Comms
Radios, mesh networks, EMP-hardened electronics, secure phones, and how to stay reachable when the grid stalls. The category most preppers underestimate until they need it.
Showing 99 videos · runtime 15–30 min
Top picks in Comms
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Build a Vertical Off Center Fed Dipole Antenna
16-minute antenna build and testing: constructing and tuning an off-center fed dipole for portable ham radio operation.
Ham Radio Basics: RST Reports, Morse Code & Emergency Communication
27-minute introduction to ham radio fundamentals: RST signal reporting, Q-codes, Morse code basics, and ham radio's role in disaster and grid-down communication.
Tips for New Hams: VHF/HF Communications and ARES/RACES Emergency Net Procedures
Twenty-minute walkthrough of amateur radio fundamentals for beginners, covering routine VHF/HF operations and emergency net protocols including ARRL radiogram and ICS 213 form procedures.
Build a Link Dipole Ham Radio Antenna
18-minute walkthrough building and tuning a DX Engineering link dipole antenna kit for amateur radio, with soldering and assembly details.
QST: Ask Dave, September 2026 — SWR vs Reflection Coefficient
Eighteen-minute technical explainer on standing-wave ratio and reflection coefficient in amateur radio transmission lines, with worked examples.
Basic Antenna and Radio Troubleshooting Tips for New Ham Operators
Troubleshooting walkthrough for antennas and radios: diagnosis steps and fixes for new ham radio operators preparing for emergency communications.
Portable Satellite Tracker Build: Radio Station Setup
24-minute walkthrough assembling a portable satellite tracking radio station: radio, rotor, controller, antenna, and coax selection and integration.
Activating Six Parks in One Afternoon: POTA Mobile Setup and Antenna Tools
Portable radio activation demo using mobile HF antenna, battery power, and the Yaesu FT-891 transceiver for field communication across six Wisconsin parks.
Choosing Your First Ham Radio HT (Handheld) | Best HT Radio Advice for New Ham Operators
15-minute guide to selecting your first handheld ham radio: comparing analog vs. digital, battery life, repeater compatibility, programming, and common beginner mistakes.
The Mission Defines the Ham Radio Tools We Use
How to design emergency communications gear and field stations around mission requirements, PACE redundancy planning, and off-grid deployment capabilities.
Portable Ham Radio Setup: On the Air in Under 60 Seconds
Sixteen minutes on a lightweight, bike-friendly ham radio rig designed for rapid deployment in the field, with practical tips for quick activation.
Heil BM-17 Headset Review for Parks on the Air
15-minute hands-on review of the Heil BM-17 ham radio headset, including unboxing, field setup, and on-air audio quality testing.
VHF/UHF FM Antenna Polarization and Online VE Testing
Technical overview of VHF/UHF antenna polarization principles and how to prepare for and take amateur radio licensing exams online.
Why You Need An N6ARA TinyFilter
27-minute technical review of the N6ARA TinyFilter, an RF suppression device for two-meter ham radio bands that reduces desense and spurious emissions in signal-saturated environments.
Elecraft K2 in 2026 - Outdated or Underrated?
Head-to-head comparison of a 1999 portable radio against the modern ICOM IC705 to evaluate whether legacy amateur radio equipment still holds practical value for field deployment.
Xiegu G7250: New 100-Watt Base Station Ham Radio from China
Overview of Xiegu's new G7250 base station radio and discussion of beginner-friendly ham radio equipment for emergency communications.
Welcome KJ5QXM Brandon to Ham Radio: My Take on the 2018 ARRL Tech HF Proposal
Ham radio licensing, legal operating privileges, and how new operators build credibility on the air—with analysis of a proposed FCC expansion for Technician Class HF access.
Think Hamfests Are Dead Think Again
Tour a regional ham radio hamfest to discover used equipment deals, vendor networks, and how these gatherings sustain amateur radio communities.
DL2MAN Android ARDOP HF Winlink App: Setup and Operation
Twenty-minute walkthrough setting up and operating an Android HF Winlink client for off-grid email and messaging via ham radio.
Welcome KJ5RCY Robert to Ham Radio—Repeater Etiquette and Best Practices
Fifteen minutes on amateur radio repeater etiquette: how to welcome new operators, best practices for checking in, and why community courtesy strengthens the hobby for emergency communication.
Best Ham Radio Power Supplies & RG-8X Coax Explained
How to select the right power supply for HF radios, plus coax cable selection and installation tips from 30+ years of operating experience.
Activating a POTA Park With a Simple Kit and QRP Radios
24-minute walkthrough of a portable ham radio kit for Parks on the Air activation: transceiver, antenna, mast setup, and practical field deployment.
The Ultimate Field Radio Build for Under $100
23-minute walkthrough assembling a functional two-way radio setup using a Baofeng UV-5R and accessories, with startup guide and programming tips.
