Ham radio didn't start as a hobby for me. In this episode, I talk through why I finally took amateur radio seriously, what problem I was trying to solve, and why ham radio kept showing up at the end of the communications conversation.

I also touch lightly on the history of the amateur radio service and where the term "ham" came from—not as trivia, but to clear up common misconceptions.

This isn't a tutorial, test prep, or a gear review. It's a conversation about motivation, capability, and why ham radio became part of my preparedness plan when other options came up short.

TrUSDX Micro Ham Radio: https://amzn.to/4boNWDJ

If this episode clarified things for you and you're ready to stop guessing, here are the two ways I help:

1. The 30/30 Ham Radio Challenge
A simple, daily plan to earn your license and actually start using ham radio.
No cramming. No drama. Just steady progress.
https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/3030welcome

2. The 90-Minute Communications Planning Session
If you want to talk through your situation—distance, family, expectations, and realistic options—this is where we do that.
No gear sales. No theory. Just clarity.
https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/first-five-minutes

If neither of those are for you, that's fine too.
This show exists to explain the landscape, not convince anyone to walk it.

Ham radio usually comes up at the end of the conversation about communications. Not first, and not early—after people have already tried other options and figured out what feels easy and what doesn't.

In this episode, I talk through why that happens. I walk through patterns I've seen over time: how people approach communication planning, how radios get bought and set aside, and why plans often fall apart when they're never used or practiced ahead of time.

This isn't a tutorial or a licensing guide. I'm not explaining how to get started or what equipment to buy. It's simply a conversation about time, familiarity, and why ham radio tends to sit where it does—at the end.

Trot Over to YoutTube to actually watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCSRyX6ECBg&lc=Ugw6l1c4ZMLW_Qb1H6J4AaABAg

30/30 Challenge:
https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/3030welcome

Why Your Family Won't Use the Radios - Mindset Book #1
https://prepcomms-shop.fourthwall.com/products/why-your-family-wont-use-the-radios

If you want someone to look at your situation—your family, your distance, your goals—and help you decide what actually makes sense, you can book a family communications planning session with Caleb.

Most families don't lose communication because radios fail.
They lose it because there's no routine, no shared rhythm, and no clear understanding of what silence actually means.

In this episode, Caleb closes out the GMRS series by walking through how families should actually use radios day to day — how to structure simple check-ins, why calm routines matter more than gear, and how to respond when the radio goes quiet without panic.

This episode focuses on habits and decision-making, not technology for technology's sake.

• Why communication routines matter more than emergencies

• What a proper family radio check-in should sound like

• How often families should check in under normal and elevated conditions

• What silence really means on the radio — and what it doesn't

• When to wait, when to retry, and when to escalate

• Why calm leadership matters more than signal strength

If listening to this made you realize your family doesn't actually have a communication plan — not gear, but a real plan — Caleb offers a paid 90-Minute Family Communication Planning Session to help you decide what to rely on when phones fail.

Book here: https://plan.prepcomms.com

• The First 10 Things to Do with a GMRS Radio (Mini-Book)
  https://prepcomms-shop.fourthwall.com/products/the-first-10-things-to-do-with-a-gmrs-radio-family-connect-mini-book-2

• Pelicomms GMRS ¼-Wave Base Antenna
  Found Here in the Prep Comms Store

• WilComs Roll-Up Antenna (portable GMRS/MURS use)
  Available via the Prep Comms store

GMRS provides solid local communication for families when phones don't cooperate.
For those ready to expand beyond local coverage, Ham Radio conversations begin in 2026.

If you want a head start, Caleb offers a simple 30-day path to earn your amateur radio license before the end of January:

https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/3030welcome

No pressure. No rush.

Caleb Nelson, K4CDN, WRBR237
Prep Comms Podcast

Most families don't lose communication because the radio fails.
They lose it because stress changes how people talk.

In this episode, Caleb breaks down how families actually communicate on GMRS — the common mistakes that create confusion, and the simple habits that keep radio traffic calm and clear when it matters.

This isn't about gear.
It's about behavior, clarity, and confidence.

