HELP--post SHTF Ham radio

[aliens51 Profile]

Yeah I was thinking just the same Milton. I wouldn't transmit, or somebody may be able to pinpoint my location.

Wizard hasn't come back and explained, but yeah, perhaps he has a different idea or need for a SHTF scenario. Maybe he has more people he needs to communicate with right away, within a big group, or 2 , in 2 different towns, for example.

In a SHTF situation you probably won't have to worry too much about about triangulation by the feds (they most likely will have their hands full). However, if you are in a situation like that portrayed in the Jeremiah series, you would have to worry about the "bad guys" getting a fix on you. The solution to that is to stay mobile and keep your transmissions very short. To pinpoint your transmission they will have to get a fix on you from two different locations. If you transmit from different locations and use different frequencies they will have a much harder time.

The thing about using packet, PSK, RTTY, SSTV or other "exotic" modes the person you are trying to communicate with will have to have compatible equipment. A plain vanilla transceiver will not work without additional equipment.

Great way to put it. Great info, thanks.

[wf.wizard Profile]

This set up would be rather specialized. The main use would be for an extended fallout shelter stay. At one time I belonged to a Mutual Aid Group that numbered over 400, some quite remote (over seas). The effectiveness of a group of any size depends on communications.
I realize that there could be dangers in broadcasting (receiving too) in a SHTF situation. It could play out a lot of different ways. his is just an idea to help out if the web ever fails.

[Zombie-Hunter Profile]

This set up would be rather specialized. The main use would be for an extended fallout shelter stay. At one time I belonged to a Mutual Aid Group that numbered over 400, some quite remote (over seas). The effectiveness of a group of any size depends on communications.
I realize that there could be dangers in broadcasting (receiving too) in a SHTF situation. It could play out a lot of different ways. his is just an idea to help out if the web ever fails.

I figured that was the case. Every person's case is different.

Could you explain how there are dangers in receiving? That sounds interesting.

[milton6994 Profile]

This set up would be rather specialized. The main use would be for an extended fallout shelter stay. At one time I belonged to a Mutual Aid Group that numbered over 400, some quite remote (over seas). The effectiveness of a group of any size depends on communications.
I realize that there could be dangers in broadcasting (receiving too) in a SHTF situation. It could play out a lot of different ways. his is just an idea to help out if the web ever fails.

I figured that was the case. Every person's case is different.

Could you explain how there are dangers in receiving? That sounds interesting.

...with regard to potential receiving dangers.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the antenna. An external antenna is always going to attract attention, although receiving antennas can be pretty minimal in comparison to a transmitting antenna.
The second potentially dangerous thing is "propaganda." When TSHTF govment officials will be on the air giving directives and making statements in an effort to maintain or regain control. I definitely want to monitor what they are saying and filter out anything that doesn't dovetail nicely with my own plan, which by definition, is what I think is best for me and my group.

A silly example would be, "This is Janet Napolitano, your Secretary of DHS. Please do not be alarmed. Everything will be returning to normal in a couple of weeks. Rest assured your govment has implemented emergency plans to protect all citizens. FEMA will be arranging transportation to numerous relief centers in your area. Please pack one bag and be ready when the FEMA vans come to your neighborhood."

It would take some pretty sophisticated equipment to detect a receiver, but generally speaking most electronic devices do emit low levels of RF, even those devices that are not designed to be transmitters. Some computers are particularly "noisy."

Anyway, just a few random thoughts.

[wf.wizard Profile]

Zombie Hunter
Milton touched on the subject I had in mind in his reply. There is the technology to detect active broadcast receivers to pinpoint location as well as exact frequency being listened to.
I agree with Milton that this equipment is rather sophisticated. I will not pretend to be any kind of Electronic Warfare expert but I found this info from a couple of different sources. There was an Englishman who wrote a book spilling the beans on a bunch of secret stuff after he was denied his pension after many years of catching spies for MI5 and MI6 starting before World War II. Raster was the code name of the technology that was mobile in both truck and airplane. If they knew the exact frequency of an enemy broadcast they could triangulate in on a receiver tuned to that frequency. Modern commercial uses allow the cable company to prove service thieves are accessing signals they are not paying for.

[aliens51 Profile]

Zombie Hunter
Milton touched on the subject I had in mind in his reply. There is the technology to detect active broadcast receivers to pinpoint location as well as exact frequency being listened to.
I agree with Milton that this equipment is rather sophisticated. I will not pretend to be any kind of Electronic Warfare expert but I found this info from a couple of different sources. There was an Englishman who wrote a book spilling the beans on a bunch of secret stuff after he was denied his pension after many years of catching spies for MI5 and MI6 starting before World War II. Raster was the code name of the technology that was mobile in both truck and airplane. If they knew the exact frequency of an enemy broadcast they could triangulate in on a receiver tuned to that frequency. Modern commercial uses allow the cable company to prove service thieves are accessing signals they are not paying for.

woah, that's something else. Do you know the name of that book? It would be pretty interesting to give it a read.

[aliens51 Profile]

This set up would be rather specialized. The main use would be for an extended fallout shelter stay. At one time I belonged to a Mutual Aid Group that numbered over 400, some quite remote (over seas). The effectiveness of a group of any size depends on communications.
I realize that there could be dangers in broadcasting (receiving too) in a SHTF situation. It could play out a lot of different ways. his is just an idea to help out if the web ever fails.

I figured that was the case. Every person's case is different.

Could you explain how there are dangers in receiving? That sounds interesting.

...with regard to potential receiving dangers.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the antenna. An external antenna is always going to attract attention, although receiving antennas can be pretty minimal in comparison to a transmitting antenna.
The second potentially dangerous thing is "propaganda." When TSHTF govment officials will be on the air giving directives and making statements in an effort to maintain or regain control. I definitely want to monitor what they are saying and filter out anything that doesn't dovetail nicely with my own plan, which by definition, is what I think is best for me and my group.

A silly example would be, "This is Janet Napolitano, your Secretary of DHS. Please do not be alarmed. Everything will be returning to normal in a couple of weeks. Rest assured your govment has implemented emergency plans to protect all citizens. FEMA will be arranging transportation to numerous relief centers in your area. Please pack one bag and be ready when the FEMA vans come to your neighborhood."

It would take some pretty sophisticated equipment to detect a receiver, but generally speaking most electronic devices do emit low levels of RF, even those devices that are not designed to be transmitters. Some computers are particularly "noisy."

Anyway, just a few random thoughts.

Great points. The key would be to filter all the info, like you said.

[Zombie-Hunter Profile]

Thanks for the explanation, I didn't know about the dangers of receiving.

So Wizard, have you decided or found something for the setup you want/need?

[milton6994 Profile]

To really be concerned about your receiver being detected I think one would have to be well into the SHTF scenario where citizens were forced into some kind of underground existence.

I think there are ways to shield a radio from this kind of prying - such as a Farady cage. Of course, the antenna would have to be the only part outside of the cage.

This reminds me of the German resistance underground during WWII. Radios were strictly forbidden. Penalties were severe if caught.

Also reminds me of Hogan's Heroes - they were often seen using a radio that was cobbled together with various parts that came together only when "the coast was clear."

[OregonNorthwest Profile]

lol Hogan's Heroes...

I am currently looking for a Faraday cage myself.