Off Grid Communications #
Communications are essential in any emergency. If Internet or cell phone networks are down, radios can help you learn what is going on, or talk over short distances.
- Radio Receivers
- Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)
- Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkies
- General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
- Amateur Radio Service (HAM)
Radio receivers provide an inexpensive means to obtain news and weather reports during an emergency.
MURS is a two-way radio service similar to Citizen's Band, designed for short-distance voice or data communications by the general public. MURS radios operate over 5 frequencies (channels). MURS radios do not require a license to operate.
Most walkie-talkie radios transmit over Family Radio Service (FRS) bands. These radios are cheap, reliable, easy to use, and do not require a license. However they offer less range than GMRS or HAM radios.
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a UHF radio service designed for short-distance two-way communication. GMRS is superior to FRS, but requires a license to use.
If you have an Amateur Radio Service (HAM) license, you can use more of the radio spectrum to communicate, over long distances. Without a license, it is legal to listen using a HAM radio, so long as you do not transmit.