Ozarks Sustainment Radio Course

OSRC is an introductory course on handheld radio communications protocol in emergency or grid-down/SHTF scenarios.

Firstly, we will discuss radio frequency ranges. Your instructor is by no means a physicist, so if you want to learn about wave theory on your own there is plenty of information out there. In this course we will discuss a handful of frequency ranges, what they are called, and how you can utilize them.

Secondly, we will get familiar with our radios – for this course we will be using the Baofeng AR-5RM, the new and greatly improved version of the now-ubiquitous UV-5R which is used globally by enthusiasts and dissidents alike. These radios are highly capable, easy to use, and inexpensive. Their ability to transmit on a vast range of frequencies, coupled with their 10W of power output, actually render them somewhat too capable for a sovereign individual in the eyes of the FCC.

Thirdly, a disclaimer about FCC guidelines will need to take place. Our unelected overlords in the Federal Communications Commission have taken it upon themselves to assert unsolicited dominion over the invisible waves that surround us and to arbitrarily dictate the usage thereof. To be very clear, many of the tactics discussed in the course are currently and technically in violation of FCC rules without an Amateur Radio Technician License. However, unlicensed usage of licensed frequencies is permissible in emergency situations (see here and here). Furthermore, rules are not laws, and the FCC is not a law enforcement agency – they cannot arrest you and they cannot criminally prosecute you. They can send you mean letters and they can "recommend" a forfeiture of assets (basically a fine), though for the latter they must ask the Department of Justice to enforce or collect it for them. If things get – and especially stay – really bad, the last thing you will need to worry about is a letter from the FCC. In this course you will learn what rules can be broken with extremely low (but non-zero) risk of enforcement in present times. To quote Don Shift, author of Basic SHTF Radio:

There are too many frequencies, too much country, and too few people to sit around and listen to everything.

Finally, we will conclude the course by making what is called a "band plan" for you and your squad to use for sustainment communication. Those of us comfortable with heading out into the forest to hazard some unauthorized transmissions are welcome to join the instructor to practically apply that which we have learned and to test out your squad's custom band plan. The course will take place out in the country and the likelihood of a federal agent intercepting and prosecuting our test transmissions is up for you to consider.

Please see the Shopping List page for both required and recommended materials for the course.