watts_bar on Nostr: Meshtastic is probably the easiest and simplest way to have unlicensed, secure ...
Meshtastic is probably the easiest and simplest way to have unlicensed, secure communication over relatively long distances. You use a smart phone to send text messages via a network of small inexpensive routers. You can buy a premade router for about $100. The best of the of solar powered routers is a few hundred dollars at most. Range is only limited by the network. There are some public networks. However, one Noster user posted recently that he bought 200 routers. That would give him a linear range of probably close to 1000 miles or hundreds of square miles.
Next would be GMRS Radio. These are the 22 channel “family talk” radios that are probably more in line with what you’re thinking about. Do not believe the manufacturer label. These are low power, line of sight radios. You’re going to get somewhere between half a mile to 2 miles reliably. If you’re standing on the tallest hill around and climb the tallest tree on that hill you could possibly get 5 to 7 miles. There are a few public relays for these frequencies. Technically, you are supposed to get a license to use these radios, but tens of thousands of people use them every day, and the government has never prosecuted a single person. That being said, the license requires no education or testing, you just have to put your name on a list.
Third option, learn ham radio. There is a provision in the FCC rules that removes the need for a license during an emergency situation. Anyone can pick up any radio and call for help if they’re in an emergency. You can get a dual band 2 m/70 cm 5 W handheld radio and program your local repeaters into it. Direct line of slight range can be up to 50 miles. However, a lot of repeaters are networked. For example, I live in East Tennessee and was talking to somebody in Arizona the other day.
Next would be GMRS Radio. These are the 22 channel “family talk” radios that are probably more in line with what you’re thinking about. Do not believe the manufacturer label. These are low power, line of sight radios. You’re going to get somewhere between half a mile to 2 miles reliably. If you’re standing on the tallest hill around and climb the tallest tree on that hill you could possibly get 5 to 7 miles. There are a few public relays for these frequencies. Technically, you are supposed to get a license to use these radios, but tens of thousands of people use them every day, and the government has never prosecuted a single person. That being said, the license requires no education or testing, you just have to put your name on a list.
Third option, learn ham radio. There is a provision in the FCC rules that removes the need for a license during an emergency situation. Anyone can pick up any radio and call for help if they’re in an emergency. You can get a dual band 2 m/70 cm 5 W handheld radio and program your local repeaters into it. Direct line of slight range can be up to 50 miles. However, a lot of repeaters are networked. For example, I live in East Tennessee and was talking to somebody in Arizona the other day.