CB RADIO - Something to Think Seriously About
Are you a Prepper - one of those folks that have been, or are preparing for large scale power loss and social upheaval of one type or another?
Before you stock up on the items on your list, like canned food, water, supplies etc, ask yourself this question. How, and too whom, will you want to communicate. Electronic communications, whether e-mail, iphone, or text will be gone, shortly after power loss.
The solution is get your self a CB Radio - it's cheep enough. It is especially useful for chatting with folks in your general area - say a 15 mile radius and most CB Radios operate on 12 volts for use in your car, as you'd have no power at home. The additional advantage here, is your signal is not stationary, it keeps moving around, if you get my point.
Citizens Band Radio works on the 11 meter AM band and limited to 5 watts Even when other forms of communication have gone down, CB radio service will be available to you usually for distances of up to 25 miles depending on terrain. During certain atmospheric conditions, radio signals can be reflected in a way that makes it possible to communicate with people over 1,000 miles away. But in general, with a proper antenna, you should be able to achieve communication distances ranging up to 25 miles on a clear channel - there are forty for your use.
With loss of power you'll have no, internet and loss of cell towers after a couple of days. However, all CB’s work on 12v for automotive use. Just plug it into your cigarette lighter socket and you’ll need a magnetic roof top antenna too. Of course you have to run your vechicle to charge the battery now and then unless you are on the move.
If you plan to use your CB Radio at home, remember your signal can easily be triangulated and you’ll need a power pac to convert your house current to 12vDC, if you still have electricity.
PS. Ham radio has many frequency (bands) choices and a 1000 watt power limitation. World wide communications is pretty much guaranteed, however a special antenna and technical skills are required to obtain the necessary license. Portable use is only practical on the 2 meter band and higher.
And one last alternative is a VHF Marine radio. Its use is only allowed for marine applications. They function like a CB radio, only on a high frequency close to the 2 meter FM ham band. They run on 12V and of course are mobile, boat or car. Their range is 25 miles over water.
Here is a link to a practical Video on CB Radio