Communications For A Dystopian Future

Introduction

As the conditions for worldwide famine, pestilence, and war increase, we can anticipate that the Third World will suffer first, and many residents will be forced to flee elsewhere, looking for resources.  A flood of illegal immigrants will rush unabated through our now undefended southern border.  Desperate tens of millions, and potentially, hundreds of millions in the future, who would come from around the world into the U.S via our southern border in the next few years as risks escalate. This scenario is based on the work of Micheal Yon:

Cometh the Horsemen: Pandemic, Famine, War | Michael Yon | EP 27  (Dr. Jordan Peterson interviews Micheal Yon, who is a well-known combat correspondent.)

With the growing prospect of large, well-armed, and equipped roving Third World gangs, whose stock and trade is organized gang violence, there will be an increasing need to draw on a community for the purpose of mutual defense. A few families alone would likely not be enough of a deterrent to repel such a fighting force. Most of these gangs will live off the land and develop their ability to make violence.  Some of these gangs will be controlled and supplied by drug cartels taking advantage of our failed border to conquer large swaths of what was once the United States.  As our border is undefended, our country is rapidly becoming degraded into Third World, and possibly failed State status with this flood of illegals.

Force multipliers can reduce the numbers needed for defense, yet we should not rely on force multipliers exclusively if there might be additional manpower available.  All things considered, there is no substitute for sheer numbers and overwhelming fire superiority, especially if the defenders do not have military training and equipment.  We would be forced to defend our retreats or homesteads, or flee leaving all that they had acquired in preparation that would have otherwise sustained our lives.   Except for escaping deep into the wilderness where few have the skills to survive long term, there would places be nowhere one go to avoid the ravages of war. As a contingency, I have a plan to become mobile, yet at some point it will be necessary to stand and fight for what you have acquired, and to preserve the lives of loved ones.  In the end, it is not what you have that counts, but what you can keep that counts.  We could have it all, yet lose it all because we did not have a community to help protect it.   It will take a community effort to make sure that we can keep what we have if this future threat visits our part of the country.  And we will need communications to bring a community together for an effective defense.

Why We Need Two-Way Radios Instead of a ‘Sat Phone’ or Cell Phone

Satellite phones have become popular and have their place, but do not have the advantages of traditional and basic radio communications.  Sat phones are wonderful, yet require infrastructure to work.  Should the service become unavailable for a variety of reasons, we would lose our one and only means, and it is not suitable for daily operations, even if everyone in our family or neighborhood could afford one.  Cell phones have the same vulnerability, and the service could be simply switched off, or the cell towers damaged, or be inoperable due to power disruption, or permanently out of service in a grid-down situation.  Recharged by PV panels, two-way radios can remain in service indefinitely and provide real-time communications.  It is far faster and more convenient to use than a cell phone in many situations.

Radio Communication in a WROL Situation

The primary job of radio communication in a Without Rule of Law (WROL) situation is to make a security operation as effective as possible. It can provide early warning, and the means to coordinate a defense. In a less dangerous situation, radio also allows us to interact with a community, and can act as a substitute for a telephone system.  We will need communications that makes it possible to participate in an alternative and barter economy.  Radio communications are a robust means of communication, because it does not require a “middleman”, or infrastructure that is an outside service, to make it work.  And that is exactly what we will need in a dystopian future that we anticipate.  There will be threats from many sources, most of which can be addressed with the help of radio communications. While topics about guns and bug-out bags are much more popular, boring topics such are radio communications are more important. Reliable communication will be a critical tool that will be needed.  As the Four Horsemen are certainly riding, and as each day passes, we are closer to the time when we may no longer prepare.

While I am not the person on the block with the most guns, I am the person with the most radio equipment, knowledge and skills. The Special Forces base their operations on three capabilities: weapons, medical, and communications.  If you can fill in one or more of those gaps in your community, then all will benefit.  Consider it enlightened self-interest, to do so.  A community, or smaller group of persons, needs one ‘resident expert’ on radio communications. Guns are good, but not nearly as useful if communications are not a part of your plan. Without commo, we “ain’t got nuth””, because without enough trigger pullers who are organized by some reliable means of communication, we are more likely to be forced to abandon our homesteads, and lose the ability to sustain our families in the long term.

Wanted:  Radio Enthusiast

A corner of my ‘shack’ is full of a variety of basic radio equipment, stacks of antennas, cables, and projects as I prepare to outfit a group, and a small community with communications of various types to facilitate a future alternative island economy. But mostly that gear is there to facilitate a community-based defense. I am indeed a radio ‘nut’ who has put in a great deal of study into the topic over the last decade, and was sending encrypted messages using digital modes on Baofeng transceivers utilizing a laptop computer via audio coupling, long before it was mentioned on the Internet well over a decade ago.  Being an early adopter gave me time to understand both its huge advantages, and its practical limits.  A basic analog transceiver is best for most.  My focus, given severe budgetary constraints, where shifted from higher-tech means of communication to mostly basic low-cost means, and that happens to be what we will need most.  Low-power nets and a deep supply of basic equipment will be the backbone of any organization, small or large.  In the end, it is the Indian (the operator), and not the arrows that wins the day.

I never miss an opportunity to buy any transceiver, or antenna cheap at garage sales, and thrift stores. Just this weekend I found a stainless steel 8-foot CB whip antenna manufactured in the 1970s for only $1. This antenna purchased new today would be around $200. Antennas are the other necessary part that is most often ignored.  Many have a CB in storage, yet lack the requisite antenna. To start, we first need a deep supply of basic analog 2-way radios from CBs, to FRS, and Baofengs. The first radios to buy would be FRS/GMRS and CBs.  Then consider buying a Baofeng.

Although I am now a somewhat reformed radio nut, what I might, or could do with basic radio equipment is not necessarily what I would recommend to most folks who are new to the world of radio communications. Gotta keep it simple for most folks.  I’ll save the fancy stuff for those few who are willing to tackle sophisticated techniques.  For those who are ready for advanced techniques that go beyond the realm of Amateur radio, see this outstanding video overview on Secure Radio Communications.  If you find that interesting, then I can highly recommend the book The Guerrilla’s Guide To The Baofeng Radio, by NC Scout.

A Look at the Book: The Guerrilla’s Guide To The Baofeng Radio

From a literary perspective, the book, just like my own articles, is not particularly well written, yet it is packed full of priceless information, and it is now a best seller in its genre.  Market demand more than validates the value and significance of this book, and the author is being rewarded monetarily.  It condenses the most useful information from military manuals, and brings the training up to date with current and proven techniques, and actual battlefield experience. One of the most important sections is ”Baofeng Digital Operation”.  Get the book, if only for that information.

Those who are interested in getting started on these and other related topics can begin with this book, therefore there is no need to waste time to discuss those topics here when we need to get folks ‘radio’ed up’ with the basics first.  Unfortunately, there is no way I could afford to attend one of his classes, and have had to learn all this on my own using the Internet, and conducting my own tests.  However, if you have more money and less time, then you’ll get up to speed much faster by taking a class or two.  I have intentionally avoided these topics on this blog, because I believe it would be considered to be too controversial in today’s world, as well as too sophisticated for most.  I have learned from experience by attempting to get my local ham buddies into this ‘style’ of radio over a decade ago, and those ideas were rejected. I have found no fellow Amateur radio enthusiasts in my area interested, so there is no point in getting deep into the subject. Get the book. I’m confident that you’ll find all, if not some part of it, helpful.  Hopefully, the author will follow up with a book about antennas.

(To be concluded tomorrow, in Part 2.)