Article attached for review - photos to follow.
Baofeng UV-R5 V2+ ~ The Preppers 1st Emcomm Friend
So, your all ready, Prepper! You have your food and your water supplies stocked up. Your bug out location is stocked along with some basic items in your travel vehicle. If you have decided to hunker down in place in your home, you have your security program in place. You have your emergency power equipment and batteries ready. So, you sit back and smile knowing your are ready if the need presents it self.
Then what you hoped would never happen, happens. The SHTF!
The power grid is down, no phone or cell phone service is available. Your TV and radio last awhile but soon they are out also. What is happening in the Country, in your State or for that matter, a half mile away in your own home area?
"If you don't have Comms, you don't have Jack!"
The Beofeng UV-R5 V2+ is a low cost ($35.99), dual band 136-174/400-480 MHz, dual display Ham two-way radio and can be ordered through a number of vendors,
https://baofengradio.us/uv-5r-v2-2nd-gen/baofeng-uv5rv2-black.html being one. This radio arrives with an antenna, lithium-ion battery pack, charging cable and adapter, belt clip, wrist strap, lapel microphone, charging stand and user guide.
This radio is a true Ham radio that includes a number of additional modes. Be aware that you can listen to radio traffic with your new radio but you do need a FCC station license to transmit on this unit. In an emergency situation the FCC rules do allow you to use any radio to save life and or property.
The test to receive your FCC Technicians license only costs $15.00, can be taken locally in most areas and opens the door to the world of VHF/UHF Ham radio operation. With use of these bands, you will discover other local radio users and can start setting up your local comms community. Information about study materials and receiving your license can be found at
www.arrl.org
Programming your new Baofeng for your local repeaters and channels can be be done manually or with free downloadable software called CHIRP (
http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home) and the purchase of a programming cable. Be sure to purchase that cable produced by the Baofeng Company for around $20.00 as the cheaper cables sold by other vendors sometimes do not work well.
YouTube is a great source for information regarding the Baofengs and all their abilities. Optional accessories are available for purchase to add more capabilities to your radio such as a car charging unit, speaker microphone, and much more.
These radios are also capable of using other radio frequencies as well as the Ham 2 meter and 70cm bands. It is not however the scope of this short article to cover all the many capabilities of the Baofeng UV-5R V2+ but just to give the reader a introduction to this handheld style radio.
The Baofengs can be purchased in Black, Yellow, Red, Blue, and Camo. Be aware that they are not water proof and although they do not have all the bells and whistles of a Yeasu, Icom, or Kentwood handheld radio they are a great introduction to the world of radio comms and Ham radio in general.
