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.

The book is a good primer for learning how to incorporate communications into one’s preparedness plans. if you are looking for an indepth book on a particular area within communications, the book probably won’t satisfy you. Instead it is a overview of the larger topic. If you find an area that interests you, the author provides resources for further studying. A good starting point for those new to the topic.

It is a great book for beginners. It is clearly written, easy to follow and the information is laid out in a logical sequence. It gives you descriptions of types of radios, call signs, codes, information about HAM radio licensing, and other types of communication, such as social media (Facebook, etc.) and how to put together a family emergency contact plan.

Excellent author , easy to read great advice for starting out in different types of commutation comms with different types of radio

This is a great book to have in your bug-out kit if you’re not already a comm. expert. The most valuable topics Cobb covers are: Detailed descriptions of types of radios, radio codes and call signs, what you need to know about HAM radio licensing, alternative types of communication like social media and putting together family emergency contact plans. I’ve experienced a couple of major disaster situations during which cell communication becomes impossible and connecting with family and friends has to go through alternate means of communication. This type of info may be fairly straightforward, but it’s a must for staying safe when the SHTF.

Would have liked to see something on, how do we start up cell phone service, land line, or internet service again after the apocalypse? How feasible is it, what kind of people do you need working on it? Can you create some kind of local version that’s less sophisticated but still useful?

Instead, the book is more just saying that he thinks radios and police scanners are cool, it seemed to me. And then even though that was his preferred subject, “This book isn’t for telling you all about how to use ham radios. It’s beyond my scope,” something like that. It’s more like just a review of the different type of radios out there- walkie talkie, CB radio, marine radio, weather emergency radio- and not a gear guide to different brands, or a build your own / DIY / electronics repair tech guide. A bit on that would have been useful, too- what are the most likely problems, how to diagnose, what spare parts you need and how to do the repair.

Then on the other hand, besides thinking a book largely on walkie talkies wasn’t ambitious enough, I thought that his discussion of like international radio was kind of too much. It didn’t seem that practical to me to spend money on something so you could sit and like watch the apocalypse unfold internationally. But maybe I’m wrong. I guess I do feel a little better off that I read that.

Also, nothing about like smoke signals or flag signals from towers. That used to be an important method of quick communication for the powerful. What if somehow you didn’t have your radios running? What if it ends up that a solar flare or EMP is capable of knocking ’em out? Maybe I’m wrong, but. . . I just thought this book was too limited. Kind of just, “Hey guys, wouldn’t it be cool if we were all talking over radios?” It’s like just a little more detail than what you’d think up yourself or find out very easily yourself in the first place.

Can zombies talk over the radio, if they get hold of one of our pieces of equipment, or is it just going to be a bunch of growling? Will they be able to listen in and understand?