Beginners Guide to Alternative Communication Devices Needed

[5150female]

I am hopeing to tap into the incredible amout of knowledge I know is on this board regarding a "Alternative Commmunication for Dummies" question.

What would you recommend and why for someone who doesn't want to spend a grip of money or have to become certified to use it in the event we didn't have our usual devices? Should I have a C.B. in my truck? Etc?

My grandpa (:love:Big Daddy & Gold Nugget out of Bloomington,Ca.) used to have an entire room devoted to radio equipment in front of a wall sized map of the U.S that he had pins in. He only got around to teaching me the "10 codes" and some radio etiquitte before passed.

All of your input would be greatly appreciated.

[Goldhedge]

I found this to be of some interest...:bussi:


String Telephone
INTRODUCTION

Besides traveling through air, sound can also travel through solid objects.
String Telephone
MATERIALS

* 2 paper or plastic cups (empty yogurt containers work well)
* 1 piece of string about 2 meters long
* Scissors
* 1 pushpin
* 2 paperclips

WHAT TO DO

1. Poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup with the pushpin.
2. Thread the string through the holes and tie a paperclip to each end of the string to ensure that it is secured inside the cup.
3. Give one cup to a friend, and take the cups far apart, so that the string is tight. Talk and listen to each other through the string telephone.

QUESTIONS

1. What happens if the string hangs loose?
2. What happens if you hold the string?
3. What happens if you connect three or four string telephones together?

SUMMARY

When you talk into the cup, you cause it to vibrate. This in turn causes the string to vibrate, which causes the cup on the other end of
the string to vibrate. Whoever is listening hears the vibrations caused by your voice after they have traveled through the cups and the string.

http://wow.osu.edu/experiments/sound/stringtele.html

[5150female]

Wow! Who knew my 8 year old was a genius? She did this last week. Ok so she is officially in charge of SHTF Communications. Believe it or not.....I am not real comfortable with that plan.:bear_thumb:

[Green Light]

In Ancient China, soldiers stationed along the Great Wall would alert each other of impending enemy attack by signaling from tower to tower. In this way, they were able to transmit a message as far away as 480 km (300 miles) in just a few hours.

Polybius, a Greek historian, came up with a more complex system of alphabetical smoke signals around 150 BC. He invented a system of converting Greek alphabetic characters into numeric characters. It was devised to enable messages to be easily signaled by holding sets of torches in pairs. This idea, known as the "Polybius square", also lends itself to cryptography and steganography. This cryptographic concept has been used with Japanese Hiragana and the Germans in the later years of the First World War.

The North American Indians also communicated via smoke signal. Each tribe had their own signaling system and understanding. A signaler started a fire on an elevation typically using damp grass, which would cause a column of smoke to rise. The grass would be taken off as it dried and another bundle would be placed on the fire. Reputedly the location of the smoke along the incline conveyed a meaning. If it came from half way up the hill, this would signify all was well, but from the top of the hill it would signify danger.[citation needed]

Smoke signals are still in use today. In Rome, the College of Cardinals uses smoke signals to indicate the selection of a new Pope. Eligible cardinals conduct a secret ballot until someone receives a vote of two-thirds plus one. The ballots are burned after each vote. Black smoke indicates a failed ballot; white smoke means a new Pope has been elected.

In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or gather people to a common area.
[edit] Examples

[5150female]

Y'all gonna' have me breeding pidgeons in a minute.

[NotTheOne]

Whistles can be heard for miles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistled_language

edit: of course, so can a gunshot.

[Green Light]

How do you get a pigeon to whistle?

[<===Foolsgold]

Hand held walkie talkies are affordable and abundant.

I have a couple (not the model shown) That work well up to a mile or two without obstructions.

I am not recommending this brand or model. It's just a link to get you thinking.

