Different emergency situations require different solutions.
If you have just experienced a hurricane that left your area temporarily without phone and electrical service you probably won't need a world wide radio communication setup with the accompanying extensive antenna system. But if you just went through an event that caused Continent wide destruction that will take months or even years to repair you may need a long reaching more complex system of communication with all its supporting elements.
For the purpose of this article I will layout what I believe may be required for two very different scenarios. Scenario one is a short term temporary phone outage lasting a few days to a couple weeks and the second one being a long term total communication failure.
For short term local communication needs there are several options available. The best known probably being the good old citizen band 40 channel AM transceiver. FRS and GMRS hand held walkie talkies can also be used if you prefer but don't believe the hype about the 17 mile range. In real world situations you are lucky to get 2 mile range.
Of these options I would recommend a quality 40 channel CB with SSB (single side band)capability. SSB is a mode of transmission that concentrates the outgoing power in just one side band and suppresses the carrier and other side band which enables the transmitter to have three times the output power of a garden variety AM CB set.
Another more reliable solution for short range (up to 50 miles) communication is the 2 meter Amateur Radio FM handie talkie. The problem with these radios is they require an FCC License to operate legally. A "Technician Class" amateur radio license (needed for 2 meter FM) is fairly simple to obtain. All that's needed is a study guide (readily available through ARRL) some study time and the successful completion of a 35 question multiple choice exam.
Phone and power outages with no foreseeable chance of restoration is a very different problem. In my opinion a modern High Frequency ham radio would be the best option for both short and long range reliable communication. HF (high frequency) sets usually span from just above the AM radio band to about 30mhz.They can also be used to monitor short wave broadcasts from FEMA and other agencies.
You will need to pass a more advanced Amateur Radio Exam in order to transmit legally on these radios.
Any radio you acquire will also need a matching antenna.
Antenna Matching
Most transmitters, with the exception of the hand held variety that come with an already attached antenna, need the antenna matched to the feed line and transmitter.
The lower the transmitting frequency the longer the antenna. Transmitting antennas in the AM radio band are 300ft. long. CB radio antennas are around 8 ft. long. If the antenna isn't matched properly to the transmitter, part of the outgoing power will be reflected back to the final stage in the transmitter where it could burnout the final amplification stage. (that's a bad thing)
The formula for a half wave dipole (a simple transmitting antenna) is "freq in megahertz divided by 468 equals length of the antenna in feet. " A quick search on Google will give you many home brew antenna building plans.
After constructing one of the above antennas you will need to check the SWR (standing wave ratio) of the antenna to make sure its matched properly with the transmitter and feed line. This procedure is easily done with an inexpensive SWR meter, found at any electronics store.
Don't worry about not getting it right the first time. Most modern transmitters have a limiting circuit that will cut power if the antenna isn't matched properly, Thus saving the finals from any damage.
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F.E.Stacey is author of Emergency Communications as part of a more expansive interest in Survivalist Homesteading. Http://www.survivalisthomestead.com
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