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 69 videos · runtime 5–15 min
Top picks in Comms
Curated by topic, not commissionAll curated· primary topic only
LiNK500MP MK2 Wireless GPS for Ham Radio: When Is It Coming?
Technical breakdown of wireless GPS integration challenges in the Lab599 TX-500MP radio interface, and the proposed Bluetooth solution for off-grid field communications.
Tips for New Hams: Take Small Steps, Build Dipoles, and Learn as You Go
Beginner-friendly guidance on starting ham radio: incremental skill-building, antenna construction, and the importance of asking questions as you learn.
Solar Node Solved My RV Meshcore Problem - Elecrow M6 Solar Repeater
Field test of a compact solar-powered Meshtastic node for reliable off-grid mesh coverage in RV and remote camping conditions.
No SIM Phone Number
14-minute walkthrough on setting up a phone number using XMPP/Jabber and jmp.chat ($5/month) without relying on cellular towers or SIM cards.
Alpha Antenna Delta Loop: Fast Portable Ham Radio Antenna
Thirteen-minute walkthrough of the Alpha Antenna Delta Loop portable HF antenna for emergency ham radio communication and field deployment.
Can Software Replace a Net Control Operator?
Learn how Net Central automates amateur radio emergency net management with real-time dashboards, position tracking, and automated reporting.
I Finally Ran 12V Into My Explorer the Right(ish) Way!
Step-by-step install of a 12V DC charger and proper battery wiring in a vehicle to power portable ham radio and external battery systems.
Setting Up Your Ham Radio Estate for When You Become a Silent Key
Fourteen minutes on planning and documenting your ham radio equipment, frequencies, and contacts so family or successors can maintain your communications capability if you become unavailable.
Power Line RFI and Shack RFI Issues
Eleven minutes on identifying and solving radio frequency interference from power lines and household equipment—critical for reliable ham radio operation in emergency scenarios.
Baby Steps: My CW Copy Improvement in Six Days with Vail CW School
Seven minutes on accelerating Morse code proficiency using structured online training, with tracking metrics from 10 to 26 words per minute.
The Dark Side No One Talks About
Learn where AI-generated ham radio code succeeds and fails, and what technical knowledge you need to catch critical mistakes before deployment.
What Happens When Communication Infrastructure Fails?
How communication systems degrade in layers, why it matters, and practical steps to build redundancy into your communication plan before emergencies strike.
Baofeng UV-5RH Pro Unboxing — The Two Features That Actually Matter for Emergency Use
Unboxing and first-look review of the Baofeng UV-5RH Pro, focusing on USB charging and NOAA weather alert capability for grid-down emergency communications.
My Complete RV Ham Radio Setup Explained
Walk through a fully mobile ham radio station: power generation, HF/VHF radios, APRS, and real-world mesh networking tests from an RV.
Ham Radio Protection and Organization: Gear Setup for Portable Operation
Eight-minute walkthrough of padded organizer bags and portable ham radio gear setup, including handhelds, cables, and accessories for field deployment.
Real NOAA Alerts Confirmed on Baofeng UV-5RH Pro | False Positives Still a Problem
Testing the Baofeng UV-5RH Pro's NOAA weather alert feature: configuration settings that work, real alert detection on camera, and remaining sensitivity issues.
A Passion for POTA: Parks on the Air Operating for Emergency Preparedness
Amateur radio operator Evan McPartland discusses Parks on the Air (POTA), a program for setting up temporary emergency radio stations in designated parks, and how to get started.
Your Emergency Communications Plan Needs A Backup
Six-minute walkthrough of low-tech analog communication backups (paper maps, written plans, signaling tools) to complement electronic systems when batteries fail or technology isn't available.
BTech GMRS-V2 Unboxing — Dual PTT Buttons and Feature Walkthrough
13-minute hands-on review of the BTech GMRS-V2 handheld radio: dual PTT buttons, USB-C charging, NOAA weather alerts, IP54 weatherproofing, and programming setup.
4 Rugged Handhelds Every Ham Should Own
Comparison of four weather-resistant ham radios for emergency communications, field operations, and portable backup use.
60-Hour Battery Life on the RB48 — Field Test Results
Five-minute field test of the Retevis RB48 GMRS radio: measured 60-hour standby battery life and clarification of the difference between NOAA weather receive and true NOAA alert capability.
