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
Core Power Bank S Review: Lightweight 5,000mAh EDC Portable Charger
Eleven-minute hands-on review of a slim, water-resistant power bank designed for EDC and outdoor use: capacity, charging speed, durability, and field performance.
User Review of the Baofeng SW9 Triband HT from Radioddity
Thirteen-minute hands-on review of the Baofeng SW9 triband handheld radio covering 2M, 220, and 70cm bands.
Faith, Fear, and Prepping: Lessons from Antarctica
Learn how extreme-environment preparation principles apply to home readiness, featuring insights from a communications expert heading to McMurdo Station.
CFT1 Full Ham Radio Build: Part 1
82-minute step-by-step soldering and assembly of the CFT1 ham radio kit, with tool recommendations and troubleshooting for beginners.
Which HT Actually Works For Shortwave Listening
Comparative testing of five handheld radios for shortwave reception quality to guide equipment selection.
Seeed Wio Tracker Meshtastic Radio: Long-Range, Voice-Ready Hardware
Forty-seven-second review of the Seeed Wio Tracker Meshtastic device: 10 km line-of-sight range, GPS positioning, waterproof design, and readiness for voice messaging once firmware support arrives.
The Art of NVIS: Local and Regional Emergency Communication
Twelve minutes on Near Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation: how NVIS antennas work, why they're valuable for local/regional communication in emergencies, and on-air demonstration with practical gear.
POTA33B Telescopic Carbon Fiber Mast Review
Thirteen-minute hands-on review of a portable telescopic carbon-fiber mast: construction, durability, deployment, and field performance for Parks on the Air operations.
T1000 Update, Seeed Meshracker X1: Dualband GNSS & 5-Day Battery | Meshtastic
Walkthrough of the updated T1000E Meshtastic tracker: USB-C charging, dualband GPS, 8 km range, 5-day battery, IP66 weatherproofing, and voice/image messaging support.
Review of Radioddity UV29 Pro VHF/UHF Handheld Radio and Common Mode Chokes Explained
Hands-on review of the Radioddity UV29 Pro dual-band handheld radio with guest explanation of common mode chokes and antenna impedance matching.
Power Delivery Adapters for Ham Radio: VFLEX Review
Five-minute walkthrough of VFLEX power adapters and battery/cable pairing for portable ham radio setups in emergency scenarios.
Microtelecom Perseus22 Four-Channel SDR Receiver Product Review
ARRL Lab Senior Engineer Rick Ciervo reviews the Microtelecom Perseus22 four-channel software-defined radio receiver for emergency communications and spectrum monitoring.
Why Hams Are Obsessed With This
Field antenna mounting solutions for portable ham radio operations, from military mast guy rings to tripod adapters.
Getting Started with Meshtastic: Off-Grid Texting, Mesh Radios, and Emergency Preparedness
Eight-minute setup guide to Meshtastic mesh radios for off-grid communication: hardware selection, encryption, range testing, and antenna planning for household emergency resilience.
Should You Buy the ICOM IC-7110? Detailed Review and Assessment
Four-hour deep dive into the ICOM IC-7110 HF transceiver: features, capabilities, use cases, and whether it's the right choice for your emergency comms setup.
Nepal Floods: A Powerful Lesson in Emergency Communication
How communication redundancy—combining ham radio with mobile, satellite, and internet systems—keeps disaster response resilient when any single system fails.
When Communication Fails, Ham Radio Can Be a Lifeline
How amateur radio operators support emergency response during disasters: radio discipline, net coordination, message protocols, and reconnecting separated families when other systems fail.
Ham Radio: A Lifeline During Disasters—Lessons from Nepal Floods
Why amateur radio and communication redundancy matter when normal systems fail; case study from Nepal flood response and practical steps for operators to prepare.
When Mobile Networks Fail, Ham Radio Can Save Lives
How amateur radio operators establish communication during disasters when mobile networks and internet infrastructure are unavailable, using independent power and radio frequency propagation.
2023 RAV4 Mobile Ham Radio Antenna & Hood Lip Mount Install
Step-by-step installation of a Diamond K400 hood-lip mount and Comet CA-2X4SR antenna on a Toyota RAV4 for non-invasive mobile VHF/UHF ham radio coverage.
Nepal Floods: When Communication Fails, Ham Radio Can Save Lives
Case study of how amateur radio operators provided critical communication during Nepal's 2026 floods when normal infrastructure failed, and why disaster preparedness includes radio readiness.
Antennas and Antenna Parts: Tips for New Ham Operators
Eighteen-minute walkthrough of ham radio antennas and components, aimed at operators new to the hobby.