Motorola Talkabout MR350R FRS/GMRS 22-channel Two-way radio - pack of 2 from Motorola in Two-Way Radios $50

Motorola Talkabout MR350R walkie talkies are an easy and economical way for active families and friends to stay connected on the go. While fun and handy, they can also play an important role in your family's emergency preparedness plan. With a range of up to approx. 35 miles (bull$hit), the rechargeable MR350R two-way radios use both Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Services (GMRS) frequencies for more channel combinations and better connections. The large buttons make the MR350R easy to operate with your gloves on. Among its many features: 20 unique call tones, access to government weather and emergency alert channels; flexible charging options; hands-free operation; built-in LED flashlight; and push-to-talk power boost. Just like all Motorola products, these rugged two-way radios are designed for years of reliable service. And with Motorola walkie talkies there are no dropped calls, no roaming charges and never a monthly bill. « less… more »
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=walkie+talkie+radios&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5242439218958523588&ei=LegkTKH1MYWclgfcmcXQAw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ8wIwBA#

[Golddust]

I found this to be of some interest...:bussi:


String Telephone
INTRODUCTION

Besides traveling through air, sound can also travel through solid objects.
String Telephone
MATERIALS

* 2 paper or plastic cups (empty yogurt containers work well)
* 1 piece of string about 2 meters long
* Scissors
* 1 pushpin
* 2 paperclips

WHAT TO DO

1. Poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup with the pushpin.
2. Thread the string through the holes and tie a paperclip to each end of the string to ensure that it is secured inside the cup.
3. Give one cup to a friend, and take the cups far apart, so that the string is tight. Talk and listen to each other through the string telephone.

QUESTIONS

1. What happens if the string hangs loose?
2. What happens if you hold the string?
3. What happens if you connect three or four string telephones together?

SUMMARY

When you talk into the cup, you cause it to vibrate. This in turn causes the string to vibrate, which causes the cup on the other end of
the string to vibrate. Whoever is listening hears the vibrations caused by your voice after they have traveled through the cups and the string.

http://wow.osu.edu/experiments/sound/stringtele.html


Dude you are killing me...LMAO


All good things sorry to say take cash...

There are a bunch of ham radio operators on this site..


The c.b. option is good for short range (very short) If things go to hell in a hand basket
then ham gear would be the best choice. for short and international ranges..

But the thing is you could not use unless you take the simple steps of getting a license for use in
normal times..

If used without a license you Will be tracked down..


If used in abnormal times and the **** has hit the fan ...Cool....

Depends on what you want to do and who and where you want to
talk to..

The used equipment market for ham gear is the way to go..new rigs
do cost bucks,, but used equipment does hold its value almost for ever.
depends on the condition. and having a box and manual..Grin.....!

There is really no good and cheap ways to communicate over a long distance
unless you are prepared to spend for it..for less than 300-700 bucks depending
you can find some great equipment..
Just saying..

[Goldhedge]

Then there is Yaesu who makes a quality hand held radio.

Several members here have them.

http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=4C6F204F6FEBB5BAFA58BCC1C131EAC0&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

[5150female]

How do you get a pigeon to whistle?

That will be my next post question :cool:

[Golddust]

That will be my next post question :cool:


The thingy about feather types is getting them back and forth ..they are only good
one way...!

[Golddust]

Then there is Yaesu who makes a quality hand held radio.

Several members here have them.

http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=4C6F204F6FEBB5BAFA58BCC1C131EAC0&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0


I have the vx-7r and in my opinion is the best over all h/t ever..For its class.

[5150female]

I have the vx-7r and in my opinion is the best over all h/t ever..For its class.

Ok. That is good to know. Excellent. So with these, I could say communicate with someone in another state ?

[5150female]

The thingy about feather types is getting them back and forth ..they are only good
one way...!

and because if everything ever does go FUBAR they will be a food source. :eek:

[5150female]

Can Ham radio communications be shut down with an abundance of "white noise" say from something like the FCC or similiar?

[<===Foolsgold]

Well this whole thread has awoken my interest and I will be attending a local ham radio club's "field day" tomorrow and I bought "ham radio for dummies" which is a highly rated book for beginners.

[minimus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0nyfyifErg

[Lt Dan]

I vote for getting your ham license. Got mine last year and even though I don't talk much with local hams I listen in to them when ever I'm at my desk or driving down the road. I'm wanting to buy an Icom D-Star duel band for my van. My other two radios are Yaesu an HT and a hf/vhf/uhf all mode transceiver. The HT I carry in the van now or move it to the truck depending on which wheels I'm going to be driving. The all mode is at the desk and on 24-7 unless I disconnect for a thunder shower.

When traveling I also carry a hand held CB to listen in on the truckers. Not much else going on with CB anymore.

[5150female]

I vote for getting your ham license. Got mine last year and even though I don't talk much with local hams I listen in to them when ever I'm at my desk or driving down the road. I'm wanting to buy an Icom D-Star duel band for my van. My other two radios are Yaesu an HT and a hf/vhf/uhf all mode transceiver. The HT I carry in the van now or move it to the truck depending on which wheels I'm going to be driving. The all mode is at the desk and on 24-7 unless I disconnect for a thunder shower.

