Why NavComm?

I see a need in the community. So many of us train hard with shooting. We obsess over our gear. But we do it as individuals. We compete as individuals. BUT, rarely do we train or interact as teams. When the real disasters strike, communications are vital. When the Internet is out and the cell towers are dark, we absolutely need to know how to get to our friends and family. Society is built around having a community. How do you interact with yours during a disaster or when you train?

Specialties:

  • Team and Community Communications
  • Land Navigation with GPS
  • Team Awareness

Shooting is awesome in all its forms. But lets not forget the move and communicate parts.

Radio

Radios

There are are so many radios. What are your needs?

GPS

GPS

We are so used to Google Maps. Do you know how to use a regular GPS?

Team Awareness

Team Awareness

In a disaster, do you know where your friends, family, or team are?

Why have a GPS?

We live in a Google Maps generation. We didn't use to. When the signal stops, how are you going to get to your friends and family? Garmin is the hands down leader of devices from watches to offline GPS devices. Instead of just recommending products, I want to provide background information to help you find the right device for you.

Requirements:

  • Offline
  • Map Packs
  • Emergency Communication

There are a lot of things to think about when switching from a Google Maps mindset to GPS mindset.

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Garmin Fortrex 601

This where it started. The millitary needed a way to know exactly where they were. This is the latest itiration in the Garmin line that will give you precise positioning information without maps. It features:

  • Position
  • Tracking
  • Compass
  • Waypoints
  • Powered by 2x AAA Batteries

This is a great GPS. However, to maximize its potiential, it needs to be paired with a solid understanding of land navigation and how to assemble your own maps. We talk about these topics in the A World Without Google Maps class.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i

This is your full offline GPS companion device. This will give you a full range of maps for driving, hunting, topographical, hiking. A lot of information can be stored, imported, or manipulated. This model also has the emergency button which allows it to have a satalite messaging service. This is the model that we recommend in our A World Without Google Maps class. It features:

  • Maps
  • Tracking
  • Compass
  • Waypoints
  • Extra Tools
  • Satalite Communications, Messaging, and Imagery.
  • Emergency Button
  • USB-C Recharable

This is a seriously full featured GPS. It doesn't require anything out of the box. We recommend our A World Without Google Maps class in order to jump you across the divide between modern app GPS and device-based GPS.

Why have a radio?

You got to talk to your community. But how do we do that? Radio is a lost art that has a lot of complexities. Most of it can be distilled and simplified into easy solutions to accomodate needs. I'd like to layout a path to the different solutions through articles and classes.

What we are looking for in a radio:

  • Easy to Use
  • Programable (or Pre-Programmed)
  • Upgraded

Radio isn't a science. It is an art. Let's figure what you need.

This is the easy button guide for getting into radio and all the offering that I have to help folks get off the ground and running comfortably.

  1. Understand the radio tiers.
    2. FRS Family Mobile Radio Service has 21 channels and a maximum of 2 watts of power which typically results in less than a mile of range. FRS does not require any licenses or FCC issued call sign to use. Recommended Radio(s): Either Motorola Talkabout T800 or T600 series.
    GMRS General Mobile Radio Service has the same 21 channels and the maximum of 5 watts of power which results in about 2 miles of range. In addition to the regular 21 channels, GMRS offers 8 more channels with a maximum of 50 watts of power offering up to 30 miles of range with excellent antennas. Recommended Radio(s):
    • Baofeng UV-5R Mini
    • Baofeng UV-5RM
    • BTECH GMRS-PRO
    • Anytone 779UV (for a vehicle radio or more power)
    GMRS License The GMRS license is $30 through the FCC and offers the license holder and family a 10 year ability to use greater power and GMRS repeaters without the necessity of a call sign (unless asked).
    Amateur License - Technician A (HAM) license gives you greater range, bandwidth, and flexibility. The main benefit is to utilize area repeaters and interlinked repeaters systems to be able to obtain greater range. (Example: There is an interlinked repeater system that spans the West side of Michigan from St. Joe to Traverse City.) The typical handheld radio for amateur use still only uses 5 watts of power. Mobile (vehicle based) radios can utilize up to 50 watts of power. Tests and an FCC license is required.
    Amateur License - General or Extra A higher level amateur license offers entry into the HF bandwidth and space. This encompasses world wide communications. It requires multiple test and licenses from the FCC and deep knowledge on radios, antenna design, and frequency manipulation.
    Unlicensed Motorola has developed radios in the 900mhz ISM band. These radios are digital radios and are designed to be in dense spaces with a lot of radio interference and businesses (Example: Mall or hospitals). This offers the perfect tactical team based radio for "secure" communications without the need for a license. Unlike all the other radios referenced, these radios can only be configured to talk to other specific radios and do not receive NOAA, VHF, UHF, or aviation frequencies. Recommended Radio(s): Motorola DTR700 or DLR1060/DLR1020/DLR110 series of radios.
  2. Understand the radios.

