this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2026
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In a true emergency? Yes, HAM is the way to go and I need to get around to buying one of those super sketchy Baofengs. In theory you can configure them to use without a license (which is also on the todo list) but it is super easy to tick into the licensed use. How much people will care will mostly depend on whether your local HAM folk are narcs. But, regardless, all bets are off in a true emergency and Baofengs are dirt cheap.
But in a "the internet is out" situation? Or even a "please evacuate in a calm and orderly fashion" for a wildfire or a bad hurricane? That is where meshtastic (et al) shine and it is well worth convincing friends to pick up a t-deck or whatever. Excellent for the "is it out for everyone or just me?" checks. Also useful for letting people know which field can see a cell tower a county or two over for emergency communication or to even coordinate whether you are all gonna head North or South to hang out for (hopefully just) a few days.
And anyone thinking of using any of that for stuff the government don't want you to: You are an idiot and you need to learn about how insecure all of those are.
You legally need a license for HAM in the US, but there's nothing really preventing anyone from configuring a radio to licensed frequencies. As for HAMs reporting you, if it's an emergency the FCC rarely fines anyone if it's for medical or safety concerns, were any amateurs to even report you. The whole reason for the Tech license for example is just to know laws and rules for operation. It's damn easy, too. License exam was $25 a few years back, 8 year term. All the questions and answers are avilable online, they just pull (35? I think) from the pool of 400. Most is pretty basic rules of common sense and civility, a few laws. Most tech questions are just converting frequencies and basic math. They don't require morse anymore (Thank god, or I'd never pass). And if you pass the Tech, you can go right back in for free to try the next exam level. I never use mine, but I do have an HT I keep charged in case of emergencies.
What about more extreme cases, say Castaway (movie) type situation. Stranded on an island in middle of nowhere.
But conveniently, one of the packages has a functional 2m battery powered radio and a Yagi too. There's no one you can make contact with, except... the ISS.
What if the ISS was the only station you could contact?
"Hello International Space Station, I am stranded on an island after a plane crash. Can you help?"
Without a way of knowing which satellite passing overhead was the ISS, in the narrow windows each day where you could see them well enough to correctly point a Yagi at one, you'd quickly run out of battery before making a relevant contact. Also the people on the ISS rarely listen or respond, the most used ham equipment on the ISS is basically a glorified repeater so you'd also have to get above the pileup of all the satellite chasers just trying to log contacts.