- BASIC EMERGENCY RADIOS -

Portable, Battery-Powered Radio (for Listening)  
AM / FM / NOAA / SW    GET EMERGENCY INFORMATION
A Battery-Powered Radio will be your main source of critical news you will need during a disaster to stay safe and survive.  THE FIRST and most important piece of prepping equipment THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE is a Portable, Battery-Powered Radio. Whether this radio is just a plain old AM/FM or just FM radio, or one that also receives NOAA Weather Stations (government issued local info and alerts about weather and disasters), and/or one that also receives Shortwave (SW) radio stations giving you news from around the world -- having something, even if it's basic is vital.

• Advanced 'Emergency Radios' often cover FM, NOAA, and SW (Shortwave). Besides regular batteries, many can generate their own power and can recharge its own internal battery via a small solar panel and/or hand-crank. Most have emergency lights and some also high capacity batteries that can charge USB devices like a cell phone.  Some are waterproof.  Dave lists his recommendations here.

• Ham 'Amateur' Radios and GMRS Radios can also receive NOAA & FM stations.

• More expensive FRS Handheld Radios can also can receive NOAA stations, and sometimes have an FM option too.

- TWO-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS & ADVANCED MONITORING -

During a disaster, when phone and cell phone systems are down, contacting friends, family, and emergency services are only possible with two-way radio communications outline below. Police, Fire, Government, Military, Security Services, Emergency Services, Hospitals -- all use a form of HAM or GMRS radio services. Some frequencies are encrypted, but some are not - and they are meant to be open and used for them to broadcast emergency information to the public AND for the public to communicate with emergency services during a disaster.

• FRS (Family Radio Service)  2 Watts Max  |  22 Channels  |  .3 to 1 mile range  |  Simple Handheld Walkie Talkies
  SHORT RANGE NEIGHBORHOOD      no license required    

• GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)  50 Watts Max  |  22 FRS Channels + 8 Repeater Channels
  [ VIDEOS ON GMRS | Baofeng GMRS-9R Radio ]
  BIG BROTHER to FRS / CITY-AREA RANGE    FCC 10 year License required for simple $35 fee - no testing
  RANGE: Handhelds average 1-2 mile range  |  Mobile (Car) Units average 5 mile range  |  Home Base Stations with roof-mounted antenna transmit and receive much further. * NOTE: These are very conservative numbers. GMRS has been know to go 30 miles, but this totally depends on the factors like: radio power; antenna type, size, and its height; and finally your outdoor environment (geography, landscape, weather).
  GMRS works on same frequencies/channels as FRS (i.e. they can talk with each other), but GMRS has more power, features, and options.  GMRS also has 8 more channels than FRS, for use specifically with repeater towers. Using a repeater tower by any GMRS radio easily extends the range by 20 miles beyond that tower. The $35 FCC License is for 10 Years and covers everyone in your entire family.

• HAM (Amateur Radio)  |  The Ultimate in Radio Communications  |  1,500 Watts Max
  [ VIDEOS ON HAM Radio | Baofeng UV-5R Radio ]
  LOCAL/CITY/REGIONAL/GLOBAL   FCC 10 year License Required - $35 fee - study and pass test

• SDR (Software Defined Radio)   Windows | Mac | Linux | Android | iPhone | iPad
  [ VIDEOS ON SDR | NESDR Smart v5 USB Dongle ]
  THE INTEGRATION OF RADIO & COMPUTERS
  Listen to and Scan Most Frequencies including AM, FM, Shortwave, NOAA Weather, FRS, GMRS, HAM, and CB including Police, Fire, Maritime, Aircraft/Airports, Emergency Services, and much more..  Some SDRs also can transmit.  [ LIST OF SDR Software (most are free) ]

Voice Radio Frequencies

Frequencies with common voice traffic you can 'scan' or listen to.

Broadcast Terminology

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliet Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey Xray Yankee Zulu