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 162 videos · runtime Under 5 min
Top picks in Comms
Curated by topic, not commissionAll curated
GMRS vs. Ham Radio Explained: Frequencies, Licensing, and Emergency Communications
Two-minute breakdown of GMRS, ham radio, and license-free MURS systems—which frequencies you can transmit on, licensing requirements, and how to choose the right radio for emergency communications.
Diamond CR320A Tri Band Ham Radio Antenna
Overview of the Diamond CR320A tri-band antenna for ham radio communication and emergency preparedness.
Get More Privacy on Your Radio with This Feature
One-minute walkthrough: how to activate scramble mode (SCR) on a Baofeng radio and test its effectiveness for secure emergency communications.
Your New ID-5200 Is Already Out of Date
Step-by-step walkthrough of updating Icom ID-5200 D-STAR radio firmware via micro SD card.
Portable HF Antenna Test for Off-Grid Communications
Hands-on testing and setup of a portable HF antenna for decentralized, tower-independent radio communications.
POTA Antenna Shootout Results: The Data Breakdown
Comparative performance data from three portable HF antennas tested in the field: contact counts, radiation patterns, and practical tradeoffs for different operating styles.
How to Send Secure Texts on Your Radio
Configure DMR radio TX contact groups, color codes, and slot operations to send encrypted text messages without cellular dependency in grid-down scenarios.
Midland Emergency Radio from BattlBox
Hands-on look at the Midland emergency radio and what BattlBox included in this emergency communications bundle.
Why a GMRS Radio Belongs on You When Cell Towers Fail | Backup Communications Made Simple
Thirty-seven-minute walkthrough of GMRS radios as backup comms when cellular fails: range, repeaters, gear selection, and how to plan and practice with family.
European Governments Recommend Emergency Radios for Grid Failures and Cyberattacks
What European governments are advising citizens to stock for emergency communication during grid failures, cyberattacks, or war scenarios.
Essential Tips for Successful Field Operations
ARRL Lab expert shares practical tips for optimizing portable radio power, antenna performance, and field station reliability during outdoor amateur radio operations.
On-Air Antenna Shootout: Dipole vs Vertical vs Wire
Live field test comparing three portable HF antennas (dipole, vertical, end-fed wire) with real signal reports from across the country.
From Beginners to Licensed Hams: 3 Real Student Stories
Three students share their paths to earning their ham radio Technician license through structured study and practice, covering motivation, learning methods, and returning to the hobby after decades away.
Faraday Sling Bag That Blocks All Signals: SLNT Compact Review
Two-minute gear walkthrough of the SLNT Compact Faraday sling bag for signal blocking, privacy, and device protection.
POTA Antenna Shootout: 3 Portable Systems Tested Head-to-Head
Field comparison of three portable amateur radio antenna systems (Alpha Dipole, Chameleon vertical, SpoolTenna wire) tested live at Cedar Hill State Park with real-world radiation patterns and practical use cases.
Why Your Antenna Tuner Doesn't Actually Tune Anything
Technical breakdown of how antenna tuners (transmatches) work: impedance matching between radio and feedline, SWR, and why the name is misleading.
Low Power Hour: QRP Operating with K0KLB & KO4GSM
Live discussion on QRP (low-power) ham radio operations, field deployments, and practical techniques for reaching distant stations with minimal power.
Icom 5200 APRS with Linux Mint and YAAC
Configure APRS tracking on an Icom 5200 radio using Linux Mint and YAAC software for emergency communication.
When the Power Goes Out, What Else Stops?
Overview of cascading infrastructure failures during grid outages: water systems, fuel, communications, medical equipment, and payment systems.
Earmore M32+ Tactical Headset Review: Night Vision Helmet Integration
Side-by-side comparison of PTT systems for encrypted radio use with tactical helmets, including integration ease and customization options.
What Happens to Emergency Alerts When the Cell Network Dies?
Learn how the Mystic Alerts Act enables satellite-based emergency notifications when cellular infrastructure fails.
From Military Communications to a Technician License | Hayato KO6OLN
Ham Radio Prep student testimonial: transitioning from military radio experience to amateur radio licensing, and discovering civilian emergency communications.
The Best Free Ham Radio Tools: HR4NT Apps
Overview of three free amateur radio software tools—Pocket Elmer, Antenna Forge, and Radio Rosetta—for learning, antenna design, and radio programming.
