[BC] Last-ditch, reliable communications backup

[WBRadiolists at aol.com]

In a message dated 03/20/2009 10:18:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
towers at mre.com writes:

> FWIW, I'll gladly keep a 25Khz analog FM or AM radio handy when (not if)
>  the infrastructure based communications system go down after a major
>  event.

Like Katrina. It was the HAMS that provided communications when all of the 
infrastructure was destroyed.

Desert Storm - In Afghanistan, it was a HAM that provided news to the rest of 
the world about what was happening... the atrocities being committed, etc. 
Remember the news reports that said something about "information being smuggled 
out of Afghanistan..." It was being "smuggled" out, right under the occupying 
army's noses by a VERY BRAVE and dedicated ham, who managed to HIDE his real 
equipment, and hand over only only worthless junk when the invading Iraqi army 
went from house-to-house, confiscating anything electronic.

Once they were out, he reconnected his equipment and began transmitting on 
RTTY or PACTOR (I forget which) and other hams received the news and passed it 
along to the Media. One Ham. One now-contraband transmitter. He was a hero to 
operate it, under constant threat of death! He kept that communication coming, 
day in and day out, until the US-led Military forces liberated him and his 
Country.

There are many, many other true stories where Ham Radio was the ONLY 
functioning communications link into or out of a disaster or war zone.

To modify a phrase, "They'll get my Ham radios and license when they pry them 
from my cold, dead hands!"

Willie...
N1NKM