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.
Top picks in Comms
Curated by topic, not commissionAll curated
17-Foot Chopsticks: Budget 20-Meter Groundplane Antenna Array
Building and testing a DIY antenna array from coupled telescopic whips for portable 20-meter ham radio field deployment, with SWR measurements and practical performance results.
Tips for New Hams: Proper Microphone Use and Setup
Nineteen minutes on microphone technique for ham radio operators: distance, positioning, menu-based vs. knob radios, and common setup mistakes.
Elecrow Thinknode M9 Security Advisory: Malware Risk on TF Cards
Warning about a worm virus found on some Thinknode M9 SD cards that can infect Windows systems and spread to connected storage devices.
I Almost Set Myself Up To Fail
Real-world test of a 350Wh portable power station charging three devices simultaneously over 30 days using solar panels and variable weather.
Ham2K Power Logger: Cross-Platform Rig Control and Field Logging
Walkthrough of Ham2K Power Logger, a free portable ham radio logging app with rig control, now available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android—designed for field operations and emergency comms.
QMX+ Rugged Field Case by CQ Homestead Supply – Under 7 Minute Swap
Hands-on walkthrough of installing a USA-made heavy-duty field case for the QMX+ portable radio transceiver, with focus on field deployment speed.
Radio-to-Radio Programming with the BiTech UV-PRO
Two-minute walkthrough: program a BiTech UV-PRO two-way radio directly from another radio without a computer, useful for emergency comms and group field deployment.
Installing the Kenwood TH-D750 in my Truck
Step-by-step walkthrough of mounting a dual-band mobile radio with APRS capability in a vehicle for emergency communication.
Mobile Ham Radio Install: Power Cable and Powerpole Prep
Step-by-step walkthrough of preparing and installing a custom fused power cable harness for mobile radio deployment, including soldering, heat-shrink connectors, and Anderson Powerpole assembly.
HelioClock: Decentralized Weather and Space Data for Off-Grid Operations
Demo of HelioClock, a self-hosted weather and space-monitoring tool that pulls from public data sources with zero cloud dependency or subscriptions — designed for off-grid operations.
EmComm Jeep Kit: BTECH UV-PRO and UV-50 Mobile Communications
Thirteen minutes assembling and organizing a vehicle-based emergency communications system: radio selection, antennas, power, cabling, storage, and field-readiness considerations.
POTA33B Ground Spike for Portable Mast Deployment
Six-minute hands-on review of a ground spike system for anchoring portable telescopic masts without guy ropes or trees — designed for POTA field deployment.
Ham Radio Doesn't Have to Be Expensive: Tips for New Hams and Preppers
Overview of ham radio as an emergency communications tool, with budget-friendly entry points and cost breakdowns for new operators interested in grid-down comms.
Why You Need a GMRS GoPack
Two-minute walkthrough of a GMRS portable radio pack for off-grid, decentralized communications without relying on towers or carriers.
Installing the Kenwood TM-D750 in a Ford F250
Practical walkthrough of dual-band mobile radio installation, covering real-world wiring, routing, and mounting challenges for emergency communications.
Mobile Ham Radio Setup: Trunk Mount and Cable Routing Installation
Step-by-step installation of a mobile transceiver in a car trunk, covering mounting hardware, power distribution, cable routing, and antenna placement for field operations.
Tech Tip Tuesday: How to Access an FM Repeater
Three essential settings for connecting to an FM repeater: output frequency, input frequency, and PL tone (CTCSS) explained by an amateur radio operator.
9/11: He Stayed With the Transmitter. She Was 10 and Just Got Licensed.
Two ham radio operators' stories from September 11th: a broadcast engineer maintaining WTC communications and a newly-licensed ten-year-old running a Red Cross shelter's radio operations.
Disaster Communications: All About SATERN
Overview of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN): how amateur radio volunteers provide emergency communications when conventional systems fail during disasters.
Long-Range Mesh Networking with Meshtastic
Introduction to LoRa mesh networks and Meshtastic devices for long-range emergency communication without internet or cell service.
Easy Portable Antenna Setup: Using a Pneumatic Line Launcher
Forty-nine seconds on deploying wire antennas into tall trees using a pneumatic line launcher for portable ham radio operations and field deployments.
Watch Duty: Behind the Scenes — Real-Time Disaster Intelligence You Can Trust
Sara Paul from Watch Duty explains how amateur radio operators can access and verify real-time emergency intelligence during grid-down scenarios.
Heil BM-17 Ham Radio Headset Review
Hands-on evaluation of the Heil BM-17 headset for ham radio use, testing audio quality and practical features.
Ham Radio Apps You Should Know About
Walkthrough of practical apps for amateur radio, mesh networking, and off-grid communications—what each does, how to set them up, and when to use them.
