Intelligence Gathering - Determining Who Has Two-Way Radios
May 14, 2016 8:30:08 GMT -6
Nugget, Mystic Wanderer, and 1 more like this
Post by Michigan Swamp Buck on May 14, 2016 8:30:08 GMT -6
One of the survival skills I've been working on more recently is gathering intelligence information. I've been giving consideration to a number of potential situations in regards to geographical features and have a number of area maps including topography and all manner of features.
Because I include communications in my preps, I've been studying the potential uses of unlicensed 2 way communications in a citizens network. I've been gathering intelligence on this subject in a number of ways and for a number of years. My primary concern has been the locations of radio operators on the citizen's band, on the other unlicensed frequencies (MURS, FRS) and some licensed VHF frequencies.
To determine who was on the air, I've been monitoring two-way communications and keeping an eye out for antennas. I've found that there are at least six CB base stations and four mobiles within a few miles of my home, in a rural area where most people live at least a quarter mile apart. You can add even more people who have systems in disuse and disrepair.
As I travel around my area, I see a few cars and trucks with CB antennas and notice a CB base antenna about every ten miles. I've heard chatter in the nearest big cities that have a lot more people on CBs than in my area. In my log book I have forty seven stations recorded. Those stations are between 30 to 50 miles from my home and too far to contact from my base station (on AM at least). I have a major highway not far away that I can hear truck drivers for about a 40 mile stretch.
I've listened to road workers directing traffic, local campground workers, deer hunters and stores in town using the handheld FRS radios. I even heard a neighbor using marine channel 9 for their deer hunting operation (not legal for use on land). I've also been monitoring a number of licensed VHF stations including EMS, fire departments, county and city police. If I cared to program the stations, I could be listening to utility pole workers and a number of local businesses too.
All these frequencies have provided local live intelligence information. The CB will occasionally provide information from all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico when skip conditions allow reception. When I listen to the licensed amateur radio operators on the local VHF repeaters, I can get live regional information as well. From what I've heard and the number of antennas I've seen, overall there are fewer amateur operators than there are CBers in my region, and the amateurs usually have and use CBs as well. So it seems that my intel gathering is supporting the premise of establishing a two-way network primarily on citizen's band during a communications blackout.
Regarding a local area WiFi "meshnet" network, I've located nine public WiFi hot spots that range in distance of under two miles up to twelve miles away. There are many private household WiFi users in my area that are as close as a quarter of a mile. I see a great potential for a local community, ad hoc WiFi network for use during a long term communications blackout. I must study this idea more and include it in my intel gathering.
Parting message: There are two simple ways to gather intelligence on local two-way communications, look (for antennas) and listen (to the broadcasts).
Because I include communications in my preps, I've been studying the potential uses of unlicensed 2 way communications in a citizens network. I've been gathering intelligence on this subject in a number of ways and for a number of years. My primary concern has been the locations of radio operators on the citizen's band, on the other unlicensed frequencies (MURS, FRS) and some licensed VHF frequencies.
To determine who was on the air, I've been monitoring two-way communications and keeping an eye out for antennas. I've found that there are at least six CB base stations and four mobiles within a few miles of my home, in a rural area where most people live at least a quarter mile apart. You can add even more people who have systems in disuse and disrepair.
As I travel around my area, I see a few cars and trucks with CB antennas and notice a CB base antenna about every ten miles. I've heard chatter in the nearest big cities that have a lot more people on CBs than in my area. In my log book I have forty seven stations recorded. Those stations are between 30 to 50 miles from my home and too far to contact from my base station (on AM at least). I have a major highway not far away that I can hear truck drivers for about a 40 mile stretch.
I've listened to road workers directing traffic, local campground workers, deer hunters and stores in town using the handheld FRS radios. I even heard a neighbor using marine channel 9 for their deer hunting operation (not legal for use on land). I've also been monitoring a number of licensed VHF stations including EMS, fire departments, county and city police. If I cared to program the stations, I could be listening to utility pole workers and a number of local businesses too.
All these frequencies have provided local live intelligence information. The CB will occasionally provide information from all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico when skip conditions allow reception. When I listen to the licensed amateur radio operators on the local VHF repeaters, I can get live regional information as well. From what I've heard and the number of antennas I've seen, overall there are fewer amateur operators than there are CBers in my region, and the amateurs usually have and use CBs as well. So it seems that my intel gathering is supporting the premise of establishing a two-way network primarily on citizen's band during a communications blackout.
Regarding a local area WiFi "meshnet" network, I've located nine public WiFi hot spots that range in distance of under two miles up to twelve miles away. There are many private household WiFi users in my area that are as close as a quarter of a mile. I see a great potential for a local community, ad hoc WiFi network for use during a long term communications blackout. I must study this idea more and include it in my intel gathering.
Parting message: There are two simple ways to gather intelligence on local two-way communications, look (for antennas) and listen (to the broadcasts).
