reason though. Its an expensive way to do it, I think it was nearly $1K for the unit, cheaper ones are available, but they didn't work, we tried them all. See yr local Telstra shop.




Advertising is legalized lying.

Neighbors wouldnt bat an eyelid if they heard shots from me.

I had thought about that and also a garmin (with inreach) or a spot x. But outright and subscription might hurt me abit.

Roof mounted 4g antennas for internet (when it works). Also roof mounted UHF/VHF antenna.

I have one for a telstra netwrok, but we are on the optus network. Celfi pro with 14DBi directional. But useless for me. Not looking to swap to a telstra network either as data plans are through the roof for costs.

Have used pan pan before on a VHF channel when stranded once, but i heard people talking prior. Where i am now i dont hear any chatter except on a monday night. To scared to try channel 5 to see if someone is listening in the area.

That's what Ham radio is all about in an emergency situation.


If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take the appropriate action.

Greyhat, the teacher in me is coming out now ! One part of the equation is the getting of suitable radio comms gear, coming to grips with the technology and language, but there is another part, and that is maintenance of the gear. Also, you could lump construction of radio gear in there as well. I believe that its no good just buying equipment, but you should have the knowledge to be able to construct your own gear as well. Most hams just are content to make the aerial systems and perhaps the power supply, solar power the radio etc, but the thrill you get when communicating to someone, even just in the next town, over equipment you have constructed yourself from "junk", just cant be described. Don't underestimate the comfort and satisfaction you get knowing that no matter what the world throws at u, you have the knowledge to construct comms gear to keep in touch with others. After all, we are a society type of people and seek out company...usually anyway. I myself find a peace in knowing I can rebuild or even start from scratch and build gear to talk around the world, its the same feelings of peace that you get when surveying your preps, BHB etc and knowing you are more prepared than 99% of the rest of the world. Its a bit like secret knowledge that only a few select have. Our ham licenses, except for the foundation one, allows u to design and construct your own transmitters, although anyone can design and construct and use a receiver. That's a privalidge that no other branch of society has, its unique to hams. Regenerative receivers and modulated oscillators are simple to make and can be based on valve technology, rendering them mostly EMP/CME resistant. Yes, I have and use commercial gear, but the thrill when talking to another ham, even just in the next town, using such gear is unreal. Its a skill that can fly under the Govts radar.
When constructing a project, i am constantly thinking about weather the equipment will be useful after the SHTF and who might be on the other end. Yes, weapons, food, water etc are vital, but knowing what's happening around you will also be a survival necessity. I remember asking a military vet who was our training officer in the Army, what he feared most in Nam, and he answered, "lack of comms, not knowing what was going on or happening around us" The same should concern us. Forewarned is forearmed, guns and ammo are needed, but so is Intel (Intelligence), especially in the initial stages of society's downfall. Establish a network of like minded hams now around you and be ready with yr alternative comms gear, because the World isn't going to get any better. Start listening to short wave stations, working out those that are not badly propagandized, getting a grip on conditions. One thing I am looking forward to is the reduction in interference from power line systems after the fall as there wont be any left operating. The background noise level should radically decrease, making simple home made gear practical. In the 1920's world wide comms was possible with less than 1/2 watt, using AM or CW (Morse code), so it will be again. 100's of watts wont be needed and may just draw attention to yourself from undesirable persons during the falling out. A transmitter capable of delivering 1 watt at any high frequency ham band, would consist of no more than a dozen parts, likewise the receiver, and be tunable as well. Quite within the means to be built from a junked TV set in a morning, but u need the knowledge so get it now.
And on that comment, I believe that money will soon be worthless, as will gold and silver, knowledge will be the new currency, in the future. Knowledge to farm, repair/construct farming equipment (Don't underestimate how much effort it takes to grow say potatoes for yr group. Its not easy). Enough or now, got to repair a digital short wave radio I found at the tip for a chap who wants some independent communications receive capability.



If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

I'm here for moral support, ignore the gun.

I've given up on gimmicks and stick with satellite phones now for emergency contact out in the wilds and it doesn't cost that much to get set up with a unit that will suit most people most of the time. I find it interesting that people shy away at the cost of a serviceable entry level sat phone but will spend twice as much on a new smart phone. I've used mine heavily for a year and used it as my sole contact to the outside world for weeks on end including using it to check in 3 times a day to let people know i was still operational

The benefits of a sat phone i feel outweigh the initial cost and yeah you only have to pay $15 a month to maintain connection on some of the plans but here is the important part satellite phones are not equal and price or popularity is not an indication of quality or reliability do your research and importantly sit down and work out what you really want from it and don't over complicate it don't buy a unit that isn't what you need just because some sales guy try's to upscale you to something else

here is the unit i use
www.telebiz.com.au/product/Thuraya-XT-Lite/9?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false

its a great unit and so far its survived being bounced around in machinery and tossed on the dash even with thick cloud cover I've not had issues with reception plus if you get the external aerial for it you can have it set up inside like a home phone