Satellites possibly too. Like straight up from a thriving nation to stone age. Water stations/gas pumps/vehicles/thermostats/AC/internet/phones/the national power grid/ medical equipment and hospitals/ refridgeration for food/ice/all lights.. The EMP commission said that 90% of the population would die.
That's insane. I mean I've read about it before but really underestimated the power and capability of a nuclear EMP.
Will that kill all ham radios?
No, if you have a vacuum tube set and it's not connected to a huge antenna you should be good. Of course you will need a generator to power it. You could get a cheap, backup ham and put it in a Faraday cage just in case. An EMP attack would be a suicide move on the level of a strategic strike. The likely response would be MAD level; the party responsible would have their capital city paved in Alamogordo glass.
I think it's the need for a generator that will move me away from vac tubes towards the cheaper digital items. thx
Thanks. Not sure I'll blow 500 on an old tube ham radio as repairs could be a headache. Probably go the faraday for cheap newer radios
I’ve heard from ole timer hams “Elmers” they are great while they work a pita if you have to get parts, and repair them. I’ll stick to my Icom, As for an emp I don’t put ANYTHING past the corruption or harm of them, but as others have indicated we have “a plan for this” ... don’t we?
A Yeasu wrapped in a mylar bag with layers of plastic all inside a small galvanized trash can would likely work. Just have a small solar charger in the can with it and have the radio preprogrammed and ready to go. Get a better antenna and you should be able to communicate to your local Elmers. I'm still studying for my license so for now I'm just listening but I grew up around radios, my Dad put up commercial repeater towers. I remember him showing me how a squad car two way could light up a florescent light tube by keying the transmitter. There's a lot of juice going through the air and apparently that's how an EMP would work but much higher energy levels, enough to fry integrated circuits. Something like touching a welding arc to an antenna. I remember watching a thing about the NORAD bases, the entire strucure is wrapped in copper screen to sheild from EMP. Again, I'm no expert so do your own research I would hate to be responsible if my info failed you.
thank you for that. It's something to think about before making purchasing decisions.