Prepper's Communication Handbook: Lifesaving Strategies for Staying in Contact During and After a Disaster by Jim Cobb

by Jim Cobb

The ultimate guide to acquiring, assembling and utilizing life-saving emergency communication systems including in-depth coverage on using HAM radios, walkie talkies, shortwave radios and CB radios

When disaster strikes, calls, texts and emails don’t work. After 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy, cell phones were rendered useless when transmission towers were destroyed and networks became overloaded. Having an alternative way of reaching family and loved ones at these critical moments is essential. With this in-depth guide, you learn the best tips, tricks and expert secrets for surviving when phones and the internet fail.

This comprehensive guide covers everything needed to be fully prepared for when the grid goes down, including the best types of radio for every disaster scenario from HAM radios (used by most search and rescue groups) to walkie talkies (small and easy to use, ideal for children). And since survival communication goes beyond the short term, there are also instructions for longer term solutions like hand cranked or solar powered batteries.

Paperback

First published February 9, 2016

About the author

Jim Cobb has been a prepper since long before that term ever came into use. He's been studying, practicing, and now teaching survival and preparedness for about 30 years. Jim has written several books on the subject, including Prepper's Home Defense, Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide, and Prepper's Financial Guide. He also regularly contributes to magazines such as American Survival Guide, Survivor's Edge, and OFFGRID.

You can find Jim at his website - Survival Weekly. He also has a consulting business found here - Disaster Prep Consultants.

Jim is also very active on Facebook .

Reviews

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Every time I read one of Jim Cobb's books, when I finish I know a lot more than when I started. His practical way of viewing situations and offering solutions really makes an impact.

[Charles Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Preppers Communication Handbook is an excellent introduction to disaster communications. In it, author Jim Cobb breaks down the most common forms of communication and gives you an overview of each one, telling you everything you need to know. This book covers everything from AM/FM radio receivers and shortwave to two-way radios such as HAM and CB to online methods of communication such as instant messaging. He even discusses codes and ciphers as well as other strategies to make sure your private communications are really private. I especially appreciated the chapters on effective face to face communication, body language, and conflict resolution.  Such "back to the basics" skills are necessary for survival and may be all you have following a major disaster, so they are especially important to remember in a world that is depending more and more on technology to help us stay connected. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in putting together a communication plan to round out their preparedness activities. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for this unbiased review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that the Prepper’s Communication Handbook covered ham radios, walkie-talkies, and shortwave radios, I was a bit apprehensive. Usually, these types of discussions are extremely detailed, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it very easy to read and understand. The material is presented in a clear, concise manner yet does not “talk down” to the reader. I now have a much better understanding of my communication options in a disaster situation and know the direction I wish to take in being prepared with the right tools. In my opinion, the author met his goal of presenting the various options available. The Prepper’s Communication Handbook is a valuable tool to add to your Prepper Library. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Bruce Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, yet informative introduction to what is needed to communicate when a disaster strikes. A basic guide that includes 10 codes, Phonetic Alphabets and a brief explanation of HAM radio. An easy read that doesn't go into much detail, but covers considerable information to clarify why you need certain equipment and what information you need to know. From putting a Plan Together to Codes and Ciphers -its a interesting read and general manual to help you prepare for a lifesaving event.

[Samuel Proulx · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much information (and not the right kind of information) to be a useful quick-reference, and too little information to be a fully fledged guide to the subject. As a ham myself, the ARRL has much, much better guides on the subject, useful to hams and non-hams alike. I really can't think of the kind of person who would find this particularly useful.