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 30+ min
Top picks in Comms
Curated by topic, not commissionAll curated
SKAN Comms Club Video 1: How Radio Waves Work and Frequency Selection
Technical introduction to radio wave propagation and frequency selection for short, medium, and long-range off-grid communications.
44Net Connect: Portable, Public, Static IP Addresses for Amateur Radio Stations
70-minute technical presentation on using 44Net IP addressing to make amateur radio stations reachable during grid-down scenarios and emergency communications.
Your Whole Shack, In Your Pocket
Configure ham radio remotely from phone or laptop using POTACAT software and ECHOCAT companion app, with strategies for reaching your station without port forwarding.
3 Free Tools for Ham Radio: DX Cluster, ADIF Editor & Logging Software
Walkthrough of three free, cross-platform tools for ham radio operators: DXSpider cluster access, ADIF log editing, and OpsLog logging software for field operations.
Full HaleHound Build – Fire Weasel and Cinder Ferret
54-minute walkthrough building and comparing two ham radio emergency communication kits, covering assembly differences and performance trade-offs.
Critical Winlink Updates Every EmComm Operator Needs to Know
Eighty-four minutes on Winlink system enhancements and their application to emergency management operations, presented by a core Winlink Development Team member.
Pebble HF CW POTA Activation in Poor Band Conditions
55-minute field demonstration: morse code operation on a portable HF radio during a Parks on the Air activation, with real QSO examples and practical troubleshooting in challenging conditions.
CW for POTA: A Beginner's Guide to Getting on the Air
Fifty-one minutes on learning Morse code and operating CW (continuous wave) amateur radio in the field, with practical tricks to activate Parks on the Air sites without advanced proficiency.
Meshwars and the Idaho Meshtastic Network
Interview with Idaho mesh network operators and the Meshwars platform creator on building decentralized, tower-free communications for off-grid resilience.
Portable Ham Radio Logging Apps: Ham2K PoLo Walkthrough
57-minute hands-on walkthrough of Ham2K Portable Logger app for field ham radio operations, covering portable gear upgrades, app selection, and step-by-step feature demonstration.
Throwdown: ICOM ID-5200 vs. Kenwood TM-D750
Side-by-side comparison of two dual-band mobile radios for emergency communication, covering features, performance, quirks, and repair tips.
Building Out the Meshcore Network in North Texas
Hour-long roundtable discussion with North Texas Meshtastic operators on deploying a local mesh network: equipment, setup, and practical lessons from the field.
2026 Amateur Radio ShakeOut - Preparedness for Everyone
Hour-long nationwide training session on amateur radio emergency communications and household preparedness planning, presented by RATPAC with expert speakers and supporting documentation.
Creating an Amateur Radio Club SOG (Standard Operating Guide)
How to develop and maintain standard operating procedures for an amateur radio emergency communications club, presented by N7XDL to RATPAC's nationwide operator network.
A New Group and the Ham Radio Community | Community Discussions
Hour-long panel discussion with six ham radio operators on community, decentralized comms, mesh networks, and off-grid connectivity.
ICOM ID-5200 First Setup: Testing KISS TNC, D-STAR, APRS, WinLink
Fifty-nine-minute unboxing and initial configuration of the ICOM ID-5200 dual-band transceiver, covering D-STAR digital modes, APRS packet radio, and WinLink email over radio.
How to Power a 100W Ham Radio with Portable Solar Panels
Step-by-step assembly of a 100W portable solar power system for field ham radio operations: solar panels, MPPT charge controllers, LiFePO4 battery, and Powerpole connectors, with full wiring demonstration.
CFT-1 5-Band CW Transceiver: Build Series Part 2
47-minute walkthrough completing the assembly of a CFT-1 ham radio transceiver, covering final construction steps and testing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ham Radio Activation at Monte Sano: Live Demo and Beginner Gear Tour
Forty minutes of live ham radio activation in the field, with gear walk-through and practical tips for newcomers learning emergency communication skills.
Shreveport Bossier Hamfest Walkthrough
31-minute walkthrough of a regional hamfest: portable ham radio gear, antennas, power systems, and hands-on operating demonstrations at a live event.
