As I mentioned in a previous article, I am making many kinds of antennas for fun and profit, but mostly for setting up neighborhood networks or small community networks that I will not be involved in. I have made many antennas, and over the last decade, I have programmed countless radios in my area, as a free service to my neighbors and friends. I have many extra radios and antennas that can be put into the right hands if it serves the community. I would rather invest in these, than fancy and expensive transceivers. I have a pile of such equipment for this purpose.
Background
I am not a professional radioman, but only another self-taught amateur who became seriously interested just a little over a decade ago. In decades past, my experience working with professionals in the emergency services and disaster preparedness communications sector in another life, has helped. I grew up with a grandfather who was a pioneer in radio and telephone, and who, with his team of engineers, made the first intranet connection that connected the early IBM to Hewlett Packard computers. He was an influence in my life. It does seem as if I missed another calling, because radio and telephone communications are in my blood. My apologies if I bore you. I am attempting to help someone else get started. I am certain that there is another potential radio nut like myself out there somewhere. We need as many nuts as we can get. I still agree with John Moore who believes that the two skills sets that will be in the most demand, yet in the shortest supply, will be medical personnel, and radio technicians. (Nuts like me!).
Unlicensed Radio Communications for a Community
Why all the antennas and radios? Different radio services can be used in a future and tiered communications plan. For example, FRS/GMRS, and CB can serve a neighborhood, while MURS could serve a security operation, and 2 Meters, the broader community. A dedicated medical team would have an exclusive service on frequencies that can not be used by others, so that they can avoid being interfered with by requests for help. If there can be a transportation unit, then they also should have a dedicated set of frequencies, and more powerful mobile transceivers.
In my part of the country, and over the last decade, the number of folks getting started with the Technician’s license has been encouraging. Interest in radio is growing, and a few local Hams have been programming radios for newcomers in a semi-standard way, so that MURS and GMRS frequencies are installed alongside Amateur frequencies on many new handhelds. We also have a plethora of new repeaters from 70cm to 6 meters, two new 2-Meter digitals, and two for GMRS. Our region is ‘wired’ for radio. Yet, given their dependence on grid power, I would avoid reliance on repeaters.Continue reading“Communications: Bringing People Together – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”