They Fixed the One Thing I Hated
Test USB cables for data transfer, charging capability, and faults across multiple connector types to avoid failures in the field.
Everything Hiding Inside
Review of the Klein 11-in-1 ratcheting multi-bit screwdriver and nut driver for radio, antenna, and shack projects.
Is Your Kid's Toy Radio Breaking the Law? FCC Rules for GMRS and FRS
How GMRS and FRS radios share frequencies, what power limits separate them, and which FCC rules actually matter for household radio use.
What SWR Really Means for Your Antenna
42-second breakdown of Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) and why a low reading doesn't guarantee antenna efficiency or power transmission.
The Solar Adapter Every Go Bag Needs
Test and learn how a direct solar-to-USB-C adapter simplifies emergency power without batteries or charge controllers.
Overcoming Mic Fright: Getting Started with Amateur Radio
How to push past hesitation and make your first ham radio contact as a new operator, with encouragement from the welcoming amateur radio community.
Are You Breaking FCC Radio Rules Without Knowing It?
Why some GMRS repeaters may not be FCC type-accepted, what that means for users, and how real-world radio compliance works in practice.
Icom's New ID-5200: Built-In TNC + APRS Walkthrough | Dayton Hamvention 2026
Four-minute walkthrough of Icom's new ID-5200 dual-band radio with built-in TNC, APRS, color display, and GPS—plus new antenna tuner and desktop microphone from Dayton Hamvention 2026.
Tour the ARRL Headquarters Antenna Farm
Tour of ARRL's Newington headquarters showing multiband HF beams, VHF/UHF Yagis for satellite tracking, repeater verticals, and emergency weather monitoring dishes.
Kenwood TM-D750 Advanced Features
Setup walkthrough for digipeating, cross-band repeating, D-STAR reflector access, and APRS bulletin transmission on the Kenwood TM-D750 dual-band radio.
Meshtastic Node Success: 3 Months of Island Data
Three months of real-world performance data from a Meshtastic mesh radio node deployed on an island, demonstrating practical off-grid communications without towers or carriers.
How Much of Your Emergency Plan Depends on Your Phone?
Ninety seconds on identifying which parts of your emergency plan rely on your phone and what backups you need.
The #1 Mistake New Ham Radio Operators Make
Advice on choosing your first handheld amateur radio and budgeting for reliable gear as a beginner operator.
Upgrade your tactical helmet with encrypted comms
Walkthrough of the Earmor M32 Plus headset and push-to-talk setup integrated with encrypted DMR radios on night vision helmets and chest rigs.
How to Stop RF in the Shack: Common Mode Chokes Explained
36-second technical tip on diagnosing and fixing common mode current interference in ham radio stations using common mode chokes.
What to Do After Getting Your Ham Radio License
Beginner roadmap for newly licensed amateur radio operators: choosing your first radio, making your first contact, and next steps after licensure.
Offline Ham Lookup Mobile App
One-minute demo of an offline amateur radio call-sign lookup app that works without internet connectivity.
Building a Decentralized Truck Node
Walkthrough of setting up a mobile mesh radio node in a vehicle for off-grid, carrier-independent communications without towers or permission.
GMRS Radio Repeater Transmitting Explained
41-minute walkthrough on programming GMRS repeater channels on a Baofeng radio, covering frequency offsets and setup for channel 15 to reliably reach local repeaters.
Trunk Radio Mount & Simplex Test with K0WHW
Installing a mobile ham radio in a vehicle trunk, securing the mounting bracket, and running a live simplex transmission test on 146.52 MHz.
Deploying a Solar MeshCore Node in My Heritage Live Oak — PeakMesh Altitude Install
Step-by-step installation of a solar-powered mesh radio repeater in a tree for off-grid communication coverage.
Mobile Ham Radio Install: Bulletpoint Dash Mount & Faceplate Setup
Step-by-step installation of a Bulletpoint dash mount for a mobile ham radio control head, covering drilling, hardware fastening, and reassembly.
Stop Wasting Repeaters! Use the REVERSE Button
How to use the reverse button on a handheld radio to check if you can communicate directly with another station, preserving repeater capacity for those who need it.
Power a 100-Watt Ham Radio Portable and Off-Grid
How to set up a portable 100-watt ham radio powered by solar panels, MPPT charge controller, and LiFePO4 battery for off-grid field operation.
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.