Communication Sub-Pack

Tue Aug 26 2008

Many people maintain an emergency bag with essential gear. I use smaller bags inside my main emergency pack so that it is easy to find and there is less chance of loose gear falling out of the pack in the dark, on the move, etc. One of the sub-packs contains communication and signaling items. Here is a breakdown ot the gear I have selected for this pack. Inside an old military pouch I have; 1- The bag, 2- Ranger Pace Beads, 3- GI Compas Pouch (for compass and pace beads), 4- GI Compass, 5- Rhino GPS / Radio, 6- Scanning CB Radio, 7- Digital Camera, 8- NBC decontamination wipe case, 9- Pocket Police Refrence Guide, 10- CB Radio 12 volt power supply cord, 11- GI M-16 magazine pouch (For the CB Radio), 12- Light Sticks

The bag
Ranger Pace Beads
GI Compas Pouch (for compass and pace beads)
GI Compass
Rhino GPS / Radio
Scanning CB Radio
Digital Camera
NBC decontamination wipe case
Pocket Police Refrence Guide
CB Radio 12 volt power supply cord
GI M-16 magazine pouch (For the CB Radio)
Light Sticks

From the top, clockwise:

In the green pouch is a CB radio w/ antenna. This one runs on either AA batteries or a car cigarette lighter. It can scan all 40 CB channels so in an emergency it is useful for 'listening' for others.

Next are a GPS and FRS 'family band' 2 way radio that together fit into the tan pouch. The radio can scan the FRS 'family band' channels and all the sub channels, again useful for listening for any news. This model also can receive the US weather channels which broadcast weather and emergency information. It also has an altimeter, weather station and clock built in. The GPS is a standard GPS unit and is a spare that I leave in this pack.

There is also standard military compass and a set of ranger beads, for 'old fashioned' orienteering (map reading), these relics can be useful when the fancy electronic stuff runs out of battery or otherwise is rendered unusable (after Electro Magnetic Pulse). These also have their own pouch.

I keep a spare digital camera with extra memory sticks. This may be wishful thinking but it could prove useful and is easy / light to carry. It's in a strong plastic case to protect it and keep it dry.