Ham Radio for Prepping | Emergency Communication Guide
- sousatactical
- Sep 28
- 4 min read
Discover how ham radio keeps you connected when disasters hit. Learn about FRS, GMRS & ham licenses to build your emergency communications plan.
Ham Radio for Prepping: Why It Matters When All Else Fails
Everyone prepares for something. Sometimes that means stretching groceries until payday, and sometimes it means planning for bigger problems—like a natural disaster that takes out power, cell towers, and internet for days. Most preppers focus on food, water, and flashlights. But there’s one area that’s often overlooked: emergency communications. How will you let people know you’re safe-or call for help-when phones and internet are down?
That was a question I had to face firsthand. After a storm left my family without power for over a week, and with phones cutting in and out, I realized how fragile “normal” communication really is. Until then, I thought ham radio was just a hobby-something my brother tinkered with. But I quickly learned it’s one of the most reliable tools you can have when disaster strikes.
With the right equipment, ham radio lets you talk across town, across the country, or even worldwide. You can send text messages, emails, and GPS location reports-all without relying on cell networks or Wi-Fi. Now it’s not just a hobby for me-it’s peace of mind every time a storm rolls in.
Emergency Communication Options
There are a few different types of radios worth knowing about when building your prepping communications plan:
1. FRS Radios (Family Radio Service)
Cheap, easy to find, no license required.
Walkie-talkie style blister packs at Walmart or Amazon.
Advertised range: “36 miles.” Real range: usually 1-2 miles in the city, maybe 3-5 in open areas.
Great for family members running around camp or around the neighborhood.
2. GMRS Radios (General Mobile Radio Service)
$35 license covers your whole family for 10 years.
Handheld and mobile radios available, with up to 50 watts of power.
Works with repeaters, which rebroadcast your signal for extended range (35-100+ miles).
Perfect for local and regional emergency communication.
3. Ham Radio (Amateur Radio)
The gold standard for long-range emergency comms.
Requires a license and exam ($35 for 10 years).
Access to local, regional, and international bands.
Capable of voice, text, email, and even data transfer during disasters.
Ham Radio License Levels
If you’re ready to step into ham radio, here’s what you’ll need to know about license classes:
Technician License (Entry Level):Gets you on VHF/UHF bands and a small slice of
10m HF. Great for repeaters and local contacts.
General License (Recommended):Unlocks HF bands, which means you can talk worldwide. Perfect balance of challenge and reward.
Extra License:Full access to all amateur radio bands and privileges.
👉 For most preppers, I recommend going for General Class. It opens up the world. With just 100 watts and a simple wire antenna, I’ve contacted all 50 states (still chasing Hawaii). With less than 10 watts, I’ve reached across the country.
What You Can Do with Ham Radio
Ham radio isn’t just about voice calls. With the right setup, you can:
Send SMS text messages
Send and receive emails over radio
Share your GPS location automatically
Join live digital chats from your PC or smartphone
Even if you can’t get through by voice, you can still push critical information out when it matters most.
Ham Radio for Preppers: Training and Community
One of the best parts of ham radio is the community and the built-in training opportunities:
Parks on the Air (POTA): Take your radio portable and make contacts from parks.
Field Day: A twice-yearly event where hams practice setting up and running gear in the field.
ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service): Volunteer groups that provide emergency comms during disasters and public events.
These activities aren’t just fun-they make sure your gear and your skills are ready when you actually need them.
Yeasu FT-891 HF + 6m Radio connected to a Windows Surface Pro running winlink (email over radio)
Final Thoughts: Why Ham Radio Belongs in Your Prepping Plan
Food, water, shelter, and medical supplies are critical. But without a way to communicate, you’re cut off and in the dark. Adding ham radio to your prepping gear fills that gap.
It’s affordable, it’s reliable, and when the grid goes dark, it could be your only lifeline.
Like we say in the ham community:When all else fails, there’s ham radio.
Blog post & information courtesy of our good friend Craig at
IG Wildland_Outdoors
Wildland_Outdoors YouTube channel:
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