Video: Grid Down? Ham Radio Still Works. Here’s How to Start

When cell towers go down and the internet goes dark, ham radio is often the ONLY communication that still works. No infrastructure required. No subscription needed. Just a license, a radio, and the know-how to use both.

In this video, I break down exactly how to use ham radio for emergency preparedness — from getting licensed to choosing the right gear to plugging into your local emergency communication network.

What you'll learn:

• Why ham radio works when everything else fails
• Technician vs General class license — which one you actually need for emergencies
• The best VHF/UHF handheld radio for emergency use (and why battery type matters)
• How repeaters extend your range across an entire metro area — and where to find them
• What ARES is and why you should join BEFORE a disaster hits
• How HF radio lets you communicate across state lines when local infrastructure is wiped out
• The 3-step starting point: license → radio → community

Equipment mentioned:

• Yaesu FT-60R
• AA Battery Adapter for FT-60R
• Baofeng UV-5R

100-watt HF radio + antenna + lithium battery (for General class operators):

• Yaesu FT-710 Field
• Buddistick Pro
• Bioenno BLF-1215A

Resources:

• Free Technician license study course
• Find your local ARES group
• Find local repeaters

Timestamps:

0:35 — Ham radio isn't just for preppers
2:05 — Technician license: what it gets you
3:30 — Best handheld radio for emergency use
4:26 — ARES: your local emergency radio network
5:30 — Repeaters for emergency use
6:39 — HF radio for long-distance emergency communication
7:08 — Your POTA rig is perfect for HF emergency use
7:38 — HF Technician license rant
8:50 — The 3-step starting point
9:30 — Wrap-up

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