City Comms Plan

City Comms Plan

PrepperNet

Communications Initiative Plan

GOAL:

To establish a reliable communications network within the PrepperNet that enable its members to maintain a connection, during SHTF scenarios, to those they have an established level of trust trough training.

OBJECTIVE:

We know that not everyone will pursue an interest in comms. Either it poses a complexity beyond one’s patience or simply is of minimal interest to them. With that said, the success of our comms hinges on embracing EVERY member, regardless of their skillset and/or capability, to have an integral hand in the success of this endeavor. It is paramount that everyone understands that comms plays an important role in their readiness as does medical, bushcraft, and other skillsets. However, we cannot make comms appear to be the 800lb. gorilla that very few will conquer.

  • TRAINING – We need to provide a comprehensive curriculum to support those members who desire to earn their license.
    • Because our individual groups are spread out across multiple cities & states, the utilization of web conferencing may be the most efficient method available to provide structured training for our members. We will provide this training free of charge and developed a structured program to maintain order & efficiency.
    • Establishing 2m “nets” in each group’s locality, based on the AmRRON format, will develop cohesiveness. Incorporating 80m voce & digital HF nets into the “mix” ensures we can adjust to the conditions and remain successful.
    • Creating quarterly exercises that simulate various scenarios will help us identify our weaknesses, realize our strengths, and acclimate ourselves to the comm plan which will be heavily utilized during the exercises.
  • COMM PLAN – We need to develop a communications plan that involves every level of capability, ensures that we can communicate without the need for infrastructure (repeaters), ensures that information can be disseminated throughout the organization as needed in times of societal collapse, and maintains personal security (PERSEC) for those who participate.
    • A solid plan needs to incorporate cell phones (Zello app), shortwave receivers, handheld MURS.FRS radios, handheld ham transceivers, mobile & HF transceivers. Each of these presents a critical component to our overall plan and need not be relying on the other for the plan to remain successful.
    • The plan needs to be SIMPLE to each member’s specific capability. It should place an emphasis on managing power & understanding the mechanics of their equipment so that they will know its limitations.
  • INCLUSIVITY – It cannot be stressed enough…we must embrace EVERY member, regardless of knowledge/capability/financial restrictions, as having an integral part of the success in our communications efforts. We will have licensed ham radio operators from Technician class to Extra class but our unlicensed members, though limited in their capabilities, are a necessity to the overall success of this endeavor.

PLAN:

GROUP-LEVEL:

  • Each PrepperNet city group leader will create a comms leader for their group. This member should be at least a General-class licensed radio operator for reasons that will be explained in this plan. They will be the voice for their respective group’s comms, work directly with their respective city leader’s goals, and pass the directives of PrepperNet leadership to their group.
  • Each group comms leader will voice the comms concerns of their city group to the PrepperNet comms team to either resolve internally within the comms team or promote to PrepperNet leadership for a solution.
  • Each comms leader will be responsible for implementing the PrepperNet comms plan adequately and establishing a 2m/simplex net according to the AmRRON format in such a way that the group can communicate without any dependence on infrastructure. They will succeed at this endeavor by utilizing MURS/FRS and 2m repeater/simplex capabilities. The comms leader will play an active role in the weekly 80m net.

ORGANIZATION-LEVEL:

  • We will target PrepperNet to acquire their very own FCC call sign (ie. K4PN, etc) to be used in training exercises. This call sign will be maintained by a trustee with Extra-class privileges so that the organization can operate on every available frequency of its choosing.
  • We will implement all levels of comms throughout the organization
    • including ground wave radio (ie. 2m/440) and sky wave radio (ie. 20m, 40m, & 80m HF).
    • For our HF capabilities, we will emphasize the necessity for competencies in digital methodologies like RMS Express (over-the-air e-mail), FLDIGI (digital messaging), FLAMP & FLMSG (SITREP forms & image sharing), and possibly DMR talkgroups.
    • We will maintain a Zello channel with weekly scheduled nets that EVERY PrepperNet member can participate and learn about our other comms training opportunities.
  • We will explore the long-term goal of having our own repeater network under the organization callsign. We understand this is an enormous undertaking that involves finances, administration/maintenance, and equipment allocation.
    • The long-term goal is to network these repeaters for PrepperNet comms exercises & nets for the organization as a whole instead of its parts.
  • We will begin providing our PrepperNet forum with operation guides & tips for using Baofengs, shortwave receivers, Zello, and any other methodologies we develop.
    • This will hopefully encourage the use of the PrepperNet forums as an education resource for our members.
    • The PrepperNet comms team will utilize our social mediums to encourage our members to get involved in comms training at every level.
    • Our members will quickly realize that they have comms training resources available to them in between the monthly meetings of their respective city groups.

THE COMMS TEAM:

We will maintain a PrepperNet comms team that will provide accountability to one another, a collaboration of strengths/talents, and ensure flexibility to its existence, its relevance, and its success.

  • The PrepperNet comms team will consist of the comms leaders from each city group and the PrepperNet leadership team. The PrepperNet comms team is accountable to PrepperNet leadership at all times and will work within the boundaries set forth by the PrepperNet leadership team.
  • The PrepperNet comms team will be led by Mercury-01 of the PrepperNet group who will consult directly with Forrest Garvin, about all developments in the realm of comms when it relates to PrepperNet.
  • We will have continuous correspondence among each other via e-mail as needed. The PrepperNet comms team will maintain continuity with a bi-weekly Zello conference that PrepperNet leadership can attend as well.

The PrepperNet communications plan will be developed in sort order as soon as this initiative is approved and amended as necessary by the PrepperNet leadership.

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