Communications S.O.I. (Signals Operating Instructions)
‘A Quick Reference for the Communicator’
Available in Digital Format: CLICK HERE
If it all went down tomorrow and your family’s life depended on it…
How would you receive information?
What frequency would you turn to?
What time do you listen? How long?
What/Who do you listen for?
How would you report information?
How would you connect with like-minded people?
Can you get your COMMS UP?……If you don’t get your COMMS UP now, you won’t then.
Thank you for supporting the mission of AmRRON and joining the network!
Nice job! I’m recommending the local Oath Keepers Radio Group download it too. I serve as the County Communications Coordinator for my Oath Keepers area. This will help us all to be on the same page.
73 – W7EES
Yes, sir. The more standardized this protocol becomes, the fewer gaps we will have in the coverage. I’ve heard rumors and murmurings of other Oathkeeper communications networks adopting the AmRRON/TAPRN communications plan as well. Keep us posted, an feel free to ask any questions.
I am really interested in putting together a net and localized AmRRON group in SW Idaho. I noticed that most of the members are in N. Idaho w/only 1 other in Canyon Co. There are quite a few in the Boise area but I am hoping we will be able to add more in Ada County also.
Also, I plan on adding the digital mode by this summer and appreciate any support in this area. Thanks for all the awesome training videos and looking forward to perusing through the SOI.
We’d love it if you put something together in that area as well. You have HF capabilities, so you could easily tie your local AmRRON 2m/CH3 net to other local nets around the region. Now to build your local net. It’s encouraging to see AmRRON go through so much growth. The more who join, the fewer gaps there will be in the coverage. But then, they have to be actively involved, which is it’s own challenge.
I’m going to have to write an article on this very topic soon. Stay tuned!
Is this Communications SOI any different than the plan at
https://radiofreeredoubt.blogspot.com/p/communications-plan-for-preppers.html
Yes. The New Communications SOI is CONSIDERABLY different.
Clear, concise, easy to follow format. This will be an asset to those just entering radio communications and the experienced operator alike.
Great job and thank you.
73
KB1WEK
Sent snail mail. Looking forward to it.
God Bless,
Bob
Very nice, concise resource! The only addition I can see is another SOI for AmRRON members with info specific to members only.
An ‘Enhanced’ SOI is in the works, and has been for some time. It will be an expanded version of the current (Public) SOI with emphasis on operating nets and Net Control Stations.
As an Oath Keeper, I am in charge of Comms for my team. This will be a great resource for developing our team SOI
I’m new to this community, Just picked up a hand-held device after coming across your site and just ordered the SOI. It’s printing now after less than an hour ago ordering it. The process went smoothly with no issues. Just glancing over it JJS, you really could charge more for it, but thank you anyway. Will be back in touch.
[…] **Communications SOI** (Signals Operating Instructions) […]
Linux versions of CHIRP and FLDIGI are also available.
Another software program of interest is PSKmail.
“PSKmail is a narrow band arq system for use by amateur radio hams via short wave (HF) communication. It does not use a special controller, you just need a computer with a sound card.
The PSKmail server uses the fldigi program as a modem, and can use PSK, MFSK and THOR modes, including the new robust PSK modes which include soft viterbi decoding and interleave to increase immunity to qrm and qrn. The client is written in java, and has the modems built in. The operator can choose several modes and speeds when starting a connection, to match channel conditions.”
http://pskmail.org
73 de buckeye43210
Got it and it looks fantastic, Big thanks to all the work put into this!
Although I could easily apply for an amateur license, I don’t desire grovelling to the government for permission. With that said, I’d like to listen to the conversations about preparations for emergencies.
I have one major reservation. Have you prepared any security for your list of contacts? Credit card information, e-mail addresses, or other information accessible by a network are easily stolen. TIA
There are plenty of bands that do not require a license, such as FRS, MURS, and CB, which are all part of the AmRRON Communications Plan, for those who don’t have the desire to pursue a ham license. Getting licensed for Amateur Radio bands is about as innocuous a hobby as anything… if you’re worried about being on a ‘list.’ You don’t want to grovel to the government to get a ham license, but you’re happy to sit and listen to radio operators when a disaster occurs, who studied and got their licenses?
I don’t discuss our security measures. I can say that we are very OPSEC conscious and we have no reason to even HAVE anyone’s credit card information. There is nothing for which we would ever need, nor ask for, someones credit card. I suppose the right alphabet soup agency, with the right resources, could eventually gain access to our mail list. But then again, everyone who is a threat to tyranny is on a list somewhere. And if they’re not on a list, they’re not in the fight, and they’re part of the problem. If we self-sensor and voluntarily take ourselves out of the fight for liberty and Americanism, then the bad guys have already won — without a fight.
