When cell towers go down, and the internet’s gone, how are you reaching anyone?
Let’s break down how to build a real-world comms kit that works when everything else doesn’t.
1. Know Your Options
- FRS/GMRS Radios: Good for neighborhood comms. No license needed (FRS).
- HAM Radio: Long-range and reliable. Requires a license, but worth it.
- CB Radio: Old-school but still useful—especially in vehicles.
2. Build the Kit
Here’s what we include in ours:
- 2+ handheld FRS/GMRS radios with spare batteries
- 1 CB radio + mobile antenna (for your car or base station)
- A dual-band HAM radio (Baofeng UV-5R is solid and cheap)
- Printed frequency cheat sheets
- Notebook + pen
- Maps with marked meeting points
- Flash drive with digital docs (encrypted)
3. Power Your Kit
- AA/AAA batteries (rechargeable)
- Portable solar charger
- Hand-crank charger as backup
4. Communication Plan
- Who are you contacting?
- When and where do you check in?
- What channel/frequency do you use?
- Practice it with family. Print it and stick it in every go-bag.
5. Bonus: Low-Tech Backups
- Signal mirror
- Whistle
- Colored cloth flags
Final Thought
Communication is power. Build your kit now, learn the tools, and sleep better knowing you’re not cut off if things go sideways.