Young People Have a Huge Advantage in Ham Radio | Air Force MARS, FT8 & Modern Radios
Why younger operators may have an edge learning amateur radio today, plus practical setup tips for FT8 digital modes and modern menu-driven equipment.
How To Build An Emergency Communications Plan
Ten-minute walkthrough on creating a family communication plan for emergencies: identifying priorities, choosing primary and backup methods, scheduling check-ins, and handling failures.
Ham Radio Communication: Distress, Urgency & Safety Signals Explained
Seven-minute walkthrough of five critical radio signals—MAYDAY, SOS, PAN PAN, SECURITE, VVV—and when to use each in emergency and disaster communication.
Ask Dave, August 2026: More About AM
Technical walkthrough of AM carrier signals using oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer, for radio operators building emergency comms skills.
Antenna Adapters Every Radio Operator Should Own
Eight-minute walkthrough of RF connectors (SMA, BNC, PL-259, SO-239) with practical guidance on building a field-ready adapter kit to solve antenna-to-radio mismatches.
Ham Exam Preparation
Overview of amateur radio licensing, station rules, and communication procedures for emergency messaging during natural disasters and grid-down scenarios.
Four Decades of Service: One Mission: Keep Amateur Radio Alive
40-year ham radio operator recounts his journey from 1984 licensing through disaster response work and founding the Academy of Ham Radio to train emergency communicators.
The Radio Wouldn't Stop Transmitting — Here's Why
Diagnose and fix radio transmission lock-up caused by poorly shielded USB cables in digital mode operations.
Retevis RB48 Review: Great Radio, Disappointing Weather Alerts
Early field test of the Retevis RB48 GMRS radio, including a real-world weather alert reception failure and what impressed the reviewer about audio, siren, and battery life.
Build Your Own Off-Grid Network Right Now With MeshCore
Fourteen-minute walkthrough of setting up a local mesh network for emergency communications using MeshCore repeaters and field-tested gear.
Emergency Communications Starter Kit
Six-minute walkthrough of a practical emergency comms setup for beginners: radio selection, power, antenna, planning, and training without expensive tactical gear.
Scanners and Walkie Talkies are NOT the Same Thing
Seven-minute breakdown of how scanner receivers differ from two-way radios, with real-world monitoring uses and a hands-on review of the GRE PSR-300.
Field Day 2026: Hustler Vertical Antenna Performance in a Portable Setup
14-minute walkthrough of portable amateur radio station setup for Field Day, covering antenna placement, equipment choices, and power management for outdoor operation.
Most HTs Cannot Do This
Review of two Retevis handheld radios with emphasis on the amateur model's standout feature and practical portable radio capabilities.
I've been using this $30 for years: Honest review
Six-minute long-term durability review of the Baofeng UV-82X handheld dual-band radio, covering real-world performance, 220 MHz reception, battery life, and practical tips for budget-conscious preppers.
I Powered a 20W HF Radio With What!
Learn to measure actual power draw and battery runtime of portable ham radios using an inexpensive USB tester.
The Reason Your USB Device Won't Connect
Learn to identify which USB cables support data transfer versus charging only, a critical troubleshooting skill for radio programming and digital interfaces.
Serious Prime Day Deals
Curated Amazon deals on flashlights, radios, mesh networking nodes, power banks, and test equipment for preppers.
Introduction to Digital Modes
ARRL technical editor explains digital modes in amateur radio: what they are, why preppers should learn them, and how to get started.
The 5 Things You Need for Emergency Communications
Seven-minute breakdown of the five system components every emergency communication setup requires: operator skill, device selection, power, antenna, and planning.
Retevis RB48 Quick Start
Six-minute walkthrough: powering on, adjusting volume and channels, using PTT, menu navigation, and accessing NOAA weather on the Retevis RB48 FRS radio.
Retevis RB48 4-Pack Unboxing and First Impressions
Unboxing and hands-on first look at the Retevis RB48 heavy-duty waterproof walkie-talkies, covering build quality, features, battery life, and initial performance notes.
Follow-Up to My Tuner Video: Working HF in Rough Conditions
Practical demonstration of HF radio operation and tuning techniques in suboptimal field conditions, building on earlier tuner fundamentals.
