Blackout-Readyby Crisis-Ready Society

Home / The guide / Fire and safety

Fire and safety · Set up off-grid communications · safety-16

Choose two-way radios (see comms)

Radios let people talk across the estate with no network. The comms module covers services, licences and range (comms-4, comms-8, comms-11); this is a short checklist.

How

  1. Pick a licence-free service for family handhelds with comms-8. Examples: FRS in the US, PMR446 in the UK and EU.
  2. If you want long range, plan an amateur licence with comms-11. Transmitting without the right licence is illegal in most countries.
  3. Put the agreed main and backup channels on the PACE card (comms-2, comms-3).
  4. Keep radios charged and store spare batteries (comms-17).

Sources

  1. Family Radio Service (FRS). US Federal Communications Commission, accessed 2026-11
  2. Guidance: How to become a radio amateur. Ofcom (UK), accessed 2026-11
  3. Wireless Telegraphy Licence Exemption. Ofcom (UK), accessed 2026-11
  4. Technical Regulation for the radio interface concerning PMR 446 equipment (RO-IR 15, edition 3/2020, based on ECC/DEC/(15)05). ANCOM, Romanian communications regulator (EU example), accessed 2026-11

Open in the interactive guide