Are You Radio Prepared?

Disclosure: I've known Brad for over 20 years, but not closely for the past 12.I recently emailed Brad with a radio question (he's that "helpful geek who pretty much knows a lot about everything") and learned of his book. I immediately bought it (isn't iPad Kindle the greatest?). I'm part of the engineering team for a broadcast FM network as well as a GMRS license holder, and I found "Prepared" to be informative and interesting. I finished it in about 4 sit downs - you don't want to put it down except to go check out the resources he mentions and maybe see if there's a good ham receiver on Amazon.I sure miss my old Realistic multi-band receiver.There's a lot I don't about the world of amateur radio, and this book is a great resource both to understand the spectrum of knowledge about amateur radio, pun intended, and how to get started yourself, all from one of the top experts in the field. Brad's writing style is interesting and informative with very little fluff, and flows easily from the simple FRS radios you find at Best Buy to ham rigs and low-power FM stations. The new MURS radio was news to me!When I head for my bugout bunker during the zombie apocolypse, I'll be able to keep in touch with the outside world. And in the mean time, I can talk to my wife at home when I'm kayaking on the lake down the road.

For anyone who wants to be ready for any kind of emergency, this book is a must have. The author cuts through all the confusing jargon found in so many tech-oriented books, and offers an easy to follow plan to get started with emergency radios. Then, building on the classes he's been teaching, he leads the reader into the more advanced options available, but keeps everything in a clear and concise format. Where we live winter ice can blanket the landscape almost without warning and take out electric power for days, so copies of this book is going into a lot of my friends' stockings this year. Regardless of the potential emergency, or if you're just interested in learning about using long distance radios for a hobby to talk to people across your area or around the world, this is a terrific book to take you through each step.

A short good read! It seems like most people think their cell phones will save them in an emergency, how wrong they are! With most emergencies especially those in "major metropolitan areas", the electrically operated cell towers are the first to go or they'll get so overloaded they can't work.If you have an emergency contingency for you or your family, read this book and get some old fashioned, by today's standards, radios! For that emergency kit that you do have right?Well, there's no time like yesterday to prepare for the next disaster, natural or otherwise!

Brad Smith has done a fine job of explaining all the options of radio communications available to everyone. Since we live in a communication dependent society and common technology is vulnerable to interruption, other forms of communication will need to be available to stay in touch with loved ones. RF technology has been proven successful for over 100 years.The book is written so anyone can understand it and presents all options and clearly explains so the reader can choose which solution works for them.I recommend this book for everyone.

This book was an excellent source for the novice and possibly an expert wanting to know what to have on hand in an emergency. The best part was the simple technical information included to let you know the exact location of radio settings. It is difficult to find the settings such as those listed anymore and I discovered this a few years ago when I bought a scanner. This is a must have for your Bug Out Bag!

If you are just starting out in the radio communications arena, this would be a good basic reference book. It explains the many options and limitations.Not extremely detailed, not a operator book or to much technological info to digest for the beginner.If you've operated radio systems, this may be less than you anticipated.It's an OK read and does have educational benefit.

This book is very helpful for those of us unacquainted with radios for prepping. The book was a little technical in places but serious preppers and survivalists will benefit from his detailed, and specific, suggestions.

A lot of info in such a compact version. Definitions are easy to follow and understand. I have no knowledge of the radio world, I now feel more comfortable with certain aspects. I will read again.