Getting Started
Start with a Meshtastic device (no license needed). Once you're comfortable there, you can get into voice comms with your GMRS license ($35, no test). If you want long-distance capability, study for your ham license. Practice regularly. That's it.
For GMRS and ham radio, yes. It's federal law. Meshtastic doesn't require a license. The licenses are cheap, easy to get, and worth it because they allow you to develop your skills BEFORE an emergency hits.
Basic setup: Meshtastic device ($55-$125), GMRS license ($35 for 10 years), a Baofeng radio ($25-50). Total entry cost can range from about $55 to $200, depending on what capabilities you want. The ham license adds another $50 and opens up HF long-range communications.
Yes, when you have the appropriate licenses. GMRS requires a license from the FCC. Ham radio requires passing an exam. Meshtastic operates on unlicensed ISM bands and is legal without a license.
Licensing
GMRS: Family license, no test, local/regional range, limited bands. Ham: Individual license, requires test, worldwide capability, many more bands and modes. If you're not sure, just get your GMRS license. If you start to feel boxed in & yearn for some long distance capabilities, you'll know it's time to step up to a ham license.
Yes! GMRS covers your immediate family (spouse, kids, grandkids, parents, siblings, etc.). Ham licenses are individual only.
Not hard. Technician is 35 multiple-choice questions. Most people pass after a few days or up to two weeks of studying on hamstudy.org. No Morse code required, just take the practice tests until you consistently pass with 85% or better then schedule your exam.
No. That requirement was dropped years ago. It's all multiple-choice exams now.
Equipment
Get a Meshtastic device first. Once you have your GMRS license, a Baofeng UV-5R Mini (Amazon affiliate link) is a solid starter radio for under $30.
Start with a handheld. They're portable, cheap, and sufficient for most neighborhood comms. You can upgrade to a mobile/base station later if needed.
Meshtastic is a long-range, low-power mesh network using LoRa radios. It lets you send text messages without cell towers or internet. No license required. Perfect for neighborhood networks.
Many radios can be programmed for both, but you should only use a radio that is FCC "UL type" certified for the service you want to transmit on.
Operations
GMRS/ham/VHF/UHF: Line of sight, typically 1-10 miles depending on terrain and power. With repeaters, much farther. HF ham radio: Hundreds to thousands of miles depending on conditions. Meshtastic: 1-5 miles per hop, extends with mesh nodes.
A repeater is a radio on a tall building or tower that receives your signal and retransmits it with more power, extending your range significantly. Many are open for public use, some are linked into "repeater networks" that cover wide areas.
Local GMRS example: Florida Simulcast Group
State-wide ham example: SARNET
With ham radio HF bands (requires General or Extra license), yes. GMRS is US-only. Meshtastic can technically reach anywhere your mesh extends, but realistically it will be your local area.
Just use it regularly. Join local nets, participate in community events, practice on camping trips. The skills and relationships you build now are what matter when things actually go wrong. For example, the NI4CE system holds nets every day: ni4ce.org/daily-nets.
Communications Technologies
Comms Tech We Use (And Why)
Meshtastic is like encrypted texting without cell phones. It uses ISM bands, which are unlicensed radio frequencies that anyone can use for low-power devices. Meshtastic operates on these bands using LoRa technology, which gives you long-range, low-power mesh networking without needing a license. This is why we use it as the foundation of our neighborhood comms. You can deploy nodes, send encrypted messages, share location data, and build resilient networks without any bureaucracy. It's legal, it works, and it gets your neighbors connected immediately. No tests, no paperwork, no waiting.
ATAK provides real-time situational awareness and offline mapping capabilities. It integrates seamlessly with Meshtastic through the ATAK Plugin, allowing you to share positions, waypoints, and real-time situational data over your mesh network without internet or cell service. ATAK turns your neighborhood comms from simple messaging into a coordinated awareness system where everyone can see the big picture. It's free, powerful, and works offline with your existing infrastructure. We have a complete ATAK Meshtastic Integration Guide.
GMRS is the minimum for reliable neighborhood radio voice communications. GMRS has higher power than big box store "walkie talkies", repeater access, and a family-wide license that costs $35 for 10 years with no written test. Line of sight and local/regional comms. It's the easiest path to legal, reliable voice communications that actually work in an emergency.
Ham radio provides the broadcast capabilities for serious civilian emergency communications. Unlike GMRS, amateur radio licenses only apply to individuals and require passing an exam. With ham radio, you can talk across town or across continents. You can participate in emergency nets, join ARES/RACES, relay messages for disaster relief, and connect with other operators worldwide. Having a few hams in your group greatly extends your capabilities compared to GMRS alone.
Comms Tech We Don't Use (And Why Not)
MeshCore is a great technology with solid capabilities. However, Meshtastic excels at ad hoc meshes and ATAK integration, which makes it a better fit for this project. Meshtastic's ease of deployment, strong community support, and seamless integration with team awareness tools give it the edge for neighborhood emergency communications networks.
These are the "walkie talkies" you can buy at big box stores. FRS radios are low power, have limited range, and are generally insufficient for serious communications. They're fine for kids playing in the backyard, but nobody should rely on FRS for emergency comms. If you're reading this page, you need something better.
CB was popular in the 1970s for truckers and off-roaders, and it still has some niche uses today. However, CB operates on crowded frequencies with poor propagation characteristics for local comms. The 11-meter band is prone to interference and skip, which makes reliable neighborhood communications difficult. You also can't use repeaters, and CB radios tend to be bulkier than modern GMRS/ham gear. For what we're doing, GMRS and ham radio are simply better tools. If you already have CB gear for a specific use case (like off-roading), that's fine, but we don't recommend it as an emergency communications solution.
Community & Philosophy
We're an informal neighborhood support group based in Seminole Heights in Tampa, Florida, USA. That said, the concepts and methods work anywhere. Whether you're preparing for hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, or ice storms, the fundamentals are the same. Use this site as a blueprint and build your own neighborhood network. We're regular people building resilient neighborhood communications. Just folks who want to stay in touch when normal systems fail.
Search for local ham radio clubs and ARES/RACES groups. Join local Meshtastic networks. Talk to your neighbors. The community is bigger than you think.
Yes. Share what you learn. Help your neighbors get licensed. Practice regularly. Build relationships. Tell us what you're up to. You can support this project directly via Buy Me A Coffee or Patreon.
External Resources
T-Deck Map Tiles GeneratorCreate your own offline map tile sets for T-Deck devices. Essential for field ops.
DIY Solar Node Guide (Austin Mesh)Complete guide for building your own solar-powered Meshtastic nodes.
The Guerrilla's Guide to the BaofengPractical guide to programming and using Baofeng radios effectively (Amazon affiliate link).
TAK (Team Awareness Kit)Learn more about TAK platform for situational awareness and coordination.
Map XMLs for ATAKPre-configured map tile sets and overlays for offline use.
Meshtastic ATAK PluginATAK over Meshtastic. Use a private Meshtastic channel & the ShortTurbo LoRa preset for best results.
Learn the NATO Phonetic AlphabetSound very swish & posh when you need to spell something on the air.
Still Have Questions?
The best way to learn is to start. Try a Meshtastic device, or get your GMRS license, and begin practicing. Join a local net. Test your gear. Ask questions in local ham radio clubs or online forums. You can also talk to us directly.
The community is welcoming, and everyone started as a beginner. When in doubt, start simple and build from there.