Day 2 of the Queen Wilhelmina Hamfest — History and Interview
Day-two coverage of a regional hamfest, including an interview with a ham radio operator on the event's history and community.
Off-Grid Comms: Base Camp to Field with a Manpack & Handheld
Field test of a 50-watt manpack base station communicating with a handheld radio and elevated antenna system four miles away in low terrain.
Russia Caught by NATO: Submarines Deployed to Cut Undersea Cables, Internet Outages
Overview of reported NATO observations of Russian submarine activity targeting undersea communications infrastructure and potential internet disruption risks.
Project N.O.M.A.D.: Building an Offline Knowledge Hub for Grid-Down Scenarios
Walkthrough of a free, open-source offline computer system with Wikipedia, medical references, maps, AI, and educational content for resilient information access without internet or cloud.
What Is a PEP Station and Why Every Prepper Needs to Know Theirs
Learn how to find your nearest PEP station and choose an emergency radio to receive NOAA alerts when the grid fails.
Solar Activity and Radio Propagation: Fall 2026 HF Forecast
Fourteen minutes on how solar activity affects radio propagation, with a forecast of HF band conditions for fall 2026.
Meshtastic the Easy Way: New Pocket Pro SMA by MakerNova
Hands-on setup and review of the MakerNova Pocket Pro SMA, a turnkey Meshtastic node with GPS, Bluetooth, and multi-day battery life.
Jungle Antenna: 2-Meter Quick and Easy Emergency Antenna
Build a functional 2-meter ham radio antenna from simple materials for field or emergency use.
Offline Wilderness Maps
Sixteen-minute walkthrough of OsmAnd, a free open-source offline map app for wilderness navigation without cellular or GPS dependency.
The Only M17 Production Radio Available Today
Review of the CS7000 M17 Plus, the sole production M17 radio currently on the market, with context on M17 protocol adoption in amateur radio.
Seeed Pager X2 First Look: Meshtastic Voice Hardware & GPS
First look at the rugged Seeed Pager X2: a 10km line-of-sight Meshtastic device with IP66 durability, dual-band GPS, and text messaging, designed for off-grid communication.
Simple Clamp Solved a Big Problem
How a universal mast clamp design accommodates three common diameters for portable field equipment mounting.
Kenwood TM-D750 Triband Mobile Ham Radio: Features, Setup, and Menu Walk-Through
Thirteen-minute walkthrough of the Kenwood TM-D750 triband mobile transceiver, covering menus, external features, D-STAR, APRS, and Bluetooth TNC setup for off-grid ham radio operations.
Extend Your EMCOM Range: BTECH UV-PRO and BS50 Bluetooth Mic
Seven-minute walkthrough on using a Bluetooth microphone to remote-operate a handheld radio from elevated positions, improving emergency communications range and portability.
Portable Ham Radio Field Activation: Gear, Antenna Setup, and Location Scouting
Mike demos portable ham radio gear and a homemade antenna during a Parks on the Air activation, focusing on setup, equipment choices, and field logistics.
Tips for New Ham Operators: Who Owns Repeaters, Who Maintains Them, and Who Pays
Sixteen-minute primer on ham repeater infrastructure: ownership structures, maintenance responsibilities, funding models, and how community repeaters sustain emergency communications networks.
BTECH UV-50X2 Go Box with Solar Charge Controller and Switch Panel
DIY walkthrough of a portable ham radio go box: 12V LiFePO4 battery, 60W solar panel, charge controller, and USB outlet panel for field communications and charging essentials.
Unboxing SLNT Privacy and Communications Gear
Quick unboxing of communications and privacy equipment from SLNT, with planned follow-up testing and review.
Is GMRS a Viable EmComm Platform?
67-minute technical analysis of GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) capabilities, limitations, and practical deployment for emergency communications during grid-down scenarios.
Stop Buying Separate Radios for Every Mode
Evaluate the Allnode Plus hotspot as a consolidated solution for AllStar, EchoLink, and digital modes in portable ham radio setups.
Ham Radio and the Titanic: The Story That Changed Frequencies Forever
How a false accusation about amateur radio operators during the Titanic disaster led to the 1912 Radio Act and shaped the frequency bands ham operators use today.
Caesar Cipher Reimagined: Pathfinder Coded Messaging
Build a compass-based field cipher for secure off-grid communications using nothing but a compass, notebook, and a shared offset key.
Radioddity VB70 70-Watt Mobile VHF Radio Tested
Fifteen-minute hands-on review of the Radioddity VB70, a 70-watt 2-meter VHF transceiver for mobile, off-grid, and ham radio use.
Icom IC-2730A Upgrade: Installing a Dual-Band Radio for the Tank Radio Satellite Kit
Fourteen-minute walkthrough of upgrading to an Icom IC-2730A dual-band radio, paired with portable power and antenna setup for reliable off-grid communications.