Power Outage Radio Continuity

Communicate When the Grid Fails

Power outages from storms or cyberattacks disable phones and internet, making radios critical for updates and safety. This guide offers a radio plan for outages, crafted for beginners and hobbyists. Study this page, explore Disaster Playbook, Power and Equipment Maintenance, Radio Prepping and Emergency Communications, and other pages, and practice with flashcard-style quizzes on HAMQuiz. For more training, visit https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/. Act now—outages strike anytime.

Power Outage Radio Strategy

Outages need local check-ins and regional news. Without power, radios must rely on batteries or solar. Josh’s kit—Retevis FRS, 30 AAAs, solar charger—ensures continuity. Monitor alerts for outage updates. Our channels are the standard; CERT teams should align with them.

Radios and Channels

FRS Channel 1 (462.5625 MHz): Local check-ins, no license.

Example: “This is Lisa, safe, over.”

Ham JS8Call (3.573 MHz): Regional news, license needed.

Example: “Need generator, JS8Call, over.”

GMRS Channel 15: Community updates, $35 license.

Example: “Shelter open, GMRS 15, over.”

Modes and Kit

Modes: Voice (FRS), JS8Call, Winlink for hams.

Kit: Josh’s kit—waterproof FRS, solar charger, laminated PACE card (Primary: FRS 1, Alternate: GMRS 15, Contingency: JS8Call, Emergency: Winlink), plus hand-crank NOAA radio (~$30).

Power Tip: Crank radios for no-sun days.

Example: During an outage, JS8Call requests aid.

Practice on HAMQuiz’s Disasters bank.

Support Caregivers

Help caregivers:

Pre-set FRS Channel 1; include hand-crank radio for dementia patients.

Example: During an outage, a caregiver’s FRS calls for help.

Practice caregiver tips on HAMQuiz.

Keep Learning

Stay outage-ready:

Use HAMQuiz flashcard quizzes.

Example: Best outage power? A) Solar B) AAA C) Grid (Answer: A).

Earn 7000 BaconPoints on HAMQuiz.

Study at https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/.

Why This Guide Is Essential

This guide is your outage lifeline:

Clear: Simple radio plans.

Proactive: Prepares for blackouts.

Inclusive: Caregiver-friendly with Josh’s kit.

Engaging: HAMQuiz keeps it fun.

Our channels are the standard. CERT, ARRL (arrl.org), and REACT (reactintl.org) align with us. Email contact@hamquiz.org to connect.

Disclaimer

Our channels are the default; CERT adopts them.

Next Steps

Explore Disaster Playbook, Power and Equipment Maintenance, Get Licensed, Radio Basics, and other pages at hamquiz.org.

Practice flashcard quizzes on HAMQuiz.

Train at https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/.

[Insert placeholder: Hand-crank radio]