This post doesn’t make up for the months of posts lost because my backups were overwritten by a stupid mistake on my part. (NOTE TO SELF: Check your site on a regular basis even if you’re not updating it – just in case your backing up bad stuff. I messed up an OS update and am paying for it.)
Now for the good news: the Microsoft Surface Go 3 recommendation by OH8STN (Julien of Off Grid Ham Radio fame (YouTube) was a good one, as was the recommendation for the Icom IC-705. However, the BEST thing I’ve done was to turn the combination of the devices into an “Appliance” instead of a “hobby kit,” by installing an Emergency Communications Software Solution known as EMCOMM TOOLS.
Developed by the Internet-famous YouTuber The Tech Prepper, Gaston has taken multiple essential communication and ham radio configuration tools and combined them into a simple to implement (more on that later) solution that lets you in essence, plug and play.
Based on Ubuntu (one of the most popular Linux distributions), EMCOMM TOOLS includes Pat Winlink (for simple “non-Internet Email,” “JS8Call” and offline mapping) and easily connects with minimal configuration. All the “hard work” we normally do as Hams to setup our digital communications has been done for us.
The reason I like EMCOMM TOOLS is that there’s the hobbyist I am, then there’s the preparedness-minded person I am. On my radio, I enjoy chatting and when using my regular laptop and digital modes, I don’t mind making quick contacts on WSJT-X or VarAC. However, if there’s an emergency, I want to be able to KNOW that there’s a core group of folks I can quickly communicate with even if phones and the Internet are down. Modes and methods like RMS and JS8Call are perfect for rapid comms when I can only use weak signal because SSB is difficult or impossible. I throw a USB stick into a computer (or just grab my Surface tablet that already has it installed) and in mere moments, I am able to check in with like-minded people and see if we can get through whatever is happening at that time.
If you’re interested, https://community.emcommtools.com is where you want to go. If you like what you see there and want to support Gaston (which I STRONGLY encourage), support him on Buy Me A Coffee. He’s doing more development regarding the Project when he’s not working his day job – if we help him enough, THIS can become his day job!
73!
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