What's the best way to listen?

[MountainGirl]

Seeking advice and product recommendations for a radio set-up.

We do not want or need to transmit, only listen to the mayhem post SHTF, on as many frequencies as might be out there.

There is a good high spot 100' from the cabin, with an unlimited view for 270-degrees (there's higher mountains behind us) to set up an antenna(s).

All thoughts welcome and very much appreciated.

[juskom95]

Why don't you want the ability to transmit?

The setup for either probably wouldn't be that different.

[MountainGirl]

Why don't you want the ability to transmit?

The setup for either probably wouldn't be that different.

No need. We're an army of two; hunkered, self-sustaining & very remote. Knowing whats happening would be entertaining at the least; wouldn't rely on the validity of anything we heard, however.

[TJC44]

No need. We're an army of two; hunkered, self-sustaining & very remote. Knowing whats happening would be entertaining at the least; wouldn't rely on the validity of anything we heard, however.

You should reconsider that.
If you're running 100 ft of coax ANYWAY, being able to communicate with friendlies, close or distant, is an asset. Whether it be by voice, digital mode, or CW.
Different bands have different antenna requirements. You would not use a long wire to hear SATCOM, and you wouldn't use a dish to hear HF/VHF.

JM2C
TJC

[juskom95]

You should reconsider that.
If you're running 100 ft of coax ANYWAY, being able to communicate with friendlies, close or distant, is an asset. Whether it be by voice, digital mode, or CW.
Different bands have different antenna requirements. You would not use a long wire to hear SATCOM, and you wouldn't use a dish to hear HF/VHF.

JM2C
TJC

I'm not an expert on VHF/UHF, but I don't think the cost would be that different, would it?

[MountainGirl]

You should reconsider that.
If you're running 100 ft of coax ANYWAY, being able to communicate with friendlies, close or distant, is an asset. Whether it be by voice, digital mode, or CW.
Different bands have different antenna requirements. You would not use a long wire to hear SATCOM, and you wouldn't use a dish to hear HF/VHF.

JM2C
TJC

We have considered it; for our situation transmitting isn't gonna happen. I appreciate your suggestion though, very much. Yeah, I imagine there'll be a few antennas up the hill, lol.

I'm not an expert on VHF/UHF, but I don't think the cost would be that different, would it?

I've just started looking but so far transceivers are quite a bit more than just a receiver/radio. We'll pay for quality in what we want, but cost still plays in some.

[azrancher]

We do not want or need to transmit, only listen to the mayhem post SHTF, on as many frequencies as might be out there.

No need. We're an army of two; hunkered, self-sustaining & very remote. Knowing whats happening would be entertaining at the least; wouldn't rely on the validity of anything we heard

I'm going to play the devils advocate here... If you are an army of two and you don't need help from anyone else, and you are completely self sufficient, then you don't need to know what is happening anywhere else.

OK, you don't need to talk, so you listen, perhaps you here a "CQ KH1BBQ listening", and that's all you hear, and he/she keeps transmitting that same series of letters and number... what did he/she say, was it important, where was he/she, and again. Why do you care?

See, you probably won't be hearing news reports, and hopefully not CNN, you will be hearing Hams trying to make contact, and if it's a widespread disaster, there may not be much out there, wouldn't you like to respond to him/her, and ask WTF just happened?

Just my $0.02

Rancher

[MountainGirl]

I'm going to play the devils advocate here... If you are an army of two and you don't need help from anyone else, and you are completely self sufficient, then you don't need to know what is happening anywhere else.

OK, you don't need to talk, so you listen, perhaps you here a "CQ KH1BBQ listening", and that's all you hear, and he/she keeps transmitting that same series of letters and number... what did he/she say, was it important, where was he/she, and again. Why do you care?

See, you probably won't be hearing news reports, and hopefully not CNN, you will be hearing Hams trying to make contact, and if it's a widespread disaster, there may not be much out there, wouldn't you like to respond to him/her, and ask WTF just happened?

Just my $0.02

Rancher

$0.02 well spent, thanks.

And you are right, in what you describe we won't "need" to know, nor will we really care...well, that's not quite it; we 'care' about humanity as any human would, but as to how what unfolds directly affects us, it wont - with a few exceptions.

If there is a CME or EMP event that knocks out most everything - as your post describes - then the random surviving "CQ KH1BBQ listening" might bring more melancholy than hearing nothing, so at that point there'd be no reason to even listen; we'd know WTF happened.

BUT - If the SHTF is one of a widespread event, societal collapse, civil war, revolution, UN troops on US soil (lol), then there should be a lot to 'listen' to - and, again, we would not transmit. Especially then. It would be more of a curiosity for us...to hear gov propaganda, or Jedi out there fighting the Empire (lol) even though we'd not have their frequencies... my words are playful, my intent is serious.

AND - If SHTF never happens, it would be nice to have a good radio/receiver up here now; there are some regional stations relatively close that I'd enjoy listening to...and though I can through their websites I dont like being online to do it.

Thanks again, Rancher. I don't mind at all when my ideas are challenged. That's usually when I learn most.

[Gambit]

I could never get into ham because the FCC will hunt me down after 2 minutes of my stupidity on air
I could do nothing but sandbag

[Sparkyprep]

I appreciate the fact that you and your mate want to be stand-alone, self sufficient preppers in SHTF. But, in my opinion, two people, alone, against the entire world simply wont last long, and is impractical. Humans, as well as many other species, survive, thrive, and are successfull because of our social abilities. Communities are one main reason that humans became the dominant species on Earth. No one can know how to do everything, all the time. To survive SHTF, you are going to need knowledge, supplies, and resources that you simply dont have, but a trusted friend might. You will eventually need to be able to call for help.