So in the Event of SHTF what is your Go to Radio Source: NOAA Weather Channel, FM, AM?

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by ED GEiN, Oct 9, 2019.


  1. ED GEiN

    ED GEiN Monkey+++

    As a result of the Fires/Future Fires and the Winds in California, the LA Dept of Water & Power will be shutting down all power in different areas including mine, as applicable.

    What would be your Go to Radio choice for information like when the power is going back on, the fires, etc,, if all power was down: NOAA Weather channel, FM, AM? Obviously I have batteries for my radio.
     
  2. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    One thing before a good answer can be provided...are the radio transmitter sites going down also?

    If they are, then amateur radio would be my source, along with a couple scanners (police, fire, ems mobile radios would still be in service)

    But then I wouldn't be out of power, so....
     
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  3. ED GEiN

    ED GEiN Monkey+++

    Great point thanks which I totally didn't consider. Assuming they are all available what would your go to source be?
     
  4. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    If you're looking for when the power is going on and off, then find out who will be providing that info...usually a local am station that provides area news will carry info like that, but this may vary from region to region. Find out now...give a call to their business office and ask. They may not have considered carrying the info, so you may have just helped many people :)
     
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  5. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    My shortwave system runs on 12 volts. I gots batteries.
     
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  6. Tempstar

    Tempstar Monkey+++

    Buy a Baofeng and get a ham to program it with local repeater frequencies and scan through them. You'll get much more information and in real time. Even better, get your ham license.
     
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  7. Oddcaliber

    Oddcaliber Monkey+++

    Got a shortwave radio receiver. Gets AM,FM,NOAA and probably more. Runs on AC or batteries.
     
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  8. ED GEiN

    ED GEiN Monkey+++

    Thanks I'll look into this
     
  9. Idahoser

    Idahoser Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I think my approach is to question your question. Since you don't know what the disaster will be and how much of the infrastructure it's going to destroy, I'd say you need to be able to use ALL of these plus more, so that whichever is available to you at the time, you will be able to get.
     
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  10. Illini Warrior

    Illini Warrior Illini Warrior

    unless the radio station is REALLY rinky-dink - they are or have specially prepared for this shut down with back up generators ....
     
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  11. mysterymet

    mysterymet Monkey+++

    I have a scanner and a list of the local frequencies as well as normal radios and one of those weather radios. No ham yet but thinking about studying for it.
     
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  12. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    I would gather All my information from multiple sources, just like I do when doing research on a specific subject of Interest... First I try to go to the Original Source, then if It is a Peer Reviewed. source, I evaluate the Reviewers, for their credentials, ON POINT, and see what their opinions are.... When that is done, then I reason it out in my own mind, and experience, while incorporating in the FACTS, coming in from my research.... Then I form my. Personal Conclusion, and incorporate THAT into my World View.

    There is way to much BS, written Spoken, and shown, floating around by folks who are only Third Party prevayers of the information, for any one source to make, an intelligent decision, on any question, these days... Especially some Yahoo Resident SmartGuy, trotted out on some TV NEWS SHOW, to give his opinion on the subject at hand... Look hard at the credentials of said Yahoo, and evaluate what his Agenda might be, then discount 50% of the weight you would give his opinion, against your own research....
     
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  13. Lancer

    Lancer TANSTAFL! Site Supporter+++

    I'll second the BaoFeng, in particular the BF-F8HP. Get the big battery as well.
    Then download Chirp:Home - CHIRP, and learn how to program the Baofeng for your local first responder freqs, found here: https://www.radioreference.com, and other places. You can add in the NOAA freqs as well. A small solar panel can maintain a 12 VDC battery indefinitely.

    The are also Fed designated broadcast stations certified under the ancient Civil Defense Emergency Broadcast umbrella. Typically high powered AM stations situated low in the AM band.

    Then go get at least your Technician HAM license
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2019
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  14. Oltymer

    Oltymer Monkey++

    State of CA disabling HAM relay towers in north cali as of 10/3 - as to reports from my sources - why?????
     
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  15. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    That reference is excellent. Poke around and find your location.
     
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  16. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Likely it is NOT the Ham Repeaters that are being shut down themselves, but the cross- country, and rural Power lines that supply those Mountain Top Sites, being shutdown because they cross areas that are above High Fire Danger ground and Brush... Most of the Ham Repeaters will have some Backup Power, but how much, is the real question... Big Sites that are Public Safety Comm Sites will have backup Power, as well as most of the Common Carrier Sites...
     
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  17. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    ED old buddy,Pretty sure you citizens are getting the major sausage put to you...Exactly what the real deal is? One day it will be outed.
    Get serious Bud,You may be hiking east or get on that boat and ride....
    What would be your Go to Radio choice for information like when the power is going back on, the fires, etc,, if all power was down: NOAA Weather channel, FM, AM? Obviously I have batteries for my radio.
     
  18. sdr

    sdr Monkey++

    Combination of FM, 2 different ham bands, GMRS, FRS, NOAA and many frequencies in between. All for around 30 bucks. Was using one today in our latest SHTF event. At least it was for some.
     
  19. Lancer

    Lancer TANSTAFL! Site Supporter+++

    I must confess: I have at least 10 of the Baofengs. primary usage is GMRS around the house, and 2M repeaters. For real work I'll pull out the Icoms, but the Baofengs are almost disposable. Drop one in the pond = who cares. And a couple of them have survived water immersion and some serious drops without issue. I've also stashed a few in secure, EMP proof, off-site storage. Just for the heck of it. :)
    That noted - get them programmed the easy way via Chirp, and then print out the .csv file Chirp creates as a future reference in case your computer goes tits-up or you're without access for some reason.
     
  20. VisuTrac

    VisuTrac Ваша мать носит военные ботинки Site Supporter+++

    Well, if the internet is still up during your crisis event .. download the Scanner Radio app to your smart phone.
    You can set it up to listen to your local scanners, set thresholds to automatically play scanners that have more than X people listening right now and those within X miles of your current location.

    Pretty interesting / scary when you are driving through an unfamiliar location and all of a sudden your phone starts playing the police scanner kicks in with a shooting about 5 miles from where you are at. Typically way sooner than any media outlet get on scene or even starts reporting.

    Scanner radio is the one I use but there are others .. https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-police-scanner-apps/
     
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