SHTF Radio, "Ham" Amateur Gear Vs Professional Radio Gear

Great video. I'm going to search around your other vids to see if you cover the durability issues specifically with the newer to market Chinese radios in greater detail. Also love the old school phone quietly sitting in the background. Shows layers of preparedness.

Dear GC - Thanks for your videos. I study this type of information and prepare for many types of scenarios. Mainly, natural disasters, power outages and the like. Food, water and fuel rotations, medical training, bug out, bug in - survival skills, mapping/GPS/communications/solar power and security. I rarely talk about my "preparedness for various plans" as many think its funny and get a good laugh as to what I have in my back pack. Your expertise has helped me gain knowledge and tactical insight. Thanks again.

Good to see you back GG, that dr-635 I got from one of your early videos is still running strong. I snipped the blue wire just like in the movies, lol.

Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in your channel. Keep up the good work.

Great info as always.  I could not agree with you more on your assessment of ham vs.commercial radios. Thanks for the video.

Another excellent video! Is there a better place to pick up used equipment than ebay?

One reason why your ham rig can tune into Land Mobile Radio Service (LMRS) frequencies next to it is because some rigs are designed for both part 90 and and part 97 use, Beofeng makes walkie talkies for both ham and LMRS use. If you were to get a GMRS license, you could talk in the GMRS frequencies in the 462 and 467 band, on your ham set, if your Alinco will tune that high. You see if it can tune into the GMRS bands, and if it does, you might want consider getting a GMRS license.

For the record mate I love your channel as it is and I'm an awkward Englishman!

Love the old school bendex king and the spectra on the shelf. 

This is why I have a TK-790/890 Dual Band Remote single head radio.   The only thing I'd like on this setup that an immature radio has is the ability to FPP via VFO.   Other than that I REALLY prefer my Mil Spec TK-790/TK-890.    I get to talk on my Business frequencies,  plus ANY 2m or 440 frequencies programmed in,  and in SHTF situations I will use any Public Safety, MURS or Business Frequency to facilitate emergency communications.

Narrow band business band vs Wideband Ham.  Narrowband has much less range.  It is illegal to use most business bands without a license, which the FCC rarely gives out based on your location.  Ham band, you can easily get a tech or general license and easily use them ALL THE TIME, so you get used to using them when you need to.  If you need secrecy when SHTF, then you are already in the fan.

I actually noticed something quite interesting on a few days ago. I used to have a FT-2900 in my dd but recently swapped it out for a PM400. So after the swap, I had a chance to test the sensitivity of the FT-2900 and compared it to a VX-4000. The VX-4000 had a 5 dB more sensitive receiver in a down and dirty test with a signal gen. Thought that was kind of interesting… Another thought, we actually tested a IC-7000 out of band (into a load). At 467.7 MHz, it only made 3W. Haven't tested others but I also thought that was a little interesting.

What programming software do you use with the DR-635?

I like a lot of what you are saying here. One thing that i think gets missed in most prepping comms videos is that it takes a great deal of practice to be effective operating, especially during emergency nets. Even just copying down the calls, names, and traffic from weekly nets can be quite challenging.

What is them make and model of the gray and black handheld with the blue tape on the top and the orange battery that was in the middle of the Johnson and Yaesu? Looks like a BK.

These modifications you are referring to, are they intended to convert the receiver section into a general class receiver ?

What Ham Radio should I buy today for SHTF soon to come.

In my area there is a certain population of amateurs that love to purchase the ex-public service radios to modify it for amateur use,what I am seeing is the price is great for the radio, but many times the radio doesn't work correctly when they receive it OR you need the software/cabling for programming and these items are no longer available which renders the radio useless, or they need to send the radio to some magical place to have it programmed at a additional cost. My opinion, purchase a good name brand amateur gear with the programming hardware & software and should be trouble free. I personally have 4- of the Yeasu FT8900's which has a detachable face plate, has 4 bands 440/144/50/28 MHZ,it has been expanded I can listen to the Public Service with great versatility, if need be, I can punch in the frequency via the key pad, it is also nice to dump the frequencies in via the computer. I have been using these for about 15 years and still going strong. I have been a Ham since 1979,I have purchased probably 35 radios -new and have never had to send one back because it was defective. You cant beat Yeasu/Kenwood/Icom I service medical equipment on squads I always take notice of the 2 way radio equipment they use,I see a lot of the Icom/Kenwood /Yeasu Public services radios on board. Alinco is also good only problem I had was the face of the keys faded away over time.

Among numerous other radio jobs, I even repaired Motorola train radios. Safety/hobby, best seems toe a setup which communicate on CB/FRS frequencies. (In emergencies - add local fire, police and whatever?) The secret stuff frequency hops, hard to detect because it is below the noise floor.

Great channel--love it.