Grid Down Comms

In 2025, the simplicity of communication barely registers as a thought. Imagine your ancestors from a century ago learning about the information and communication potential of the phone in your pocket. The idea that global communication could be so effortless would leave them dumbfounded. These capabilities are easy to take for granted — right up until they’re gone.

As long as the cellular infrastructure holds, communication isn’t much of a concern. It remains the easiest and most widely accessible link to the outside world. But anyone who has lived through even a brief outage knows how fast things can go sideways. So, what happens when the usual networks go dark? Few places are safe from natural disasters, and even fewer could avoid the effects of a cyberattack, EMP, or solar flare, all capable of crippling modern communication. A little forethought and planning can make a big difference when the grid goes down.

Importance and Fundamentals

Think about all the ways you communicate in a single day. It’s mind-boggling — family group texts, work emails, social media, even ordering takeout — handled with almost no effort. Now take away your cell phone and landline. Add a disaster to the mix. What’s your plan?

Some basic forms of communication don’t require any technology, whistles, flares, a signaling mirror, or even pen and paper. Low-tech or no-tech methods have clear limitations, but for the sake of this article, let’s move beyond them. Let’s assume you have access to power, even if it’s through alternative sources like solar, wind, a generator, or a battery bank. That opens the door to radio communication.

RTWT @ OffGridWeb

{Author’s Note: If you want to take some of the best Training available to civilians regarding Grid Down and Tactical Comms check out Brushbeater Training}