When traveling I also carry a hand held CB to listen in on the truckers. Not much else going on with CB anymore.

I appreciate that very much. I ask again can it be inundated with targeted "white noise" and taken off line?

I don't know if it would help me but I have "radio commications" experience. I was in charge of the Emergency Operations Center in the LAPD sub-station of the Northridge Mall. I handled all of the radio traffic, dispatch etc. ( left 3 weeks before it was totaled in the Northridge quake.) Would that help?

[Goldhedge]

I appreciate that very much. I ask again can it be inundated with targeted "white noise" and taken off line?
Would that be 'squelch' you are defining? If so, CB's have a knob that you can turn (at least they used to) to get rid of it.



I don't know if it would help me but I have "radio commications" experience. I was in charge of the
Emergency Operations Center in the LAPD sub-station of the Northridge Mall. I handled all of the
radio traffic, dispatch etc. ( left 3 weeks before it was totaled in the Northridge quake.) Would that help?
Sure, any experience is good. I'd love to hear you talk about your experiences in that position sometime.

[Goldhedge]

I'm wanting to buy an Icom D-Star duel band for my van.
Lt Dan, do you have any reason to get the Icom? What are the benifits?



My other two radios are Yaesu an HT and a hf/vhf/uhf all mode transceiver.
Can you explain where you would use the Yaesu vs the HT etc. Is one an overall better unit
useful in all situations? Which one would fit that bill?

I'm looking to lighten my load and you seem to have several choices....

[Lt Dan]

Couple of websites you can check out for more details on ham radio.

http://www.qrz.com/index.html

http://www.arrl.org/home

The QRZ website has online quiz tests you can take for practice. They helped me get ready for my exams, both tech and general. I didn't get my extra license - yet.

As for your question about "white noise" I suppose it could be done, no experience with having the issue. 2 meter normal operation for 2-way and repeater use is FM and usually quite clear depending on where the rigs are located, etc. The HF bands can get noisy as well as drifting due to long range sky waves - sort of like listening to a short wave radio. As much experience as you have with radios, I'd say you understand more than most people and probably as much as a lot of hams about radio operation in general, the difference being hams have to be licensed.

[Lt Dan]

Lt Dan, do you have any reason to get the Icom? What are the benifits?


Can you explain where you would use the Yaesu vs the HT etc. Is one an overall better unit
useful in all situations? Which one would fit that bill?

I'm looking to lighten my load and you seem to have several choices....The Icom is the only ham rig that comes with D-Star as an option. D-Star, a bit like skype only requires a ham radio, (google it), makes it possible to talk as far aways as the Internet with a 2 meter or 440 Handy Talky - (HT) or in the case with the radio I'm wanting a mobile rig. One of the guys at the club gave me a demonstration on his and while we just listened I heard a guy talking from Texas on 2 meter (normally line of sight) and we are in Ohio. The signal sounded like he was local. L-O-S as you know is like 6-10 miles, more if your antenna is higher up. So we normally use a repeater to talk further, just not to the range of Texas, that would take an HF (high frequency) radio.

My two radios are both made by Yaesu. The HT stands for handy talky and is 2 meter only, and the all mode lets me talk or listen in to all the ham bands, well except for D-Star and there are a couple other bands that it doesn't cover. But, I can listen in on the shortwave bands as well, why that radio is at my desk.

Really, I am very basic on ham equipment, the sky is the limit as they say, if I was more into it I could really have a lot of money tied up it the hobby. I have so many other interests that funnel away time and money into, that for now, have to take their place. Glad to answer any questions I can, on the one hand on the other....

[Goldhedge]

So, would you say the ICOM is better than the Yaesu?

this is interesting and future sighted:


Icom America, Inc. and PerCon Corporation announce a new website for your scanning enjoyment! Icomreceivers.com is the site you want to go to download the memory channels for your ICOM computer programmable receiver. The IC-PCR100, IC-PCR1000, IC-R2, IC-R3, IC-R10, IC-R8500, and IC-R75 are supported on the site. Future ICOM radios will be added as well.

Traveling in the US, just specify the database parameters of one or more of the following: zip code, city, county, state, radio service, frequency range, company, and many other combinations for the frequency information you want. The site will process specific requests and create an ICOM ICF file in a correct format for a chosen receiver. The user can download the file to his or her own computer and then, with the ICOM programming software, will be able to clone the data to an ICOM receiver. Online database has a huge number of frequencies sorted by many different parameters, most importantly by geographic location, frequency range and type of radio service.

