An Open Letter on Ham Radio

I wanted to write this after reading the info on ham radio in Exit Strategy, but after listening to the Myth crew's recent emergency broadcast, I knew I had to. I shall begin with some technical explanation of ham radio's benefits, and some evaluation of its potential pitfalls. I am only a technician, so I invite more experienced hams to comment or otherwise rebut my statements where needed.

First, to the idea of putting out the show in Morse Code. Morse Code, commonly referred to as CW or continuous wave, is no longer required for amateur radio certification. However, it has the advantages of having a very low bandwidth signal that can be transmitted using very little power. Look up QRP operation for much more literature on how to operate in times and places where electrical power can be scarce and precious.

Ham radio is an institution, and while quite welcoming of newcomers, one is encouraged to familiarize oneself with its history, its traditions, and its customs. There is an abundance of information online, but if there is a local club in your area, please join! Clubs are an opportunity to connect with local amateurs and engage with these traditions first-hand. Amateurs frequently also have other technical interests and know-how. Teaching one another is celebrated in ham radio. The club might also own equipment such as repeaters, to enable members to better communicate throughout the area.

Amateur radio persists because it provides a means of emergency communication and coordination when official channels break down, or are overloaded. A local ARES or RACES group can help improve your training and emergency management skills, should you want to pitch in.

There is also the opportunity to meet first responders in ham radio or to get involved with local search and rescue. You can meet capable people here, and become more capable yourself. Self-reliance is balanced with community spirit. Experimentation with new equipment and techniques is encouraged.

However it is an institution which is federally regulated, by the FCC. Anyone who knows your call sign can look up your slave name and your registered address. Although you can use a PO Box and stymie the low-effort crowd, finding where a transmitter is located using other radio equipment is relatively simple technology. Events known as 'fox hunts' help hams learn about this process hands-on and practice their skills.

No encrypted transmissions are allowed on amateur frequencies. Even if one was to pick a time and frequency to transmit the Myth show in Morse Code, for example, it would be available not only to anyone who understands Morse Code, but anyone who tapes the show and runs that through software to translate from Morse to text. This could be an opportunity to mirror the show, if one was to take that text, run it through TTS, and post it somewhere.

One could start a net, as some clubs and preppers have done recently. A net is a time and frequency when some people get together, in a relatively structured way, and talk about a subject. There are multi-state nets out there sharing news about the ChiCom virus that you won't get on TV, though I've been having trouble listening in personally to hear that news. I have not invested in good enough antennae.

The airwaves have a lot of potential. InfoWars was still on shortwave in between getting kicked off of the Internet and going to BitChute. But the Federales are eager to gnaw away at amateur frequencies and sell them to the highest bidder. California, as ever, is eager to milk self-reliant people for all they've got and reduce their capabilities in the process.

Some of you probably stopped reading as soon as I mentioned FCC registration. I try and justify it to myself as a way of "going gray" in a sense, especially since like most people, I am gray. I don't mind living in a society, as long as I can express myself and have some agency. I'm not thrilled about it, but I pay my taxes - even if I didn't, the Fed would still print money for Wall Street and Israel anyway.

The economy, as we all know, uses bull manure for bedrock. The collapse of credit in 2008 was inevitable, the current strain on global logistics was inevitable, but it's all happening a lot faster than I for one expected.

The mad wretches who are tearing us apart from each other and from ourselves have been trying and failing for centuries to "repair the world". This whole trans business is just one step closer to them turning us all into LCL! But they have failed to "turn lead into gold", and they will continue to fail. I think Heidegger said it best: "Only a God can save us now."

With that in mind, we can still help each other. Radio might help. Do some research, compare notes, and draw your conclusions.