    3. Typically most people simply want to talk to a small family/friends group while out of normal cell phone range and listen to weather and emergency broadcast information. Here is a breakdown of the radios that I recommend.

    Baofeng UV-5R Mini Excellent and simple starter radio. It offers an incredible bang-for-the-buck. Features: USB-C charging, NOAA weather channels, GMRS channels, VHF (Amateur repeater) channels.
    Baofeng UV-5RM Larger radio with the addition of aviation bands to listen to airport radio traffic added onto all the features of the Baofeng UV-5R Mini.
    BTECH GMRS-PRO Excellent advanced GMRS radio which offers APP programming and updating along with GPS functionality which can also be setup to share location to other team members with a GMRS-PRO offline through radio frequencies. GMRS and NOAA channels only. USB-C charging.
    BTECH UV-PRO Everything that the BTECH GMRS-PRO offers with the additions of VHF (Amateur repeater) channels.
    Anytone 779UV This radio is setup for vehicle usage with 20 watts of power and a power plug for cigarette lighter style power outlets.
    Motorola DLR1020 These are small simple radios for teams requiring more operational security and a quarter mile range.
    Motorola DTR700 This radio is everything that a DLR1020 is with more power, display for creature comforts and a removable
  3. Put it all together.
2. Step 2 - Understand the radios. Typically most people simply want to talk to a small family/friends group while out of normal cell phone range and listen to weather and emergency broadcast information. Here is a breakdown of the radios that I recommend. 1. Baofeng UV-5R Mini - Excellent and simple starter radio. It offers an incredible bang-for-the-buck. Features: USB-C charging, NOAA weather channels, GMRS channels, VHF (Amateur repeater) channels. 2. Baofeng UV-5RM - Larger radio with the addition of aviation bands to listen to airport radio traffic added onto all the features of the Baofeng UV-5R Mini. 3. BTECH GMRS-PRO - Excellent advanced GMRS radio which offers APP programming and updating along with GPS functionality which can also be setup to share location to other team members with a GMRS-PRO offline through radio frequencies. GMRS and NOAA channels only. USB-C charging. 4. BTECH UV-PRO - Everything that the BTECH GMRS-PRO offers with the additions of VHF (Amateur repeater) channels. 5. Anytone 779UV - This radio is setup for vehicle usage with 20 watts of power and a power plug for cigarette lighter style power outlets. 6. Motorola DLR1020 - These are small simple radios for teams requiring more operational security and a quarter mile range. 7. Motorola DTR700 - This radio is everything that a DLR1020 is with more power, display for creature comforts and a removable antenna. 3. Step 3 - Put it all together. I recommend getting your GMRS license and a regular "ham" radio such as a Baofeng. This gets you communication within a loose family unit at a higher range with the ability to listen to other useful frequencies. It also offers the ability to transmit in an emergency on channels that could be listening and active. If you decide to get your amateur license, the radio will be setup for use on repeaters as well.