• Why stress breaks radio communication

• The three most common family communication mistakes

• How talking too fast and over-explaining kills clarity

• A simple, repeatable family radio pattern that works

• Why roles matter more than radios

• How to teach kids calm radio habits without fear

Need a clear family communication plan?
Caleb offers a paid 90-Minute Family Communication Planning Session to help you decide what to rely on when phones fail.

Book here: https://plan.prepcomms.com

Most families buy GMRS radios… then realize no one actually knows how to use them when the phones go quiet.
This episode fixes that.

Today we walk through the simple, practical skills every household needs to use GMRS with confidence:

• The 3-button rule
• How to choose the right channel group without a chart
• How to know if you're hitting a repeater
• What to do when you hear nothing
• The 10-second teaching script for non-technical adults
• A weekly household radio routine that actually works

No programming. No deep tech. Just clear steps any family can follow.

Mentioned in the show:
Register for the Winter Backup Plan Webinar (Dec 9): https://live.prepcomms.com
Prep Comms Network Founders Pricing: https://founders.prepcomms.com
Family Advent Calendar: https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/advent-calendar
GMRS + MURS Gear (my store): https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/storehome

73 y'all & God Bless.

****Master Class (12/15/25) https://www.familyconnectsystem.com/masterclass-order-page

Most new GMRS users hit the same wall: thirty channels on the screen, all looking equal… but they're not.
Some are full-power.
Some are handheld-only.
Some can hit repeaters.
Some won't carry your voice past the yard.

In this episode, we break down GMRS the way real families actually use it:

• The three channel groups that matter
• What power limits mean in the real world
• Which channels give you real range
• Why Channels 8–14 feel so weak
• The only three channels your family needs to know
• How repeaters actually work on GMRS

If you've ever wondered why GMRS feels "strong one minute, weak the next," this episode clears it up.

BLACK FRIDAY LIVE:
I'm hosting a Live Zoom call on November 29th at 1 PM Eastern to help you build a simple winter-ready communication plan. (your invited!)
Register at: https://live.prepcomms.com

DECEMBER 9 WINTER WORKSHOP:
Same link gets you access to the Dec 9th session as well.

News Mention:
This week's nationwide CodeRED outage is a reminder of why you need a WX radio & alternate comms matter. Full WYFF report here:
https://www.wyff4.com/article/emergency-notification-system-offline-after-vendor-cybersecurity-incident-officials-say/69533822

Show close:
73 y'all & God Bless.

Yes, Night Cafe assisted with the photo for this episode (like always)

This week's Prep Comms Podcast digs into the real part of GMRS—how to use it day-to-day.
No hype, no theory. Just what works.

Caleb Nelson (K4CDN / WRBR 237) walks through:

• Teaching your family how to power on, adjust volume, and find the right channel

• Labeling radios so anyone can grab one and talk

• What privacy tones really do (and what they don't)

• How GMRS repeaters extend your range — and the simple steps to use them correctly

• Why practice matters more than equipment

You'll also hear about the new BTech GMRS-50 Pro, the PeliComms ¼-Wave Base Antenna now in stock at PrepComms.shop, and the launch of the Prep Comms Network — a private members-only group for real-world radio users who want to keep learning together, solve problems, and stay connected without the noise of social media.

Gotta Have Info: www.myGMRS.com

• Get your GMRS license the easy way: FamilyConnectSystem.com/GMRSLicenseExpress

• Find local GMRS repeaters: MyGMRS.com

• BTech GMRS-50 Pro Base Station: Amazon Listing

• Retevis RA86 GMRS Mobile Radio: Amazon Listing

• Retevis GMRS Base Antenna (7.2 dBi Gain): Amazon Listing

• Nagoya UT-72G Mag-Mount Antenna: Amazon Listing

• PeliComms GMRS ¼-Wave Base Antenna (Made in USA): Shop at Hub City Mercantile

• ZBM2 QP Whip Antenna (use code PREPCOMMS): Product Link

• WilComs Roll-Up J-Pole (MURS/GMRS): Shop Here