Bare Minimum Comms Strategy

00:00 - Introduction and Reasoning
02:16 - Meshtastic
08:39 - Satellite Communicators
12:56 - HF Radio
14:03 - Thinking Strategically
18:26 - Zero-Trust Environments
27:17 - Non Radio-based Comms
31:45 - Closing Thoughts

If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon!

And if you don't like Patreon, we're also on Playeur!

Disclaimer:
No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Please note that even though it hurts our income, we still offer ad-free watching via alternative platforms like Odysee, Gab, and (for now) Rumble.

This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney.

Our Reading List!

The War Kitchen Channel!

[jasonfields]

Dude, you need to upload more. I like your intel briefing style of posting given what is happening in the world now a days. From one service member to a retired one, keep up the good work.

[gaborszutor]

Your opening sentences hit me so different after this hurricane season.
So much gratitude for all your work!
God bless!

[Chief-CO]

9:13 He's entirely right and even in small situations like a privately owned VOIP server, even if you may know who owns it, they WILL listen. Server and infrastructure owners LOVE listening.

[mdouble]

Thanks for doing this overview. All you points are well made, correct. Your emphasis on the fact that most people will be unprepared. Being realistic needs to be heart and soul of any comms plan. Based on my personal experience I can confirm this is true, and also frustrating.

[thetravi]

I’m also one of the 3 comms guys in my bunch of hoodlums and family. I have comms, backup comms, backup for the backup, and am building a meshtastic net in my city. I’ve got 8 nodes out there and 4 more coming this next week. I have given out 32 radios for Christmas and have another 40 other radios including 3 mobiles, a manpack, and a base station. So realistically if every last person in the group went on mail buoy watch and dropped theirs overboard I have them covered……….with a pouch this time. You do mention items that I haven’t even thought about but could be essential. Going to Walmart later.

[hoosiered]

You bring up some very good points in this video, and even though I’m embarrassed to admit it, when it comes to “comms” and comm related information, I instantly become bored and fall asleep. Yet, communications are absolutely vital for any type of emergency situation.

[craigpalmer]

outside of radio waves heliography sun and mirrors, scouts once sent a msg this way in the LA smog 10 miles, in AZ the army used it to get the last of the natives, options options

[saml.sadler]

Excellent video. Not too High Speed, not too Low Speed. It'd be great if you offered on-site group training on radio use/network bldg for teams/communities. Thanks for all your efforts in info.

[FlinFarmer]

I like the big picture look on coms you bring us. Thanks

[shawndobson]

Reading the comments it seems a lot of people think the “Comms Guy” has to make everyone a Comms Guy. A guy can collect info/intel for the group with regional and long range comms. The group would have tactical/local comms (2m, frs, gmrs) for short range group comms. This is just a way to look at the picture. Not right or wrong just one of the ways it could work. It works for emergency responders everyday.

[sergeantsilverheart]

Great content as always; fight in the shade.

[billybobthorton]

I've always thought, it would be handy to learn Klingon, that way I wouldn't have to worry about encryption on any analog radio, but then again, I'd also have to have someone to communicate with in Klingon.

[Guardian_]

Honestly... maybe not my favorite "entertainment" source on youtube, but for sure my favorite youtuber when you **exclude!** entertainment. The value of the channel is very valuable in a community that thinks the way ours does. I commend the hard work.

[LeadSocietyUSA]

This video was spot on. Very helpful, keeping things in a fair perspective. Great video

[robmorgan]

It's trivial to locate anyone using a system like this with off the shelf gear. It's not a big deal for emergencies, but anything involving adversaries, your location is broadcast with every transmission. Cracking off the shelf HW encryption is likewise trivial. Better to transmit in the clear if you're trying to organize a disaster response that doesn't involve adversaries as reaching out to other groups can help find resources and establish regional priorities. If you're worried about comms in an adversarial environment you need to be 100% dark or grey. Tactics need to evolve or devolve to pre radio days if you're worried about real bad dudes (cartels, rogue operators, rogue gvmt)... Russia has proven that the game has changed. Squak and either die or assist in someone's intelligence collection.

[lenwhatever]

If all you have is FRS, it may be limited range but may help stay in touch. Limited range _can_ be an asset too.

[craigjoe]

The upcoming Baofeng will have onboard encryption and require lithium batteries to run the SoC that handles it.

[spudhut]

I appreciate that you apply even the lowest of form (sub par) type radios (Baofeng) to use them in a situation as this. Too many "prepper" channels, as great as they are, wont touch these "low grade" radios to implement into their plans. A mindset as such is outside of reality with most folks. I get it, Yaesu radios are far superior, but most handhelds are over $200. Not many will just pay that to have it on hand "Just in case". Thank you for taking the time to put this information out. .

[bradmeyer]

I use a Baofeng with either rattlegram or andfldigi, this is burst trans making location finding difficult. You can encrypt the msg with one time pad. This allows for digitial trans over the Baofeng. With the concept transmit and move, you can evade apprehension.

[jastrapper]

I have my TA-312’s. And my backup is a string with two cups. I’m all set.