I Built A Solar Powered Emergency Wi-Fi DMR Hotspot That Runs Indefinitely
Live demonstration of a grid-independent DMR radio hotspot powered by car battery and Starlink, showing how digital modes survive when infrastructure fails.
One Box, Every Digital Mode
Unbox and set up the HamSpot 5 multimode digital hotspot, a budget-friendly alternative to premium options that supports DMR, D-STAR, YSF, P25, and NXDN.
$2500 Bought Us Insane Coverage
Install a mountain-top LoRa mesh repeater for $2500 to extend off-grid communication range across a region.
I've Kept These GMRS Radios In My Car for a Year: Here's the Truth
Year-long field evaluation of GM15 GMRS radios: battery life, build quality, real-world performance, and actual use cases from a licensed ham and GMRS operator.
Two Essential Features for Handheld Emergency Radios
Ham operator breaks down USB charging and true NOAA EAS alert capability—the features that separate radios that actually warn you from ones that just receive.
Col de Vence | PRC-351 | 6m FM
Field test of a PRC-351 portable radio on the 6-meter FM band for local emergency communications, with discussion of why 6m FM is underutilized for disaster scenarios.
The Comment Section Was Right
Step-by-step walkthrough of flashing a Seeed Solar node with MeshR firmware, configuring repeater settings, and troubleshooting initial deployment.
Starlink Mini Powered Tripod: Off-Grid Field Test
Real-world field test of the Orbynexa PM166S battery and tripod for powering Starlink Mini in portable off-grid and emergency communications scenarios.
Survival AI When There's No Internet
Structured test of USB-based offline AI against ChatGPT using 100 survival questions; results show major accuracy gaps.
My Yaesu FT-891 Go Box
Building a portable ham radio station with a Yaesu FT-891 transceiver and FC-50 tuner for off-grid communications capability.
Wouxun KG-S88G PLUS GMRS Radio - Review Of The New GMRS Radio From Wouxun With Bluetooth Audio
Comparison review of the upgraded KG-S88G PLUS GMRS handheld, focusing on its Bluetooth compatibility with wireless headsets.
Scanning GMRS Channels - What Can You Hear On GMRS? I Scan All GMRS Frequencies
Real-world scan of all 22 GMRS channels to assess actual radio traffic and compare activity levels against CB radio claims.
Best GMRS & Ham Radios - My Top 3 Ham Radio GMRS Radio List For 2024
Reviews three affordable handheld radios for emergency communications, comparing features and capabilities of GMRS and ham options.
Grid Down Phones That Work
Testing which phones can still make calls, send texts, and access information when the grid goes down during natural disasters or outages.
My Daughter's First 2 Meter Ham Radio Experience
Step-by-step walkthrough of a first ham radio contact using a Kenwood handheld and repeater, with antenna and equipment details.
Baofeng UV-9R Pro - Survival Prepper
Eight-minute review of the Baofeng UV-9R Pro handheld radio for survival and emergency communications.
Flex 6300 and Maestro in Action
Five-minute hands-on walkthrough of a Flex 6300 software-defined radio and SmartSDR software after relocating the station and reinstalling the full setup.
Chameleon Antenna CHA-PORTA-MAST and Starlink Dish
Six-minute walkthrough mounting Chameleon's portable antenna mast with a Starlink dish for off-grid internet during RV camping.
ARRL Field Day 2022
Five-minute overview of ARRL Field Day: amateur radio operators setting up temporary emergency communication stations to practice disaster response and community coordination skills.
Retevis R29
14-minute walkthrough and evaluation of the Retevis RT29 two-way radio: features, build quality, range, and practical use cases for household communications.
Starlink Internet
Five-minute personal review of Starlink satellite internet service as an off-grid connectivity option for household preparedness.
Long Wire Antenna Raise
Seven-minute walkthrough of raising and installing a long wire antenna for emergency ham radio communications after storm damage.
New Radio from Stone Mountain Hamfest
A 9-minute walkthrough of what's available at a hamfest and what equipment the creator selected for their station.
VHF Propagation: Point-to-Point Analysis Tool for Ham Radio Communication
Eleven-minute walkthrough of the RF Line-of-Sight tool: how to use Google Maps and topography data to plan and troubleshoot long-distance radio paths for emergency communications.
Programming a Baofeng UV-5R with Chirp and a Programming Cable
Step-by-step walkthrough: using Chirp software and a USB cable to program frequencies and settings on a Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio.