Thursday, February 6, 2014

Emergency Communication Equipment For Your Kit

By Serena Price


During a natural or man-made disaster, you will want to be able to communicate with government agencies and family members . Suggestions for Emergency Communication Equipment for your kit are a ham radio, satellite phone, walkie- talkies, cell phone, or a hand crank radio . Having fresh batteries or choosing equipment that use solar power will ensure you are not left uninformed.

The one option used for over 100 years during every disaster in the United States of America is the Ham Radio. They operate on a wide variety of frequencies ranging from above the AM broadcast band to the microwave region. These are short wave bands and bounce off the ionosphere from the transmitter to the antenna of the receiver's unit. In order to transmit longer distances, they use a repeater which receives the signal then rebroadcast it over and over again. Also some operators use Morse code which can often get through when voice transmission cannot. The Short Wave Radio has an internal battery or generator so outside power is not required.

The second option is a Satellite Phone. Their advantage is that their transmission bounces off satellites orbiting the earth. They provide voice, text, and internet service in addition to Global Position System, GPS. They are more dependable than Cell phones because they do not use the cell networks which can become overloaded and jammed.

Another option that does not use cell networks, is the Walkie-Talkie. Modern units resemble a cell phone but are instead a two-way radio that also uses radio waves for transmittal. Good for short distance communication, they can reach a person 1 to almost 35 miles away as long as there are no obstructions such as buildings or a mountain between the sender and receiver.

Practicably everyone has a Cell Phone. During a disaster, attempts to make a call may fail due to networks being overwhelmed, but you will probably succeed by texting or using your data plan. Text messaging takes less bandwidth than a voice call. In addition, you will probably be able to access the internet to gather vital information, communicate with others, and post your status on social medial pages.

A Hand crank radio is a smart investment when putting together an preparedness kit. The first and obvious reason is because it does not require any batteries or electricity to operate. Often there will be a built-in port to allow the charging of cell phones, an LED reading lamp, flashlight, and flashing red emergency light, preset stations for receiving weather information. Most importantly many models have a solar panel for power. .

Add a solar panel and converter to your preparedness bag. You will also want to keep a fresh stock of batteries. Also check your equipment to make certain they are in proper working order. Disasters are never pre-planned or scheduled for our convenience so be prepared.

While making preparations for possible emergencies or disasters include emergency communication equipment. Store batteries properly and invest in a solar converter. By doing this, you will be able to stay informed on the situation and communicate with loved ones and emergency crews.




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