off-grid-comms
41 videos tagged off-grid-comms across 5 categories.
All videos
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.
Portable HF Antenna Test for Off-Grid Communications
Hands-on testing and setup of a portable HF antenna for decentralized, tower-independent radio communications.
Copper Wire vs Electric Fence String—Resonant Length Comparison for 20m Dipole Antennas
Eight-minute experiment comparing resonant lengths and SWR performance of copper wire versus conductive electric fence string in half-wave dipole configurations for the 20-meter amateur radio band.
The Elecrow ThinkNode M5 Meshtastic & Meshcore Node
Eight-minute walkthrough of three LoRa mesh radio nodes: the M5 (ESP32-S3, E-ink display), M1 (nRF52840, MeshCore), and M3 Tracker, comparing power efficiency, form factor, and ecosystem fit.
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.
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.
Off-Road Communication Made Easy: GMRS vs CB
Fourteen-minute comparison of GMRS and CB radios for trail communication: power output, signal quality, range, and repeater access for group coordination without carriers or permission.
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.
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: Real-World Testing on the Road
Twenty-four minutes of practical ham radio operation during a road trip, demonstrating Allstar and HF radio setups for decentralized off-grid communications.
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.
Building a GoHam Manpack Kit for the BTECH UV-50Pro
Step-by-step assembly of a portable amateur radio manpack using the BTECH UV-50Pro radio, battery, and support gear for off-grid field operations.
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.
Long-Range Mesh Networking with Meshtastic
Introduction to LoRa mesh networks and Meshtastic devices for long-range emergency communication without internet or cell service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hams and Hurricane Season
ARRL Emergency Coordinator discusses ham radio's role in Atlantic hurricane season response and preparedness.
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.
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.
Off-Grid Radio Direction Finding: BTECH UV-Pro Base Station Detection 5 Miles Away
Field test of a handheld radio's ability to locate and communicate with a distant base station using direction finding and over-the-air messaging, without cellular coverage.
Portable Ham Radio Setup: On the Air in Under 60 Seconds
Sixteen minutes on a lightweight, bike-friendly ham radio rig designed for rapid deployment in the field, with practical tips for quick activation.
Send Email Over HF Radio When Cell and Internet Are Down
How to set up an HF radio email gateway at home to send and receive emails from the field during infrastructure outages using amateur radio.
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.
Complete Portable HF Station in One Pouch for Field Day 2026
Walkthrough of a complete portable HF communications setup (transceiver, antenna, power) that fits in a single pouch for field-tested independent comms.
Ham Radio Field Day on Solar Power
Solar-powered ham radio field deployment techniques and equipment for off-grid communications and emergency preparedness.
Mayhemic Thursday - Gear Up! Bug-In and Bug-Out Gear
Overview of gear for staying put or evacuating: Meshtastic off-grid communications, solar power nodes, tracking devices, backup power systems, ham radio training, and emergency medical supplies.
MAYHEMIC Thursday - Gear Up!
Overview of Meshtastic off-grid communication hardware and solar power systems for bugging in and bugging out scenarios.
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.
$2500 Bought Us Insane Coverage
Install a mountain-top LoRa mesh repeater for $2500 to extend off-grid communication range across a region.
Washington Governor Highlights Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day
Governor Ferguson endorses amateur radio's role in emergency communications, previewing ARRL Field Day 2026 and advocacy for residential antenna installation rights.
Meshtastic with Voice: Unboxing and Building the Muzi Works Base Uno and Duo
Unboxing and assembly of Meshtastic mesh radio hardware with emerging voice-over-mesh capability for off-grid emergency communications networks.
The Magic and Importance of HAM Radio
Two-minute overview of HAM radio capabilities and why communications infrastructure matters for household emergency preparedness.
Meshtastic at Sophia Hack Lab
85-minute technical presentation on Meshtastic mesh radio platform: hardware options, configuration, field deployment, and community use cases for decentralized communications.
GhostNet Livestream: Emergency Radio and Mesh Networking Discussion
Live interview with S2 Underground on GhostNet, an open-source emergency radio communication system for disaster and off-grid scenarios.
Retivis RT47 FRS Review for Preppers and Ham Radio Ops
13-minute hands-on review of the Retivis RT47 FRS radio, covering features, performance, and suitability for preppers and amateur radio operators.