Hello all

Ron L here = SERE SURPLUS

SOURCE: MYSELF (RONSERESURPLUS) and 24 Years of DOING IT!


One time, when our ship (DD-971 DAVID R RAY) (I was Navy for 24 years) was going to deploy to the Persian Gulf for a delpoyment! Trying to improve on the Radio Comms we had the previous trip to the Red Sea, I was placed in Charge of getting VHF/UHF handheld Radio's and all the gear that went wih them?

I talked to a few folks(Other ships members and U.S. Coast Guard units) just back from that region, Coast Guard Reps (Yea, Navy guys do ask for help from them at times), what radios they used, what was good, what stunk and all? I got a Pretty good deal on some Icom Radio's a set of 12 VHF Radios with a 6 Pedistal stand chargers single individual chargers and all for a price that was 2K under what I was given for a Budget, that extra I put into Pouches, extra Batteries and More Charging stands!

Before I deployed, I used the Nato, US and Brit Communications Guides and made sure the Frequency Ranges were clear of what the Iranians used, the iraqi's and most Midde eastern Countries in the region used or were seen to monitor! I talked to others then, felt I had done all I could do to make sure we would not be interfered with when we needed critical comms and clear frequencies as we were going to be tasked to Board ships going into and out of Iraq to check for Smuggling?

All was set, Brand new gear, all charged up, all ready to go, we got there and all of the handheld radio unit worked none, had any issues with the heat and sun and Sand! The first day, i found out all my Plans were Not clear of Comms Chatter, I had a Arabic Translator listen to the Non-stop Chatter of the 3 of 10 Critical freq's I used for my Comms Plan, he tossed me the radio and said taxi cabs? LOL All that work, all those Preps, what did I learn out of all that? I had used all the Information I had at my access and I did all that I could do! Our Comms were 100% better than the last time but I did get Razzed by many folks on my 2 VBSS teams as they had to listen to Non-stop Taxi cabs talking and the Non Stop Rant of Arabic Evening Prayers?

Long story short, Plan all ya Like, life will Find a way to get in the way of your best planning?

To those that plan to use CB hand helds and other Comms gear in that band, Even take a hour or so and listen to your Fav channels? That alone should make you count CB radio out for your comms plans? Thier are better alternatives and yes, the Silly, small handheld FRS Radios we seen hunters use and others, are being used in Iraq and Afganistan by many Military units and the Bad Guys? These small, low cost radio's are a step up fromthe small handheld units I had as a kid! Don't believe thr 5 Maile range claims, thats ok and works if your on a FLAT OCEAN, but inthe real world of land, they are a lot less! As much as down to 1/4 mile in some cases? These are one Option, when your ready to get really serious, you need to be rady to lay down some serious coin? Comms Equiptment is not cheap and used units need to be really examined well, tested ad seen if fully serviceable, as well, what about spare batteries, charging stands, pouches and the like. LOL? Not a Bargin if you need a Large Alice pack to carry your Comms units?

For other idea's and what I now use for this arwa's search and resque efforts PM me and we can talk about it! Nope, I can't sell ya any, but can steer ya in the right direction!


new to hear but not to survival!

Your use of question marks puzzles me. But nice info.

Hello all/Ron L here = SERE Surplus

RESPONCE TO SIXFOLD

Thanks on your Kind comments, my use of Punuation at times puzzles me as well! I'll have to woprk on that, but I'm glad you thought the info was of use to you! My Point was a Plan is a Plan, but Life is Life? Most times a plan is better than just doing something but it's not always 100%!

In the context of a SHTF scenario I would think that you have somewhat of a trade off. On one hand it is good to be able to communicate with others in a disaster, yet on another hand you want to have "private" communications with others in your group. With FRS you will certainly have plenty of people relying on them, and that may very well be a good thing, but if you are concerned about privacy you might be limited to using "code words" or the like in a SHTF scenario. In the end I have FRS & Commercial Encrypted Radios, but very few people have the luxury of encrypted equipment.

RONSERESURPLUS wrote:These small, low cost radio's are a step up fromthe small handheld units I had as a kid! Don't believe thr 5 Maile range claims, thats ok and works if your on a FLAT OCEAN, but inthe real world of land, they are a lot less! As much as down to 1/4 mile in some cases?

Right they are what you call LINE OF SIGHT and if anything is in that LINE from radio to radio it diminishes the range drastically .

Great post As i did buy some midland HH 40 CH CB's 4 watt but even those kind of suck in my terrain as i have lots of trees around.

We are trying to get our group all licensed. I am an extra, and one of us is a general. my wife finally got her tech. Now we have a couple more that are interested. I think that you need at least a general. That gives you HF across the board. Sure, when shtf who is going to care if you have a license. But in order to stay in practice, it is going to matter now.

Hello all/Responce to MoMilitia, Ocala, KD


Yes, It's a Trade off, But Operating without Comms in My Opinion is not a way to fly? I hear the Troops and have been Using FRS, as well as Icom UHF/VHF and other Handled units and they have been working poretty well! Yes, thier is the "Line of Site" Consiteration, and terrain is an Obsticle, but it beats runners to get the word out?

I offered this post more as a This was my Plan, a good plan and how easily in the real world, a Plan often fails? It's the reason, we all, as Survivalist need to be flexible, Need back ups to our Commplans, and the Idea of Getting members Licences is a good and sound one? That way, we can all aid in Disasters, Help our own Comm status and get Proper access to Better and Restricted items the Public may not operate on? I see Comms as a Huge Expence but worth it in the Long run and a Plan for comms need to be tried, proven and desiminated to all members of your cell or group?