Good Morning, Friends,

For those who haven’t followed my previous posts, we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, and were hit hard by the unprecedented destruction caused by Hurricane (later Tropical Storm) Helene. I’ve been sharing regular updates to chronicle our recovery efforts and, naturally, to highlight the vital role amateur radio has played throughout.

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Since things have stabilized on our road, we’ve shifted focus to the administrative side of disaster recovery—insurance, FEMA, and contractors for repairs. I’ll dive into that in a future post.

Community Radio Update

It’s been a busy week. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been evaluating options for the best off-grid communications network for our rural community. My VHF handy talkies were incredibly useful after the storm—when we had no other way to communicate between households—so much so that our neighbors want a permanent solution that everyone can access.

I truly appreciate all the helpful feedback from my last post.

Meshtastic

Some of you suggested Meshtastic as a great option, and I agree. Here’s why:

1. It requires no license.
2. It’s effective if enough nodes are deployed in the neighborhood.
3. It’s affordable.

Meshtastic is an off-grid, text-based communications network. I first experimented with it during Hamvention 2024, where hundreds of nodes were deployed across the Dayton, Ohio area. (Thanks again, N5FY, for the Meshtastic device!) I plan to introduce it to our community by setting up a few test nodes.

While Meshtastic is a great supplement to our off-grid communications, our neighbors prefer portable radios and voice communication. This allows us to run nets and pass traffic more easily while on the move.

Although Meshtastic is relatively simple for electronics hobbyists and makers, it’s still a bit quirky for the average person and not entirely user-friendly yet. I’m confident the system will evolve, but for now, I’ll hand-pick a few neighbors to experiment with it.

Other radio services

Many of you suggested MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) as a good alternative, and I agree it’s better than FRS (Family Radio Service) for several reasons. However, our valley has significant elevation changes and is heavily forested. We need a system that supports higher-powered mobile/base units and external antennas, plus the option for a repeater, which MURS doesn’t allow.

CB Radio is also a great option except that the CB bands are a bit crowded and unruly here. I think it could be difficult finding a clear channel to run a neighborhood check-in net, for example. Still a good back-up comms option for any household.

Why Not Ham Radio?

Of course, many of you encouraged me to consider getting the neighborhood licensed with Technician class licenses. While I’d love for everyone to become ham radio operators, it’s a big ask, especially in the aftermath of Helene, when most people are focused on rebuilding their lives. That said, I’m thrilled that two neighbors have already expressed an interest in studying for their exams!

However, we need a more accessible radio solution that can be deployed immediately, and that’s where GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and PLMRS (Private Land Mobile Radio Services) come in.

The two contenders

I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of both GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and PLMRS (Private Land Mobile Radio Services). Both allow for a repeater, mobile/base stations, and external antennas with power levels up to 50 watts if needed. A well-placed repeater would ensure reliable communication throughout our valley, even with the 1,000-1,200 foot elevation changes, and allow us to expand the system to more households.

I was about to submit the paperwork for PLMRS frequency coordination when I realized I should consult with our local fire department first. If they had a strong preference, I needed to know before investing.

I put out a call on the Mount Mitchell (N2GE) repeater for Dennis (N4DIN) who is typically stationed at our main Swannanoa Fire Department. I couldn’t reach him, but I did get a call back from Dan (N2DMG) who just so happened to be in the Swannanoa area for the day.

Dan was the primary net control during the critical first 10 days after Helene, so you may recognize his voice if you listened to the Mitchell repeater on Broadcastify.

We arranged to meet at our mutual friend Ed’s (N4EDX) home. Ed has been a key figure in our community’s recovery efforts, and Dan also invited Randy (N2GE), the owner of the Mount Mitchell repeater.

Our community relied on all three of these fine hams post-Helene. It was pure serendipity that we were all able to meet on short notice yesterday morning.

A compelling case for GMRS

Here’s the funny part: Dan and I arrived at Ed’s house first and after catching up a bit, I asked for his advice about using either GMRS or PLMRS. He agreed that PLMRS might have a slight advantage over GMRS, but both were good options.

Then Randy arrived.

Dan asked him what he was up to that day and Randy said, “I’m going to install a new GMRS repeater on a summit here in Swannanoa.”

I asked Randy if the repeater would cover our valley and he replied, “Oh yeah. Easily. It’s an ideal location.”

Dan and I looked at each other and said, “Well, that settles it.”

I mean, what are the chances that I’d wake up yesterday morning and meet with the Mount Mitchell repeater owner, who just happens to be installing a new GMRS repeater to cover our community? Crazy, right?

On top of that, Randy is the reason the Mount Mitchell repeater is so reliable and effective. If he’s installing a GMRS repeater, we know it’ll be done right.

So GMRS it is!

Randy mentioned the repeater would be up and running by Friday (!!!), and just like that, the burden of sourcing a repeater, a site, and licensing was lifted.

Thank you, Randy!

GMRS Radios

Now, here’s where I could use your help.

I’ve been researching GMRS radios, but the market is flooded with options, and reviews (websites and YouTube) are often unhelpful—many are just glorified product brochures based on free product. I’d love to hear from those of you who have actual experience with GMRS radios, especially handheld models that are:

• Easy to use and program (via USB or Bluetooth)
• USB-C rechargeable
• Rugged, possibly water-resistant or waterproof
• Have a standard antenna connector
• Well-reviewed by users

While I know some in our community already have GMRS radios, I’d like to standardize on a single model that I can recommend to neighbors. This way, I can program them consistently (via USB or Bluetooth), ensuring they all function the same. It will also make it much easier to teach everyone how to change channels and use the repeater effectively.

I’ve ordered a pair of Baofeng UV-5G Plus GMRS radios (this pair from Amazon–affiliate link) and plan to order a Tidradio TD-H8 based on Randy’s advice. I’d appreciate any additional suggestions!

Once I’ve selected a radio model, I’ll set up a series of community meetings/classes to teach everyone how to use the radios and how to participate in a community net.

Final thoughts…

As always, I’m deeply grateful for the kindness and support we’ve received. If I haven’t had a chance to reply to your emails or comments, please know it’s because I’ve been focused on helping my family and neighbors during this challenging time.

A huge thank you to Vince (VE6LK) and all the amazing contributors on QRPer.com! I’ve been enjoying all the guest field reports—it’s been a wonderful escape.

Thank you all for being such an incredible community and support network!

Wishing you the very best this week!

Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)