Hi Jim,
Last week you discussed your preference for communication modalities
for use in disasters and their order of importance. Obvious by omission
were two modes that I thought might have distinct utility: a radio
scanner (to monitor weather, traffic accidents and
attendant backups, police and fire activity, etc.) and a transceiver
with frequencies in the amateur bands (160, 80, 40, 20, 10 and 6 meters
and the centimeter bands).
Will you please provide your thoughts on the utility of these devices
and whether or not you think they are worth the trouble (expense and
licensing)?
Thanks for your input. - Jim H.
JWR Replies: I previously strongly emphasized the
importance of owning a scanner, but I consider them less important
now. There
are several reasons for
this: First, and foremost, the majority of police and sheriffs departments
now use scramblers or encryption devices for all but their most mundane
traffic. Even some fire departments now use scramblers. Second, one
of the other
major uses of a scanner was the ability to receive NOAA weather
broadcasts. But most MURS radios
and 2
Meter handi-talkies can be programmed for those frequencies,
so if you own a set of MURS band walkie-talkies (such as those sold
by
MURS
Radios),
then this is a redundant feature. Ditto for most of the recent production
digitally
tuned general
coverage
shortwave receivers. (They usually have a one touch "WX"
button.) Lastly, there
is the "information
overload" factor for someone manning a Charge of Quarters ("CQ")
desk.
Scanner
chatter is
just one more
distraction for
someone
that is concentrating on monitoring field telephones, intrusion detection
sensors, security cameras, and a local CB or
MURS security coordination radio network. And since less and
less of
what
you
will hear on
scanners in the future will relate useful
tactical/situational
information (because of increasing encryption, as previously noted)
then I recommend that if you have a scanner that you leave it turned
off most of the time. Yes, a scanner does have its uses and
each family should probably own one. There will often be Public Service
Band traffic
that will be broadcast "in the clear" (unencrypted) that will have
significance--adding to your situational awareness. But, in general,
scanners are
considerably less important for TEOTWAWKI planning
than they were
a
decade ago. Put one on your purchasing list, but fairly far down
the list. BTW, the scanner model that I like the best is the old
reliable (but sadly
discontinued)
Bearcat
800 XLT.
Used
ones
can
often
be found
for less than $50 on eBay.
