Idle speculation and food for thought: Ok So we've seen the jargon in any number of stories(i.e. the "infragard"story) go from "If "martial law is instituted to "when" martial law is instituted, most sources seem to agree on a couple of things, 1) Martial law will be imposed during the next terrorist incident or major outbreak of disease ( real or contrived) not subject to review for at least 6months (as if congress matters now). and 2) the"war" on terror will last for at least the next 100 years(?) (so there is plenty of time and opportunity for our enemies to have "something(?)"happen. Along with with the conversion to all cable digital tv I think its an easy assumption to say information outlets: T.v.; and internet will be strictly controlled(shut down) and or monitored.( may bejust heavily scrutinized, takeaway all the drugs (entrtainment)from society at once is just gonna fire people up ( no tv, no net,no sports,no brittany, limited food and water. EEgad). Seems to me a good tabletop SW revceiver and hidden antenna (gotta roof? ?You've got an attic... Got aluminum rain gutters on that roof ?get creative..Antennas are all about length. Transmitting length is critical and could hurt the transmitter if impedance is wrong; but to just a receive is pretty safe from harm.) perhaps to receive bbc or "radio free america broadcast from outside conus will be the only means for folks to get gov free news...A ham license may be worth looking into (though obviously not needed to receive)...(?) Perhaps just prepare for out and out pirate radio trandsmission. U.S. military has: leaders rifleman public affairs logistics communications transportation Support (specialities) troops are just as important as "infantry". Just a thought.
Truer words could not be spoken. Theres an old saying that goes something like, Smart genrals worry about tactics, but wise genrals worry about logistics. If you can't supply the troops they won't last long. OGM
Meaning:Even those of us who simply have to look at our decrepit drivers licenses to know we aren't gonna be effective while coughing up a lung chasing18 year old blackwater guys around the neighborhood Still have their places...
Yea something like that. I don't think that I would be chasing anyone to far or to fast. But seeing they would be in my neck of the woods I could likely come up with a trick or two that they haven't seen before. OGM
Tricks? Fling goat pooh at em ?( potato gun with a sponge for a wad then add one coffee can of wet sloppy goat feces, then another wad on top....(blooey!)
Heck with the goat pooo, we have a St Brenard puppy whos system dose truely cruel things to food. That stuff is hard to even be a leash lengnth away from UPwind. Hit them with that and while it may be a war crime, should definatly get them running for their lives for a shower.
Not really youth and strength alone that determines effectiveness in the bigger picture. Determination usually plays a larger role especialy if the conflict time and place is at your choosing. An old guy at night can walk up to a house/bunker pour gasoline all around (shoot any dogs that come up) it set it on fire then just sit back and shoot anybody coming out. With the cover of darkness around and those coming out lit up by flames old or young makes little difference. Does not take youth to do that effectively, just determination to do it.
And the trechery/smarts to think of it that tends to come with age (and the old fella would be more likely to lob the molatov from a ways off so wasnt exposed) while the 18 yo kid is more likely to still be 'invincable' and run kick in the door figureing he will just walk 'in the front and out the back' and clear everything in between.
Back to the topic of Post SHTF comms, DO a search here on Ham radio or communications. We've covered some of it before. A few of us here have these: Yaesu FT-817 Talk around the world on 5 watts using HF.
The website has no pricing info - what price range are we looking at for the Yaesu FT-817 radio? Looks like the closest dealer to me is near Jacksonville - a bit of a drive!
Accessories: http://www.powerportstore.com/Yaesu FT817 ACC.htm Price 1: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/1817.html List of dealers in Florida: http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm (also just fill in your own info to find a dealer nearest you)
How about DIY antennas? Doable? How sensitive is the unit to mismatched SWR. (Would hate to blow the finals on a standing wave mismatch while off in the boonies.)