If you’ve ever been driving along on a highway, see another driver do something completely ridiculous and dangerous, and wonder “how did he get his license?”, just imagine how many dangerous drivers would be on the road without licensing. Ham radio is the same kind of thing: licensing ensures that operators have some degree of understanding that they are enjoying the use of a shared public resource. However, ham radio is kind of like having a publicly-accessible license-plate lookup database, because once you have an FCC-issued callsign, anyone can translate it into your legal name and residential address. The reason for this is to assist in tracking down stations that cause harmful interference (see “ridiculous and dangerous”, above), but it’s a factor to consider.
To be more accurate, you can only get a ham’s mailing address from the FCC records, which is not necessarily their residential address. You’d be surprised how many hams use PO Box numbers instead of their actual address.
Petra in SW Oregon
Well done!! I’m very impressed with your Internet radio production!! Thanks for putting this all together! This kind of communication pre-planning is exactly what is needed in our country’s hour of need. I’m looking forward to being a part of it, especially since I currently live in an occupied area.
Licensing with the FCC does not necessarily compromise your physical location. The FCC requires a MAILING address. Remember; many hams are full-time RV’ers, sailors and etc. who do not even have a physical address and must use mail forwarding services, P.O. boxes and etc. This allows the FCC to have a way to send mail to a licensee, without having a physical address/location in their data base. I did this for years while I was sailing and I literally did NOT have a physical address. (Try getting a driver’s license like that!! I did it 😉
Haaaaaaar!
Popeye
Hi everyone,
Congratulations for your great work. This is a very useful document. I am from Quebec Canada (Super Occupied and very scary territory) and currently studying for my HAM Radio License and listening to your program every Sunday night. You brings us hope and courage.
I wish this topic would be as popular in Canada. I intend to try to make this topic more popular in Canada. I was starting to read about the local 2 meter band schedule and realize that the frequency 146.420 Mhz seems to be incompatible with the Canadian 2 meter band plan. Is this a misunderstanding of my part. The 2 meter band in Canada seems to have preset channels near this frequency which are 146:400, 146.415, 146.430, 146.445 etc… So the AmRRON 146.420 Mhz frequency seems to be incompatible with the Canadian 2 meter band plan. The Canadian 2 meter band plan is defined at the following link:
https://www.rac.ca/en/rac/services/bandplans/2m/
It would be nice to have the same standard AmRRON frequency being used for both US and Canada. I have not checked yet if this is possible.
Could you tell me what your thoughts are about this?
Do you recommend Canadians use a different frequency?
Thanks,
Lili
First, thank you for listening! We’re glad to be an encouragement to our patriot neighbors to the north!
In looking at the Canadian band plan it seems that your range of simplex frequencies 146.400 – 146.580 do in fact limit you to only 13 ‘channels.’ In an emergency situation, it’s possible (depending on your radio model) that you could manually program in the AmRRON 2m frequency (146.420). However, the FM 2m national calling frequency (146.520) is the same as in the United States. It might be more practical for you to use the .520 frequency as the Canadian AmRRON calling frequency, and then QSY (switch) to another channel after you connect with another AmRRON Operator. You might be able to do this by manually selecting 146.420 on your radio, or a different channel that you and the other party agree on. It seems that your frequency options are limited (only 13), but 146.420 is 5MHz away from the two closest designated channels according to the Canadian 2m band plan. You ‘should’ be able to go to .420 without interfering at all with the adjacent channels. HOWEVER, do some research first. That .420 frequency might be off the Canadian band plan for Amateur use for a reason. It might end up being the RCMP portable radio frequency… or some other agency. That could bring you attention you don’t need or want.
My final recommendation, as always, is to join your local Amateur Radio (Ham) club. There you’ll find ‘elmers’ and other great support that can guide you through the ins and outs of everything you need to know. They’ll be pretty savvy on the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of frequency allocation and usage in your area.
Hop this helps. Have a blessed week!
(5)(6)
146.520 NATIONAL FM CALLING FREQUENCY (1)
I’m new to this and just bought a radio and got my copy of the 40 Page Communications Plan so to be an asset in near future but for now it’s just a crash course in emergency preparedness for me. Wish me luck.
Bill
Here is one perspective for those who think that getting a ham license isnt “necessary” for proper preparation…
its about proficiency
would you buy a gun and never train with it until you need it?
