Post by null07 on Jul 4, 2020 2:23:28 GMT
This might be a bit-long winded. Fair warning.
In a world where survival is the name of the game, you're gonna need some communication methods.
In general, people want to ensure that X person is safe, talk with loved ones, and ensure that everyone on the team is generally informed on certain parameters.
This is where your comms come in. Let's start with the easier one.
== Radio
Radio is typically the prepper's "Go to" for all things communication. It's reliable, doesn't require centralized points to be effective
(although it *can* be augmented through the usage of repeaters), and is generally easy to pick up on.
There are many radio services available. In the US:
- GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service): Used to be bundled with FRS on bubble-pack walkie-talkies in the 'States. Requires a license to use.
- FRS (Family Radio Service): Low power, unlicensed two way radio.
- MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service): Licensed "By Rule". Lower power than GMRS at 2W and is more restrictive on equipment)
- Citizens' Band Radio/11m: Unlicensed, readily available. Hands off approach via the FCC means that power might not be an issue.
- P25/APCO Project 25: Digital radio standard with encryption.
- Amateur radio: your good old ham stuff. Requires a license to use, which comes in three flavors (more if you were grandfathered in). Widely considered the best option.
= GMRS and FRS
I've thrown these in with each other largely because the combo radios are still around. Whilst it's now illegal to sell them, they exist out in the wild pretty much everywhere.
They're cheap, readily available, and require no technical knowledge in order to be used. The lower power on these can make them either useless for communication or decent if you're trying to hide.
FRS is limited to 2W at the most, but is stuck on half a Watt on channels 8-14. Typically most of the radios you're gonna find are limited to either 1W or .5W on FRS/GMRS channels regardless.
GMRS on the other hand, can go up to 50W on some channels. Outside of the shared channels, channels 1-7 can be used with a max of 5W, and every channel after 14 can be up to 50W. This makes GMRS a little bit more reliable, as you're not sending a message out and hoping it actually gets to where it needs to go.
Another downside of both of these, however, is that you cannot expect privacy from it. Anyone with a scanner can easily hear everything you're saying. All they need to do is focus on your base frequency. CTCSS will not save you.
= MURS
Personally, I've never seen MURS used, although I suspect it's primarily used by businesses. MURS is licensed "by rule" here in the 'States, so as long as you're not a representative of a foreign government, operate within the rules, and use MURS specific equipment, then you're in the clear.
The lower frequency (e.g. 151.82 for MURS 1 vs 462.5625 for GMRS) means it might be more reliable at range. Worth keeping around if you're thinking that you're gonna need up to two miles in the optimal setting.
The equipment isn't particularly available locally, so parts might be relatively difficult to come by.
= 11m/CB
CB benefits from reasonably capable and available equipment. Downside? You're probably gonna need a vehicle, as a large portion of the equipment currently in use are mobile units. With most of these radio services, CB benefits from the user not needing technical knowledge of the radio itself, however, if you want the radio to last longer, ensure you have checked your SWR (standing wave ratio). Too high, and you'll blow your final transistors, making you unable to transmit.
Due to the constraints of mobile units, these should be limited to vehicle-to-vehicle transmission. Handheld CB radios are relatively rare.
= APCO Project 25/P25
The future is now, and that means that digital radio modes are in for fun and profit. P25 was originally designed for public service users, however if the SHTF and you managed to grab a few of these for you and your buddies, then you might as well use them. A couple of downsides, however:
- The encryption method is a joke. The jammer only needs a fraction of the victim's power in order to render an entire message useless. Additionally, you basically buy into Motorola as they are the only ones really selling the key loaders for the encryption function to actually work. Ontop of that, if a key is compromised, you either have to mess with over-the-air re-keying (which isn't always an option) or load each and every radio with a new key again.
- Radio pings: Every time a P25 radio transmits, it sends out a unique identifier. You can quite literally identify the positions of each radio given enough resources.
- High patience requirement: loading frequencies and keys into the radio can be a pain. Getting the radios programmed requires a lot of patience that a lot of people just don't really have.
= Amateur radio
The be all, end all standard for preppers.
Amateur radio comes in three licenses these days; Technician, which is great for local comms, General, which is a good stepping stone into HF, and Extra, for all your low-frequency science-related needs. (Note: License does NOT matter in an emergency situation.)
Getting your technician license opens up most of the VHF and UHF bands. Typically one can get a cheap Chinese radio for thirty bucks from the Bezos Empire, or if you still fancy digital modes, a DMR radio.
Upsides include generally better range, better range of equipment, the ability to make your own equipment, ease of license, and many MANY modes of operation.
Downsides include cost of equipment (particularly HF stuff), generally higher requirement of some technical skill, and a sometimes abrasive community.
== The Net
If the SHTF, then the Net is probably down, but in the slim chance that the infrastructure is largely unharmed and that communication in this way is still possible, then you're probably gonna want to know what to use and what not to do.
First, you're likely not going to be able to hide your traffic. Tor, for example, relies on community-run exit notes and relays to function. Maybe they're still working elsewhere, and it's worth checking out, but don't expect it to work all the time.
Second, web applications like Facebook are probably down. You may have to rely on peer-to-peer communication.
Third, Look for other services. IRC, Matrix, etc. These are largely self-hosted and it's possible someone spun up a server for the purpose of communicating with others.
Fourth: be careful who you reveal things to. This goes for most situations anyways, but exposing your information might endanger you or others. This in particular is considered an OPSEC fail. (See: Dread Pirate Roberts and the darknet drug market Silk Road)
Your goal should be to gain access communication whilst using as little power as possible. Small, single board computers or a rooted Android phone should serve well, as you're essentially looking for basic applications (I'll cover this in a separate post).
== Conclusions
Miscellaneous stuff that is just as important as the above:
- Know your radio services. You can have one or multiple, but make sure you know what radios can interoperate between each other. Use the radio service that is best for your situation
- Ensure everyone in your group knows how the radio works, what frequency/channel to be on, etc. This way there is as little miscommunication as possible.
- Have a stash of parts and maintenance supplies. Eventually, the radios are either gonna stop working or meet an untimely fate. Ensure you can repair them.
- Don't interfere with other channels in use. Other people need to communicate as well. The bands do NOT belong to you. They are for everyone.
- Prepare backup batteries. Running out of power in a survival situation is bad news. Worse if you're injured or otherwise incapacitated.
== Links
www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs
www.apcointl.org/spectrum-management/spectrum-management-resources/interoperability/p25/ (Reeks of advertisement)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awwG9aaR4c (DEF CON 25 Wifi Village - Matt Blaze - Sigint for the rest of us)