Licensed Radio Network

[Malthouse]

As some will remember, I have been doing some research into setting up a radio network for preppers.

It looks like it will be a licence for mobile only use, a small fee will be payable each year and this will give you a call sign and that year's allocated frequency. The frequency will change to prevent freeloaders, though obviously a determined person with a scanner will still be able to work it out.

There will also be access to a private web site, where call signs can be checked against profiles.

(It is important to understand the licence will only cover two or maybe three frequencies and not confer HAM capability)

I would like this to be an open project, with hopefully plenty of ideas and growth from those who wish to join.

What do yo think?

[Rincewind]

I like the sound and idea of that ,just a few questions that I'm sure you will have thought of ,will each person have to pay individually to obtain the licence and frequency or will 1 person have it registered in their name and people all chip in to help cover the cost, sorry if it sounds confusing but I couldn't think of another way of asking without overcomplicating it .
Even that just dosn't scan right.

[RockingDad]

I'd be happy to be involved in this. New to amatuer radio but not to radio use...used them for years at work (Railway)

RockingDad

[Rearfang]

Sounds intreasting I've a m6 call sign
What sort of output would we be limited to

[Arzosah]

I'm interested! I'm ignorant, so I can't comment on feasibility or add-ons, but I'm interested

[Briggs 2.0]

Its a good idea but what frequencies are you think of? Economics suggests handhelds, so we'd be restricted to UHF/VHF.

[damaralenoire]

I would really love to be able to understand all this stuff a lot more. I am really trying to get my head around it but i really need it explained to me.

[metatron]

I know the UK is relatively small but even if you are pushing hundreds of watts UHF/VHF will not work for a country wide network.

[Malthouse]

I like the sound and idea of that ,just a few questions that I'm sure you will have thought of ,will each person have to pay individually to obtain the licence and frequency or will 1 person have it registered in their name and people all chip in to help cover the cost

Thanks for all the interest and comments.

As for the licensing, it would be the latter option. I am happy to set up the group licence and would charge a minimal amount (depending on how many take it up) to share the cost.

As for frequencies, we would have access to some in the 70-90MHz range. These are used very successfully by mountain rescue teams as they have good properties for distance but are not as "fickle" as 20-30MHz.

It will not be practical to have coverage such that someone in Scotland can chat with someone in Cornwall, thats not the idea.

The idea is to get decent local range, to be able to stay in contact with preppers in the area. When travelling to meet it would be useful once in the vicinity, but crucially it means that if all else fails (shtf) then we already have the system in place to be able to work together and if necessary find each other without going house to house.

Equipment wise, we would be restricted to 5w transmit power but can use 12v radios in a car etc. (but not permanent base stations). Of course in a genuine emergency any and all means can be used to find help.

[Arzosah]

Great description, malthouse, I'm still up for it