r/preppers • u/TatumBird22 • 8h ago

SHTF Cross-Country Comms Prepping for Doomsday

I live on the west coast while my brother and his family are in New England. What's my best option for comms? Want it to be portable. Money isn't an issue. Please help with recommendations.

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u/VisualEyez33 8h ago

Study for and pass the first two ham radio exam tiers. Your brother will also need to do this, too. Around $2000 budget for each of you for a basic base station setup. This is the only option that involves no other infrastructure than your own. You will not have 100% reliable comms, but should be able to get through to each other anywhere from a few times a day to a few times a week, depending on radio wave propagation conditions, which are influenced by solar flares and geomagnetic activity.

Or, get garmin inreach satellite communicator devices and the monthly subscriptions that they require. This is much less to set up and figure out compared to the ham radio route.

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u/TatumBird22 8h ago

Testing aside, any specific HAM radio set ups you'd recommend? Remember portability is king.

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u/NorthernPrepz 8h ago

Remember that portable is relative. More weight means potentially more features and potentially more flexibility or options. You are looking at HF for cross country, so conditions and time of day will greatly impact your ability to get through. You also need to power this thing. So portable in a car is different than in a pack. What’s the weight requirement etc?

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u/TatumBird22 8h ago

Scenario would range from comms across the country to packing up and needing it as we travel to meet.

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u/NorthernPrepz 8h ago edited 8h ago

Are you in a car? On a mule? On foot? How much power do you have available to you?

There are no plug and play options here. The right way to do it is to join a club, get set up, practice. You can get guidance on what you need.

If you just want to buy gear. Here you go. Though i can’t recommend this approach as you might not get what you need.

Edit: you’ll also need an antenna plus some items listed at the bottom of the page. Not sure what you can carry antenna wise.

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u/TatumBird22 8h ago

Appreciate you. Thanks.