How to Shop a Hamfest Flea Market: 5 Essential Tips
Five practical tips for finding quality ham radio gear and making smart purchasing decisions at hamfest flea markets.
Stop Paying a Subscription: HelioClock
Build a self-hosted situational awareness display for ham radio and emergency operations using free public data feeds.
Hams and Hurricane Season
ARRL Emergency Coordinator discusses ham radio's role in Atlantic hurricane season response and preparedness.
Ham Radio to the Rescue: Emergency Communications When Phones and Internet Fail
Real-world account of ham radio operators deployed during an emergency when conventional communication systems failed, plus the history of wireless technology from Maxwell through Marconi.
Why Ham Radio Still Matters in the Age of 5G & AI
Why amateur radio remains critical for emergency communications when modern infrastructure fails during disasters, explained by a 40-year veteran of disaster-response radio operations.
Kenwood TM-D750 First Setup Recommendations: Get Up and Running Fast
Initial setup and configuration walkthrough for the Kenwood TM-D750 dual-band transceiver, covering FM simplex, repeater, D-Star, and APRS operation.
10 Survival Items to Buy Before They Get Banned
Survey of ten essential prepper items across power, water filtration, shelter, and communications with purchasing guidance.
Survival Kit: 10 Essential Items You Should Have Now
Ten-item survival kit walkthrough covering ballistic protection, water filtration, power generation, emergency rations, communications, fuel storage, and tools.
Huntsville Hamfest Walk Through 2026
Tour a major amateur radio equipment marketplace to survey available gear, vendors, and current pricing for communications infrastructure.
Inside a Real Ham Radio Trailer: Mobile Rover Setup
Tour of a fully-equipped ham radio mobile rover station used for emergency communications during special events and grid-down scenarios.
RadioMsg on Android: Download, Setup, and Message Transmission
44-minute walkthrough installing and configuring RadioMsg on Android for ham-radio digital messaging, with hardware setup and transmission examples.
One Test Away From a Different Hobby
53-second encouragement to pursue ham radio licensing, with a link to a free exam-prep course.
Communications Training with 2 Alpha Solutions: Ham Radio, GMRS, MURS, UV5R
Hands-on radio communications training covering ham radio, GMRS, MURS, and UV5R walkie-talkies with a veteran instructor and local radio station.
My New Favorite POTA Gear: CaHR-Tenna Hydra
Seven-minute walkthrough of the Coffee and Ham Radios Hydra portable antenna mount: how it connects to transceivers, handles multiple antenna types, and integrates into field radio deployments.
Ham Radio: From Hilltop Repeaters to the International Space Station
Overview of ham radio infrastructure, repeater systems for extended range, emergency communication during large events, and amateur radio contact with the ISS.
When Mobile Networks Fail, Ham Radio Works!
Why ham radio remains a reliable emergency communication tool when cellular and internet infrastructure fails during disasters, with real-world examples from earthquake and flood response.
Telugu Ham Radio Innovators: DIY Transceiver and SDR Design
Profile of ham radio enthusiasts from Telugu-speaking regions who designed and built affordable transceivers and software-defined radios using locally sourced components, reducing costs from ₹2 lakh to ₹10,000.
Red River Amateur Testing Team and WMZX Testing: Build Your Ham Shack on a Budget
Introduction to ham radio testing teams and practical tips for assembling a budget-conscious home radio station without overextending financially.
Mat 125S Tuner With HRD 25' Telescopic Whip: Hands-On Test
Twelve minutes testing whether an automatic tuner can match a 25-foot telescopic whip antenna across multiple ham radio bands without manual adjustment.
JS8Call Message Storage and Retrieval Over Ham Radio
How to send and receive ham radio messages without direct radio contact or internet, using store-and-forward relay stations on HF bands.
Ham Radio: From Homemade Equipment to Worldwide Communication
Amateur radio operator VU2RDM demonstrates how to build functional ham radio equipment from low-cost local components, covering licensing, emergency communication procedures, and ham radio's role during disasters when grids fail.
Ham Radio: More Than a Hobby — Communication, Technology & Public Service
Overview of amateur radio for emergency communications: licensing, affordable equipment, real-world disaster response examples, and how to establish communication when conventional networks fail.
GMRS Repeater Owner Served Notice Of Violation By The FCC
How an unlicensed GMRS repeater network triggered FCC enforcement; legal requirements, linking rules, and what preppers should know before building repeater infrastructure.
Ham Radio: The Lifeline When All Communication Fails
15-minute primer on amateur radio history, physics, equipment basics, antenna construction, and deployment during natural disasters and communication blackouts.
They Called This Hobby Worthless: A True Story
Historical narrative demonstrating how amateur radio operators expanded global communication networks, making the case for ham radio as a resilience tool.
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.