Can recommend..... I have three versions at the cabin and lake. one has a built in solar charger.
NO POWER - You still have Radio for news updates
- Thread starter Bekeart
- Start date
Can recommend..... I have three versions at the cabin and lake. one has a built in solar charger.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
I posted this elsewhere, but thought it fits into the topic nicely. I have since discovered that some iPhones have the ability to text via satellite, which reinforces my point.
This is based upon my personal 15+ year experience in responding to disasters with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
*****Message begins******
If you, or a loved one, is in an area hit by a disaster, natural or manmade, and you need to communicate with them, there are a couple of things that you need to know.
Without prior purchase of satellite phones/communicators (expensive), and without prior training (and regular practice) using Amateur Radio (time consuming and a truly perishable skill), your best bet is texting.
Yes, texting. However, recognize that it might be 3-5 days before you get word to or from your loved one. Yes, those might seem like the longest 3-5 days, but limit yourself to texting, and don't even try to make voice phone calls.
Why is that? The major carriers will try to get portable towers and equipment into the disaster area as soon as possible, but because these are temporary installations they won't have the bandwidth to support full capacity. Texting, because it uses little bandwidth, and due to its asynchronous nature, will normally allow your message to get through when nothing else is working.
You will be much better served investing in extra food, water, and other life critical supplies in preparation for a disaster than buying one of the cheap Chinese "emergency" radios that are advertised on Facebook. Some of them are limited range VHF/UHF short range (line of sight) radios that won't help you, and others are just fancy gadgets that require cell phone signals and the internet.
So, be patient, and pray, and remember that texting is probably going to be the best way to get word out.
*****End of Message******
This is based upon my personal 15+ year experience in responding to disasters with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
*****Message begins******
If you, or a loved one, is in an area hit by a disaster, natural or manmade, and you need to communicate with them, there are a couple of things that you need to know.
Without prior purchase of satellite phones/communicators (expensive), and without prior training (and regular practice) using Amateur Radio (time consuming and a truly perishable skill), your best bet is texting.
Yes, texting. However, recognize that it might be 3-5 days before you get word to or from your loved one. Yes, those might seem like the longest 3-5 days, but limit yourself to texting, and don't even try to make voice phone calls.
Why is that? The major carriers will try to get portable towers and equipment into the disaster area as soon as possible, but because these are temporary installations they won't have the bandwidth to support full capacity. Texting, because it uses little bandwidth, and due to its asynchronous nature, will normally allow your message to get through when nothing else is working.
You will be much better served investing in extra food, water, and other life critical supplies in preparation for a disaster than buying one of the cheap Chinese "emergency" radios that are advertised on Facebook. Some of them are limited range VHF/UHF short range (line of sight) radios that won't help you, and others are just fancy gadgets that require cell phone signals and the internet.
So, be patient, and pray, and remember that texting is probably going to be the best way to get word out.
*****End of Message******
Maybe we need to bring back the Town Crier.