Turmoil Tuesday - Are You Training & Practicing?
Hour-long discussion on developing and maintaining practical preparedness skills, with featured gear for off-grid communications and solar power systems.
Episode 4: When Everything Fails
Medical protocols, PPE loadouts, and communication systems for compound disaster scenarios involving disease outbreaks and grid failure.
Ham Radio General Grade Exam Journey: Two Months of Training and Morse Code Mastery
45-minute documentation of a two-month ham radio General Grade licensing program, covering Morse Code training, exam preparation, and group study structure for emergency communications.
Let's Hit The ISS With APRS!!
Live walkthrough of APRS beacon transmission through the International Space Station using handheld radio gear, frequencies, and portable setup.
The Window Is Closing
Comprehensive threat assessment and action items spanning fuel storage, medical response, communications, home security, and tactical readiness.
Ham Nation #628: Huntsville Hamfest, Young Ham Of The Year, and Repeater AI Assistant
Amateur radio news, community hamfest coverage, and discussion of emerging ham radio technologies including an AI-assisted repeater system.
What Should I Bring to Defcon 2026?
Discussion of portable ham radio gear recommendations and emergency communication equipment selection for field deployment and off-grid scenarios.
Digital Modes, APRS & Field Ops with Craig KM6LYW
Two operators discuss portable ham radio data modes in the field: APRS for safety, Winlink for off-grid email, DigiPi builds, solar power setups, and radio selection for backpack deployments.
Mesh Networking Live: Meshtastic and MeshCore Firmware Setup
Real-time walkthrough of setting up Meshtastic and MeshCore mesh networking firmware for off-grid emergency communications.
Ham Nation #626: All About The Big E!
One-hour discussion of Sporadic E propagation, amateur radio news, and listener Q&A with Gordon West and other ham radio instructors.
Field Day Setup Party With W6TRW
Live coverage of amateur radio Field Day setup: portable station assembly, equipment demonstrations, antenna rigging, and emergency communication readiness in a remote location.
Ham Radio Antenna Citation: Regulations, Legal Resources, and Solutions
How one ham operator resolved a municipal citation on radio antennas, with guidance on ARRL legal resources and regulatory compliance for home station setup.
ARRL Radio Review Database and Portable Radio Gear Guide
Walk through the new ARRL radio comparison database, review key metrics for emergency radios, and explore portable ham gear options for grid-down communication.
What is 44Net Connect? Why You Want To Access This Free System
Technical overview of 44Net, a free amateur radio network for emergency communication, hosted by John Burwell from the ARDC.
Equipping Families for Emergency Communication: Beyond the Radios
67-minute training session on family emergency communication planning, covering non-radio backup systems, protocols, and preparedness strategies from RATPAC instructor Joe Bassett.
MAYHEMIC Thursday - Will They Come When You Need Them?
Hour-long discussion on community preparedness and whether neighbors will help in emergencies, with demonstrations of Meshtastic off-grid communication devices.
Idaho NVIS Day: Wildfire Season Communications Exercise
Live amateur radio exercise across multiple Idaho counties testing NVIS antennas and near-vertical-incidence skywave propagation for emergency wildfire communications.
Simulated Disaster Emergency Radio Communications
Hour-long hands-on walkthrough of multiple methods to transmit and receive radio signals during a simulated disaster, with gear recommendations and real-world testing.
POTA: A Snapshot of U.S. POTA Sites, Activations, and Activators
58-minute overview of Parks on the Air program participation, site distribution, activation patterns, and operator demographics across the U.S., presented by K4FMH to amateur radio emergency communications practitioners.
We will get the word out!
Doug and Stacy discuss glyphosate spraying in Lake Tahoe, data center expansion, eminent domain farm seizures, fasting protocols, reducing EMF exposure in the home, and organizing local resistance networks.
Amateur Radio: CSI (Clean Signal Initiative) Goes Mainstream
52-minute technical presentation on the Clean Signal Initiative and radio signal integrity standards for amateur radio emergency communications, presented by Rob Sherwood NC0B to RATPAC.