Survival communications

Beans · 07-13-2008, 12:20 AM

A friend of mine has a couple of Military PRC-10 portable radios, both antannes, Mic's. backpack, with spare batteries still in the sealed wrapper.

The only exposure I have had with these radios is in the 60's in the USMC and all I can remember or I think I can remember is they were heavy and not reliable, and battery life sucked. I was not a RTO

Looking for some input on these radios as an emrgency communication setup.

SwedeSteve · 07-13-2008, 02:16 AM

You remember correctly !!

Big Dog · 07-13-2008, 07:03 AM

Looking back on my USN experiences with the old PRC-7 radios - I'd consider these old radios as 'collectibles' and get something modern for SurComm use.
Far smaller & lighter, more reliable, use common batteries, and parts are much easier to get!

Those old MilSpec radios were HEAVY!!

Otter · 07-13-2008, 07:53 PM

Six meter FM if I remember, they can be fun if you have a technician class amateur radio license. Other than that they're junk. Get a pair of VHF/UHF dual band handheld HAM radios, modify them to transmit out of band, then you can use them for FRS, GMRS. Marine, Business, and public service bands.

LiveToShoot · 07-13-2008, 08:00 PM

Here's some info about licensing for use of GMRS frequencies:
FCC: Wireless Services: General Mobile Radio Service: GMRS Home

Like Ham radio freqs, GMRS freqs are for use by licensed persons only. The process is much simpler for GMRS, no test and less formality...

Rex in OTZ · 07-14-2008, 10:20 PM

if the SHTF why would you want a radio anyway the somthing for nothing folks would figure where you were and smoke you out your den and take your stuff.
A late migrating bird froze and fell to earth falling right in the middle of some fresh cow shit and it thaw'd out and began to sing as it was happy to be all warm in the shit, a fox hear the singing bird and came along and asked the bird if he could help him out the shit and and clean him up...........the fox had a nice bird dinner.
Some times being in the shit isant a bad thing and not everyone who wants to help you out the shit is your friend.

damage855 · 07-15-2008, 10:43 PM

I have several differnt types of communication that I could use. CB, multi band HAM radio, marine band, FRS,GMRS,MURS just to name a few but I agree with Rex using them for any thing other than listnig in a SHTF sittuation would be dangerous. It is not very difficult to track down the source of a radio signal CBers and HAMers still "Fox Hunt" each other sometimes I have done it its not very difficult just becarfull if you do transmitt you dont know who is listining.

07-13-2008, 12:20 AM	#1
Beans Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 26	Survival communications A friend of mine has a couple of Military PRC-10 portable radios, both antannes, Mic's. backpack, with spare batteries still in the sealed wrapper. The only exposure I have had with these radios is in the 60's in the USMC and all I can remember or I think I can remember is they were heavy and not reliable, and battery life sucked. I was not a RTO Looking for some input on these radios as an emrgency communication setup.

07-13-2008, 02:16 AM	#2
SwedeSteve Bullet Maintenance !! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The anchor point, Alaska Posts: 10,283 Images: 1	You remember correctly !! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-13-2008, 07:03 AM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	Looking back on my USN experiences with the old PRC-7 radios - I'd consider these old radios as 'collectibles' and get something modern for SurComm use. Far smaller & lighter, more reliable, use common batteries, and parts are much easier to get! Those old MilSpec radios were HEAVY!! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-13-2008, 07:53 PM	#4
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 949 Images: 6	Six meter FM if I remember, they can be fun if you have a technician class amateur radio license. Other than that they're junk. Get a pair of VHF/UHF dual band handheld HAM radios, modify them to transmit out of band, then you can use them for FRS, GMRS. Marine, Business, and public service bands. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

07-13-2008, 08:00 PM	#5
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,062	Here's some info about licensing for use of GMRS frequencies: FCC: Wireless Services: General Mobile Radio Service: GMRS Home Like Ham radio freqs, GMRS freqs are for use by licensed persons only. The process is much simpler for GMRS, no test and less formality... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

07-14-2008, 10:20 PM	#6
Rex in OTZ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kotzebue, Alaska Posts: 439	if the SHTF why would you want a radio anyway the somthing for nothing folks would figure where you were and smoke you out your den and take your stuff. A late migrating bird froze and fell to earth falling right in the middle of some fresh cow shit and it thaw'd out and began to sing as it was happy to be all warm in the shit, a fox hear the singing bird and came along and asked the bird if he could help him out the shit and and clean him up...........the fox had a nice bird dinner. Some times being in the shit isant a bad thing and not everyone who wants to help you out the shit is your friend.

07-15-2008, 10:43 PM	#7
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina / Lake Norman Posts: 927 Blog Entries: 1	I have several differnt types of communication that I could use. CB, multi band HAM radio, marine band, FRS,GMRS,MURS just to name a few but I agree with Rex using them for any thing other than listnig in a SHTF sittuation would be dangerous. It is not very difficult to track down the source of a radio signal CBers and HAMers still "Fox Hunt" each other sometimes I have done it its not very difficult just becarfull if you do transmitt you dont know who is listining. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?