Would you buy a truck and never drive it till you need it?
Would you be ready if your comms dont work?
then why not take the ham test and really make commo a second nature activity like shooting and driving?
you’ll be under enough stress without trying to figure out how to contact allies..
think about it..
[…] Communications S.O.I. (Signals Operating Instructions) […]
When using paypal there used to be an option that I could pay you without being a “member” of paypal or without signing up for a paypal account. All I had to do was enter my info and credit card info and was charged for it.
Why is that not available here? Would have been so much easier that way than for me to have to sign up for paypal. Which by the way didn’t work for me so now I have to go the snail mail route. Please find another way of doing this as it will ease the pain of others. It may not be a big deal for everyone but was for me.
I wasn’t aware that the feature isn’t there with this Paypal link. We’ll look into it next week. Haven’t heard of any problems with it. Sorry about that.
How long should a person wait before asking where the email is containing the pdf file? I donated 5 dollars a few days ago and haven’t heard anything at all.
Thank you for the reminder! It normally takes a couple hours to get it sent off, but yours was overlooked in a whole bunch of other emails that came in at the same time. Sorry about that. It’s in your email In box.
John, I think I originally sent this comment to the wrong place, Sorry if you get it twice.
Just received my Communications SOI Pdf, great information! I just finished skimming over the document, I may have missed it but if not, please consider adding a small section about the importance of relaying accurate information.
I remember in school, the teacher would separate several students from each other and then he would tell a brief story to one student. That student would then privately relay the story to another. Well, as you can imagine, by the time the last student told the story it was totally different.
I realize in a disaster situation, time may be of the essence, but incorrect information could do more harm than good.
Operators should consider the following:
1. Information Source. Do you know the person supplying the information or is it from someone you just heard over the radio?
2. Does the information “just make sense”. Are their details that don’t match-up with other reports?
3. Does the reported information contain where the original source came from? Eye-witness, overheard on the air, etc.
I’m not saying that information shouldn’t be relayed that’s questionable, just use caution and if necessary include a statement that the information is unsubstantiated.
Thanks again for all the time and effort put into this.
Golf Sierra-04
Folks, just order it. It will be the best $2+ you have ever spent. Plus, the funds go to further the cause.
I was in special operations in the Marine Corps (MEU-SOC) and we did a lot of comm training with the SINCGARS back then… this is every bit as good as a military comm plan as you’ll find. Even with my background, our family plan had gaping holes in it that I simply didn’t even realize. The bonus: it’s not just for your small unit/family/neighborhood/church… the ENTIRE COUNTRY is on the same page. In an emergency, whether local or regional, THIS IS HUGE!
Get the SOI, develop your group/family/community/church comm plan, implement it and work out the kinks, then join in with the rest of the patriots and start/join a net. You will be glad you did.
Semper Fi,
Romeo Papa-01
[…] formats previously agreed upon, can make this much easier to do even when using voice over radio. The AmRRON Communications SOI has instructions and message formats shared on our network. If that is not possible, try to at […]
[…] Next, select the mode and you want to use in the fldigi program (Refer to the Communications S.O.I. or the Scheduled Nets page for the operation mode and […]
[…] Communications S.O.I.- T-Rex 2014 August 22nd-24th Your personal disaster preparedness plan, for you, your family, your group. Nationwide. Off Grid. COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE: Will Include CH3 Nets, Local 2m Nets, Regional and Nationwide. […]
[…] you will need to participate in T-REX 2014 communication portion is the T-REX 2014 communication plan RFR calls it the Signals Operating Instruction or SOI. JJS ask for a small $2.00 donation for the […]
John,
I am in Spring Hill, Florida. Are there any like minded members close to me?
Thanks,
Ken
A quick search in the Member Directory should answer that for ya. You know your area better than anyone else.
[…] Communications S.O.I. by John Jacob Schmidt […]
I sent the payment via paypal for the new SOI, I still have no email confirmation. Please help.
I’m showing it was sent, so if you still haven’t received it, please contact me at johnjacob@radiofreeredoubt.com
[* WordPress Simple Firewall plugin marked this comment as “0” because: Failed GASP Bot Filter Test (comment token failure). *]
As the NYC Oath keepers Chapter Communications Officer, also to am going to recommend this to my people.
