<story><title>Handheld two-way radios for preppers and other curious folks</title><url>https://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/prep/handheld.html</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>Mister_X</author><text>I live in a remote area where Ham radio is still a vital communication protocol during power outages and such, but lately groups of non Hams (preppers, and such) have decided that buying those cheap FRS radios will serve them during an emergency.&lt;p&gt;And some of those groups are pushing people to get their FCC Ham license and use VHF radios because they can be used over greater distances.&lt;p&gt;Unfortunately, almost none of those folks are actually practicing with their radios to become comfortable using them.&lt;p&gt;So when an emergency occurs, they have no idea of what to do on the air, and they will cause harmful interference because they are willfully ignorant of the local communication protocols already set up by generations of Ham operators.&lt;p&gt;They will be a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.&lt;p&gt;I put on a &amp;quot;Jump Bag&amp;quot; presentation every year in my small town, and I warn folks that if they get an FRS radio or Ham radio, that they need to practice with it and become comfortable using it, otherwise they will not be helpful during an emergency, and will cause problems with the coordinated Hams.&lt;p&gt;Aside from that, I also recommend against getting an FRS radio unless they are willing to make sure the batteries in them are replaced on a regular basis, otherwise when the emergency occurs, they will find a dead FRS radio with corroded battery contacts, basically a paperweight and nothing more.&lt;p&gt;73,
KE6---</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>themodelplumber</author><text>How will FRS users cause harmful interference on the ham bands? I think FRS is pretty amazing for what it is. It builds confidence if practiced in its simplicity and there are FRS neighborhood nets run by ham radio operators as well.&lt;p&gt;I was surprised to find that during an emergency, FM broadcast reception alone can be an awesome solution for many, if not most. Some friends wandered over to my ham shack to ask if that was where the action was, but most of my information came from the local public&amp;#x2F;NPR station&amp;#x27;s hourly reports. (The ham repeaters were useful for hyper-local fire spotting, and generator&amp;#x2F;gear questions.)</text></comment>
<story><title>Handheld two-way radios for preppers and other curious folks</title><url>https://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/prep/handheld.html</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>Mister_X</author><text>I live in a remote area where Ham radio is still a vital communication protocol during power outages and such, but lately groups of non Hams (preppers, and such) have decided that buying those cheap FRS radios will serve them during an emergency.&lt;p&gt;And some of those groups are pushing people to get their FCC Ham license and use VHF radios because they can be used over greater distances.&lt;p&gt;Unfortunately, almost none of those folks are actually practicing with their radios to become comfortable using them.&lt;p&gt;So when an emergency occurs, they have no idea of what to do on the air, and they will cause harmful interference because they are willfully ignorant of the local communication protocols already set up by generations of Ham operators.&lt;p&gt;They will be a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.&lt;p&gt;I put on a &amp;quot;Jump Bag&amp;quot; presentation every year in my small town, and I warn folks that if they get an FRS radio or Ham radio, that they need to practice with it and become comfortable using it, otherwise they will not be helpful during an emergency, and will cause problems with the coordinated Hams.&lt;p&gt;Aside from that, I also recommend against getting an FRS radio unless they are willing to make sure the batteries in them are replaced on a regular basis, otherwise when the emergency occurs, they will find a dead FRS radio with corroded battery contacts, basically a paperweight and nothing more.&lt;p&gt;73,
KE6---</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>chmod600</author><text>How do you recommend practicing? I often have trouble with the basics, like connecting to repeaters. When I do, I don&amp;#x27;t hear much traffic or it seems like a semi-private conversation where it would feel &amp;quot;rude&amp;quot; to say something.&lt;p&gt;Do I just keep talking into the void and waiting?&lt;p&gt;Also, I have cheap equipment, so scanning is really slow and I don&amp;#x27;t know if it even really works. I can make simplex connections on 70cm and 2m with friends when I prearrange, but that&amp;#x27;s it.&lt;p&gt;I don&amp;#x27;t have tons of time but if I felt like I could hop into a conversation and be welcome (and others would be patient) then I would sometimes.</text></comment>