Next time you are on the road don't waste time scanning for activity. Travel prepared with channels preprogrammed in your ICOM receiver! Visit PerCon's Frequency Database today!

[Golddust]

The Icom is the only ham rig that comes with D-Star as an option. D-Star, a bit like skype only requires a ham radio, (google it), makes it possible to talk as far aways as the Internet with a 2 meter or 440 Handy Talky - (HT) or in the case with the radio I'm wanting a mobile rig. One of the guys at the club gave me a demonstration on his and while we just listened I heard a guy talking from Texas on 2 meter (normally line of sight) and we are in Ohio. The signal sounded like he was local. L-O-S as you know is like 6-10 miles, more if your antenna is higher up. So we normally use a repeater to talk further, just not to the range of Texas, that would take an HF (high frequency) radio.

My two radios are both made by Yaesu. The HT stands for handy talky and is 2 meter only, and the all mode lets me talk or listen in to all the ham bands, well except for D-Star and there are a couple other bands that it doesn't cover. But, I can listen in on the shortwave bands as well, why that radio is at my desk.

Really, I am very basic on ham equipment, the sky is the limit as they say, if I was more into it I could really have a lot of money tied up it the hobby. I have so many other interests that funnel away time and money into, that for now, have to take their place. Glad to answer any questions I can, on the one hand on the other....


only in major city's if in the boon docks wtf??

for real .

just saying ..suckers

[Lt Dan]

only in major city's if in the boon docks wtf??

for real .

just saying ..suckersWell, yes, just saying.... In the boondocks cell phones don't work either. But D-Star is new technology that is coming to a small town near you. I was impressed because our club house is over 40 miles to the nearest large city, but there are now repeaters within range of the club house. Of course location is everything with just about anything radio related. Then to, I have talked on the normal 2 meter band through a repeater to people in the nearest city 40 miles or more away. What D-Star does is link to the Internet to extend the range to other D-Star users. But then you probably know more about ham radio than I do, being how new I am to the hobby. Read more on D-Star at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR

[Golddust]

Ok. That is good to know. Excellent. So with these, I could say communicate with someone in another state ?

No..This hand held is vhf 145mhz and uhf 440mhz line of sight only..
to do communications statewide , or international one needs to do hf , high frequency..starting at 160 meters , (just above the am broadcast band)
to 30mhz , a tad above the cb band 27mhz and the 10 meter ham band..

And again will say d star. is great but in the booddocks not so much ...Hell in this area 144mhz rules...some have tryed to get 440mhz going here several times
and the repeaters that are put up and users , over a amazing short time always go away..go figure..?

[Lt Dan]

I have the vx-7r and in my opinion is the best over all h/t ever..For its class.

I have a Yaesu VX-170 now (2 meter only) It's rugged and rather beefy, but works well. I like the VX-7R, what do you think of the VX-8R? I thought of buying one instead of a mobile rig. I use a mag mount external antenna in the van with the HT and 12v power supply pluged in for full power. The VX-8R has a lot of appeal for the price, (an extra $70 or so over the VX-7R). the Icom D-Star is right around $500, but has more power and can be used on the 2m/440 bands. If I spent more time on the road, I could see going with a mobile rig, but I spend most of my road time on short shopping trips. OTT, I do travel a couple times of year for vacations. There is also the option of an Icom HT duel band that is D-Star ready. So many options....

[Golddust]

I have a Yaesu VX-170 now (2 meter only) It's rugged and rather beefy, but works well. I like the VX-7R, what do you think of the VX-8R? I thought of buying one instead of a mobile rig. I use a mag mount external antenna in the van with the HT and 12v power supply pluged in for full power. The VX-8R has a lot of appeal for the price, (an extra $70 or so over the VX-7R). the Icom D-Star is right around $500, but has more power and can be used on the 2m/440 bands. If I spent more time on the road, I could see going with a mobile rig, but I spend most of my road time on short shopping trips. OTT, I do travel a couple times of year for vacations. There is also the option of an Icom HT duel band that is D-Star ready. So many options....

Have no experience with the 8...so can not commit about it.

Yaesu from what I have seen and experienced plus from others that have owned and used their equipment ,

they make some good stuff , more bang for your buck so to speak...

IMO