SHTF: Shortwave

[K_W]

I have collected 3 shortwave radios through my Goodwill raids over the years.

I have a nice digital Grundig, an analog Grundig with battery and dynamo, and a cheap portable all band radio. I have familiarized myself with their operation, reception windows, and signal types...

But when/if SHTF I'd rather not spend a half an hour of precious battery power running through the frequencies on all the different modes and sifting throught the end of days / Niburu / UFO broadcasters, I'd rather just know what range to look for information.

What part of the spectrum should be monitored most?

Does the government still have plans to operate the old civil defense frequencies in the event of national emergency, or have they just forgot about them by now?

 

[BigMoose]

Shortwave isn't as good as it used to be.... they shut down a lot of stations that used to be on 40 meters, and more elsewhere.

 

[VN Vet]

If/when SHTF happens, I think it'll either be Mother Nature or the US Government causing it. Either way they will call for complete government control over the people. I don't thing our government will allow short-wave of any kind. I'm sure they have radio frequencies that will block all short-waves. Even Radio Free Europe wouldn't work today.

Of course....this is my opinion.

 

[Blackhawk2001]

I suspect you should familiarize yourself with the 2-meter band; National Weather Service uses that band for weather-spotters - or used to the last time I was involved with amateur radio. There are almost always local hams hooked into weather-spotting and they will tend to use the same frequencies for communications in a disaster. You might also check out your local Red Cross chapter and find out who there is monitoring their communications; they usually have a net involved during disasters.

 

[Justus]

I'd rather just know what range to look for information.

What part of the spectrum should be monitored most?

Blackhawk is right. Find the local 2 meter ham repeaters (between 144-148 Mhz) and monitor those with a baofeng or analog scanner.
The HF ham freqs (in the shortwave bands) are the best bet for disaster info in far-away places but your receiver will need to be SSB capable.
Shortwave Disaster Frequencies and a Printable Chart | Advanced Survival Guide.com

 

[CathyInBlue]

I don't thing our government will allow short-wave of any kind. I'm sure they have radio frequencies that will block all short-waves. Even Radio Free Europe wouldn't work today.

WTF? You fail high school physics.

 

[bingley]

High school physics? You mean that liberal tripe designed to convince me that the earth is not at the center of the universe like God designed? If you accept heliocentrism, you're well on your way to Marxism, gay marriage, and Obamacare!

Real conservatives are with VN Vet on this one. Dangerous government counter-frequencies will disable SW! We have to wrap tinfoil around our temples (don't have to get the whole head -- that's just paranoid). The frequencies come in through the temples.

 

[Bill of Rights]

WTF? You fail high school physics.

Or just broadcast white noise at high power across the spectrum. Deny your enemy, the people, communication.

 

[BigMoose]

The Russians jammed the US shortwave signal by transmitting garbage over top it during the cold war

 

[bingley]

See where high school physics gets you, Cathy? If we had listened to high school physics during the Cold War, the commies would have their iron boots on our necks now!

 

[CathyInBlue]

 

[bingley]

That's right, Cathy. Just a little harder. Get all of that liberal-ass high school physics out of your head. Knock it loose!

 

[JettaKnight]

The Russians jammed the US shortwave signal by transmitting garbage over top it during the cold war

Duga-3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Note that it didn't disrupt everything at once. Plus, it was possible to jam it.

But still, the size of those antennas...

 

[TheWabbit]

I used to fly on the EC-130. Jamming is not as easy as people think, especially across large freq ranges.