We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
In the wake of Helene, recent CA fires, recent cellphone outages, etc., I was asked about establishing communications plans for families and groups using radios. IMHO, one should start with GMRS with the expectation of getting a technician class amateur radio license. These two licenses will ensure an ability to communicate in the event of disaster or cellphone breakdown/overload.
Before I start, you may want to take a look at a blog by Kevin Macaraeg of ICOM America on the differences between VHF/UHF. The characteristics of these frequency ranges should be considered when building a solution. Link: https://blog.icomamerica.com/2021/11/17/differences-between-vhf-and-uhf/
There are "free" and no license spaces in these radio spectrums. Information on these can be found as follows:
Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) is a channelized VHF service: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/multi-use-radio-service-murs
Family Radio Service (FRS) is a channelized (low power) UHF service: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs
Whether you choose to (or not) pursue an amateur radio license, I would encourage you to get a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license [Link: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs]. This is a channelized UHF service allowing more power, detachable antennas, and repeater functions. It does share channels with FRS which allows a GRMS operator to communicate with users of blister pack FRS radios when needed.
I would strongly encourage pursuing at technician class amateur radio license at a minimum. Here's the FCC site: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service.
Study links and walking through the process:
https://www.rars.org/HowToBecomeAHam.php
https://hamstudy.org/
https://hamradioprep.com/ham-radio-study-guide/
There a number of apps to aid in studying. Once you consistently pass the practice tests, start studying the next higher class until you go to testing. If you pass the technician class test, take the general. If you pass the general (even if you have not studied for it), take the extra exam.
Yanis Varoufakis (former Greek Minister of Finance) describes AI as a new form of capital that produces not goods, but behavioral modification. This is achieved by engineering perceptions.
The answers provided by ChatGPT, or the images rendered by StableDiffusion — as these increasingly inform our perceptions, they in turn define the reality we experience.
This is what makes AI so powerful — he who controls the AI, defines the reality of tomorrow.
⚡️🇺🇸 Some more things coming out for the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Under the preliminary drafts of the bill, the USAF is requesting a release of $57,000,000 USD ($57.0 Million) to retire all remaining 162 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in current service. Apart of the 2023 NDAA, there was a clause for a few million dollars to be released every so often to gradually retire the (then) 250 airframes by 2034; however due to the push by the Dept of Defense to ‘shed’ obsolete or obsolescent airframes that cannot be overhauled or upgraded further without a whole new airframe, it appears the USAF wants to retire all 162 remaining A-10s by the end of 2026.
The USAF plans to fully divest the 340-total remaining A-10s entirely, including those that currently serve in a handful of Air National Guard units in some states; which will be replaced by F-15EX Eagle IIs (like what is already happening with the Michigan State Air National Guard’s A-10s), or F-35A/Bs.
Included ...
My older sister lives in the country in between Velma Oklahoma and Duncan Oklahoma near the Fuqua Lake area, this story was told by a rural mail delivery woman who delivers the mail in the country.
The incident happened while she was on her route, when she came upon to the mailbox a male Chinese nation came out brandishing a, AK-47 rifle being very hostile,
I don't know if he pointed it at her since it is against the law to do so but she was terrified and said she was never going back and that the location that had a guard tower. Was the sheriff department notified, I don't know, did she notify her supervisor, don't know. But word is from the country folk who live in the area they have seen the guard tower at the pot place;
I refuse to call it a farm because it is an insult to farmers.
And yes she was traumatized by that ordeal