[…] HERE to get your copy of the Communications […]
[…] To learn how to get access to, and download, the 51 page SOI, go to: SOI Version 3 […]
[…] Communications S.O.I. a quick reference for the communicator by John Jacob Schmidt […]
[…] The same reader also asked me about modes to get into. For starters, if you haven’t joined AmRRON yet, you should do so. Get a copy of their SOI. […]
[…] Those of you planning to play on the comms side of NPFD 2015/1 on 19 April would be well served by dropping $6 Illuminati funbux over to the good people at AmRRON for a copy of their signals operating instructions (SOI). […]
[…] Tip #3. Buy the Communications S.O.I. ‘Quick Reference for the Communicator’ by John Jacob Schmidt for your communications binders (SOI=Signals Operating Instructions). It is $6, a ready-made […]
I have the same issue as Calvin with the paypal link. Usually a donate link takes you right to the checkout page if you already have a paypal account. Please fix the link as I am very eager to get my hands on this and get up to speed. Oh, and thanks’ in advance for providing such badly needed guidance.
Strange, it does that occasionally and we don’t know why. We’re going through the settings now looking for a solution. Thanks!
Working now, thanks’. I forgot to put comms SOI in the comments box, hope it won’t be a problem.
[…] or will be following during and emergency. AmRRON members are encouraged to follow the Communications S.O.I. to increase your odds of being able to connect with like-minded patriots in the event the […]
[…] Tip #3. Buy the Communications S.O.I. ‘Quick Reference for the Communicator’ by John Jacob Schmidt for your communications binders (SOI=Signals Operating Instructions). It is $6, a ready-made […]
[…] Communications S.O.I. by John Jacob Schmidt […]
[…] Tip #3. Buy the Communications S.O.I. ‘Quick Reference for the Communicator’ by John Jacob Schmidt for your communications binders (SOI=Signals Operating Instructions). It is $6, a ready-made […]
[…] BaoFeng UV-5R Dual-Band Ham Radio with Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF Antenna Olive Drab 550LB Military Nylon Paracord Rope 100 Feet Baofeng / Wouxun / Kenwood Clone and Copy Cable Baofeng Vehicle Power Supply Battery Eliminator Baofeng UV-5R/UV-5R+ Plus/ UV-5RA Anderson Powerpole Connectors 20 pair Baofeng VB-29 7.4V 3800mAh Li-ion Battery for UV-5R / UV-5RTP / UV-5R Plus Roll Up JPole-2m/70cm w/sma female connector for (Baofeng Radio) VELCRO – ONE-WRAP Thin Self-Gripping Cable Ties, 100 Pack – Black Tactical Shoulder Backpack, Military & Sport Bag Pack Daypack BaoFeng BL-5 AA Battery Pack for BF-F8HP and UV-5R Radios Communications S.O.I. […]
it does me no good for information to be restricted by casting fees / donations / what have you, at the information to obtain it.
You know what, we work our butts off. If a lousy $6 donation to help support what we’re doing is too much for you, I’m not so sure you’d be much of an asset. If you can’t even make that small of a sacrifice to the cause while things are easy, how much can we count on you laying on the line during times of crisis? Good day sir!
What size did you print the SOI in to fit it into this backpack?
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ — Basically, each 8.5″x11″ has two pages printed on it (two of the same pages). So, it actually produces two copies of the SOI. FedEx Kinkos will print them out and cut them in half.
[…] 5. Acquire a copy of the SOI https://www.amrron.com/2014/01/28/communications-soi-signals-operating-instructions-2/ […]
[…] an emergency, grid-down communications plan, refer to the AmRRON Communications SOI *My preferred method of corresponding using encrypted email is gpg encryption (using […]
[…] Communications S.O.I. by John Jacob Schmidt […]
[…] Communcations S.O.I. Tecsun PL-660 Portable Shortwave w/ Single Side Band, Black 2015 Resources from 2015 T-REX […]
The Communications S.O.I. is the standard for the operators that I really appreciate. Can you explain if the 70cm voice frequency in the Communications S.O.I. Frequency/Mode Plan – Section 3.1 should also be in the Emergency Net Schedule – Section 3.2 to Section 3.6? I cannot find the 70cm voice frequency listed in the Emergency Net Schedule. Thanks!
Hello JJS,
Is Version 3 – 01 Dec 2014 still the most current version? If not, how can I get only updated or pages that changed?
Best $6 I ever spent, well worth it. Thank you JJS for all your hard work. God bless!
Just got it last night. Thank you John Jacob Schmidt! Great read, and I have a copy in the listening post.
Downloaded the the updated version of the SOI – very pleased.
I am an AmRRON member and live outside of the USA, is it possible to get the download sent via email if I use PayPal?