DIY Mobile MeshCore or Meshtastic 3D Printed Node or Repeater
Build a budget mobile mesh repeater using 3D printing, a Heltec transceiver, solar panel, and off-the-shelf components for off-grid communication.
Cell Towers Down? Do This to Stay Connected
19-minute walkthrough of Starlink Mini setup, mounting, and power solutions for grid-down emergency communications, plus why satellite belongs as top layer of a layered backup plan.
Ham Radio Everywhere: 3D Printed Base Loaded Vertical Antenna & QRP Labs QMX
17-minute walkthrough of a portable ham radio station setup using 3D-printed antenna and compact QRP transceiver, with honest assessment of performance trade-offs.
How & Why to Log Ham Radio Contacts | QRZ Logbook vs Logbook of The World Explained
Twenty-minute walkthrough of ham radio contact logging: why operators keep records, QRZ Logbook and ARRL LoTW systems compared, and practical workflow for tracking your QSOs.
Build a Stealth MeshCore Repeater: Harbor Freight Hack
17-minute walkthrough combining a Seeed Studio Xiao LoRa node with a Harbor Freight solar light to build a portable mesh-network repeater for off-grid communication.
Portable Antenna Forum: Live from Dayton Hamvention 2026
Live presentation on designing and deploying portable antennas for parks, summits, and remote locations; practical field radio techniques for POTA and SOTA operations.
Morse Code Decoder Review: MorseNexus DitStorm Cypher
29-minute review of the MorseNexus Cypher, a Morse code decoder accessory for ham radio operators, including setup, software updates, and practical use cases.
QST: Ask Dave, July 2026, Band Plan Overview
22-minute walkthrough of amateur radio band allocations: what frequencies are available, which radio modes operate where, and how to navigate the official ARRL band chart.
Most Hams Don't Know How Easy APRS Is on a Pi Zero 2W
Step-by-step tutorial to build a low-power APRS station using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, sound card interface, and GPS receiver.
Pikes Peak SOTA Activation: Amateur Radio at 14,115 Feet
27-minute field demonstration of portable ham radio equipment and techniques during a high-altitude mountain activation, covering antenna setup, radio operation, and practical comms skills.
My Off-Grid Comms Server
Building a Raspberry Pi-based offline communications platform for ham radio operators with mapping, logging, and ICS forms.
The Coolest Ham Radio Project You Haven't Heard About
Tour of Graywolf, an all-in-one APRS station with web UI that simplifies setup of beacons, digipeaters, and iGates.
Why VARA HF Is Replacing 300 Baud Packet for APRS
A technical overview of VARA's weak-signal performance and forward error correction, plus a step-by-step build guide for a Windows stick-PC based mobile APRS tracker.
Testing FreeDV on HF (Real World Demo)
19-minute walkthrough of FreeDV digital voice mode for amateur radio: how it works, what gear you need, and how it fits into grid-down communications planning.
I Passed the Test! Now What? Getting Started with Amateur Radio
Seven-part guide for newly licensed ham radio operators: choosing your first radio, using repeaters, finding a local club, and connecting with experienced mentors.
How to Use AI Narrow Intelligence in Improving Your Ham Radio Knowledge & Skills
Using ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to accelerate ham radio learning: when AI supplements (not replaces) traditional Elmer mentorship for operators building emergency comms skills.
7 Fldigi Settings For Advanced Users
Twenty-five minute walkthrough of seven advanced Fldigi settings for ham radio digital mode operation, with links to foundational setup and troubleshooting guides.
Spooltenna EFHW Antenna Review and Performance Test
Twenty-five-minute hands-on review of an end-fed half-wave antenna: setup, tuning, performance testing, and practical assessment for emergency communications.
The Best Radio Frequency for Local Communications
Twenty-one minutes on selecting amateur radio bands for disaster scenarios, with licensing guidance and practical frequency recommendations for preppers.
Marco F4TXR Articulated Mast Mount and Xiegu VG4 Antenna
Hands-on walkthrough of a DIY articulated mast support and VHF/UHF antenna setup for portable emergency radio communications.
Changing Your Ham Radio Call Sign Using the FCC Vanity Call Sign Process
Step-by-step walkthrough of the FCC vanity call sign application process for amateur radio operators seeking a personalized call sign.
Is Short Wave Radio Relevant For Preppers Today?
29-minute examination of shortwave radio capabilities, limitations, and practical use cases for preppers in grid-down and communication-loss scenarios.
Common Myths of Ham Radio for Prepping
25-minute breakdown of misconceptions about ham radio equipment, licensing, and capability in grid-down and off-grid household communication scenarios.
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications for Public Service
21-minute overview of amateur radio skills and equipment for grid-down emergency communications, drawn from 30 years of ARES volunteer disaster-response experience.
Ham Radio Field Day with NFARL
Tour of North Fulton Amateur Radio League's Field Day 2022 setup: antennas, operating modes, live contacts, and a connection to the International Space Station.