Off-Roading Preparedness: My Ham Radio Gear for Emergency Communications

Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel where I share my passion for off-roading and all things adventure. In today's video, I'll be showing you my ham radio setup that I use for emergency communications during off-road trips.

When we go off-roading, we often find ourselves in remote areas with no cell phone service. This is where ham radios come in handy. They allow us to communicate with other members of our group and call for help in emergency situations.

Join me as I take you through my ham radio setup for off-roading and share some valuable tips on how to stay prepared and connected during your next adventure. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more videos on off-roading and outdoor adventures.

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All opinions presented in this video are my personal opinions and should not be construed as an endorsement of any manufacturer, distributor, product, or service. No prior business relationship exists between the manufacturer or distributor of any product or service featured in this video and myself unless specifically stated in the video. All information in this video is provided as-is and I make no representations as to the accuracy of the information. Before purchasing any product or service featured in this video, please do your own research regarding the manufacturer or distributor of any product or service. Not all products or services featured in this video may be appropriate for all localities, please check your local laws and regulations regarding the use of any product or service featured in this video.

[OverlandingFun]

If you have any questions, please drop them in the comments.

[MrJest]

My friends and I like to off-road and camp in areas far outside of cell coverage. We've all been licensed hams for decades; beyond mere emergency use it's excellent inter-vehicular comms - especially when we get separated. I was recently meeting up with them in Death Valley (I live in AZ; they live in CA and WA) and we started hooking up over radio at about 50 miles distance from each other as we drove to meet with each other. I'd highly advise off-roaders and anyone going outside of the cell-covered areas around cities or major highways to even get a basic tech license and rig. It's worth it's weight in gold, seriously, and not just for emergencies - although that is always useful too.

[NorthShoreBronco]

Wow, I knew Ham could get some range, but I didn't realize how much it could get. That's impressive. Can you get a ham radio that does GMRS, FRS and CB frequencies as well? I'd love to have something that covers everything.

[johnk]

Good video. I have a similar set up. The one other thing I add as a part of my kit is a foldable 60 watt solar panel and small charge controller. This gives the the ability to operate for much more time and to not deplete my vehicle's battery. I carry a End Fed Half Wave antenna for 10 through 40 meters with an extra piece of add on wire for 80 meters should I need it to set the antenna up as a NVIS antenna for use at night. In addition to the HF radio, I have a 50 watt UHF/VHF radio in the vehicle as well as a hand held UHF/VHF with a roll up "J" pole. This is for when I'm out on foot or if the radio or antenna in my vehicle gets damaged. You can use the "J" pole with the mobile VHF/UHF radio also. I love doing POTA and will use the wire antenna as well as a large mag mount with ham sticks. It's important to have multiple ways to communicate when off road or traveling. I hope your video gets people thinking about the importance of getting a Ham Radio license. As you stated, you don't need a license in an emergency but you also need to practice with your radio gear if you want success under a wide variety of conditions. HF is not really plug and play. Be safe out there !

[somewhereinWYO]

Where can I buy a setup like that and get into the hobby?

[mikeherr]

While you may be correct about unlicensed persons in an emergency (and be very careful with that) simply buying and having the radio for an emergency, is totally useless if you dont know how to use it. The only way is to use it often, like evrrytime you are out. For that you will need an amateur radio license. Ive seen enuf licenses folks who cannot set up there radio in the field, let alone a total newbie.