New to learning about radio communication. I’m trying to find out what setup I would need to establish communication with my mom, who lives 50 miles away from me in Florida, in the case of a SHTF scenario. I have been on the internet and YouTube for 2 hours and feel like a ping pong ball with the direction of all the information. I’ve narrowed down the search to thinking I would require a 10 meter radio and sounds as though antenna used also makes a big difference? The Stryker SR-955 HPC keeps popping up? Not sure it’s even close to what I need. I’ve become a little overwhelmed and realize there is a great deal to learn, as well as possible licensing involved. I’m just hoping someone can point me in the right direction to start to gain the knowledge I need to understand. Thank you in advance to any help anyone can provide.
I’m really sorry, but you’ve got a problem. The snag is that quite a few obstacles are in the way. I’m a Brit - but my understanding is Florida is pretty flat, as in no mountain tops! VHF and UHF are essentially line of site bands, so even with directional antennas at both ends, up in the air, 50 miles is pushing it. Long distance communication also requires some operator skill both ends. Licence wise - the US, like most countries has short range, licence free operation - but that is often 500m, not remotely 50 miles. You could study to be a radio ham, and put up the directional antennas, but that may be impossible for your mum. You could apply for a business radio licence - but in the UK, a wide area licence or a link licence is very expensive and maybe unavailable. In the US you could use the HF bands, like 11m CB, or amateur bands - BUT - these broadly work on ground wave propogation worst case, so probably again NOT 50 miles, or you bounce signals of layers of the atmosphere, which increases range BUT is not remotely reliable. The hams have access to many HF bands, so when 10m is closed, might find better paths on 14MHz, or lower bands. This is clearly a hobby that takes time and effort - rubbish for talking to your relatives with reliability and simplicity.
I can’t think of any simple and inexpensive method to cover 50 miles reliably. Where I live, one city is 30miles away, and I can reach that from here. However, another 40 miles away is impossible because there is higher ground between us.
Equipment wise, the radios are probably the easiest part, antennas the most difficult. That Stryker is a radio for hams - so that’s a bit of study for your mum and you, then an exam - callsigns and regulations. No guarantee your 50 miles will work. 10m is close to 11m CB - and range on CB bands is down to geography, time of day, weather conditions, sunspot cycles and a large antenna both ends!
Thank you, so much, for taking the time to answer. I was kind of afraid something like this would be the answer, as everything I’ve been reading has been sounding that way. I hoping I was just missing something and there was an option I hadn’t discovered. I’m at about 20’ elevation and Mom is at about 312’. She happens to be pretty close to the highest elevation in the state, and it’s flat land in between, but taking everything else into consideration, that won’t solve our problems. Mom is a senior but quick and smart and would probably be able to figure out the logistics with time, and we’ve both talked about studying and trying to take the exam, but as you said, it’s clearly a hobby that takes time to learn. She only lives an hour away, but sounds like it’s time to bring her closer or for me to move closer. Again, I appreciate your time. Since we’re just getting started, I imagine there will be more questions.
Your Mother lives 50miles from you in Florida… Are you also in Florida or a nearby state with your Mother living closer to the northern border? Reason I am asking is a GMRS license or a ham license utilizing linked repeaters would accomplish what you are wanting to do. It is just a matter of there being repeaters within range of both of you (or one that you could both connect to). If you’d like to provide a little more info on the geography of where you are both located (nearest major cities would help) we could look further into options.
We dont do shtf or prep stuff in the UK, as pretty much we leave that to the government, but i was under the impression that you US folk did not include repeaters in the systems, because they need power, and a repeater site, equipment and a backup power supply is just too expensive. Install cost plus recurring costs for rent, servicing, generator maintenance etc seem out of proportion.
Here in the UK, British Telecom were installing fibre like mad, getting rid of copper, but it has stopped dead. Vulnerable people, use copper cables because they also supply power, protected at the local exchange. In a simple power cut, the telephones stop working. Our government have prevented BT switching them to a modern system that may not work in an emergency. In some cases, they have had to restore copper remote cabled wiring. Our backup emergency comms systems, (that i helped install in the 80s/90s ) are all gone here. We have no county linking any more or emergency plans for comms for the public. We see the US firms building and selling bunkers and dont join in. Nobody here has any individual protection plans. Very strange how we are different.
Wha5 you could do is search out one of the online path loss calculators. You emter the two locations, and it uses topography maps to calculate the lay of the land between them and tell you if a direct path is possible. It could be that you are both in great locations, and a UHF link with two decent antennas is possible. If so, a couple of slightly naughty radios, unused till the emergency, might be worksble? Your GMRS power limits restrict what you can do for everyday chat. Maybe in a genuine emergency, your excess power is ‘excusable’ and perhaps even allowed?
I applaud you for how you are helping mom with things. Moms are important!
I would like to offer as much help as I can muster for you and mom.
I can offer you comraderie with American Patriots in your area of operation (AO), technical advice, study material and an online exam testing. If you would wish it it can happen.
I know how important moms are and I want to help you and yours stay happy, healthy, and safe!
Respond and I will help you with the information.
Charlie (TJ)