Hello and welcome back... I thought i would write about something that is important to me. Hopefully it will inspire others to think a little bit like the way i do... not just to see a radio scanner as a hobby, but as a tool to help in case of an emergency.
Disasters happen when we least expect.
A good example was a few years back when a simple task of going out to pick up my kids from school.
I never made it.
It was a hot, windy day and as i was leaving, i could hear a few sirens in the distance. I had an hour to pass before the kids got out so i thought to grab my radio scanner to pass the time. As luck would have it, i also had my camera in the glovebox after taking photos of a helicopter that was buzzing around the previous day.
Half way there i was greeted with the scene below...
A large bushfire had started by wind hitting powerlines.
I was stuck on the side of the road, cars built up behind me and it became clear i wasn't going anywhere fast.
While everyone looked towards their mobile phones to see what was going on, i was listening to my scanner and could hear the carnage happening right in front of me.
Mobile phones in the area then crashed as did the internet, unable to cope with demand...
No one knew what was happening.. except me.
The message of this post?
Be prepared for Anything, Anytime, Any Place.
Its not just Bushfires you have to worry about..
Terrorist Attacks
EMPs (man made or solar flares)
Forces of Nature (Lightning, Wind, Cyclones, Tornadoes)
Earthquakes
Disease outbreaks
Violent outbreaks (Riots)
Floods
Failures caused by Hackers
Volcanoes (we've all seen the movies), etc, etc..
You name it, your radio is the gateway to know whats happening, as it happens... not hours later on social media and considering 95% of what you hear on radios never make it to media outlets thanks to cost-cutting (or other forces).. It may save your life.
The first thing you should have in your arsenal is obvious = a radio scanner capable of receiving Shortwave, Marine, UHF CB, Amateur /Ham radio, FM/AM Radio & Emergency Services.
Consider that electricity may fail so charged battery's are a must.
A solar recharge battery system would be a good investment.
Don't rely on mobile phones or internet as these can fail.
The second item should be a transceiver. Handheld radios that can be programmable to transmit on various frequencies.
Cheap UHF/ AM CB radios.
Chinese radios that can be programed with UHF, Marine & Amateur frequencies and even (if you can get your hands on one) an Aircraft transceiver.
Obviously going around being a dickhead and transmitting on frequencies you are not supposed to will get you into trouble with authority's but having such a radio to use in an emergency may just save your life.
The third thing is to build a Faraday cage. An old microwave oven is perfect for this.
If an EMP (electromagnetic pulse), was to go off, every electronic device in the blast radius will be useless but if you have a backup radio and batteries in a Faraday cage, you will be able to communicate to the outside world.
Something to think about...
So what should your radio scanner be programed with?
Emergency services would be my first place to start.
Rural Fire (includes Fireground, GRN, PMR, UHF CB & Aircraft)... In a major Bushfire, listening to Aircraft frequencies inc Helicopters & Airplanes talk to each other, gives a huge wealth of knowledge... Nothing like a birdseye view to see whats going on.
Ambulance (GRN and even old VHF frequencies)
Police (VHF frequencies as digital may not work)
SES (GRN, PMR)
Fire Brigade/Rescue inc GRN, PMR, Back Chs
Also include = Marine frequencies/radio (they travel good distance)
UHF CB / AM CB
Amateur Radio
Shortwave
Local channels inc Council, RTA, Electricity company's
FREQUENCIES TO MONITOR
121.500 - Distress ch
123.450 - Aircraft chat ch
123.100 - Rescue
282.800 - RAAF Search & Rescue
156.300 - Rescue
156.800 - Distress
156.375 - Distress
156.575 - Rescue
476.525 - CH5 UHF CB Emergency (input =Ch 35 - 477.275)
A GOOD SETUP WOULD BE =
BANK 1 - Emergency Services (Fire Brigade / Rural Fire inc Aircraft, Fireground / VHF Police, SES/ Ambulance / Search & Rescue)
BANK 2 - GRN / PMR (if you own a digital radio)
BANK 3 - Marine Radio inc Marine Rescue
BANK 4 - UHF / AM CB Radio
BANK 5 - Local Frequencies (Council, Electricity / Water / Gas Companys)
BANK 6 - AM/ FM Radio Stations
BANK 7 - Amateur Radio
Transceivers should be programed with UHF CB, Marine, Fireground (rural fire) & Amateur/Ham radio frequencies.
If you own a Uniden UBCD396T/XT or similar scanner radio and don't know / have time to program your radio... I offer a service to do it for you with emergency frequencies so you will be set in any situation .
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
I am planning to make available, a program for Baofeng, Wouxun, Quansheng, etc, etc... frequencies to program your radio with minimal fuss.. Stay tuned to this website for more.
No-one knows what the future has install for us, but being one step ahead of the average Joe. is, in my opinion, one of the best things you can do for you and your family.
Have I Missed Anything?
Comment Below....
