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We have talked a little about communication after a disaster, and especially the use of amateur radio, or HAM radio, but there is a newer aspect to amateur radio that a lot of people are getting into that concerns me regarding a SHTF situation. Automatic Packet Reporting System or APRS is a system where your handheld radio shows its exact position on the internet, including your heading, elevation, and speed using GPS. Now why would that be a bad thing, let's think about that

About a month ago I ordered the MFJ-422D Electronic Keyer Paddle combination unit for the Morse Code class that I am taking. After using this unit for about a month I decided to give you my review. One reason I chose this particular combination unit is that I can use it to practice sending code without it being attached to my radio, so I am not limited to where I can practice at. The MFJ-422D is actually two items combined into one. It is fully functional iambic paddle with a

I received the brand new Baofeng RD-5R Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) yesterday and wanted to give my first impressions of it. This is the replacement radio for the DM-5R that had some issues previously and is made from a partnership between Baofeng and Radioddity. The RD-5R is a budget-friendly DMR radio that sells for $75 directly from Radioddity or it is also available from them on Amazon for the same price. I chose the Amazon route so that I would not have to wait for shippin

I have decided to add a Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station by Davis to my EmComms equipment. With this new weather station I will be able to monitor temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point and rainfall onsite at my EmComms station. It is a portable solar powered unit with lithium battery backup that can be deployed and ready to go in minutes and transmits the sensor readings wirelessly up to 1,000 feet away to the console using a simi

A while back I did an episode comparing various types of radios to help you decide which is right for you. You can see that episode by clicking here. This time I want to go into a little more detail about one of the radio services that I mentioned, General Mobile Radio Service, or GMRS and a glitch in the system when it comes time to renew your license. As I stated in the previous episode, the FCC operators license requires a fee of $75 and is valid for 10 years. At the end o

Due to the increased tensions concerning Syria I have decided to raise our SHTF Threat Level to HIGH. AMMRON has also decided to raise their AmCON communications condition to Level-3. The AMMRON announcement is shown below: //All Stations// Due to increased tensions and the maneuvering of military assets by multiple nations in and around Syria, we are raising the AmCON to Level 3. This increase in AmCON is to increase awareness of an increased probability of an event which co